The Generals: The Canadian Army's Senior Commanders in the Second World War (Beyond Boundaries: Canadian Defence and Strategic Studies)

390 Pages·2005·14.81 MB·English

by  J. L. Granatstein

Granatstein
THE GENER ALS
“The Generals is already a classic of
Canadian military history and will T
THE GENER A LS
long occupy shelf and store space as
a seminal study of Canadian army
H
leadership in the Second World War.”
David J. Bercuson
The Canadian Army’s Senior
“This is military history at its best.”
E Commanders in the Second World War
Globe and Mail
J.L. Granatstein
Originally published in 1993,
The Generals is a collective biography
G
of the Canadian army’s leaders in
the Second World War, and is the
winner of the Dafoe Book Prize for
International Relations and the UBC E
Medal for Canadian Biography. The
only book of its kind on this subject,
N
The Generals remains an invaluable
resource for academics, policy makers,
and anyone interested Canada’s
military history.
E
This new edition features an
introduction by Dr. David J. Bercuson,
Director of the Center for Military and R
Strategic Studies at the University of
Calgary.
A
J.L. Granatstein has established himself
as the pre-eminent authority on the
history of the Canadian military. He
L
has published extensively in such
areas as defence and foreign policy,
Canadian-American relations, politics, S
and the public service. He is an Offi cer
of the Order of Canada, and currently

serves as the Chair of the Advisory www.uofcpress.com
Council of the Canadian Defence and ISBN 1-55238-176-5
Foreign Affairs Institute.
BEYOND BOUNDARIES SERIES
ISSN 1716-2645
THE GENER ALS

THE GENER ALS
The Canadian Army’s Senior
Commanders in the Second World War
J.L. Granatstein
Beyond Boundaries series, No. 1
© 2005 J. L. Granatstein
Published by the University of Calgary Press
2500 University Drive NW Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
www.uofcpress.com
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Granatstein, J. L., 1939-
The generals : the Canadian army’s senior commanders in the Second
World War / J.L. Granatstein.
(Beyond boundaries)
First published: Toronto : Stoddart, 1993.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-55238-176-5
1. Generals—Canada—Biography. 2. World War, 1939-1945—Canada.
3. Canada—History, Military—20th century. 4. Royal Military College of
Canada—History—20th century. I. Title. II. Series.
U54.C2G73 2005 355.3’31’092271 C2005-902857-2
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consent of the publisher or a licence from The Canadian Copyright Licensing
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We acknowledge the fi nancial support of the Government of Canada through
the Book Publishing Industry Development Program (BPIDP) and the Alberta
Foundation for the Arts for our publishing activities.
Printed and bound in Canada by Hignell Printing
This book is printed on acid free Rolland Enviro Natural,
100% postconsumer waste fi bre paper
Cover design by Mieka West.

BEYOND BOUNDARIES SERIES ISSN 1716-2645
Canadian Defence and Strategic Studies
David Bercuson, general editor
Beyond the battlefi elds and bloodshed, this series provides readers with
narratives and analysis of the Canadian military. It takes an in-depth look
at a variety of topics from both an historical and a contemporary perspec-
tive, including defence policy and security issues, international and external
relations, and diplomacy and peacekeeping. Accounts of various military
campaigns and events are also included. While the impact of past strate-
gies and policies are still present, a new military history is also emerging
that embraces social, cultural, literary, and intellectual dimensions. Beyond
Boundaries will make substantive contributions to this new history while
drawing on the traditions of the past.
The Generals: The Canadian Army's Senior Commanders in the
Second World War J.L. Granatstein · No. 1
Art and Memorial: The Forgotten History of Canada's War Art Laura
Brandon · No. 2
contents
Abbreviations Found in the Text ix
Preface xi
Introduction xv
CHAPTER 1
introduction: the old army
3
CHAPTER 2
the old brigade
28
CHAPTER 3
McNAUGHTON: the god that failed
53
CHAPTER 4
crerar: ambition realized
83
CHAPTER 5
tommy burns: problems of personalty
116
CHAPTER 6
simonds: master of the battlefield
145
CHAPTER 7
matthews and hoffmeister: militia successes
179
CHAPTER 8
pope and stuart: soldiers and politicians
204
CHAPTER 9
the absence of francophone generals
237
CHAPTER 10
conclusion
258
APPENDIX A General Offi cers in the Second World War 269
APPENDIX B Key Army Positions in Canada and Overseas 272
APPENDIX C Army Offi cer Ranks 274
Notes 275
Selected List of Primary Sources 354
Index 361
ABBREVIATIONS FOUND IN THE TEXT
Amd Armoured
Bde Brigade
BGS Brigade General Staff
Cdn Canadian
CE Chief Engineer
CGS Chief of the General Staff
CIGS Chief of the Imperial General Staff
C-in-C Commander-in-Chief
CJWSC Canadian Junior War Staff Course
CMHQ Canadian Military Headquarters
CO Commanding Officer
Cof S Chief of Staff
Comd Commander
CCRA Commander Corps Royal Artillery
CRA Commander Royal Artillery
DA&QMG Deputy Adjutant and Quartermaster-General
Div Division
DND Department of National Defence
DOC District Officer Commanding
DSO Distinguished Service Order
DVA Department of Veterans Affairs
GOC General Officer Commanding
GOC-in-C General Officer Commanding-in-Chief
GSO General Staff Officer
HQ Headquarters
IDC Imperial Defence College