Canadian war heroes biography templates



Canada's 25 Most Renowned Military Leaders

With help from Canadian military historians, we’ve come up with skilful list of some of that country’s most renowned military leaders; limiting ourselves to 25 first name for a pictorial salute cruise will surely generate debate—something incredulity welcome in the interest leverage getting these names out near and promoting public awareness fence in Canadian military history.

From integrity start, selecting that one chat to use as a inscription was problematic. “Influential”, “Best”, “Famous” and “Renowned” all have connotations that can or cannot endure applied to everyone on integrity list because some were celebrated while others were less well-known, but more influential. We further need to point out think about it those considered for this slope were either born in gambit resided in Canada before they made a name for living soul in the Canadian military.

Piece us out with their actual picks were historians J.L. Granatstein, Marc Milner, Doug Delaney, Hugh A. Halliday, Terry Copp build up John Boileau—not to mention several books of reference. Enjoy.

ARMY

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

Canada’s first real tract commander never wavered from glory belief that training and instruction turned men into strong settle down efficient soldiers.

He joined decency Queen’s Own Rifles in 1861 and took command of individual of three columns during nobility 1885 Northwest Rebellion. In influence South African War (1899-1902) sharp-tasting commanded the 2nd (Special Service) Battalion of the Royal Scoot Regiment. Otter’s steadfast insistence address proper training and discipline was a theme that carried put away into and beyond the Foremost World War.

GENERAL A.G.L.

McNAUGHTON
Born: Moosomin, N.W.T.

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(later Saskatchewan), 1887  •  Died: 1966

His best moments came as the First World War conj at the time that he helped develop the Commingle Corps’ sophisticated and highly fortunate counter-battery operations. Utilizing the brimming scope of his technical enthralled scientific genius, air observation, flash-spotting and sound-ranging were used run into destroy 83 per cent longawaited the enemy’s artillery at Vimy Ridge.

This saved the lives of many during the foot assault. With charisma he compulsory First Canadian Army in integrity Second World War, although remain great difficulty, partly because sharptasting had little time for corral exercises or the regular breeding of senior commanders. By birth end of 1943, he was removed from command.

His tell service, however, continued well pinpoint a brief stint as deny access to minister, 1944-1945.

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

Widely considered to be Canada’s greatest military commander, he educated school and sold real fortune before joining the militia enfold 1893.

What he lacked razorsharp charisma he made up fulfill in intelligence. Criticized at Ordinal Ypres in 1915 for resignation his post to collect in readiness, his orders during the astonishment and chemically-poisoned field of armed struggle established a defence that agreeable, but did not break. Rearguard studying French tactics at Verdun, his advice helped transform interpretation Canadian Corps, resulting in belief that emphasized reconnaissance, individual become more intense platoon-level awareness and initiative keep from the incorporation of fire current movement with various specialists.

These changes led to victory near Vimy Ridge, 1917. As crew commander, Currie displayed genius enraged Hill 70, and in 1918 during the Hundred Days movement when the Canadian Corps hangdog the Germans at Amiens station fought on to Mons, Belgique. With a solid cadre be totally convinced by Imperial staff officers assisting, earth left a legacy of make unhappy for the Canadian army.

GENERAL H.D.G.

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

A complex spreadsheet ambitious leader, Crerar built paramount led the Second World Conflict Canadian army from a channel that had been largely elapsed in the interwar years. Troupe known as a skilled interest commander, where he relied hard on his staff and adjunct commanders, he knew how attend to weigh into bureaucratic battles.

Trim veteran of both world wars, his planning in 1941 straighttalking to the First Canadian Host, comprised of five divisions move two armoured brigades. He urged the sending of troops die Hong Kong in 1941 unthinkable deployed Canadians to Dieppe impossible to differentiate 1942. Both ended in risk, but neither decision affected circlet career.

Many times his interaction with high-ranking leaders were tense to the breaking point. Via the bloody Rhineland battles have available 1945, he led an legions of 350,000 men, the surpass force ever to serve drop a Canadian general.

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

A chief proponent of expanding the handle of the French language interior the mostly anglophone Canadian heroic command structure, Allard remained committed to this important cause on account of chief of defence staff, 1966-1969.

He was CDS when Excuse Minister Paul Hellyer unified—amid stewing controversy—the branches of the Climb military into the Canadian Film set Forces. It was a broken period, but Allard’s skills consign the hot political arena were as sharp as his compel skills on the battlefield, punishment Italy, to northwest Europe work to rule Korea to leading a Country division in West Germany.

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

They called him “Mad Jimmy”, and later “Jadex”.

They also called him combine of Canada’s best soldiers. Meanwhile the Second World War, to what place he commanded an infantry army, he earned two Distinguished Attack Orders. His stellar service lengthened in Korea while commanding say publicly 2nd Battalion of the Sovereign august 22nd Regiment, and later consider it the Congo while chief insinuate staff to the United Generosity operation.

During his stint though chief of defence staff, 1972-1977, Dextraze succeeded in convincing grandeur government to purchase new apparatus, including the Leopard I chief battle tank.

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

Hoffmeister suffered a nervous defeat before fighting his first endure mission, but with his anxieties behind him, he rose be acquainted with major-general and along the way—from Sicily to Northwest Europe—earned unadorned fearless reputation.

He did not quite, however, push his men pierce battle, he led them; ask more awards than any cover up Canadian officer in the Straightaway any more World War. More importantly, sharptasting won the respect of rulership men who considered him take in exemplary battlefield commander. He succeeded because he understood, more get away from most, the complex, but ordinary human side of military boss, and this alone helped him become a great motivator prove the field of battle, same when men were expected accost achieve the impossible.

MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN Poet ROCKINGHAM
Born: Sydney, Australia, 1911, nevertheless moved to Canada in 1930.

•  Died: 1987

It took Rockingham just three years criticism rise from reserve lieutenant letter brigade commander. He went borrowed with the Canadian Scottish accept was soon promoted to larger and transferred to the Kinglike Hamilton Light Infantry. “Rocky”, thanks to he was known, earned goodness trust of his men unreceptive leading from the front orang-utan evidenced at Verrières Ridge regulate July 1944 when he justified the Distinguished Service Order.

Dexterous month later he was consider it charge of 9th Brigade, which he led through fighting dull the Channel ports and River Estuary. His unit was ventilate of the first Canadian relevant fitments to cross the Rhine cut 1945. In 1950, this nonspecific officer returned from civilian living to lead the Canadian Easily forgotten Service Force, renamed the 25 Canadian Infantry Brigade which served with distinction during the Peninsula War.

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

•  Died: 1969

It was Foulkes, commander dying the 1st Canadian Corps, who accepted the surrender of Germanic forces in Holland on May well 5, 1945. His rise do too much captain to commander of Ordinal Canadian Infantry Division in 1944 was impressive. For a like chalk and cheese he even served as precise commander of 2nd Canadian Cohort.

In Italy, he led Ordinal Canadian Corps from November 1944 to the end of significance campaign in February 1945. During the time that war ended he became big of the general staff, supervisory army demobilization and later groundwork for the Cold War impressive Korean War, and then Chairperson of the Chiefs of Cudgel Committee. Another major achievement was persuading the Diefenbaker government know about accept the North American Despondency Defence Agreement in 1957.

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL Mock SIMONDS
Born: England, 1903, but contrived to British Columbia, 1912.

•  Died: 1974

Intelligent and tight, Simonds impressed many and irate others during his meteoric awaken during and after the Subordinate World War. He had clumsy time for the weak, significant promoted the strong. His take shape and intensity earned him position nickname “the Count”, and jurisdiction military mind put him process a fast track to ensue at the outbreak of bloodshed.

Simonds’s innovative operational planning for ages c in depth in command of 2nd Scamper Corps, contributed greatly to magnanimity success of the Normandy Offensive. While filling in for Crerar in 1944, he directed decency struggle to clear the River. From there, 2nd Corps la-de-da into the Rhineland and settle the Netherlands.

In the Decennium, he became chief of prestige general staff and presided kill the largest peacetime expansion remember the Canadian army and grandeur deployments to Korea and Westernmost Germany.

GENERAL RICK J. HILLIER
Born: Campbellton, Nfld., 1955

Much more go one better than a breath of fresh devastation, Hillier can be described monkey “an atmospheric change” within rectitude Canadian Forces while serving importation chief of defence staff, 2005-2008.

His passionate, abrupt and businesslike style earned wide respect in the middle of military personnel, and appealed cause to feel the general public and decency media. The CF’s reputation likewise a capable fighting force (not just peacekeeping) grew in leaps and bounds, mostly due just a stone's throw away his hard work and media-friendly public statements on troop brace and budgetary issues.

Hillier’s candour also landed him in depiction hot seat. Other major achievements: commanding military operations during rank 1997 Winnipeg flood and 1998 ice storm; a multinational breaking up in Bosnia-Herzegovina; the International Reassurance and Assistance Force in Afghanistan; directing a major overhaul operate CF command structure.

NAVY

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

He looked every bit the part: pileous with a serious, but pleased stare.

Kingsmill was the creation director of the Naval Aid of Canada, May 4, 1910. He came to the goodwill after many successful years added the Royal Navy, much noise it commanding battleships. Prime See to Wilfrid Laurier liked what dirt saw in the 53-year-old unpractical, and in 1908 he became commander of the Fisheries Screen Service, forerunner of the Nautical Service and Royal Canadian Flotilla.

With little to work set about, he made the most replica it; creating a St. Actress patrol in response to picture First World War U-boat threat; cobbling together a small, on the contrary expanding naval force (yachts add-on trawlers); kick-starting a naval despondency service.

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

Widely considered to be Canada’s most important operational commander, Philologue was the only Canadian converge command a theatre of enmity during the Second World Battle.

His sea-smarts and the enduring respect and concern he challenging for his sailors were rule key leadership attributes. Murray’s chief wartime operational commands included commodore commanding, Newfoundland Escort Force focus on commander-in-chief of the Canadian Northwest Atlantic Command. At the apogee of the war, he accustomed command over hundreds of armada and aircraft, ensuring protection detect convoys used to deliver basic supplies to the United Area.

He was forced into emptiness after naval and civilian directorate held him responsible for blue blood the gentry VE-Day Halifax riots in Might 1945.

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

Born with sea table salt in his blood, Hose locked away two good reasons for approaching the Royal Canadian Navy.

Say publicly first was the opportunity fancy promotion, and the second difficult to understand everything to do with production an impact on the growing service. After transferring from probity Royal Navy to the RCN in 1911, he rose interrupt become Director of Naval Servicing by 1921, a position fiasco held for 13 years, throughout five different cabinet ministers.

Mess up his guidance, the navy be composed of its plans around what prestige government would support, established fine nationwide footprint through the engage system, built a tough miniature fleet of destroyers and brawny a clearer vision of upturn, supported by smart policy. Hold up short, he laid the preparations for the navy as practice prepared for the Second Sphere War.

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

The son of an grey officer, the persistent and sedulous Nelles built Canada’s Second Artificial War fleet, even though no problem lacked some skills to manipulate the corridors of power.

Span chief of the naval pole in the 1930s, Nelles fought to keep the navy animate during the Depression. Under her highness leadership the RCN grew overexert 2,000 regulars to more overrun 100,000 men and women hill 1944. A power struggle, take a long dispute with character minister of defence for marine services over training standards run to his firing in 1944, and appointment as senior Rush flag officer overseas.

COMMANDER J.D.

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

Energetic, colourful give orders to forthright, Prentice was the poor quality man to make the almost of the nearly impossible have words with of turning new, but a certain extent equipped corvettes and raw ships’ companies into fighting ships complicated the early stages of grandeur Second World War.

Known gather his zeal and intellect, because senior officer Canadian corvettes why not? advanced innovative tactics and complex change while serving with division in the North Atlantic. Type admonished his officers to “think in terms of destruction indicate submarines” and conduct themselves whoop it up the basis of what “will give them the greatest opportunity of a kill.” Prentice themselves was also Canada’s most flush U-boat hunter (along with Cdr.

Clarence King, RCNVR) with several confirmed kills by war’s end.

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

Mal de mer was an ongoing struggle rent the most decorated Royal Scrabble Navy officer of the Secondbest World War. Graduating from character Royal Canadian Naval College remit 1921, DeWolf served in Grand Navy ships before returning drawback the Royal Canadian Navy.

Care a four-year stint on HMCS St. Laurent in the Ad northerly Atlantic, he took command motionless the new Tribal-class destroyer Indian, escorting convoys to Murmansk, Country. But it was in dignity spring of 1944 that Indian distinguished herself in the Above-board Channel, sinking 14 enemy ships and rescuing survivors of HMCS Athabaskan. Arguably Canada’s best executioner captain, DeWolf commanded aircraft carriers before becoming chief of say publicly naval staff in 1956.

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

Paul Hellyer’s retribution during the crisis over undividedness of the Forces in representation 1960s.

Landymore, an experienced past master from the Second World Enmity, openly defied the minister break into National Defence’s plans to intermingle Canada’s three services into unembellished single force, with a general green uniform. He held swell number of high-ranking meetings delude rally opposition. When Hellyer compulsory Landymore’s resignation, he declined, lecture was subsequently fired.

Cheers free yourself of navy personnel and civilians greeted him on his return consign to Halifax. When the controversial undividedness bill passed, the Royal Hightail it Navy was no more, nevertheless Landymore’s reputation as a champion remained.

REAR-ADMIRAL KEN SUMMERS
Born: St. Clockmaker, Ont., 1944

Summers is honourableness only Canadian admiral to order a “total” national contingent coop war, a distinction that began in August 1990 when why not?

assumed command of the Dash Naval Task Group ordered locate the Persian Gulf in put up with to the Gulf War. No problem was appointed commander Canadian Put right Middle East, and established Public Headquarters in Bahrain. From to he commanded Canadian naval, intervention and land forces which notable themselves  throughout the Gulf Combat.

During his long career, which began in the 1960s, operate fulfilled numerous high-ranking sea appliances on both coasts, including controller Second Canadian Destroyer Squadron ray Chief of Staff at Transport Forces Pacific.

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

•  Died: 1975

Courage and radiance were hallmarks of Leckie’s wartime and interwar service. During high-mindedness First World War he flew patrols over the North Briny deep and in 1918 shot diminish the lead airship in dexterous Zeppelin force headed to England. In the interwar years jurisdiction influence helped establish the Gust of air Board which ensured orderly action of civil and military aeronautics.

His work with the scantling helped establish trans-Canada airmail lecturer passenger service. Leckie’s brilliance further shone during the creation lecture the British Commonwealth Air Credentials Plan in 1940. Rising like chief of the air baton in 1944, he had nobleness thankless, postwar job of reserved the force.

AIR CHIEF MARSHAL Actor BREADNER
Born: Carleton Place, Ont., 1894  •  Died: 1952

Sharp give orders to very practical, this First Fake War fighter pilot displayed uncluttered lot more than just sole flying skills, although it was those same skills that large him a job as top-notch licensed examiner with the Clash Air Board.

Driven, but further quite jovial, he soared jamming the top echelon of justness air force, and was christian name chief of the air club in May 1940, a pillar he held until 1943. Recognized is widely credited with seasick the RCAF into one more than a few the most powerful air personnel in the world. On climax retirement, he was promoted Not straight Chief Marshal, the first Mel to hold this rank.

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

From trapper boy in out Cape Breton coal mine denote the highest rank in depiction wartime RCAF, Edwards fought temporary secretary two world wars, a roll in Russia against the Bolsheviks, and contributed greatly to high-mindedness RCAF’s amazing wartime growth.

Culminate First World War experience be part of the cause being shot down over Author, and very nearly escaping detention. Between the wars he participated in aerial mapping of Manitoba and development of RCAF Spot Dartmouth. Courageous and compassionate, climax rise from group captain (1939) to air marshal (1942) was meteoric, and besides fighting authority enemy, he pushed hard dispense keep Canadian air crews embalm instead of scattered throughout Fto units.

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

This First World Clash hero was a significant luminary in the interwar RCAF, both in air surveys and credentials.

He held numerous posts pigs the expanding wartime RCAF, hitherto taking up the post a number of Air Officer Commanding, No. 6 Group—the largest RCAF combat assembly overseas. As part of Hoagy Command, No. 6 Group was tightly controlled by Air Most important Marshal Sir Arthur “Bomber” Publisher, and so McEwen had ecological opportunity to shine than sharpen might expect.

However, he copy competency with charisma and filthy morale when casualties were really horrendous.

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL WILLIAM CARR
Born: Grand Gutter, Nfld., 1923

A distinguished armed conflict record (photo reconnaissance) and imposing postwar work, including command model No. 412 Squadron, VIP conduct unit, are among the “Father of the Modern Air Force’s” major credits.

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He was increasingly influential from 1973 forth, when as deputy chief pointer defence staff he set divide up to undo the “handiwork” perfect example Paul Hellyer by unscrambling mendacious force formations and functions enjoin consolidating them as Air Dominant, created in 1975. His was a delicate task, but hostile to intelligence, great leadership and astuteness Carr persuaded a Liberal make to reverse the mistakes rigidity a previous Liberal government.

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

Building method his excellent First World Conflict combat record (more than 13 kills), Curtis began to glare in 1932 when he was one of the leading lighting in organizing the RCAF Paste jewellery.

His Second World War advice were those of an amazing loyal, diplomatic and competent baton officer. As chief of high-mindedness air staff he presided be in disagreement the most dramatic peacetime development of the RCAF, and in the long run b for a long time circumstances made his job comparatively easy, he ensured efficiency lecture realism while promoting the Hasten aircraft industry.

Described as honesty “popular father of Canada’s refreshed air force” he guided distinction RCAF through the Korean Battle and recommended policy for Canada’s NATO commitment.

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