| Jean Victor Allard | |
|---|---|
| June 12, 1913–April 23, 1996 (aged 82) | |
| Place of birth | Saint-Monique de Nicolet, Quebec |
| Place of death | Trois-Rivières, Quebec |
| Allegiance | Canada |
| Service/branch |  -Canadian Army, Canadian
Forces |
| Years of service | 1933-1969 |
| Rank | General |
| Awards | Order of
Canada (C.C.) Order of the British Empire (C.B.E.) National Order of Quebec (G.O.Q.) Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.) |
| Other work | inventor, diplomat, and amateur musician. |
General Jean Victor Allard, CC, CBE, GOQ, DSO (3), ED, CD (June 12, 1913–April 23, 1996) was the first French-Canadian to become Chief of the Defence Staff, the highest position in the Canadian Forces from 1966–1969. He was also the first to hold the accompanying rank of (full, four-leaf) general.
Contents |
Allard served as an officer in the Régiment de Trois-Rivières prior to the Second World War. After the outbreak of war in 1939, he was attested to the Canadian Active Service Force and promoted to the rank of major. When the active component of his regiment was redesignated to become an Anglophone armoured unit, he requested a transfer to the infantry and became the Deputy Commanding Officer of le Régiment de la Chaudière in England. In December 1943, he became the Commanding Officer of the Royal 22e Régiment in Italy.
He was in command of the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade at the end of the war in Germany, in the rank of brigadier (now brigadier-general). He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) on three occasions. He was the Canadian Military Attaché in Moscow after the war until February 1948. During the Korean War, he commanded the 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade from April 1953. He signed the truce at Panmunjon on Canada's behalf on 27 July 1953. He became commander of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade in 1954.
As a major-general, he commanded the British 4th Infantry Division from 1961 to 1963, as part of the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR). As a lieutenant-general, he commanded Mobile Command from 1965 to 1966, comprising the Canadian land forces in Canada and, at that time, the close air support forces, as well.
In July 1966, Allard was promoted to full General. From 1966 to 1969, he was Chief of the Defence Staff. He was the first francophone to occupy this position. It was under his supervision that the Canadian Forces were integrated. He was heavily involved in the unification of the Canadian Armed Forces. He is also remembered for the implementation of a significant expansion of French-language units (FLUs) in the Army (the creation of a French-language brigade at CFB Valcartier with units of all arms and services), in the Air Force (the creation of French-language squadrons) and in the Navy (the creation of French-language ships).
In 1985, he published his memoirs, with English translation in 1988 The memoirs of General Jean V. Allard, written in cooperation with Serge Bernier.
In 1968, he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada.
The Général-Jean-Victor-Allard Building, the home of the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School, was named in honour of General Allard.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Position held by the Chief of the General Staff |
Commander, Mobile
Command 1965-1966 |
Succeeded by Unknown |
| Preceded by F.R. Miller |
Chief of the Defence
Staff 1966-1969 |
Succeeded by Frederick Ralph Sharp |
|
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