Brigadier Tom Rutherford in Front of a Sherman Tank

Canadian Brigadier Thomas John "Uncle Tom" Rutherford (16 January 1893), Commander of the 1st Armoured Brigade, stands in front of a M4A4 Sherman tank of the Canadian Army. As a senior brigade commander, Rutherford satisfied his combat cravings by visiting units in the field as often as possible “to test out our training and gain experience for further training by acting as a member of tank crews in action,” he wrote in his memoirs. But his job proved far more involved and varied than that. After nearly two years with the 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade, he took over the 11th Canadian Infantry Brigade. He later returned to the armoured corps and commanded a reinforcement units brigade group. His tasks included giving rehabilitation instruction to men who were being sent home from the war. It was a job Rutherford took particularly seriously. The government’s failure to properly look after its First World War veterans had inspired Rutherford and others to found the Canadian Legion to advocate for veterans and he was determined that it not happen again. A stint as deputy commander of Canadian forces in the Netherlands brought Rutherford’s negotiating skills to the fore, as he helped to arrange for the departure of Canada’s soldiers from that country. “It allowed us to get out without further complications and with the good will of our friends, the people of Holland,” he wrote. Despite his increasing responsibility, Rutherford was never promoted beyond the rank of brigadier. But he didn’t aspire to loftier positions. “I never was ambitious to play on the larger board,” he wrote. “I wanted to lead men, not to move units or formations. Perhaps that was why I lasted so long as I am quite sure that no senior officer ever was jealous of me or got any idea that I was out after his job but only doing my best where I was. I felt very, very fortunate always to be where I was so long as I could please my superiors which I seemed to be able to do.” This was recognized when, in 1945, Rutherford was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Only 481 Canadians have ever been appointed CBE in the chivalric order.

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/commonwealthforces/posts/brig-gen-thomas-john-rutherford-cbe-ed-an-amazing-lifethomas-j-uncle-tom-rutherf/929839640431102/
https://greyroots.pastperfectonline.com/byperson?keyword=Rutherford%2C+Thomas+J.
https://jonathonjackson.wordpress.com/2012/11/27/remembering-brig-tom-rutherford/
http://www.theshermantank.com/2016/01/26/