Geoffrey Walsh
| Geoffrey Walsh | |
|---|---|
| Born |
19 August 1909 Brantford, Ontario, Canada |
| Died |
3 April 1999 (aged 89) Ottawa, Ontario, Canada[1] |
| Allegiance |
 Canada |
| Service/branch | Canadian Army / Canadian Forces |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands held | 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 renamed in 1964 as part of the reorganization of Canada's military in the lead-up to the 1968 unification of the Canadian Forces.
Military career
Educated at St Catherine's Collegiate School, Walsh was commissioned into the Royal Canadian Engineers in 1930.[2]
He served in World War II with the Canadian Army Service Force and took part in the Spitsbergen Raid in 1941.[2] 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.[2]
After the war he was appointed Commander, Eastern Ontario Area, followed by Commander, 27th Brigade before his appointment as Director-General of Military Training.[2] In 1955 he was appointed Quartermaster-General of the Canadian Army and in 1959 he became General Officer Commanding, Western Command.[2] In 1961 he was made Chief of the General Staff and in 1964, became Vice Chief of the Defence Staff.[2]
Family
In 1935 he married Gwynn Abigail Currie with whom he had one son.[2]
References
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Samuel Clark |
Chief of the General Staff 1961–1964 |
Succeeded by Jean Allard (as Commander Mobile Command) |
| Preceded by Creation of position |
Vice Chief of the Defence Staff 1964–1965 |
Succeeded by Robert Moncel |
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