Bruce Matthews (General)
Encyclopedia
Major General
Albert Bruce Matthews, (August 12, 1909 – September 12, 1991) was a Canadian businessman and militia artillery officer in the 1930s. He rose to be the commander of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division
during the Second World War, after campaigns in Sicily and Italy. He became noted for his personal bravery and the accuracy and reliability of the artillery under his command. Post-war, his business career continued. In addition, he was active in the Canadian Liberal Party
.
, was a prominent stockbroker with Liberal connections who became Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario
in 1937. Bruce Matthews was educated at Upper Canada College
in Toronto
, later serving as President of its Board of Governors, and at Geneva University. He then joined the family firm.
Matthews married Victoria Thorne in 1937; the couple had one child before the outbreak of war and, after Victoria had visited Matthews in Britain in summer 1940, there were twins in 1941, although Matthews did not see them until October 1945.
and he was also rejected by the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve due to his colour blindness. Nevertheless, in 1928, he joined the Non-Permanent Active Militia
, 30th Field Battery, 3rd Field Brigade, Royal Canadian Artillery, as a provisional lieutenant
, qualifying as a lieutenant later that year. He was promoted to captain in 1933 and started a two year Militia Staff Course. In 1936, Matthews was appointed adjutant
in the 7th Toronto Regiment
of the Royal Canadian Artillery and in 1938 he commanded thef 15th Field Battery, as a major
.
War was declared in September 1939 and Matthews was posted overseas to UK with the 1st Canadian Infantry Division
in December. In the wartime army, Matthews rose steadily; commanding a battery
in March 1940, then he raised the 5th Medium Regiment
(as a lieutenant-colonel) in September 1941. After an appointment from September 1942 as counter battery officer at Head Quarters, I Canadian Corps
, in January 1943 Matthews was promoted to brigadier
at the of age 33, the youngest at that time in the Canadian Army, and Commander, Royal Artillery
, 1st Canadian Infantry Division
.
Matthews' active service started in July 1943, landing in Sicily
and directing the naval gunfire of HMS Roberts
and later finding artillery locations, while under direct enemy fire, for the assault on Agira
during the Sicily campaign
. In September 1943, his Italian mainland campaign began: he was later awarded the DSO. He returned to the UK in January 1944, having been transferred to the II Canadian Corps
as CCRA
, regarded as the "Second most senior job for a gunner in the Canadian Forces". II Corps were activated in Normandy
on July 11, 1944 and participated in several actions (Operations Atlantic
, Spring
, Totalize and Tractable
) in the Battle of Normandy
. Matthews developed the artillery firing plans for each of these operations.
Matthews coordination of the large-scale artillery support in Normandy and Walcheren
showed him to be a highly-skilled gunner.
In November 1944, Matthews was promoted to major general
and appointed GOC
2nd Canadian Infantry Division
, bringing it back to high operational effeiciency after its gruelling battles on the Scheldt
. The Division took part in the Rhineland battles (Operations Veritable
and Blockbuster
) battles in February and March 1945. The Division advanced from Calcar
, through the Hochwald
and Xanten
to Wesel
, narrowly failing to prevent the demolition of the Rhine bridges by the retreating Germans.
Once across the Rhine, Matthews' Division liberated the northern Netherlands
and then made a rapid 150 mile move to guard XXX Corps' right flank on the Weser. The Canadians captured Oldenburg
and they were approaching Wilhelmshaven
when hostilities ceased on May 5.
. He was chairman of Massey-Ferguson from April 19, 1978 to December 12, 1978 and president of the Argus Corporation. In politics, he became President of the Liberal Party of Canada
.
He served as Colonel commandant
of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery
from 1964 to 1969.
Matthews was considered for the post of Governor General but his strong party allegiance precluded him.
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Albert Bruce Matthews, (August 12, 1909 – September 12, 1991) was a Canadian businessman and militia artillery officer in the 1930s. He rose to be the commander of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division
2nd Canadian Infantry Division
The 2nd Canadian Infantry Division was an infantry division of the First Canadian Army, mobilized on 1 September 1939 at the outset of the Second World War. It was initially composed of volunteers within brigades established along regional lines, though a halt in recruitment in the early months of...
during the Second World War, after campaigns in Sicily and Italy. He became noted for his personal bravery and the accuracy and reliability of the artillery under his command. Post-war, his business career continued. In addition, he was active in the Canadian Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
.
Early life
Born 1909, his father, Albert Edward MatthewsAlbert Edward Matthews
Albert Edward Matthews was the 16th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.Matthews was born in Lindsay, Ontario. He worked as an investment broker in Toronto and rose to the position of director. Matthews served as Ontario's 16th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from 1937 to 1946...
, was a prominent stockbroker with Liberal connections who became Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
in 1937. Bruce Matthews was educated at Upper Canada College
Upper Canada College
Upper Canada College , located in midtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is an independent elementary and secondary school for boys between Senior Kindergarten and Grade Twelve, operating under the International Baccalaureate program. The secondary school segment is divided into ten houses; eight are...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, later serving as President of its Board of Governors, and at Geneva University. He then joined the family firm.
Matthews married Victoria Thorne in 1937; the couple had one child before the outbreak of war and, after Victoria had visited Matthews in Britain in summer 1940, there were twins in 1941, although Matthews did not see them until October 1945.
Military career
At first, in 1927, Matthews, was turned down for admission to the Royal Military College of CanadaRoyal Military College of Canada
The Royal Military College of Canada, RMC, or RMCC , is the military academy of the Canadian Forces, and is a degree-granting university. RMC was established in 1876. RMC is the only federal institution in Canada with degree granting powers...
and he was also rejected by the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve due to his colour blindness. Nevertheless, in 1928, he joined the Non-Permanent Active Militia
Non-Permanent Active Militia
The Non-Permanent Active Militia was the name of Canada's part-time volunteer military force from the time of Confederation to 1940. The NPAM was composed of several dozen infantry battalions and cavalry regiments...
, 30th Field Battery, 3rd Field Brigade, Royal Canadian Artillery, as a provisional lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
, qualifying as a lieutenant later that year. He was promoted to captain in 1933 and started a two year Militia Staff Course. In 1936, Matthews was appointed adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
in the 7th Toronto Regiment
7th Toronto Regiment, RCA
The 7th Toronto Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery is a militia regiment of Land Force Central Area's 32 Canadian Brigade Group,...
of the Royal Canadian Artillery and in 1938 he commanded thef 15th Field Battery, as a major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
.
War was declared in September 1939 and Matthews was posted overseas to UK with the 1st Canadian Infantry Division
1st Canadian Infantry Division
The 1st Canadian Infantry Division was a formation mobilized on 1 September 1939 for service in the Second World War. The division was also reactivated twice during the Cold War....
in December. In the wartime army, Matthews rose steadily; commanding a battery
Artillery battery
In military organizations, an artillery battery is a unit of guns, mortars, rockets or missiles so grouped in order to facilitate better battlefield communication and command and control, as well as to provide dispersion for its constituent gunnery crews and their systems...
in March 1940, then he raised the 5th Medium Regiment
5th Medium Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery
The 5th Medium Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, was one of six Canadian medium regiments that saw service in Britain and continental Europe in the Second World War, the others being the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 7th Medium Regiments...
(as a lieutenant-colonel) in September 1941. After an appointment from September 1942 as counter battery officer at Head Quarters, I Canadian Corps
I Canadian Corps
I Canadian Corps was one of the two corps fielded by the Canadian Army during World War II. From December 24, 1940 until the formation of the First Canadian Army in April 1942, there was a single unnumbered Canadian Corps...
, in January 1943 Matthews was promoted to brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
at the of age 33, the youngest at that time in the Canadian Army, and Commander, Royal Artillery
Commander, Royal Artillery
Commander, Royal Artillery was a military appointment in Commonwealth infantry and armoured divisions in the 20th Century. The CRA was the senior artillery officer in the division and commanded the regiments of field, anti-aircraft and anti-tank artillery, and provided specialist artillery and...
, 1st Canadian Infantry Division
1st Canadian Infantry Division
The 1st Canadian Infantry Division was a formation mobilized on 1 September 1939 for service in the Second World War. The division was also reactivated twice during the Cold War....
.
Matthews' active service started in July 1943, landing in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
and directing the naval gunfire of HMS Roberts
HMS Roberts
Two ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Roberts, after Field Marshal Frederick Roberts: was an Abercrombie class monitor launched in 1915. She was initially named HMS Stonewall Jackson, then HMS M4, and then HMS Earl Roberts, before finally being named HMS Roberts. She was sold in...
and later finding artillery locations, while under direct enemy fire, for the assault on Agira
Agira
Agira is a town and comune in the province of Enna, Sicily . It is located in the mid-valley of the River Salso, 35 km from Enna...
during the Sicily campaign
Allied invasion of Sicily
The Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky, was a major World War II campaign, in which the Allies took Sicily from the Axis . It was a large scale amphibious and airborne operation, followed by six weeks of land combat. It launched the Italian Campaign.Husky began on the night of...
. In September 1943, his Italian mainland campaign began: he was later awarded the DSO. He returned to the UK in January 1944, having been transferred to the II Canadian Corps
II Canadian Corps
II Canadian Corps was a corps-level formation that, along with I Corps and I Canadian Corps , comprised the First Canadian Army in Northwest Europe during World War II.Authorization for the formation of the Corps headquarters became effective in England on...
as CCRA
CRA
-Organizations in California:* California Republican Assembly, a conservative California Republican activist group. It is the oldest and largest grassroots volunteer organization chartered by the California Republican Party...
, regarded as the "Second most senior job for a gunner in the Canadian Forces". II Corps were activated in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
on July 11, 1944 and participated in several actions (Operations Atlantic
Operation Atlantic
Operation Atlantic was a Canadian offensive during the Battle of Normandy in the Second World War, from July 18–21, 1944. This Canadian offensive was launched in conjunction with a British-led offensive, Operation Goodwood...
, Spring
Operation Spring
Operation Spring was an offensive operation conducted by II Canadian Corps during the Normandy campaign. The plan was intended to create pressure on the German forces operating on the British and Canadian front simultaneously to American offensive operations in their sector known as Operation...
, Totalize and Tractable
Operation Tractable
Operation Tractable was the final offensive conducted by Canadian and Polish Army troops as part of the Battle of Normandy. The goal of this operation was to capture the strategically important French town of Falaise, and following that, the smaller towns of Trun and Chambois...
) in the Battle of Normandy
Battle of Normandy
The Invasion of Normandy was the invasion and establishment of Allied forces in Normandy, France, during Operation Overlord in World War II. It was the largest amphibious operation in history...
. Matthews developed the artillery firing plans for each of these operations.
Matthews coordination of the large-scale artillery support in Normandy and Walcheren
Walcheren
thumb|right|250px|Campveer Tower in Veere, built in 1500Walcheren is a former island in the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands at the mouth of the Scheldt estuary. It lies between the Oosterschelde in the north and the Westerschelde in the south and is roughly the shape of a rhombus...
showed him to be a highly-skilled gunner.
In November 1944, Matthews was promoted to major general
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
and appointed GOC
General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding is the usual title given in the armies of Commonwealth nations to a general officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, a general might be the GOC II Corps or GOC 7th Armoured Division...
2nd Canadian Infantry Division
2nd Canadian Infantry Division
The 2nd Canadian Infantry Division was an infantry division of the First Canadian Army, mobilized on 1 September 1939 at the outset of the Second World War. It was initially composed of volunteers within brigades established along regional lines, though a halt in recruitment in the early months of...
, bringing it back to high operational effeiciency after its gruelling battles on the Scheldt
Battle of the Scheldt
The Battle of the Scheldt was a series of military operations of the Canadian 1st Army, led by Lieutenant-General Guy Simonds. The battle took place in northern Belgium and southwestern Netherlands during World War II from 2 October-8 November 1944...
. The Division took part in the Rhineland battles (Operations Veritable
Operation Veritable
Operation Veritable was a Second World War pincer movement conducted by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery's 21st Army Group to clear and occupy the land between the Rhine and Maas rivers. It took place between 8 February and 11 March 1945. It was a part of General Dwight Eisenhower's "broad front"...
and Blockbuster
Operation Blockbuster
Operation Blockbuster was the completion of the larger Operation Veritable by the Canadian 1st Army, reinforced by the British XXX Corps. It took place in late February and early March, 1945...
) battles in February and March 1945. The Division advanced from Calcar
Calcar
The calcar, also known as the calcaneum , is the name given to a spur of cartilage arising from inner side of ankle and running along part of outer interfemoral membrane in bats , this is to help spread the interfemoral membrane , which is part of the wing membrane between the tail and the hind...
, through the Hochwald
Hochwald
Hochwald may refer to:* Hochwald, Switzerland, district of Dorneck in the canton of Solothurn* Hochwald , Saxony, southeastern Germany* Hochwald, a peak in the Hunsrück in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany...
and Xanten
Xanten
Xanten is a historic town in the North Rhine-Westphalia state of Germany, located in the district of Wesel.Xanten is known for the Archaeological Park or archaeological open air museum , its medieval picturesque city centre with Xanten Cathedral and many museums, its large man-made lake for...
to Wesel
Wesel
Wesel is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the capital of the Wesel district.-Division of the town:Suburbs of Wesel include Lackhausen, Obrighoven, Ginderich, Feldmark,Fusternberg, Büderich, Flüren and Blumenkamp.-History:...
, narrowly failing to prevent the demolition of the Rhine bridges by the retreating Germans.
Once across the Rhine, Matthews' Division liberated the northern Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and then made a rapid 150 mile move to guard XXX Corps' right flank on the Weser. The Canadians captured Oldenburg
Oldenburg
Oldenburg is an independent city in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated in the western part of the state between the cities of Bremen and Groningen, Netherlands, at the Hunte river. It has a population of 160,279 which makes it the fourth biggest city in Lower Saxony after Hanover, Braunschweig...
and they were approaching Wilhelmshaven
Wilhelmshaven
Wilhelmshaven is a coastal town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the western side of the Jade Bight, a bay of the North Sea.-History:...
when hostilities ceased on May 5.
Post war
Forgoing a promising military career, Matthews returned to Canadian business life and he was appointed to directorships with Excelsior Life, Dome Mines and Standard BroadcastingStandard Broadcasting
Slaight Communications is a Canadian radio broadcasting company. The company was first formed as Slaight Broadcasting in 1971, when owner J. Allan Slaight acquired CFGM in Richmond Hill...
. He was chairman of Massey-Ferguson from April 19, 1978 to December 12, 1978 and president of the Argus Corporation. In politics, he became President of the Liberal Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
.
He served as Colonel commandant
Colonel Commandant
Colonel Commandant is a military title used in the armed forces of some English-speaking countries. The title, not a substantive rank, could denote a senior colonel with authority over fellow colonels...
of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery
Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery is the artillery personnel branch of the Canadian Forces .-History:...
from 1964 to 1969.
Matthews was considered for the post of Governor General but his strong party allegiance precluded him.