Geoffrey Walsh
Geoffrey Walsh | |
---|---|
Born | Brantford, Ontario, Canada | 19 August 1909
Died | 3 April 1999 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada[1] | (aged 89)
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/ | Canadian Army / Canadian Forces |
Rank | Lieutenant General |
Commands | Chief of the General Staff |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order Canadian Forces Decoration |
Lieutenant-General Geoffrey Walsh CBE, DSO, CD (19 August 1909 – 3 April 1999) was a Canadian soldier and Chief of the General Staff, the head of the Canadian Army from 1961 – 1964; Walsh was the last officer to hold this appointment as it was eliminated in 1964 as part of the reorganization of Canada's military in the lead-up to the 1968 unification of the Canadian Forces. The most senior army appointment after unification, the Commander of Mobile Command, had a much-reduced scope of authority.[2]
Military career
Educated at St Catherine's Collegiate School, Walsh was commissioned into the Royal Canadian Engineers in 1930.[3]
He served in World War II with the Canadian Army Service Force and took part in the Spitsbergen Raid in 1941.[3] In 1942 he transferred to the 1st Canadian Division and fought in Sicily and Italy. In 1944 he was made Commander Royal Engineers for 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division.[3]
After the war he was appointed Commander, Eastern Ontario Area, followed by Commander, 27th Brigade before his appointment as Director-General of Military Training.[3] In 1955 he was appointed Quartermaster-General of the Canadian Army and in 1959 he became General Officer Commanding, Western Command.[3] In 1961 he was made Chief of the General Staff and in 1964, became Vice Chief of the Defence Staff.[3]
Family
In 1935, he married Gwynn Abigail Currie with whom he had one son.[3]