Moncel, Robert William

Date of birth:: April 9th, 1917 (Montreal/Quebec, Canada)
Date of death:: December 10th, 2007 (Halifax/Nova Scotia, Canada)
Nationality:: Canadian

Biography

He was the youngest general officer in the Canadian Army when promoted to Brigadier on 27 August 1944, at the age of 27.

Early life: Born 9 April 1917 at Montreal, Quebec, he was educated at Selwyn House School, Bishop's College School and McGill University.

Enlistment: He served as an officer with the Victoria Rifles of Canada, joining the regiment in 1937, just prior to the start of the second world war.

Victoria Rifles of Canada: was an infantry regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of the Canadian Militia and later the Canadian Army. First formed in Montreal, Canada East, in 1862, the regiment saw a history of service stretching from the Fenian Raids of the 1860s–1870s into the middle of the 20th century. In 1965, the regiment was reduced to nil strength and transferred to the Supplementary Order of Battle.
Personal: In 1939 he married Nancy Allison Bell.
WWII: September 10, 1939: Canada declares war on Germany - the first and only time Canada has declared war on another country on its own. September 14, 1939: The Prime Minister, William Lyon MacKenzie King, declares that Canada should be the arsenal of the Allies and pledges not to institute conscription.

When World War II broke out, Moncel went to Europe with the Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR).

RCR: The Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) is an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. The regiment consists of four battalions, three in the Regular Force and one in the primary reserve. The RCR is ranked first in the order of precedence amongst Canadian Army infantry regiments, but in a quirk of the rules of seniority, its 4th battalion is ninth. The RCR is Canada’s senior regular force regiment, having been established in 1883.

On 1 September 1939 the regiment was mobilized as part of the Canadian Active Service Force as Canada prepared for participation in the Second World War. When war was declared on September 10, the RCR had already been allocated to the 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade, a formation made up entirely of Ontario units. Moving to the United Kingdom in December 1939 as a component of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division, the RCR saw hard training for almost four years.

France: In May 1940, he was ordered along with the RCR to France to reinforce the British Expeditionary Force facing the German blitzkrieg. Soon however, Lieutenant Moncel, who commanded a Bren gun carrier platoon, was ordered to retreat to the French coast. When being evacuated, he was ordered to destroy his equipment to save it from German hands, but Moncel, with his cool judgement, managed to evacuate the Bren gun carriers. This act caught the eyes of his superiors and he was promoted to captain.

War time Career: In 1941, he finished first on a staff course under the command of Guy Simonds, and was promoted to major in 1942, and lieutenant-colonel in January 1943. Moncel became the commanding officer of 18th Armoured Car Regiment (12th Manitoba Dragoons).

18th Armoured Car Regiment (12th Manitoba Dragoons): The 12th Manitoba Dragoons is an armoured regiment of the Canadian Army that is currently on the Supplementary Order of Battle. During the Second World War the Regiment mobilized the 18th (Manitoba) Reconnaissance Battalion, CAC, CASF, for active service on 10 May 1941. It was redesignated the 18th (Manitoba) Armoured Car Regiment, CAC, CASF, on 26 January 1942; the 18th Armoured Car Regiment (12th Manitoba Dragoons), CAC, CASF, on 16 December 1942; and 18th Armoured Car Regiment (12th Manitoba Dragoons), RCAC, CASF on 2 August 1945. It embarked for Great Britain on 19 August 1942. On 8 and 9 July 1944 it landed in Normandy, France as a unit attached directly to II Canadian Corps, where it fought in North-West Europe until the end of the war.

Later, Moncel was posted as the General Staff Officer 1 of the II Canadian Corps, where he reorganized its general staff. Here, he was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

Post War: After the war, in 1946, he was appointed Director of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps. From 1947 to 1949, he served as Director of Military Training, Army Headquarters in Ottawa. From 1949 to 1950, he attended the National War College in Washington, DC. From 1951 to 1953, he was the Senior Canadian Army Liaison Officer to the United Kingdom. From 1954 to 1956, he was the Deputy Chief of General Staff. From 1957 to 1958, he was the Senior Canadian Military Officer, International Control Commission in Indochina.

From 1957 to 1960, he was appointed Commander, 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade at Camp Gagetown. From 1960 to 1963, he served as Quartermaster General of the Canadian Army. From 1963 to 1964, he was the Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Command. He served finally as Vice Chief of the Defence Staff 1965 to 1966.

Retirement: He retired in 1966 prior to unification of the armed services, which resulted in the formation of the Canadian Forces. In 1967, he was appointed a civilian coordinator for visits of heads of state to Canada during the Canadian Centennial year.

Lest we forget: He died at the Camp Hill Veterans' Memorial Building in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on December 10, 2007, in his 90th year. He was laid to rest at Fairview Lawn Cemetery.

Hij stierf in het Camp Hill Veterans' Memorial Building in Halifax, Nova Scotia, op 10 december 2007, op 90e jarige leeftijd. Hij werd begraven op Fairview Lawn Cemetery.

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Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Lieutenant-Colonel
Unit:: II Canadian Corps, Canadian Army
Awarded on:: February 1st, 1945

Recommendation:
Lieutenant-Colonel Moncel has been General Staff Officer 1 (GSO 1), Headquarters II Canadian Corps, from 27 August 1943 to 19 August 1944. During that time he was mainly instrumental in organizing and training the GS Branch of that HQ. In the immediate preparations for the move overseas of II Canadian Corps and during the operations of the Corps up to date he has contributed importantly to the success of those undertakings by his own painstaking work and by the efficiency with which he directed his branch. His loyalty and cheerful willingness at all times were a noteworthy example and inspiration to others.

Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Mentioned in Dispatches

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Acting Brigadier
Unit:: 4th Canadian Armoured Brigade, Canadian Army
Awarded on:: August 9th, 1944

For his valour in the Battle of Falaise, France, August 1944.

Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Brigadier
Unit:: 4th Canadian Armoured Brigade, Canadian Army
Awarded for:: Operation Blockbuster

Recommendation:
On 26 February 1945 during II Canadian Corps operation “Blockbuster”, 4th Canadian Armoured Division was order to assault through 2nd Canadian Infantry Division and seize the high ground in area Todtenhugel thence to take the high ground North-East of Udem thence to cross the valley and seize the high ground in the Hochwald gap.
4th Canadian Armoured Brigade, commanding by Acting Brigadier Moncel with 3 Infantry Battalions and 3 Armoured Regiments under command was given the task of seizing and holding the first two objectives. During the course of the operation wich took place on ground made extremely difficult for tank moving, by deep mud, Brigadier Moncel stationed himself well forward with the leading battle group and on several occasions, when the impetus of the attack was in danger of being lost by stubborn enemy resistance, personally directed consolidation of objectives and the further forward movement of his armoured and infantry elements. All this was done under extremely heavy hostile fire, and the gallant bearing of this officer and the complete disregard for his own personal safety, were an inspiration to all types under his command. The successful outcome of the attack was in great measure due to his vigorous leadership.