Major General Harry Farnham Germain Letson, CB, CBE, MC, ED, CD was an engineer, educator and Canadian Army officer who served in both World War I and World War II.
20 Facts About Harry Letson
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Harry Letson was serving with the Western Universities Battalion at the start of World War I, soon afterwards became a non-commissioned officer and went with them to France in 1916.
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Harry Letson was severely wounded by machine gun fire during a raid near Vimy Ridge and was awarded the Military Cross.
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Harry Letson received an engineering degree from the Vancouver campus of McGill University where he was the first ever graduate in mechanical engineering.
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Harry Letson went on to earn a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from London University.
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From 1923 to 1935, Letson was an associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of British Columbia.
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Harry Letson was president of the Professional Engineers Association of British Columbia from 1935 to 1936.
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Harry Letson helped conceive the CANLOAN scheme while visiting Canadian Military Headquarters in London in October 1943.
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Harry Letson was named adjutant general in Ottawa in 1942.
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Harry Letson served as secretary to Governor General of Canada Sir Harold Alexander from 1946 to 1952.
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Harry Letson was advisor to the army on militia from 1954 to 1958.
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In 1963, Harry Letson was named honorary colonel for the British Columbia Regiment.
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Harry Letson excelled at shooting and attended the Army Operational Shooting Competition at Bisley five times, once as captain of the Canadian team.
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Harry Letson served as president of the Dominion of Canada Rifle Association and of the British Columbia Rifle Association.
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The Harry Letson Trophy is awarded to the winning team in the Canadian Forces Small Arms Concentration.
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Harry Letson was invested as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in January 1944, and, in April that year, was conferred with the Legion of Merit by the United States, and invested as a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1946.
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Harry Letson was awarded the Efficiency Decoration and the Canadian Forces' Decoration.
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Harry Letson was nominated for the Order of Canada but died before the appointment could have been made.
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Harry Letson endowed an award to the University of British Columbia department of mechanical engineering.
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The Harry Letson Prize is awarded annually in equal amounts to the head of the graduating class in each option of the undergraduate mechanical engineering program.