Desmond Smith (Canadian Army officer)

Major-General James Desmond Blaise "Des" Smith, CBE, DSO, KStJ, CD (2 October 1911 – 11 October 1991) was a senior Canadian Army officer active in World War II, fighting in the Italian Campaign and Northwest Europe.

Desmond Smith
Birth nameJames Desmond Blaise Smith
Nickname(s)"Des"
Born(1911-10-02)2 October 1911
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Died11 October 1991(1991-10-11) (aged 80)
London, England
Buried
Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
45.4472°N 75.6625°W / 45.4472; -75.6625[1]
Allegiance Canada
Service/branch Canadian Army
Years of service1933–1962
RankMajor-General
UnitThe Royal Canadian Dragoons
Commands held5th Canadian Armoured Brigade
1st Canadian Infantry Division
Royal Military College of Canada
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsCBE, DSO, KStJ, CD

Early life and military career

Smith was born in Ottawa, Ontario on 2 October 1911.[2] He studied at the Royal Military College of Canada and graduated in 1933.[2] On graduation he was promoted to lieutenant and attached to the Royal Canadian Dragoons.[3] He served in the infantry, and was called overseas in 1940 as a staff officer with the 1st Canadian Infantry Division, then stationed in the United Kingdom.[2] He became a brigadier in 1943 and commanded the 5th Canadian Armoured Brigade in both the Italian and Northwest Europe Campaigns.[4] He returned to Canada in 1945, and took over command of the Royal Military College.[4] During the 1950s, he commanded Canadian forces in Europe as part of NATO. He retired in 1962, to start work in the private sector, eventually moving to England. He retired in 1986, and died in London a few days after his 80th birthday in 1991.

World War II

Captain Smith's World War II overseas service began when the Royal Canadian Dragoons were sent to England, as part of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division. Smith earned his promotion from captain to major due to breaking the rules.[3] He was ordered to get winter gear for troops that would be deployed in Norway. Finding nothing suitable, he just ordered proper gear from a company named Lilywhite's. Smith was summoned to appear before Major-General McNaughton because of the unauthorised expense; but instead of having to pay personally for the bill, he received a promotion.[3] He ended his wartime career as Brigadier of the 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade.[3]

Post-war military career

Between 1945 and his military retirement in 1962, Smith held several positions in Canada and the United Kingdom. His first peace time job was at his alma mater the Royal Military College. He commanded the college till 1947. In the period 1958–1962, Smith was Adjutant-General of the Canadian Army in Ottawa. In the meantime he held, amongst others, the position as chairman of the Canadian Joint Staff with the NATO. He was forced to leave the Army on Prime Minister John Diefenbaker's instance, due to an extra-marital affair that became public knowledge.[5]

Post-war civil career

Smith moved to England in 1962. After several minor jobs he joined Pillar Holdings in 1964. He was responsible for the engineering branch of that company: Pillar Engineering Limited.[6] In 1986 he retired from his civil job, only to be appointed as the first Canadian member of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.[2]

Personal

Smith was married twice, first Miriam Blackburn, until her death in 1969, and then to Belle Shenkman, a member of the Order of Canada.[4][7] He had two sons from his first marriage, James and Stephen George Smith.[8] He died in a hospital in London, England on 11 October 1991.[8] There was first a memorial in London, and then a state funeral in Canada's capital city, Ottawa.[8]

Senior military positions held
From To Unit Role Rank
12 September 1940 25 November 1940 1 Canadian Infantry Division General staff Officer 2 Major
18 May 1941 12 February 1942 2 Canadian Armoured Brigade Brigade Major Major
13 February 1942 28 June 1942 1 Armoured Car Regiment Commanding Officer Lieutenant-Colonel
29 June 1942 5 May 1943 5 Canadian Armoured Division General staff Officer 1 Lieutenant-Colonel
6 May 1943 22 February 1944 4 Canadian Armoured Brigade Officer Commanding Brigadier
23 February 1944 6 June 1944 5 Canadian Armoured Brigade Officer Commanding Brigadier
7 June 1944 11 November 1944 I Canadian Corps Brigadier General Staff Brigadier
12 November 1944 5 December 1944 1 Canadian Infantry Division Acting General Officer Commanding Brigadier
9 December 1944 6 May 1945 1 Canadian Infantry Brigade Officer Commanding Brigadier
7 June 1945 15 August 1945  ? Comandant of a brigade training for the war with Japan[2] Brigadier
1945 1946 Royal Military College Commandant Brigadier
1946  ? Government Military Secretary to the Cabinet Defence Committee[2] Brigadier
 ? 1951 Canadian Army Quartermaster general[2] Major General
1951 August 1954 Canadian Joint Staff in London chairman of the Canadian Joint Staff in London, and Canadian National Military Representative to SHAPE[2] Major General
August 1954 1958 National Defence College Commandant[2] Major General
1958 1962 Canadian Army Headquarter Adjutant-general of the Canadian Army[2] Major General
30 November 1961 1962 The Canadian Guards Colonel, The Canadian Guards[9][10] Major General

References
  1. Byzewski, Marty (2011). "Beechwood Cemetery Ottawa, Ontario, Canada". Interment.net. Archived from the original on 22 November 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  2. Edwards, Victoria (24 February 2009). "XVIII Commandant RMC: 1945 to 1946". e-Veritas: The Newsletter of the RMC club of Canada. Kingston, Ontario. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  3. Granatstein, Jack (1993). The Generals: the Canadian Army's Senior Commanders in the Second World War. Toronto: Stoddard. p. 53. ISBN 0-7737-2730-2.
  4. "Obituary: Maj.-Gen. Desmond Smith won medal for leadership". Toronto Star. Toronto. 12 October 1991. p. A20.
  5. Davis, David Twiston (1996). Canada from Afar: The Daily Telegraph Book of Canadian Obituaries. Toronto: Dundurn Press. pp. 166–168. ISBN 1-55002-252-0.
  6. Hall of Valour
  7. "Belle Shenkman-Smith, C.M., LL.B." It's an Honour, The Order of Canada. Ottawa: Governor General of Canada. 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
  8. "Obituary: Smith, Major-General James Desmond Blaise". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. 12 October 1991. p. E8.
  9. Standing order forewords
  10. Orders of Battle
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