Bruce Matthews (Canadian Army Officer) - Military Career

Military Career

At first, in 1927, Matthews, was turned down for admission to the Royal Military College of Canada and he was also rejected by the Royal Canadian Navy Reserve due to his colour blindness. Nevertheless, in 1928, he joined the Non-Permanent Active Militia, 30th Field Battery, 3rd Field Brigade, Royal Canadian Artillery, as a provisional lieutenant, qualifying as a lieutenant later that year. He was promoted to captain in 1933 and started a two year militia staff course. In 1936, Matthews was appointed adjutant in the 7th Toronto Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery and in 1938 he commanded the 15th Field Battery, as a major.

War was declared in September 1939 and Matthews was posted overseas to the UK with the 1st Canadian Infantry Division in December. In the wartime army, Matthews rose steadily; commanding a battery in March 1940, then he raised the 5th Medium Regiment (as a lieutenant-colonel) in September 1941. After an appointment from September 1942 as counter battery officer at Headquarters, I Canadian Corps, in January 1943 Matthews was promoted to brigadier at the of age 33, the youngest at that time in the Canadian Army, and Commander, Royal Artillery, 1st Canadian Infantry Division.

Matthews' active service started in July 1943, landing in Sicily and directing the naval gunfire of HMS Roberts and later finding artillery locations, while under direct enemy fire, for the assault on Agira during the Sicily campaign. In September 1943, his Italian mainland campaign began: he was later awarded the DSO. He returned to the UK in January 1944, having been transferred to the II Canadian Corps as CCRA, regarded as the "second most senior job for a gunner in the Canadian Forces". II Corps was activated in Normandy on July 11, 1944 and participated in several actions (Operations Atlantic, Spring, Totalize and Tractable) in the Battle of Normandy. Matthews developed the artillery firing plans for each of these operations.

Matthews' coordination of the large-scale artillery support in Normandy and Walcheren showed him to be a highly-skilled gunner.

In November 1944, Matthews was promoted to major general and appointed GOC 2nd Canadian Infantry Division, bringing it back to high operational efficiency after its gruelling battles on the Scheldt. The Division took part in the Rhineland battles (Operations Veritable and Blockbuster) battles in February and March 1945. The Division advanced from Calcar, through the Hochwald and Xanten to Wesel, narrowly failing to prevent the demolition of the Rhine bridges by the retreating Germans.

Once across the Rhine, Matthews' Division liberated the northern Netherlands and then made a rapid 150-mile move to guard XXX Corps' right flank on the Weser. The Canadians captured Oldenburg and they were approaching Wilhelmshaven when hostilities ceased on May 5.