General Jean Victor Allard CC, CBE, GOQ, DSO & Two Bars, ED, CD (12 June 1913 – 23 April 1996) was the first French Canadian to become Chief of the Defence Staff, the highest position in the Canadian Forces, from 1966 to 1969. He was also the first to hold the accompanying rank of general.
Jean Victor Allard
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General Jean Victor Allard, CDS
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| Born | (1913-06-12)12 June 1913 Sainte-Monique-de-Nicolet, Quebec |
| Died | 23 April 1996(1996-04-23) (aged 82) Trois-Rivières, Quebec |
| Allegiance |  Canada |
| Service/ | Canadian Army / Canadian Forces |
| Years of service | 1933–1969 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | Chief of the Defence Staff Commander, Mobile Command 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade Royal 22e Régiment |
| Battles/wars | World War II Korean War |
| Awards | Companion of the Order of Canada Commander of the Order of the British Empire[1] Grand Officer of the National Order of Quebec Distinguished Service Order & Two Bars |
| Other work | Inventor, diplomat, and amateur painter. |
Allard served as an officer in the Régiment de Trois-Rivières prior to World War II. After the outbreak of war in 1939, he was attested to the Canadian Active Service Force and promoted to the rank of major. When the active component of his regiment was redesignated to become an Anglophone armoured unit, he requested a transfer to the infantry and became the Deputy Commanding Officer of Régiment de la ChaudièreinEngland.[2] In December 1943, he became the Commanding Officer of the Royal 22e RégimentinItaly.[2]
He was in command of the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade at the end of the war in Germany, in the rank of brigadier (now brigadier-general).[2] He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) on three occasions, the first in April 1944,[3] and the second time being in March 1945.[4]
He was the Canadian military attachéinMoscow after the war until 1948 when he was appointed Commander for the East Quebec Area.[2] During the Korean War, he commanded the 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade from April 1953.[2] He signed the truce at Panmunjon on Canada's behalf on 27 July 1953. He became commander of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade in 1954 and Commander of the Eastern Quebec Area in 1956.[2] In 1958 he was made Vice-Chief of the General Staff.[2]
As a major-general, he commanded the British 4th Division from 1961 to 1963, as part of the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR).[2] In 1964 he was made Chief of Operational Readiness.[2] As a lieutenant-general, he was Commander, Mobile Command from 1965 to 1966, comprising the Canadian land forces in Canada and, at that time, the close air support forces, as well.[2]
In July 1966, Allard was promoted to full general. From 1966 to 1969, he was Chief of the Defence Staff.[2]
In 1985, he published his memoirs, with English translation in 1988 The memoirs of General Jean V. Allard, written in cooperation with Serge Bernier.[5]
| Ribbon | Description | Notes |
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Companion of the Order of Canada (C.C.) | |
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Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) |
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Serving Member of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem | |
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Grand officier de l'Ordre national du Québec (GOQ) | |
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Distinguished Service Order and two bars (DSO) |
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1939–1945 Star |
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Italy Star |
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France and Germany Star |
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Defence Medal |
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Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Service bar |
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War Medal 1939–1945 |
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Korea Medal |
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Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea |
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United Nations Korea Medal |
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Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal |
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Canadian Centennial Medal |
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Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal for Canada |
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125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal |
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Efficiency Decoration (ED) |
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Canadian Forces' Decoration (CD) |
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Bronze Lion |
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Chevalier de l'Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur |
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Croix de Guerre avec Palme en Bronze |
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Officer of the Legion of Merit |
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The Général-Jean-Victor-Allard Building, the home of the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School, was named in honour of General Allard.
| Military offices | ||
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| Preceded by Lieutenant Colonel J.P.E. Bernatchez |
CO Royal 22e Régiment 1943–1945 |
Succeeded by Lieutenant Colonel G.A. Turcot |
| Preceded by | GOC 4th Division 1961–1963 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by
Geoffrey Walsh |
Commander, Mobile Command 1965–1966 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chief of the Defence Staff 1966–1969 |
Succeeded by |
| Honorary titles | ||
| Preceded by Lieutenant Colonel P.J. Addy |
Colonel of the 12e Régiment blindé du Canada 1969–1979 |
Succeeded by Lieutenant Colonel M.R. Gaulin |
| Preceded by Lieutenant General J. Chouinard |
Colonel of the Royal 22e Régiment 1985–1988 |
Succeeded by Major General R.A. Reid |