Ernest William Sansom
Encyclopedia
Ernest William Sansom, C.B., D.S.O. (December 18, 1890 – October 18, 1982) was a Canadian Lieutenant-General
who was the 3rd ranking commander of Canadian troops in Europe in 1944 during World War II.
, he joined the 71st York Regiment of the Canadian Militia
in 1906 and was appointed a Lieutenant in 1907. During World War I, he fought in the 12th Infantry Battalion and with the Canadian Machine Gun Corps of the Canadian Expeditionary Force
. He would command the 1st Battalion of the Canadian Machine Gun Corps
. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
in 1919.
After the war, in 1920, he joined the Permanent Force and went to the Army Staff College in England from 1924 to 1925. He would hold various staff positions in Canada and eventually was promoted to the rank of Colonel.
in England. After being promoted to Major-General in 1940, he commanded the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division
. In 1941, he commanded the 5th Armoured Division. He was promoted to Lieutenant-General and was appointed the first Commander-in-Chief of II Canadian Corps
effective on January 15, 1943. In 1944, he returned to Canada for medical reasons. In 1945, he was appointed Inspector General, Canadian Army Overseas. He was made a Companion of Order of the Bath
in 1945. He retired in 1945.
and the Combined Appeal for the Handicapped.
In the 1945 election
, he ran unsuccessfully as the Progressive Conservative
candidate for the Canadian House of Commons
in the New Brunswick riding of York—Sunbury. He lost again in a 1947 by-election.
He died in Fredericton, New Brunswick
in 1982.
Lieutenant-General (Canada)
In the Canadian Forces, the rank of lieutenant-general is an Army or Air Force rank equal to a vice-admiral of the Navy. A lieutenant-general is a general officer, the equivalent of a Naval flag officer. A lieutenant-general is senior to a major general or rear-admiral, and junior to a general or...
who was the 3rd ranking commander of Canadian troops in Europe in 1944 during World War II.
World War I military career
Born in Stanley, New BrunswickStanley, New Brunswick
Stanley is a village in York County, in the Canadian province of New Brunswick.Straddling the Nashwaak River 30 km north of Fredericton, the village is home to the annual Stanley Fair, the longest continuously running agricultural fair in Canada...
, he joined the 71st York Regiment of the Canadian Militia
Military history of Canada
The military history of Canada comprises hundreds of years of armed actions in the territory encompassing modern Canada, and the role of the Canadian military in conflicts and peacekeeping worldwide. For thousands of years, the area that would become Canada was the site of sporadic intertribal wars...
in 1906 and was appointed a Lieutenant in 1907. During World War I, he fought in the 12th Infantry Battalion and with the Canadian Machine Gun Corps of the Canadian Expeditionary Force
Canadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War. Units of the C.E.F. were divided into field formation in France, where they were organized first into separate divisions and later joined together into a single...
. He would command the 1st Battalion of the Canadian Machine Gun Corps
Canadian Machine Gun Corps
The Canadian Machine Gun Corps was an administrative corps of the Canadian Army. The Canadian Permanent Machine Gun Brigade was organized in the Permanent Force on 3 Nov 1919. The Canadian Permanent Machine Gun Brigade was redesignated the Royal Canadian Permanent Machine Gun Brigade on 16 Jun 1921...
. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
in 1919.
After the war, in 1920, he joined the Permanent Force and went to the Army Staff College in England from 1924 to 1925. He would hold various staff positions in Canada and eventually was promoted to the rank of Colonel.
World War II military career
At the start of World War II, in 1939, he was the Director of Military Training. From 1939 to 1940, he was Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General for the 1st Canadian Infantry Division1st 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 England. After being promoted to Major-General in 1940, he commanded the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division
3rd Canadian Infantry Division
The Canadian 3rd Infantry Division was an infantry division of the Canadian Army from 1940 to c.1945.- History :The formation of the division was authorized on 17 May 1940...
. In 1941, he commanded the 5th Armoured Division. He was promoted to Lieutenant-General and was appointed the first Commander-in-Chief of 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...
effective on January 15, 1943. In 1944, he returned to Canada for medical reasons. In 1945, he was appointed Inspector General, Canadian Army Overseas. He was made a Companion of Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
in 1945. He retired in 1945.
Post war
After the war, he worked for various fund-raising organizations, including the Canadian March of DimesMarch of Dimes
The March of Dimes Foundation is a United States nonprofit organization that works to improve the health of mothers and babies.-Organization:...
and the Combined Appeal for the Handicapped.
In the 1945 election
Canadian federal election, 1945
The Canadian federal election of 1945 was the 20th general election in Canadian history. It was held June 11, 1945 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 20th Parliament of Canada...
, he ran unsuccessfully as the Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
candidate for the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
in the New Brunswick riding of York—Sunbury. He lost again in a 1947 by-election.
He died in Fredericton, New Brunswick
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Fredericton is the capital of the Canadian province of New Brunswick, by virtue of the provincial parliament which sits there. An important cultural, artistic, and educational centre for the province, Fredericton is home to two universities and cultural institutions such as the Beaverbrook Art...
in 1982.