Bruce Matthews (Canadian Army officer)
| Albert Bruce Matthews | |
|---|---|
| Born |
August 12, 1909 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | September 12, 1991 (aged 82) |
| Allegiance |
 Canada
|
| Service/branch |
 Canadian Army
|
| Years of service | 1928–1945 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Unit | Royal Canadian Artillery |
| Commands held |
5th Medium Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery 2nd Canadian Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars |
World War II Sicily Italy Normandy Scheldt Rhineland Netherlands |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Order Commander of the Order of the British Empire Honorary citizenship of the city of Groningen |
| Relations | Albert Edward Matthews (father) |
| Other work |
Colonel commandant of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery President Liberal Party of Canada |
Major General Albert Bruce Matthews, CBE DSO ED (August 12, 1909 – September 12, 1991) was a senior Canadian Army officer and businessman in the 1930s. He rose to be the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2nd Canadian Infantry Division during the Second World War, after campaigns in Sicily and Italy. He became noted for his personal bravery and the accuracy and reliability of the artillery under his command. Post-war, his business career continued. In addition, he was active in the Canadian Liberal Party.
Born 1909, his father, Albert Edward Matthews, was a prominent with Liberal connections who became Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario in 1937. Bruce Matthews was educated at Upper Canada College in Toronto, later serving as President of its Board of Governors, and at Geneva University. He then joined the family firm.
Matthews married Victoria Thorne in 1937; the couple had one child before the outbreak of war and, after Victoria had visited Matthews in Britain in summer 1940, there were twins in 1941, although Matthews did not see them until October 1945.
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.
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