Brigadier Robert Moncel (left) and Major-General Christopher Vokes, 10 April 1945

Christopher Vokes, C.B. ,C.B.E., D.S.O., C.D. (April 13, 1904 – March 27, 1985) was a Canadian soldier. Military Badge of the 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. ... Commanders Badge of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions; in decreasing order of seniority, these are... DSO medal The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other Commonwealth countries, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat. ... Canadian Forces Decoration The Canadian Forces Decoration is a Canadian military award given to officers and soldiers of the Canadian Armed Forces who have completed twelve years of service. ... April 13 is the 103rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (104th in leap years). ... 1904 (MCMIV) was a leap year starting on a Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... March 27 is the 86th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (87th in leap years). ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Born in Armagh, Ireland, the son of a British officer, his father came to Canada in 1910 to teach at the Royal Military College of Canada. From 1921 to 1925, he attended the Royal Military College and was commissioned into the Royal Canadian Engineers. He then attended McGill University from 1926 to 1927 where he received a Bachelor of Science degree. From 1934 to 1935, he attended Staff College, Camberley in England. WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 54. ... The Royal Military College of Canada (RMC), is the military academy of the Canadian Forces and is a full degree-granting university. ... The Canadian Military Engineers (CME) is the military engineering branch of the Canadian Forces. ... McGill University is a publicly funded, non-denominational, co-educational research university located in the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. ... Staff College, Camberley, Surrey, is a training college for the British army. ...

In 1942, he was promoted to Brigadier and was put in charge of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade where he was part of the Allied invasion of Sicily. In 1943, he became commander of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division and promoted to Major-General. He was the commander in the Battle of Ortona, considered among Canada's greatest achievements during the war. In 1944, he took over command of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division and fought in the Battle of the Hochwald. Brigadier is a rank which is used in different ways by different countries. ... Combatants United States United Kingdom Canada Germany Italy Commanders Harold Alexander Alfredo Guzzoni Strength 160,000 men 14,000 vehicles 600 tanks 1,800 guns 365,000 Italians 40,000Germans Casualties USA: 2,237 killed 6,544 wounded British: 2,721 killed 10,122 wounded Canada: 562 killed 1,848... List of military divisions — List of Canadian divisions in WWII The Canadian 1st Infantry Division was formed at the outbreak of World War I in August 1914. ... Major General or Major-General is a military rank used in many countries. ... Combatants 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade 3rd battalion, 3rd Regt, German 1st Parachute Division Commanders Major General Chris Vokes Generalleutnant Richard Heidrich Strength  ?  ? Casualties Canadian 275+[1] German 450+ [2] The Battle of Ortona (December 20, 1943 to December 27, 1943) was a small yet extremely fierce battle fought between German... List of military divisions — List of Canadian divisions in WWII The Canadian 4th Armoured Division was created by conversion of 4th Canadian Infantry Division at the beginning of 1942 in United Kingdom in August and October. ...

From June 1945 to May 1946, he was the General Officer commanding the Canadian Army Occupation Force in Europe. Returning to Canada, he commanded the Army's Central Command and then Western Command. He retired in 1959.

He died of cancer in Oakville, Ontario in 1985. Motto: Template:Unhide = Avancez (Go forward). ...

References

• Major-General Christopher Vokes. Juno Beach Centre.
• Sword & Epaulettes of College No. 1633. Royal Military College of Canada.
• "Maj.-Gen Christopher Vokes Tough officer led 1st Division on Sicily beach", The Globe and Mail, March 28, 1985.

The Globe and Mail is a large English language national newspaper based in Toronto, Canada, and printed in seven cities across Canada. ...

External links

• Christopher Vokes at The Canadian Encyclopedia