General Jean Victor Allard, C.C., C.B.E., G.O.Q., D.S.O., E.D., C.D. (June 12, 1913 - April 23, 1996) was the first French Canadian to become a Chief of the Defence Staff, the highest position in the Canadian Armed Forces. He was also the first to hold the accompanying rank of (full) General.
He had served as an Armoured Corps militia officer in the Régiment de Trois-Rivières prior to the war. He was mobilized in the rank of Major. When his regiment converted to an English-speaking unit, he requested a transfer to the Infantry and became the Deputy Commanding Officer of the 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 a brigade at the end of the war in Germany, in the rank of Brigadier (now Brigadier General). He was the Canadian Military Attaché in Moscow after the war and then commanded the Canadian brigade in Korea. As a major general, he commanded a British Division in NATO, as part of the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR).
As a lieutenant general, he commanded Mobile Command, consisting of the Canadian land forces in Canada and, at that time, the close support air forces as well.
From 1966 to 1969 he was Chief of the Defence Staff. It was under his supervision that the Canadian forces were integrated. 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 1968 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada.
In 1985 he published his memoirs, with English translation in 1988The memoirs of General Jean V. Allard, written in cooperation with Serge Bernier.
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Last updated: 08-26-2005 13:30:52
