World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseHenry Duncan Graham Crerar was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Upon completing his schooling at the Upper Canada College, he entered the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario, graduating in 1909. Between 1910 and 1912, he was a research engineer with the Hydro Electric Power Commission of Ontario. During WW1, he fought in France as a field artillery officer, earning the Distinguished Service Order and the rank of lieutenant colonel. During the inter-war years, he remained in the Canadian Army. In 1923, he attended the Camberley Staff College in England, United Kingdom, then remained in England to serve with the War Office in London. In 1929, he returned to Canada and served with the National Defence Headquarters, charged with the reorganization of the Canadian Militia. In 1934, he attended the Imperial Defence College in London, then served as the Director of Military Operations and Intelligence. In Mar 1939, he was recalled to Ottawa as political tensions mounted in Europe.

ww2dbaseWhen the European War began, Crerar was in London as Brigadier General Staff at the Canadian Military Headquarters, responsible for preparing barracks and supplies in England for Canadian troops due to arrive in the near future. In Jul 1940, he returned to Ottawa as Vice Chief General Staff, and then was promoted to Chief General Staff only a few days later; in this role, he bolstered Canada's ability to recruit and train new troops. On 23 Dec 1941, in England, he was named the commanding officer of the Canadian I Corps. On 19 Aug 1942, the failure at Dieppe fell directly under his jurisdiction, as Canadian troops who participated in that assault were under his operational command. In Mar 1944, he returned to England to prepare for his new role as the commanding officer of the Canadian 1st Army.

ww2dbaseAt the helm of the 1st Army, Crerar played a major role in the Normandy campaign, particularly with the success in enclosing German troops in the Falaise Gap. In late 1944, he stepped aside to recover from illness, thus missing the action at the Scheldt Estuary. In Nov 1944, he was promoted to the rank of general. In Feb 1945, he returned to command with the 1st Army, and led the broad-front attack toward the Rhine River.

ww2dbaseCrerar retired from Army service in 1946, and later became a diplomat to Czechoslovakia, the Netherlands, and Japan. On 25 Jun 1964, he became a member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada. Crerar passed away in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

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