Christopher Vokes
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Major General Christopher Vokes CB, CBE, DSO, CD (April 13, 1904 – March 27, 1985) was a Canadian soldier.
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 of Canada 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.
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 of the division during the Battle of Ortona, after which he was criticized for unimaginative tactics and frontal assaults. In 1944, he took over command of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division and fought in the Battle of the Hochwald.
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.
[edit] 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.
