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Robert Moncel

April 12, 2024

Lieutenant General Robert William Moncel OC DSO OBE CD (9 April 1917 – 10 December 2007) was a senior officer in the Canadian Army. Moncel was Lieutenant-General of the Canadian Army and former Vice Chief of the Defence Staff. He was the youngest general officer in the Canadian Army when promoted to Brigadier on 27 August 1944, at the age of 27.

Lieutenant General

Robert William Moncel

OC DSO OBE CD
Born(1917-04-09)9 April 1917
Montreal, Quebec
Died10 December 2007(2007-12-10) (aged 90)
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Buried
Fairview Lawn Cemetery
AllegianceCanada
Service/branchCanadian Army
Years of service1937–1966
RankLieutenant-general
UnitVictoria Rifles of Canada
The Royal Canadian Regiment
Commands held12th Manitoba Dragoons
4th Canadian Armoured Brigade
Royal Canadian Armoured Corps
3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade
Vice Chief of the Defence Staff
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsOfficer of the Order of Canada
Companion of the Distinguished Service Order
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Canadian Forces' Decoration
Spouse(s)
Nancy Allison Bell
​
(m. 1939)​

Early life edit

Born in Montreal, Quebec, he was educated at Selwyn House School, Bishop's College School and McGill University. He served as an officer with the Victoria Rifles of Canada.[1]

World War II edit

 
Senior commanders of the First Canadian Army, May 1945. Seated from the left: Stanisław Maczek (Polish Army), Guy Simonds, Harry Crerar, Charles Foulkes, Bert Hoffmeister. Standing from the left: Ralph Keefler, Bruce Matthews, Harry Foster, Robert Moncel (standing in for Chris Vokes), Stuart Rawlins (British Army).

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

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).[2] Later, Moncel was posted as the General Staff Officer 1 of the II Canadian Corps,[2] where he reorganized its general staff. Here, he was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and a chevalier of the Legion d'honneur (receiving the Croix de Guerre with Palme in the process). In August 1944 at the age of 27, he was promoted to Brigadier, the youngest ever Canadian to achieve that rank.[1]

In the Normandy campaign, he was the commanding officer of the 4th Canadian Armoured Brigade until the end of the war in 1945.[2] During this, Moncel won the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for his leadership of Tiger Group during the battle of Hochwald Forest, when the II Canadian Corps launched Operation Blockbuster.

Post-War edit

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.[2] From 1960 to 1963, he served as Quartermaster General of the Canadian Army.[2] From 1963 to 1964, he was the Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Command.[2] He served finally as Vice Chief of the Defence Staff 1965 to 1966.[2] 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.[1][3]

In 1967, Lieutenant-General Moncel was invested as an Officer of the Order of Canada.[4] He died at the Camp Hill Veterans' Memorial Building in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on December 10, 2007, in his 90th year.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Successful Command Lieutenant-General Robert Moncel on Wartime Leaders".
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Robert Moncel Generals.dk
  3. ^ EDMONDS, ALAN. "How protocol HQ will handle Expo's 60 VIPs | Maclean's | APRIL 1967". Maclean's | The Complete Archive. Retrieved 2022-10-21.
  4. ^ General, Office of the Secretary to the Governor. "Lieutenant General Robert W. Moncel". The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 2022-10-21.
  • "Canadian Who's Who 1997 entry". Retrieved February 10, 2006.
  • "Moncel was armoured commander – Rise through ranks in Second World War was meteoric entry". Retrieved December 31, 2007.[permanent dead link]

See also edit

External links edit

  • Generals of World War II
  • Successful Command Lieutenant-General Robert Moncel on Wartime Leaders
  • Art collection becomes a lifeline for a loyal housekeeper - The Globe and Mail: March 20, 2014
Military offices
Preceded by Vice Chief of the Defence Staff
1965-1966 		Succeeded by

April 12, 2024
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Lieutenant General Robert William Moncel OC DSO OBE CD 9 April 1917 10 December 2007 was a senior officer in the Canadian Army Moncel was Lieutenant General of the Canadian Army and former Vice Chief of the Defence Staff He was the youngest general officer in the Canadian Army when promoted to Brigadier on 27 August 1944 at the age of 27 Lieutenant GeneralRobert William MoncelOC DSO OBE CDBorn 1917 04 09 9 April 1917Montreal QuebecDied10 December 2007 2007 12 10 aged 90 Halifax Nova ScotiaBuriedFairview Lawn CemeteryAllegianceCanadaService wbr branchCanadian ArmyYears of service1937 1966RankLieutenant generalUnitVictoria Rifles of CanadaThe Royal Canadian RegimentCommands held12th Manitoba Dragoons4th Canadian Armoured BrigadeRoyal Canadian Armoured Corps3rd Canadian Infantry BrigadeVice Chief of the Defence StaffBattles warsWorld War II Battle of France Battle of Normandy Operation BlockbusterAwardsOfficer of the Order of CanadaCompanion of the Distinguished Service OrderOfficer of the Order of the British EmpireCanadian Forces DecorationSpouse s Nancy Allison Bell m 1939 wbr Contents 1 Early life 2 World War II 3 Post War 4 References 5 See also 6 External linksEarly life editBorn in Montreal Quebec he was educated at Selwyn House School Bishop s College School and McGill University He served as an officer with the Victoria Rifles of Canada 1 World War II edit nbsp Senior commanders of the First Canadian Army May 1945 Seated from the left Stanislaw Maczek Polish Army Guy Simonds Harry Crerar Charles Foulkes Bert Hoffmeister Standing from the left Ralph Keefler Bruce Matthews Harry Foster Robert Moncel standing in for Chris Vokes Stuart Rawlins British Army When World War II broke out Moncel went to Europe with the Royal Canadian Regiment RCR 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 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 2 Later Moncel was posted as the General Staff Officer 1 of the II Canadian Corps 2 where he reorganized its general staff Here he was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire OBE and a chevalier of the Legion d honneur receiving the Croix de Guerre with Palme in the process In August 1944 at the age of 27 he was promoted to Brigadier the youngest ever Canadian to achieve that rank 1 In the Normandy campaign he was the commanding officer of the 4th Canadian Armoured Brigade until the end of the war in 1945 2 During this Moncel won the Distinguished Service Order DSO for his leadership of Tiger Group during the battle of Hochwald Forest when the II Canadian Corps launched Operation Blockbuster Post War editAfter 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 2 From 1960 to 1963 he served as Quartermaster General of the Canadian Army 2 From 1963 to 1964 he was the Commander in Chief Eastern Command 2 He served finally as Vice Chief of the Defence Staff 1965 to 1966 2 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 1 3 In 1967 Lieutenant General Moncel was invested as an Officer of the Order of Canada 4 He died at the Camp Hill Veterans Memorial Building in Halifax Nova Scotia on December 10 2007 in his 90th year 1 References edit a b c d Successful Command Lieutenant General Robert Moncel on Wartime Leaders a b c d e f g Robert Moncel Generals dk EDMONDS ALAN How protocol HQ will handle Expo s 60 VIPs Maclean s APRIL 1967 Maclean s The Complete Archive Retrieved 2022 10 21 General Office of the Secretary to the Governor Lieutenant General Robert W Moncel The Governor General of Canada Retrieved 2022 10 21 Canadian Who s Who 1997 entry Retrieved February 10 2006 Moncel was armoured commander Rise through ranks in Second World War was meteoric entry Retrieved December 31 2007 permanent dead link See also editList of Bishop s College School alumniExternal links editGenerals of World War II Successful Command Lieutenant General Robert Moncel on Wartime Leaders Art collection becomes a lifeline for a loyal housekeeper The Globe and Mail March 20 2014Military officesPreceded byGeoffrey Walsh Vice Chief of the Defence Staff1965 1966 Succeeded byFrederick Sharp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert Moncel amp oldid 1186861083, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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