1. George Pearkes was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy awarded to British and Imperial forces; and the 20th lieutenant governor of British Columbia.
23 Facts About George Pearkes
1. 2.
In 1911, George joined the Royal North-West Mounted Police and served in Yukon until the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914.
3.
In 1915, George Pearkes enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force 2nd Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles; transferring in September 1916 to the 5th Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles.
4.
George Pearkes is wearing four wound stripes on his sleeve.
5.
George Pearkes was 29 years old, and an acting major during the Battle of Passchendaele when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross :.
6.
Just prior to the advance Major George Pearkes was wounded in the thigh.
7.
George Pearkes showed throughout a supreme contempt of danger and wonderful powers of control and leading.
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John Diefenbaker 8.
George Pearkes served as staff officer at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario.
9.
In 1925 George Pearkes married Constance Blytha Copeman, and they had two children.
10.
In July 1940, after the surrender of France, George Pearkes succeeded McNaughton in command of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division.
11.
In 1943 George Pearkes was part of the planning for Operation Greenlight, retaking the Aleutian Islands from the Japanese.
12.
In 1944, George Pearkes was instrumental in suppressing the Terrace Mutiny, a revolt by conscripts stationed in Terrace, British Columbia, resulting from the announcement that conscripts would be deployed overseas.
13.
When it became clear that the government was not considering deploying troops for the fighting in the Pacific, George Pearkes requested a change of command, or to be allowed to retire.
14.
George Pearkes went into federal politics, winning the Nanaimo, British Columbia, riding for the Progressive Conservative Party.
15.
George Pearkes was re-elected in the 1957 and 1958 elections.
16.
George Pearkes was Minister of National Defence from 1957 to 1960 under Prime Minister John Diefenbaker.
17.
In 1958, George Pearkes recommended that the Avro Arrow programme be cancelled.
18.
George Pearkes became Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia on 13 October 1960, and became one of the few Lieutenant Governors to agree to an extended term, serving until July 1968.
19.
George Pearkes died on 30 May 1984, in Victoria, British Columbia, and is commemorated at the Holy Trinity Cemetery, West Saanich, Sidney, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
20.
George Pearkes donated a ceremonial sword to Berkhamsted School in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire to be awarded each year to the school's best senior NCO cadet.
21.
Major-General George Pearkes received numerous awards during his life, including the following.
22.
George Pearkes was sworn in as a Member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada on 21 June 1957.
23.
George Pearkes received the Order of the Dogwood in 1968.