GENERAL H.D.G. CRERAR
Born: Hamilton, Ont., 1888 • Died: 1965
A complex and ambitious leader, Crerar built and led the Second World War Canadian army from a force that had been largely forgotten in the interwar years. Not known as a skilled field commander, where he relied heavily on his staff and subordinate commanders, he knew how to weigh into bureaucratic battles. A veteran of both world wars, his planning in 1941 led to the First Canadian Army, comprised of five divisions and two armoured brigades. He urged the sending of troops to Hong Kong in 1941 and deployed Canadians to Dieppe in 1942. Both ended in disaster, but neither decision affected his career. Many times his relations with high-ranking leaders were strained to the breaking point. During the bloody Rhineland battles of 1945, he led an army of 350,000 men, the largest force ever to serve under a Canadian general.
GENERAL A.G.L. MCNAUGHTON
Born: Moosomin, 1887 • Died: 1966
His best moments came during the First World War when he helped develop the Canadian Corps’ sophisticated and highly successful counter-battery operations. Utilizing the full scope of his technical and scientific genius, air observation, flash-spotting and sound-ranging were used to destroy 83 per cent of the enemy’s artillery at Vimy Ridge. This saved the lives of many during the infantry assault. With charisma he commanded First Canadian Army in the Second World War, although with great difficulty, partly because he had little time for field exercises or the regular training of senior commanders. By the end of 1943, he was removed from command. His public service, however, continued well after a brief stint as defence minister, 1944-1945
LIEUTENANT GENERAL K. STUART
Born: Quebec, 1891 • Died: 1945
Lieutenant General Kenneth Stuart (September 9, 1891–November 3, 1945) was a Canadian soldier and Chief of the General Staff, the head of the Canadian Army from 24 December 1941 until 27 December 1943.
Stuart graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada in 1911. He served during World War I with the Royal Canadian Engineers from 1915 to 1918. In 1934 he was appointed instructor at the Royal Military College of Canada. Then in 1938 he was made Director of Military Operations & Intelligence at National Defence Headquarters.
He also served in World War II, initially as Commandant of the Royal Military College of Canada. He was made Deputy Chief General Staff in 1940, Vice Chief General Staff in 1941 and then Chief of the General Staff later that year.
In December 1943 he was appointed Acting General Officer Commanding First Canadian Army in England and then in March 1944 Chief of Staff at Canadian Military Headquarters in England.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL J.C. MURCHIE
Born: Edmundston, New Brunswick, 1895 • Died: 1966
Lieutenant General John Carl Murchie (June 7, 1895 – March 5, 1966) was a Canadian soldier and Chief of the General Staff, the head of the Canadian Army from December 27, 1943 until August 21, 1945.
Murchie graduated with a Military Qualification certificate from the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario in 1915 during World War I. He served with the Canadian Army in France from 1915 to 1917.
He also served in World War II and became a General Staff Officer at National Defence Headquarters in 1939. In 1940 he became Director of Military Operations and in 1941 he was made Director of Military Training & Staff Duties. Later that year he was appointed a Brigadier on the General Staff at Canadian Military Headquarters in England. He then went on to be Vice Chief of the General Staff in 1942. He served as Chief of the General Staff from 1944 until 1945 and retired in 1946.