Albert Bruce Matthews | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1909-08-12)12 August 1909 |
| Died | 12 September 1991(1991-09-12) (aged 82) |
| Branch | Canadian Army |
| Years of service | 1928–1945 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Unit | Royal Canadian Artillery |
| Commands | 5th Medium Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery 2nd Canadian Infantry Division |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Order[1] Commander of the Order of the British Empire[2] Honorary citizenship of the city ofGroningen |
| Relations | Albert Edward Matthews (father) |
| Other work | Colonel commandant of theRoyal Regiment of Canadian Artillery PresidentLiberal Party of Canada |
Major GeneralAlbert Bruce MatthewsCBE DSO ED (12 August 1909 – 12 September 1991) was a seniorCanadian Army officer and businessman. Although not a professional soldier, he nevertheless rose to be theGeneral Officer Commanding (GOC) of the2nd Canadian Infantry Division during the final months of theSecond World War, after having served with distinction in campaigns inSicily,Italy andWestern Europe from 1943-1945. He became noted for his personal bravery and the accuracy and reliability of theartillery under his command.[3] Post-war, his business career continued. In addition, he was active in theCanadian Liberal Party.[4]
Born 1909, his father,Albert Edward Matthews, was a prominentstockbroker with Liberal connections who becameLieutenant-Governor ofOntario in 1937. Bruce Matthews was educated atUpper Canada College inToronto, later serving as President of its Board of Governors, and atUniversity of Geneva. He then joined the family firm.[3][5]
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.[6]
At first, in 1927, Matthews, was turned down for admission to theRoyal Military College of Canada and he was also rejected by theRoyal Canadian Navy Reserve due to hiscolour blindness.[5] Nevertheless, in 1928, he joined theNon-Permanent Active Militia, 30th Field Battery, 3rd Field Brigade,Royal Canadian Artillery,[3] as a provisionallieutenant, qualifying as a lieutenant later that year. He was promoted tocaptain in 1933 and started a two-yearmilitia staff course. In 1936, Matthews was appointedadjutant in the7th Toronto Regiment of theRoyal Canadian Artillery, and in 1938, he commanded the 15th Field Battery, as amajor.[6]
TheSecond World War was declared in September 1939 and Matthews was posted overseas to theUnited Kingdom with the1st Canadian Infantry Division, then commanded byAndrew McNaughton, a fellow RCA gunner, in December.[6] In the wartime army, Matthews rose steadily; commanding abattery in March 1940, and, after becomingsecond-in-command of the1st Medium Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, then he raised the5th Medium Regiment (as a lieutenant-colonel) in September 1941.[7] After an appointment from September 1942 as counter battery officer at Headquarters,I Canadian Corps, in January 1943 Matthews was promoted tobrigadier at the age of 33, the youngest at that time in the Canadian Army, andCommander, Royal Artillery, (CRA) of the 1st Canadian Division, now commanded byGuy Simonds, another fellow gunner described as "brusque and demanding, a no-nonsense division commander".[7]
Matthews'active service started in July 1943, landing inSicily and directing the naval gunfire ofHMSRoberts and later finding artillery locations, while under direct enemy fire, for the assault onAgira during theSicily campaign.[3] In September 1943, his Italian mainland campaign began: he was later awarded the DSO after he "demonstrated substantial courage prior to the capture ofAgira, going forward under observed German fire to reconnoitre ground for his gun positions".[8]
He returned to the United Kingdom in January 1944, having been transferred to theII Canadian Corps asCCRA, regarded as the "second most senior job for agunner in the Canadian forces".[9] II Corps was activated inNormandy on July 11, 1944, over a month after theNormandy landings, and participated in several actions (OperationsAtlantic,Spring,Totalize andTractable) in theBattle of Normandy. Matthews developed the artillery firing plans for each of these operations.[3][9]
Matthews' coordination of the large-scale artillery support in Normandy andWalcheren showed him to be a highly skilled gunner.[3]
In November 1944, due to Simonds recommending him,[9] Matthews was promoted tomajor general and appointedGeneral Officer Commanding (GOC) of the2nd Canadian Infantry Division, afterCharles Foulkes had been sent to Italy to commandI Canadian Corps.[10] Matthews brought it back to high operational efficiency after its gruelling battles on theScheldt. The division took part in the Rhineland battles (OperationsVeritable andBlockbuster) battles in February and March 1945.[11] The division advanced fromKalkar, through theHochwald andXanten toWesel, narrowly failing to prevent the demolition of the Rhine bridges by the retreating Germans.[3]
Once across the Rhine, Matthews' division liberated the northernNetherlands and then made a rapid 150-mile move to guardXXX Corps' right flank on theWeser. The Canadians capturedOldenburg and they were approachingWilhelmshaven when hostilities ceased on May 5.[3]
Forgoing a promising military career, Matthews returned to Canadian business life and he was appointed to directorships withExcelsior Life,Dome Mines,Standard Broadcasting and theCanadian Corps of Commissionaires. He was chairman ofMassey Ferguson from April 19, 1978, to December 12, 1978, and president of theArgus Corporation. In politics, he served as President of theLiberal Party of Canada in the late 1950s and early 1960s.[3]
He served asColonel commandant of theRoyal Regiment of Canadian Artillery from 1964 to 1969.[3]
Matthews was considered for the post ofGovernor General but his strong party allegiance precluded him.[3]
Matthews died in September 1991, shortly after turning 82.[12]
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | GOC 2nd Canadian Infantry Division 1944–1945 | Succeeded by Post disbanded |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | President of theLiberal Party of Canada 1958–1961 | Succeeded by |