Bio of Canadian General Harry Crerar

General Henry Duncan Graham (‘Harry’) CRERAR, CH, CB, DSO, CD

Born: 28 April 1888 Hamilton, Ontario
Died: 01 April 1965 Ottawa, Ontario

Promotions
24/06/1909 Lt 4th Field Battery Canadian Artillery (CA)
22/09/1914 Captain 11th Battery Canadian Artillery
15/08/1915 Temp Major CO 10th Battery Canadian Artillery
07/12/1915 Captain Reverts to Captain
25/03/1916 Temp Major Brigade Major 11th Battery Canadian Artillery
19/07/1916 Temp Major CA
10/04/1917 Acting LCol CA
01/05/1917 Temp Major CA
10/11/1918 Brevet LCol CA
10/11/1918 Temp LCol CA
01/04/1920 Major RCA
01/01/1923 Temp LCol RCA
15/08/1938 Colonel RCA
15/08/1938 T/Brigadier Commandant RMC
25/01/1940 A/MGen VCDS
19/11/1941 LGen GOC – 1st Canadian Corps
20/03/1944 General GOC – 1st Canadian Army

Civilian
1909 Ontario Hydro-Electric Commission, Toronto

Military
20/08/1906 Officer Cadet Royal Military College 1906 to 1909
01/06/1909 Lieutenant 4th Field Battery Cdn Artillery Hamilton (Militia)
14/10/1914 Captain Overseas with 1st Contingent 11th Battery, 3 Brigade CFA
11/07/1915 Temp Major Acting Commander 10th Battery Cdn Field Artillery France
22/07/1916 Captain End Acting Commander 10th Battery Cdn Field Artillery
15/08/1915 Temp Major Acting Commander 10th Battery Cdn Artillery France
07/12/1915 Captain Reverts to Captain Seniority 22/09/1914 LG 26/01/1917+
25/03/1916 Major Promoted Temporary Major LG 05/09/1916+
06/07/1917 Major Brigade Major, 11th Battery, 3rd Brigade Cdn Field Artillery
01/03/1917 Major Brigade Major, 11th Battery, 1st Brigade Cdn Field Artillery
19/06/1917 Major Brigade Major, 11th Battery, 8th Army Brigade, CFA
17/08/1917 Major Brigade Major 5th Canadian Division Artillery France
21/06/1918 Major Staff Course England
15/07/1918 Major Staff Officer, Royal Artillery, Canadian Corps
10/10/1918 Brevet LCol Counter Battery Staff Officer/CBSO Cdn Corps France
09/02/1919 Brevet LCol To Canada – General Staff
18/08/1920 Major Staff Officer Artillery - Reorganization Plans
04/06/1923 LCol Staff College in Camberley
01/04/1925 LCol GSO2 War Office London
01/04/1927 LCol Officer Commanding B Battery RCHA
01/01/1928 LCol Professor of Tactics RMC
30/04/1929 LCol GSO1 NDHQ working on reorganization of Cdn Militia
15/02/1932 LCol Canadian Representative Geneva Disarmament Conference
18/12/1933 LCol Local LCol on Military Duty in the United Kingdom
01/05/1934 LCol Imperial Defence College London
01/01/1935 LCol Director of Military Operations & Intelligence
14/05/1937 LCol Canadian Representative London Imperial Conference
15/08/1938 BGen Commandant RMC
14/10/1939 BGen Brigadier General Staff CMHQ London
01/03/1940 MGen Mobilization Plans at NDHQ
06/07/1940 MGen Vice-Chief of General Staff Ottawa
22/07/1940 MGen Chief of General Staff Ottawa
23/12/1941 LGen GOC - 2nd Cdn Infantry Div (never actually in command)
06/04/1942 LGen GOC – 1st Canadian Corps
01/11/1943 LGen GOC – 1st Canadian Corps in Italy
20/03/1944 General GOC – 1st Canadian Army
30/07/1945 General Retires
01/08/1947 General Head of Canadian Mission on Japanese Peace Settlement
19/06/1952 General Appointed ADC General to the Queen

Honours
CG 07/07/1945 CH Companion of Honour
CG 09/01/1943 CB Companion of the Order of the Bath
CG 01/09/1917 DSO Distinguished Service Order
CG 17/03/1945 Commander Legion of Merit (USA)
CG 28/07/1945 Medal Distinguished Service Medal (USA)
CG 29/09/1945 Grand Officer Order of Leopold (Belgium)
CG 29/09/1945 Croix Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm (Belgium)
CG 04/11/1944 5th Class Order of Virtuti Militari (Poland)
CG 02/11/1946 Order Order of the White Lion for Victory (Czechoslovakia)
CG 05/10/1946 1st Class Order of the White Lion (Czechoslovakia)
CG 14/04/1945 Commander Legion of Honour (France)
CG 14/04/1945 Croix Croix de Guerre avec Palme en Bronze (France)
CG 28/07/1945 Grand Cross Order of Orange Nassau with Swords (Netherlands)
CG 04/10/1945 1st Class Order of Kutozov (USSR)
LG 19/05/1945+ MID Mentioned-in-Despatches
LG 23/06/1945+ MID Mentioned-in-Despatches
LG 02/04/1946+ MID Mentioned-in-Despatches
LG 04/04/1946+ MID Mentioned-in-Despatches
LG 07/01/1955 KStJ Knight of the Order of St. John

Source :
"Canadian Generals in World War II"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Crerar_e010750463-v8.jpg

Harry Crerar and Tommy Burns in Italy

Two of the Canadian Army’s prominent intellectuals from the inter-war years, from left to right: Lieutenant-Colonel (later General) H.D.G. Crerar and Lieutenant-Colonel (later Lieutenant-General) E.L. M. Burns, pictured here in Italy, 1944. "Tommy" Burns was one of those rare individuals who rose to command a corps in wartime. He had gained valuable combat experience during the First World War, and he had been decorated for gallantry in the field. He had a proven intellect and was constantly looking forward, advocating development and changes, and providing specific doctrine to implement those changes. He was able to debate his recommendations and views with the best military thinkers of the time, and he was able hold his ground while doing so. He was properly schooled in military staff work, having progressed with distinction though various British and Indian staff schools and colleges. His peacetime rise through the ranks and his key staff appointments provided the experience necessary to support a commander’s intent with the necessary orders and instructions. What he lacked was the somewhat intangible training to command at a high level: the necessary command presence to engender the confidence of his superiors and subordinates when he was given a golden opportunity. Burns was also not afforded an opportunity to command a brigade or a division in combat, prior to having command of a corps in battle thrust upon him. He was also in the unfortunate position of being the pawn in a political battle whereby his superior, Lieutenant- General Leese, did not want another corps headquarters, especially one that was a division short in establishment.

Source :
"Corps Commanders: Five British and Canadian Generals at War, 1939-45" by Douglas E. Delaney
http://www.journal.forces.gc.ca/vo7/no1/history-histoire-eng.asp

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/

Seafort Highlander Officers in Sicily

Lieutenant-Colonel Bert Hoffmeister (left), wearing his Seaforth Highlander balmoral and shoulder flash in Sicily, summer of 1943. Hoffmeister won a Distinguished Service Order for his actions in Sicily. Here he sits with a Major Wood, who wears a Black Watch Canada balmoral and shoulder flash, but oddly wears a 1st Division red patch. The Black Watch were part of Canadian 2nd Division. Perhaps he is temporarily attached? On 25 August 1943 in Sicily, The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada held a “reunion” with three Seaforth units from the United Kingdom – the 2nd, 5th and 6th Battalions, Seaforth Highlanders. Ceremonies opened with the massed pipes and drums of the four battalions marching to the Catania Stadium for the sounding of Retreat. According to the regimental diary it was “a never to be forgotten sight, that kilted phalanx walking through Catania with local populace agape with wonder and admiration.” Afterwards a party ensued at a villa in nearby Misterbianco which housed the officers’ and sergeants’ messes of the 6th Battalion. The C.O. of the Canadian Seaforths (Lt-Col Hoffmeister) toasted the three British battalions with an uplifting speech said “to reach the hearts of all Seaforths present.”

Source :
http://mapleleafup.tumblr.com/page/7

King George VI during Award Ceremony for Canadian Soldiers

The King of the Great Britain, George VI (center), with the commander of the 1st Canadian Corps, General-Lieutenant Edson Tommy Burns on the right (partly in the frame), and the commander of the 5th Canadian Armoured Division, Major-General Bert Hoffmeister (2nd from right), in Italy on the day of the award ceremony for the Canadian soldiers and officers, who distinguished themselves in combat, 31 July 1944. On 18 July 1944 the 8th Army directed 1st Canadian Corps to begin concentrating in secret near Perugia, in anticipation that they would continue offensive operations by the Army and break through the Gothic Line. The Canadian Corps' role in the attack was to take over the eastern flank of the 10th Corps in the Central Appenines, permitting the 10th and 13th Corps to concentrate for the main assault. In the meantime, the 1st Canadian Division was to reinforce the 13th Corps at Florence. Following a Royal Visit on 31 July 1944, the 1st Division began moving from the Volturno Valley, followed by the remainder of the Corps. Elaborate deception schemes and rigorous security was enforced to hide the move. Unit flashes (as well as the distinctive ribbon of the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal) were stripped from uniforms and identification symbols were removed from vehicles while enemy intelligence was provided false information in hopes of convincing them they Corps was concentrating behind the 2nd Polish Corps.

Source :
https://www.canadiansoldiers.com/history/battlehonours/italiancampaign/florence.htm
https://id.pinterest.com/pin/560698222328858522/?lp=true

General Bert Hoffmeister with his Sherman Tank

Major-General Bertram Meryl "Bert" Hoffmeister (Commander of the 5th Canadian Armored Division) in Italy, May 1944. Hoffmeister wears a distinctive British black beret of armored troops, along with the insignia for Generals. He wears a USA shirt with official shoulder straps, while on the shoulder pads he wears the sleeve with the Major-General stripes edged in red, the distinctive color of the Staff Corps. Collar badge is for General-officer and Field Marshalls. Patch with the purple color of the 5th Armored Division, next to the Canadian badge. Behind him is a M4 Sherman tank, nicknamed "Vancouver". USA-made shirts in the Canadian army and other armies in Italian front are in common use. Major-General Hoffmeister is widely considered to be the best of the Canadian general officers who served during the Second World War. His first medal ribbon is interesting, in that it signifies a tied – record three awards of the Distinguished Service Order for a Canadian soldier with General Jean Victor Allard.

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Hoffmeister
http://www.journal.forces.gc.ca/vo7/no1/history-histoire-eng.asp
http://www.panzernet.com/foro4/showthread.php?11073-Uniformes-mezclados/page3
https://www.trendsmap.com/twitter/tweet/996422264047333376

General Harry Crerar Just Before Going to France in 1944

General Henry "Harry" Crerar (chief of the First Canadian Army) just before going to France in 1944. He wears an "Irving" Model 1940 flight jacket of the RAF. The visor cap with the red tape is prescribed for Colonels to Field Marshals. He wears a badge cap for Generals, otherwise his pants, gaiters and boots is typical Canadian or British. Such is the popularity of flight leather garments that it can be considered that any soldiers or officers of any nations, branches, Corps or Army will acquire them as soon as possible, with famous cases like those of Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Field Marshal Bernard L. Montgomery or Harold Alexander, General George S. Patton, or SS officer Joachim "Jochen" Peiper. Those are a very few cases that can be cited.

Source :
http://www.journal.forces.gc.ca/vol18/no3/eng/page26-eng.asp
http://www.panzernet.com/foro4/showthread.php?11073-Uniformes-mezclados/page3