Denis Whitaker

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Brigadier-General William Denis Whitaker (February 27, 1915 - May 30, 2001), D.S.O., C.M., E.D., C.D. was a Canadian soldier, business man, and author.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Born in Calgary, Alberta and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Whitaker was educated at the University of Toronto School and later at the Royal Military College of Canada, student # 2357 in Kingston, Ontario. He graduated in 1933. He was a quarterback for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

He accepted a commission,as a lieutenant, with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry in 1937.

[edit] Military career

During World War II, Whitaker was awarded the Distinguished Service Order at the rank of captain for his achievement in the Battle of Dieppe in 1942. He was the only one of the 100 officers who landed on the beach to fight his way into town and escape unwounded. As a Lieutenant Colonel, Whitaker commanded the 1st Battalion The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry - Canadian Army Active from February 17, 1944 until July 17, 1944 and from September 15, 1944 until March 29, 1945, throughout most of the fighting in northwest Europe.

At the end of the war, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General. Whitaker left the army in 1951, but returned as Honorary Colonel of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry from 1972 - 1992.

[edit] Business career

After his military service, he was a commercial manager of radio station CHML. In 1962 he was named vice president of O'Keefe Brewing Co. and soon became the President. He was also the president of Major Market Advertising and a financial consultant with Nesbitt Burns.

[edit] Sports career

Whitaker's sports career was equally illustrious, beginning with captaincy of the Royal Military College ice hockey and football teams. He led the Hamilton Tigers in 1938 and was named all-eastern quarterback. He was named to the Canadian Forces Sports Honour Roll and was a national senior squash champion. He chaired the Canadian Equestrian Team for 20 years, and under his guidance the team won two Olympics, 15 Pan-American and two World Championship gold medals. He was also chef-de-mission for the 1980 Canadian Olympic Team in Moscow, which the Canadians eventually boycotted, along with the Americans due to The Soviets invading Aghanistan. He was a founder and member of the Olympic Trust of Canada. In 1990, he was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.

[edit] Decorations/Honours

[edit] Selected works

  • Normandy: The Real Story of How Ordinary Allied Soldiers Defeated Hitler by Denis Whitaker, Shelagh Whitaker, and Terry Copp
  • Victory at Falaise: The Soldier's Story by Denis Whitaker and Shelagh Whitaker with Terry Copp
  • Tug of War: The Allied Victory That Opened Antwerp by Denis Whitaker and Shelagh Whitaker
  • Dieppe: Tragedy to Triumph by Denis Whitaker and Shelagh Whitaker
  • Rhineland: The Battle to End the War by Denis Whitaker and Shelagh Whitaker
  • The Battle of the Scheldt by Denis Whitaker