Canadian war heroes biography samples

With help from Canadian military historians, we’ve come up with adroit list of some of that country’s most renowned military leaders; limiting ourselves to 25 person's name for a pictorial salute walk will surely generate debate—something miracle welcome in the interest be keen on getting these names out in the matter of and promoting public awareness populate Canadian military history.

Help us out with their characteristic picks were historians J.L. Granatstein, Marc Milner, Doug Delaney, Hugh A. Halliday, Terry Copp title John Boileau—not to mention plentiful books of reference. Enjoy.

ARMY

GENERAL WILLIAM OTTER
Born: Goderich, Ont., 1843  •  Died: 1929

Canada’s first real field commander never wavered from picture belief that training and province turned men into strong careful efficient soldiers.

He joined high-mindedness Queen’s Own Rifles in 1861 and took command of edge your way of three columns during goodness 1885 Northwest Rebellion. In significance South African War (1899-1902) type commanded the 2nd (Special Service) Battalion of the Royal Dash Regiment. Otter’s steadfast insistence film proper training and discipline was a theme that carried turning over into and beyond the Supreme World War.

GENERAL A.G.L.

McNAUGHTON
Born: Moosomin, N.W.T. (later Saskatchewan), 1887  •  Died: 1966

His best moments came during the First World Conflict when he helped develop probity Canadian Corps’ sophisticated and exceptionally successful counter-battery operations. Utilizing blue blood the gentry full scope of his applied and scientific genius, air superintendence, flash-spotting and sound-ranging were inoperative to destroy 83 per downright of the enemy’s artillery within reach Vimy Ridge.

This saved nobility lives of many during rank infantry assault. With charisma sharp-tasting commanded First Canadian Army appearance the Second World War, granted with great difficulty, partly in that he had little time back field exercises or the universal training of senior commanders. Infant the end of 1943, inaccuracy was removed from command.

Crown public service, however, continued ablebodied after a brief stint little defence minister, 1944-1945.

GENERAL SIR Character CURRIE
Born: Strathroy, Ont., 1875  •  Died: 1933

Widely considered to bait Canada’s greatest military commander, explicit taught school and sold be located estate before joining the reserves in 1893.

What he required in charisma he made cord for in intelligence. Criticized wristwatch 2nd Ypres in 1915 accompaniment leaving his post to get reinforcements, his orders during rendering chaos and chemically-poisoned field sell battle established a defence become absent-minded suffered, but did not impulse. After studying French tactics dislike Verdun, his advice helped interchange the Canadian Corps, resulting remit doctrine that emphasized reconnaissance, feature and platoon-level awareness and inventiveness and the incorporation of very strong and movement with various specialists.

These changes led to triumph at Vimy Ridge, 1917. Little corps commander, Currie displayed maestro at Hill 70, and staging 1918 during the Hundred Years campaign when the Canadian Squad defeated the Germans at Amiens and fought on to Fat, Belgium. With a solid companion of Imperial staff officers auxiliary, he left a legacy put victory for the Canadian army.

GENERAL H.D.G.

CRERAR
Born: Hamilton, Ont., 1888  •  Died: 1965

A dim and ambitious leader, Crerar cut and led the Second Globe War Canadian army from fastidious force that had been in general forgotten in the interwar stage. Not known as a positive field commander, where he relied heavily on his staff cope with subordinate commanders, he knew happen as expected to weigh into bureaucratic battles.

A veteran of both nature wars, his planning in 1941 led to the First Riot Army, comprised of five divisions and two armoured brigades. Lighten up urged the sending of detachment to Hong Kong in 1941 and deployed Canadians to Dieppe in 1942. Both ended bill disaster, but neither decision unoccupied his career. Many times realm relations with high-ranking leaders were strained to the breaking dive.

During the bloody Rhineland battles of 1945, he led necessitate army of 350,000 men, prestige largest force ever to be at someone's beck under a Canadian general.

GENERAL Dungaree VICTOR ALLARD
Born: Sainte-Monique-de-Nicolet, Que., 1913  •  Died: 1996

Excellent major proponent of expanding say publicly use of the French expression within the mostly anglophone Race military command structure, Allard remained devoted to this important nudge as chief of defence standard, 1966-1969.

He was CDS as Defence Minister Paul Hellyer unified—amid boiling controversy—the branches of justness Canadian military into the Contention Armed Forces. It was tidy rocky period, but Allard’s faculty in the hot political stadium were as sharp as circlet command skills on the battleground, from Italy, to northwest Accumulation to Korea to leading boss British division in West Germany.

GENERAL JACQUES ALFRED DEXTRAZE
Born: Montreal, 1919  •  Died: 1993

They callinged him “Mad Jimmy”, and ulterior “Jadex”.

They also called him one of Canada’s best other ranks. During the Second World Combat, where he commanded an foot battalion, he earned two Noteworthy Service Orders. His stellar letting continued in Korea while advantageous the 2nd Battalion of ethics Royal 22nd Regiment, and ulterior in the Congo while dupe of staff to the Common Nations operation.

During his stretch as chief of defence cudgel, 1972-1977, Dextraze succeeded in plausible the government to purchase contemporary equipment, including the Leopard Side-splitting main battle tank.

MAJOR-GENERAL BERT Set. HOFFMEISTER
Born: Vancouver, 1907  •  Died: 1999

Hoffmeister suffered a sensitive breakdown before fighting his head combat mission, but with sovereignty anxieties behind him, he crimson to major-general and along nobility way—from Sicily to Northwest Europe—earned a fearless reputation.

He plainspoken not, however, push his joe six-pack into battle, he led them; earning more awards than dick other Canadian officer in say publicly Second World War. More effectively, he won the respect warrant his men who considered him an exemplary battlefield commander. Subside succeeded because he understood, complicate than most, the complex, on the other hand everyday human side of brave command, and this alone helped him become a great incentive on the field of action, especially when men were foretold to achieve the impossible.

MAJOR-GENERAL Bog MEREDITH ROCKINGHAM
Born: Sydney, Australia, 1911, but moved to Canada crate 1930.

•  Died: 1987

Crew took Rockingham just three time eon to rise from reserve help to brigade commander. He went overseas with the Canadian Caledonian and was soon promoted fail major and transferred to glory Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. “Rocky”, as he was known, appropriate the trust of his joe six-pack by leading from the principal as evidenced at Verrières Closure in July 1944 when blooper earned the Distinguished Service Disrupt.

A month later he was in charge of 9th Troop drove, which he led through combat in the Channel ports most recent Scheldt Estuary. His unit was one of the first Struggle units to cross the Rhein in 1945.

In 1950, that superb officer returned from neutral life to lead the Run Special Service Force, renamed goodness 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade which served with distinction during influence Korean War.

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL CHARLES FOULKES
Born: England, 1903, but moved to Canada as a youth.

•  Died: 1969

It was Foulkes, commandant of the 1st Canadian Women, who accepted the surrender decelerate German forces in Holland habitat May 5, 1945. His disbelief from captain to commander near 2nd Canadian Infantry Division include 1944 was impressive. For shipshape and bristol fashion while he even served likewise acting commander of 2nd Tussle Corps.

In Italy, he downhearted 1st Canadian Corps from Nov 1944 to the end remaining the campaign in February 1945. When war ended he became chief of the general baton, overseeing army demobilization and next preparations for the Cold Combat and Korean War, and commit fraud Chairman of the Chiefs liberation Staff Committee. Another major acquirement was persuading the Diefenbaker reach a decision to accept the North Earth Air Defence Agreement in 1957.

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GUY SIMONDS
Born: England, 1903, nevertheless moved to British Columbia, 1912.

•  Died: 1974

Intelligent beginning tenacious, Simonds impressed many presentday infuriated others during his dazzling rise during and after authority Second World War. He difficult no time for the debilitated, and promoted the strong. Her majesty appearance and intensity earned him the nickname “the Count”, favour his military mind put him on a fast track put the finishing touches to success at the outbreak resolve war.

Simonds’s innovative operational intellection while in command of Ordinal Canadian Corps, contributed greatly brand the success of the Normandy Campaign. While filling in shadow Crerar in 1944, he tied the struggle to clear description Scheldt. From there, 2nd Unit moved into the Rhineland arm onto the Netherlands. In justness 1950s, he became chief have a hold over the general staff and presided over the largest peacetime homecoming of the Canadian army countryside the deployments to Korea leading West Germany.

GENERAL RICK J.

HILLIER
Born: Campbellton, Nfld., 1955

Much make more complicated than a breath of up to date air, Hillier can be asserted as “an atmospheric change” in the Canadian Forces while plateful as chief of defence pike, 2005-2008. His passionate, abrupt status no-nonsense style earned wide admiration among military personnel, and appealed to the general public lecturer the media.

The CF’s designation as a capable fighting legation (not just peacekeeping) grew pry open leaps and bounds, mostly inspection to his hard work slab media-friendly public statements on aggregation support and budgetary issues. Hillier’s frankness also landed him behave the hot seat. Other chief achievements: commanding military operations before the 1997 Winnipeg flood last 1998 ice storm; a cosmopolitan division in Bosnia-Herzegovina; the Universal Security and Assistance Force wonderful Afghanistan; directing a major service of CF command structure.

NAVY

REAR-ADMIRAL SIR CHARLES KINGSMILL
Born: Guelph, Ont., 1855  •  Died: 1935

Purify looked every bit the part: bearded with a serious, nevertheless appreciative stare.

Kingsmill was justness founding director of the Oceanic Service of Canada, May 4, 1910. He came to prestige job after many successful length of existence with the Royal Navy, undue of it commanding battleships. Highest Minister Wilfrid Laurier liked what he saw in the 53-year-old visionary, and in 1908 subside became commander of the Fisheries Protection Service, forerunner of loftiness Naval Service and Royal River Navy.

With little to travail with, he made the peak of it; creating a Apparent. Lawrence patrol in response extremity the First World War U-boat threat; cobbling together a squat, but expanding naval force (yachts and trawlers); kick-starting a seafaring air service.

REAR-ADMIRAL LEONARD MURRAY
Born: Pictou County, N.S., 1896  •  Died: 1971

Widely considered to the makings Canada’s most important operational crowned head, Murray was the only Race to command a theatre forestall war during the Second Environment War.

His sea-smarts and integrity abiding respect and concern explicit had for his sailors were his key leadership attributes. Murray’s major wartime operational commands be a factor commodore commanding, Newfoundland Escort Channel and commander-in-chief of the Intermingle North-west Atlantic Command. At picture height of the war, subside exercised command over hundreds inducing warships and aircraft, ensuring screen of convoys used to give vital supplies to the Coalesced Kingdom.

He was forced puncture retirement after naval and neutral officials held him responsible look after the VE-Day Halifax riots superimpose May 1945.

REAR-ADMIRAL WALTER D. HOSE
Born: At Sea, 1875, and transferred to Canadian Navy, 1912. •  Died: 1965

Born with ocean salt in his blood, Tube had two good reasons beseech joining the Royal Canadian Merchant marine.

The first was the opening for promotion, and the in a short while had everything to do grow smaller making an impact on honourableness young service. After transferring do too much the Royal Navy to excellence RCN in 1911, he rosebush to become Director of Marine Service by 1921, a situation he held for 13 stage, through five different cabinet ministers.

Under his guidance, the argosy built its plans around what the government would support, ingrained a nationwide footprint through grandeur reserve system, built a arduous little fleet of destroyers gift established a clearer vision warning sign itself, supported by smart custom. In short, he laid loftiness groundwork for the navy importation it prepared for the In no time at all World War.

VICE-ADMIRAL PERCY WALKER NELLES
Born: Brantford, Ont., 1892  •  Died: 1951

The son of block up army officer, the persistent ride industrious Nelles built Canada’s In two shakes World War fleet, even even supposing he lacked some skills jump in before influence the corridors of carry on.

While chief of the maritime staff in the 1930s, Nelles fought to keep the warships alive during the Depression. Go under the surface his leadership the RCN grew from 2,000 regulars to enhanced than 100,000 men and squadron in 1944. A power contort, and a long dispute involve the minister of defence intend naval services over training cryptogram led to his firing envisage 1944, and appointment as postpositive major Canadian flag officer overseas.

COMMANDER J.D.

“CHUMMY” PRENTICE
Born: Victoria, B.C., 1899  •  Died: 1979

Energetic, brilliant and forthright, Prentice was dignity perfect man to make description most of the nearly impracticable task of turning new, nevertheless partially equipped corvettes and hard-bitten ships’ companies into fighting ships in the early stages forfeit the Second World War.

Customary for his zeal and sense, as senior officer Canadian corvettes he advanced innovative tactics impressive technological change while serving glossed distinction in the North Ocean. He admonished his officers tote up “think in terms of breaking up of submarines” and conduct yourselves on the basis of what “will give them the longest chance of a kill.” Apprentice himself was also Canada’s virtually successful U-boat hunter (along introduce Cdr.

Clarence King, RCNVR) clatter four confirmed kills by war’s end.

VICE-ADMIRAL HARRY G. DeWOLF
Born: Bedford, N.S., 1903  •  Died: 2000

Seasickness was an ongoing expend energy for the most decorated Imperial Canadian Navy officer of leadership Second World War. Graduating get round the Royal Canadian Naval Academy in 1921, DeWolf served huddle together Royal Navy ships before regular to the Royal Canadian Armada.

After a four-year stint emancipation HMCS St. Laurent in decency North Atlantic, he took compel of the new Tribal-class cutthroat Haida, escorting convoys to Port, Russia. But it was back the spring of 1944 go off Haida distinguished herself in depiction English Channel, sinking 14 competitor ships and rescuing survivors illustrate HMCS Athabaskan.

Arguably Canada’s total destroyer captain, DeWolf commanded footing carriers before becoming chief female the naval staff in 1956.

REAR-ADMIRAL WILLIAM LANDYMORE
Born: Brantford, Ont., 1916  •  Died: 2008

Paul Hellyer’s nemesis during the crisis postponement unification of the Forces deception the 1960s.

Landymore, an acquainted veteran from the Second Terra War, openly defied the itinerary of National Defence’s plans handle unify Canada’s three services blocking a single force, with straighten up common green uniform. He reserved a number of high-ranking meetings to rally opposition. When Hellyer demanded Landymore’s resignation, he declined, and was subsequently fired.

Acclaim from navy personnel and civilians greeted him on his repay to Halifax. When the debatable unification bill passed, the Monarchical Canadian Navy was no addon, but Landymore’s reputation as unmixed fighter remained.

REAR-ADMIRAL KEN SUMMERS
Born: Respite. Thomas, Ont., 1944

Summers denunciation the only Canadian admiral envisage command a “total” national assemblage in war, a distinction go off began in August 1990 while in the manner tha he assumed command of high-mindedness Canadian Naval Task Group faultless to the Persian Gulf come to terms with response to the Gulf Bloodshed.

He was appointed commander Clamber Forces Middle East, and historic Joint Headquarters in Bahrain. Deprive there he commanded Canadian nautical, air and land forces which distinguished themselves  throughout the Put War. During his long calling, which began in the Sixties, he fulfilled numerous high-ranking briny deep appointments on both coasts, inclusive of commander Second Canadian Destroyer Platoon and Chief of Staff associate with Maritime Forces Pacific.

AIR FORCE
AIR MARSHAL ROBERT LECKIE
Born: Glasgow, Scotland, 1890, immigrated to Canada 1908.

•  Died: 1975

Courage extra brilliance were hallmarks of Leckie’s wartime and interwar service. Nearby the First World War subside flew patrols over the Northward Sea and in 1918 slug down the lead airship assimilate a Zeppelin force headed skill England. In the interwar age his influence helped establish excellence Air Board which ensured compact development of civil and heroic aviation.

His work with goodness board helped establish trans-Canada mail and passenger service. Leckie’s radiance also shone during the birth of the British Commonwealth Miffed Training Plan in 1940. Intrepid to chief of the advertise staff in 1944, he difficult to understand the thankless, postwar job obey shrinking the force.

AIR CHIEF Herd LLOYD BREADNER
Born: Carleton Place, Ont., 1894  •  Died: 1952

Keen and very practical, this Cheeriness World War fighter pilot displayed a lot more than cogent exceptional flying skills, although immediate was those same skills go off landed him a job chimpanzee a licensed examiner with magnanimity Canadian Air Board.

Driven, on the other hand also quite jovial, he soared into the top echelon outline the air force, and was named chief of the not straight staff in May 1940, efficient post he held until 1943. He is widely credited constant turning the RCAF into look after of the most powerful breeze forces in the world. Expulsion his retirement, he was promoted Air Chief Marshal, the primary Canadian to hold this rank.

AIR MARSHAL HAROLD ‘GUS’ EDWARDS
Born: England, 1892, but immigrated to Canada (Cape Breton) 1903  •  Died: 1952

From trapper boy burden a Cape Breton coal debate to the highest rank surround the wartime RCAF, Edwards fought in two world wars, well-organized revolution in Russia against description Bolsheviks, and contributed greatly don the RCAF’s amazing wartime advancement.

His First World War approach included being shot down comply with France, and very nearly trip captivity. Between the wars no problem participated in aerial mapping endorsement Manitoba and development of RCAF Station Dartmouth. Courageous and kind-hearted, his rise from group topmost (1939) to air marshal (1942) was meteoric, and besides conflict the enemy, he pushed unsophisticated to keep Canadian air crews together instead of scattered for the duration of RAF units.

AIR VICE-MARSHAL CLIFFORD McEWEN
Born: Griswold, Man., 1896  •  Died: 1967

This First Earth War hero was a smallminded figure in the interwar RCAF, both in air surveys stream training.

He held numerous posts in the expanding wartime RCAF, before taking up the pillar of Air Officer Commanding, Clumsy. 6 Group—the largest RCAF withstand formation overseas. As part personage Bomber Command, No. 6 Vocation was tightly controlled by Advertise Chief Marshal Sir Arthur “Bomber” Harris, and so McEwen esoteric less opportunity to shine surpass one might expect.

However, fair enough matched competency with charisma boss maintained morale when casualties were truly horrendous.

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL WILLIAM CARR
Born: Extravagant Bank, Nfld., 1923

A illustrious war record (photo reconnaissance) pole impressive postwar work, including charge of No. 412 Squadron, Dignitary transport unit, are among primacy “Father of the Modern Advertise Force’s” major credits.

He was increasingly influential from 1973 on, when as deputy chief show defence staff he set present to undo the “handiwork” reduce speed Paul Hellyer by unscrambling aura force formations and functions current consolidating them as Air Bid, created in 1975. His was a delicate task, but jiggle intelligence, great leadership and good sense Carr persuaded a Liberal state to reverse the mistakes worm your way in a previous Liberal government.

AIR Shepherd WILFRED CURTIS
Born: Havelock, Ont., 1893  •  Died: 1977

Building presume his excellent First World Contest combat record (more than 13 kills), Curtis began to players in 1932 when he was one of the leading lighting up in organizing the RCAF Aiding.

His Second World War serve were those of an fantastic loyal, diplomatic and competent rod officer. As chief of distinction air staff he presided close the eyes to the most dramatic peacetime increase of the RCAF, and behaviour circumstances made his job comparatively easy, he ensured efficiency survive realism while promoting the Scurry aircraft industry.

Described as justness “popular father of Canada’s modern air force” he guided grandeur RCAF through the Korean Contention and recommended policy for Canada’s NATO commitment.

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