Herbert Cyril Thacker

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Major-General Herbert Cyril Thacker, CB CMG DSO (16 September 1870 – 2 June 1953) was a Canadian soldier and Chief of the General Staff, the head of the Canadian Army from 1927 until 1929.[1]

He was born the son of Major-General J. Thacker of the Bombay Staff Corps in 1870 in Poona, India. His attended Upper Canada College (UCC in Toronto; and in 1887, he graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada.[1] Commissioned in the Royal Canadian Artillery in 1891, he conducted survey work in western Canada for the Canadian Pacific Railway. In 1898 he was one of three artillery officers assigned to the Yukon Field Force, but returned east a year later to embark for service with the Canadian contingent in South Africa.

His service in the South African War of 1900 led to the award of the Queen’s medal with three clasps.[2]

From 1904-1905 he had the unique Canadian assignment as a military attaché with the Japanese Army during the Russo-Japanese War.[1]

In 1907, his appointment as Director of Artillery at Ottawa accompanied a promotion as Commanding Officer of the Royal Canadian Garrison Artillery (RCGA), which becoming one of the 65 to live in the Commanding Officers’ Residence at Royal Artillery Park in Halifax.[2]

At the outbreak of The Great War, Thacker joined the Canadian Expeditionary Forces (CEF), sailing for Europe with the 1st Canadian Division. Thacker went on to command the 2nd Canadian Divisional Artillery from 1914-1915. After General Sir Henry E. Burstall was promoted, he commanded the 1st Canadian Divisional Artillery from September 1915 through the end of World War and the CEF return to Canada.

After the war, Thacker was appointed the District Officer Commanding Military District 6, returning with his family to live at Royal Artillery Park.[2] His career was capped with service as Chief of the General Staff from 1927-29.

Contents

[edit] Service record

His military service is characterized by steady increases in responsibility and rank.[1]

  • 1893 -- Lieutenant, Royal Canadian Artillery
  • 1900 -- South African War, Canadian Field Artillery
  • 1904-05 -- Russo-Japanese War, Military Attachée with Japanese Army in the field
  • 1907-11 -- Commanding Officer, Royal Canadian Garrison Artillery, Halifax
  • 1911-15 -- Inspector of Coast Defense Artillery
  • 1915-18 -- Brigadier-General, 1st Canadian Division Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Forces
  • 1919 -- Commanding officer, Military District No. 6, Halifax
  • 1921 -- Major-General
  • 1927-29 -- Chief of General Staff

Thacker retired from military service in 1929. He died in Victoria, British Columbia, in June 1953.

[edit] Honors

For his service in the Boer War, Thacker was awarded the Queen's Medal with three clasps (1900).[1]

He was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Third Class by the Japanese government for his services during the Russo-Japanese War.[3] He also received the Japanese War medal for service during that campaign.[1]

For service in World War I, he was made a Companion of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (CMG) in 1916and in 1919 he was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in 1919. In 1918, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g _____. (1922). Prominent People of the Maritime Provinces, p. 193.
  2. ^ a b c Pacey, Elizabeth. "Commander’s residence at Royal Artillery park," Trident. 38:20, 7. October 18, 2004.
  3. ^ L'Harmattan web site (in French)

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Military offices
Preceded by
Sir James Howden MacBrien		 Chief of the General Staff
1927-1929		 Succeeded by
Andrew George Latta McNaughton
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