Appendix F: Persons Holding Principal Appointments Canadian Army 1939–1945*
The list of appointments for the Canadian Army Overseas ends with the cessation of hostilities against Germany; that of appointments in Canada continues until the surrender of Japan. The only staff appointments in Canada included are the Heads of Branches at NDHQ Officers are shown with rank and decorations as of the day on which they relinquished the appointments concerned. Names of officers who held acting appointments or were detailed temporarily to command are not shown unless they were subsequently confirmed in the appointments. No distinction is made between acting and confirmed rank.
Appointments in Canada (to 14 Aug. 45)
Minister of National Defence
Hon. Ian A. Mackenzie – 23 Oct. 35–19 Sep. 39
Hon. Norman McL. Rogers – 19 Sep. 39–10 Jun. 40
Col. the Hon. J. L. Ralston, CMG, DSO – 5 Jul. 40–2 Nov. 44
Gen. the Hon. A. G. L. McNaughton, CB, CMG, DSO – 2 Nov. 44–21 Aug. 45
Deputy Minister (Army)†
Maj. Gen. L. R. La Fleche, DSO – 3 Nov. 32–16 Oct. 40
Lt. Col. H. DesRosiers, CMG, DSO, VD – 8 Sep. 39–31 Aug. 45
Lt. Col. G. S. Currie, CMG, DSO, MC – 1 Sep. 42–30 Sep. 44
A. Ross, Esq., CM – G1 Oct. 44–13 Jan. 47
Chief of the General Staff
Maj. Gen. T. V. Anderson, DSO – 21 Nov. 38–21 Jul. 40
Lt. Gen. H. D. G. Crerar, DSO – 22 Jul. 40–23 Dec. 41
Lt. Gen. K. Stuart, CB, DSO, MC – 24 Dec. 41–26 Dec. 43
Lt. Gen. J. C. Murchie, CB, CBE – 3 May 44–20 Aug. 45
Vice Chief of the General Staff
Maj. Gen. H. D. G. Crerar, DSO – 6 Jul. 40–21 Jul. 40
Maj. Gen. K. Stuart, DSO, MC – 13 Mar. 41–23 Dec. 41
Maj. Gen. M. A. Pope, MC – 24 Dec. 41–14 Feb. 42
Maj. Gen. J. C. Murchie, CBE – 15 Feb. 42–2 May 44
Maj. Gen. R. B. Gibson, CB, CBE, VD – 5 Sep. 44–2 Feb. 46
Adjutant General
Maj. Gen. H. H. Matthews, CMG, DSO – 15 Aug. 38–8 Apr. 40
Maj. Gen. B. W. Browne, DSO, MC – 6 Jul. 40–1 Feb. 42
Maj. Gen. H. F. G. Letson, CBE, MC, ED – 2 Feb. 42–30 Sep. 44
Maj. Gen. A. E. Walford, CB, CBE, MM, ED – 1 Oct. 44–4 Jan. 46
*Adapted from Appendix A, The Canadian Army 1939–1945: An Official Historical Summary.
†When war was declared, the Department of National Defence had a single Deputy Minister-Maj. Gen. La Fleche. Although not actively employed as such from 8 Sep 39, he continued to hold this appointment until 16 Oct 40. He was on sick leave from 8 Sep 39 to 17’ Jan 40; was appointed Military Attaché in Paris on 18 Jan 40; and became Associate Minister of National War Services on 17 Oct 40. Lt. Col. DesRosiers was appointed an “Associate Acting Deputy Minister” of National Defence and detailed to carry out those duties in respect to the Militia Service usually performed by the Deputy Minister. On 1 Sep 42, Lt. Col. Currie became a Deputy Minister (Army). At the same time Lt. Col. DesRosiers’ appointment was changed from that of an Associate Acting Deputy Minister to Deputy Minister (Army).
Quartermaster General
Maj. Gen. H. F. H. Hertzberg, CMG, DSO, MC (acting from 15 Aug. 38) – 21 Nov. 38–8 Apr. 40
Maj. Gen. E. J. C. Schmidlin, MC (acting from 9 Apr. 40) – 24 Jul. 40–12 Jan. 42
Maj. Gen. J. P. Mackenzie, DSO – 2 Feb. 42–6 May 43
Maj. Gen. H. Kennedy, CBE, MC – 7 May 43–15 Sep. 44
Maj. Gen. H. A. Young, CBE, DSO – 16 Sep. 44–29 Mar. 46
Master General of the Ordnance
Maj. Gen. W. H. P. Elkins, CBE, DSO (acting from 7 Oct. 38) – 9 Nov. 38–31 Jul. 40
P. A. Chester, Esq. – 15 Aug. 40–30 Nov. 40
V. Sifton, Esq., CBE – 1 Dec. 40–30 Jun. 42
Maj. Gen. J. V. Young, CBE – 1 Jul. 42–30 Jun. 45
Maj. Gen. J. H. MacQueen, CBE – 1 Jul. 45–6 Apr. 47
GOC-in-C Atlantic Command
Maj. Gen. W. H. P. Elkins, CB, CBE, DSO – 1 Aug. 40–15 Jul. 43
Maj. Gen. L. F. Page, CB, DSO – 16 Jul. 43–26 Aug. 44
GOC-in-C. Pacific Command
Maj. Gen. R. O. Alexander, DSO – 17 Oct. 40–30 Jun. 42
Maj. Gen. G. R. Pearkes, VC, CB, DSO, MC – 2 Sep. 42–15 Feb. 45
Maj. Gen. F. F. Worthington, CB, MC, MM – 1 Apr. 45–22 Jan. 46
Home Defence Formations
GOC 6th Division
Maj. Gen. A. E. Potts, CBE, ED – 20 May 42–11 Oct. 43
Maj. Gen. H. N. Ganong, CBE – 16 Oct. 43–15 Dec. 44
GOC 7th Division
Maj. Gen. P. E. Leclerc, CBE, MM, ED – 20 May 42–15 Oct. 43
GOC 8th Division
Maj. Gen. H. N. Ganong . – 11 Jul. 42–15 Oct. 43
Commander Combined Newfoundland and Canadian Military Forces Newfoundland
Brig. P. Earnshaw, DSO, MC – 16 Oct. 40–24 Dec. 41
Maj. Gen. L. F. Page, CB, DSO – 25 Dec. 41–5 Jul. 43
Maj. Gen. F. R. Phelan, DSO, MC, VD – 6 Jul. 43–15 Oct. 43
Maj. Gen. P. E. Leclerc, CBE, MM, ED – 16 Oct. 43–15 Dec. 44
Maj. Gen. H. N. Ganong, CBE – 16 Dec. 44–31 May 45
Canadian Army Overseas (to 8 May 45)
Canadian Military Headquarters, London
Senior Combatant Officer
Maj. Gen. H. D. G. Crerar, DSO – 17 Oct. 39–5 Jul. 40*
Maj. Gen. the Hon. P. J. Montague, CMG, DSO, MC, VD – 6 Jul. 40–26 Dec. 43
Chief of Staff
Lt. Gen. K. Stuart, CB, DSO, MC – 27 Dec. 43–11 Nov. 44
Lt. Gen. the Hon. P. J. Montague, CB, CMG, DSO, MC, VD – 22 Nov. 44–17 Sep. 45
* General Crerar was first appointed to CMHQ as “Brigadier, General Staff”.
Major General in Charge of Administration
Maj. Gen. the Hon. P. J. Montague, CB, CMG, DSO, MC, VD – 27 Dec. 43.-21 Nov. 44
Maj. Gen. E. G. Weeks, CBE, MC, MM – 0 Nov. 44–15 Oct. 45
First Canadian Army
GOC-in-C First Canadian Army
Lt. Gen. A. G. L. McNaughton, CB, CMG, DSO – 6 Apr. 42–26 Dec. 43
Gen. H. D. G. Crerar, CH, CB, DSO – 20 Mar. 44–30 Jul. 45
GOC 1st Canadian Corps
Lt. Gen. A. G. L. McNaughton, CB, CMG, DSO – 19 Jul. 40–5 Apr. 42*
Lt. Gen. H. D. G Crerar, CB, DSO (detailed temporarily to command from 23 Dec. 41) – 6 Apr. 42–19 Mar. 44
Lt. Gen. E. L. M. Burns, DSO, OBE, MC – 20 Mar. 44–5 Nov. 44
Lt. Gen. C. Foulkes, CB, CBE, DSO . – 10 Nov. 44–17 Jul. 45
GOC 2nd Canadian Corps
Lt. Gen. E. W. Sansom, CB, DSO – 15 Jan. 43–29 Jan. 44
Lt. Gen. G. G. Simonds, CB, CBE, DSO – 30 Jan. 44–25 Jun. 45
GOC 1st Canadian Infantry Division
Lt. Gen. A. G. L. McNaughton, CB, CMG, DSO – 17 Oct. 39–19 Jul. 40†
Maj. Gen. G. R. Pearkes, VC, DSO, MC – 20 Jul. 40–1 Sep. 42
Maj. Gen. H. L. N. Salmon, MC – 8 Sep. 42–29 Apr. 43
Maj. Gen. G. G. Simonds, CBE, DSO – 29 Apr. 43–31 Oct. 43
Maj. Gen. C. Vokes, CBE, DSO – 1 Nov. 43–30 Nov. 44
Maj. Gen. H. W. Foster, CBE, DSO – 1 Dec. 44–15 Sep. 45
GOC 2nd Canadian Infantry Division
Maj. Gen. V. W. Odium, CB, CMG, DSO, VD – 20 May 40–6 Nov. 41
Maj. Gen. H. D. G. Crerar, DSO – 23 Dec. 41–5 Apr. 42§
Maj. Gen. J. H. Roberts, DSO, MC (acting from 7 Nov. 41) – 6 Apr. 42–12 Apr. 43
Maj. Gen. G. G. Simonds, CBE – 13 Apr. 43–28 Apr. 43
Maj. Gen. E. L. M. Burns, OBE, MC – 6 May 43–10 Jan. 44
Maj. Gen. C. Foulkes, CBE – 11 Jan. 44–9 Nov. 44
Maj. Gen. A. B. Matthews, CBE, DSO, ED – 10 Nov. 44–6 Oct. 45
GOC 3rd Canadian Infantry Division
Maj. Gen. E. W. Sansom, DSO – 26 Oct. 40–13 Mar. 41
Maj. Gen. C. B. Price, DSO, DCM, VD – 14 Mar. 41–7 Sep. 42
Maj. Gen. R. F. L. Keller, CBE – 8 Sep. 42–8 Aug. 44
Maj. Gen. D. C. Spry, DSO – 18 Aug. 44–22 Mar. 45
Maj. Gen. R. H. Keefler, CBE, DSO, ED – 23 Mar. 45–19 Nov. 45
GOC 4th Canadian Armoured Division
Maj. Gen. L. F. Page, DSO – 10 Jun. 41–24 Dec. 41
Maj. Gen. F. F. Worthington, CB, MC, MM – 2 Feb. 42–29 Feb. 44
Maj. Gen. G. Kitching, DSO – 1 Mar. 44–21 Aug. 44
Maj. Gen. H. W. Foste – 22 Aug. 44–30 Nov. 44
Maj. Gen. C. Vokes, CBE, DSO – 1 Dec. 44–5 Jun. 45
* General McNaughton actually relinquished active command of the Canadian Corps on 14 Nov. 41 as the result of an illness. When recovered he left on a visit to Canada, and on returning to England took command of First Canadian Army.
† Maj. Gen. McNaughton was promoted Lt. Gen. 10 Jul 40 and appointed to command the 7th Corps 19 Jul. 40.
§ General Crerar never actually commanded the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division as on the same day on which he was appointed he was detailed temporarily to command the Canadian Corps.
GOC 5th Canadian Armoured Division
Maj. Gen. E. W. Sansom, DSO – 14 Mar. 41–14 Jan. 43
Maj. Gen. C. R. S. Stein – 15 Jan. 43–18 Oct. 43
Maj. Gen. G. G. Simonds, CBE, DSO – 1 Nov. 43–29 Jan. 44
Maj. Gen. E. L. M. Burns, OBE, MC – 30 Jan. 44–19 Mar. 44
Maj. Gen. B. M. Hoffmeister, CB, CBE, DSO, ED – 20 Mar. 44–6 Jun. 45