Jean Victor Allard

Allard, Jean Victor

Jean Victor Allard, soldier (b at Saint-Monique de Nicolet, Qué 12 June 1913 - d at Trois-Rivières, Qué, April 23 1996). He was commissioned in the Non-Permanent Active Militia in 1933, served during WWII at the Canadian Army Staff College, Kingston, and in England, Italy (Royal 22e Régiment), Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany (6th Infantry Brigade), finishing with the rank of brigadier. From 1945 to 1948 he was military attaché in Moscow; in 1953 he commanded the 25th Infantry Brigade in Korea and represented Canada at the armistice signing in Panmunjom. He commanded the 4th Division of the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) from 1961 to 1963, a singular event for a Canadian, and was the first commander of Mobile Command. In July 1966 he was promoted to general and appointed chief of defence staff, the first French Canadian to be thus recognized. He returned in 1969 and published his memoirs in 1985.