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Crerar, Henry Duncan Graham "Harry"

    Date of birth:
    April 28th, 1888 (Hamilton/Ontario, Canada)
    Date of death:
    April 1st, 1965 (Ottawa/Ontario, Canada)
    Nationality:
    Canadian

    Biography

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    Period:
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Rank:
    Major
    Awarded on:
    July 1st, 1917
    Mentioned in Dispatches
    Period:
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Rank:
    Major
    Awarded on:
    June 4th, 1917
    Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
    Rank:
    Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel
    Awarded on:
    1935
    King George V's Silver Jubilee Medal 1935
    Rank:
    Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel
    Awarded on:
    1937
    King George VI Coronation Medal
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Lieutenant-general
    Unit:
    I Canadian Corps, Canadian Army
    Awarded on:
    January 1st, 1943
    "This officer proceeded Overseas in the fall of 1939, as B.G.S., Canadian Headquarters. He was largely responsible for its early organization and development, and the efficiency at the present time is in a large measure due to his skill and forethought in the early organization stage. He returned to Canada in July, 1940, becoming Vice Chief of the General Staff and subsequently Chief of the General Staff. The arduous duties of this office were discharted with outstanding ability. He returned to the United Kingdom in December, 1941, as G.O.C., 2 Canadian Division. He had been A/Commander and Commander, First Canadian Corps since December, 1941. He has discharged his duties throughout with the greatest energy, skill and efficiency, and the satisfactory state of training, discipline and organization of I Canadian Corps attest the high quality of this officer's services."
    Companion of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (CB, Military Division)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Lieutenant-general
    Awarded on:
    November 4th, 1944
    Order Wojenny Virtuti Militari - Krzyz Srebrny
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    General
    Awarded on:
    March 17th, 1945
    Legion of Merit - Commander (LoM - C)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    General
    Unit:
    First Canadian Army, Canadian Army
    Awarded on:
    April 14th, 1945
    "General H.D.G. CRERAR commanded First Canadian Army throughout the campaign in FRANCE. Elements of this Army landed in NORMANDY on DDay and after a gradual build up the Army was committed as such on 23 July 1944.

    Under the magnificent leadership of Gen CRERAR, First Canadian Army played an important role in the breakthrough at CAEN, the battle of FALAISE and the pursuit of the German Army through northern FRANCE. This officer, through his tactical ability and his aggressiveness, made an important contribution to the liberation of FRANCE."
    Commandeur de l' Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    General
    Unit:
    First Canadian Army, Canadian Army
    Awarded on:
    April 14th, 1945
    Croix de Guerre (1939-1945)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    General
    Awarded on:
    April 14th, 1945
    Mentioned in Dispatches
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    General
    Awarded on:
    May 19th, 1945
    Mentioned in Dispatches
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    General
    Awarded on:
    July 5th, 1945
    Citation:
    "In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North West Europe."

    Appointed as a Member.
    Order of the Companions of Honour
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    General
    Awarded on:
    June 23rd, 1945
    Citation:
    "In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North West Europe."
    Mentioned in Dispatches
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    General
    Awarded on:
    July 26th, 1945
    "In recognition of distinguished services in the cause of the Allies."
    Distinguished Service Medal - Army (DSM)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    General
    Unit:
    First Canadian Army, Canadian Army
    Awarded on:
    July 28th, 1945

    Canadian Gazette of 28 july 1945
    Ridder Grootkruis in de Orde van Oranje Nassau met zwaarden (ON.1x)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    General
    Awarded on:
    August 9th, 1945
    Mentioned in Dispatches
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    General
    Awarded on:
    September 17th, 1945

    With "Palme".
    Grootofficier in de Leopoldsorde / Grand officier de l'Ordre de Léopold
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    General
    Awarded on:
    September 17th, 1945

    With "Palme".
    Croix de Guerre 1940
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    General
    Awarded on:
    October 2nd, 1945
    Orden Kutuzova 1
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    General
    Awarded on:
    April 4th, 1946
    Citation:
    "In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North West Europe."
    Mentioned in Dispatches
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    General
    Awarded on:
    October 5th, 1946
    Rad Bileho lva I Class
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    General
    Awarded on:
    October 5th, 1946
    Ceskoslovenský válecný kríž 1939
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    General
    Awarded on:
    November 2nd, 1946
    Ceskoslovenský vojenský rád Bilého lva
    Rank:
    General
    Awarded on:
    October 2nd, 1950

    With clasp
    Canadian Efficiency Decoration (ED)
    Rank:
    General
    Awarded on:
    December 3rd, 1954
    Knight/Dame to the Venerable Order of Saint John (KStJ/DStJ)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)

    With "8th Army" clasp
    Africa Star
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)

    With clasp
    Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (1939-1947)

    Sources

    Photo