Ramsey Muir Withers
| Ramsey Muir Withers | |
|---|---|
| Born |
July 28, 1930 Scarborough, Ontario |
| Died | December 24, 2014 (aged 84) Ottawa, Ontario |
| Allegiance |
 Canada
|
| Service/branch |
 Canadian Army / Canadian Forces
|
| Years of service | 1948-1983 |
| Rank | General |
| Awards | CMM, CStJ, CD, LL.D |
| Other work | Deputy Minister of Transport |
General Ramsey Muir Withers, CMM, CD (July 28, 1930 – December 24, 2014) was a Canadian Army Officer and Chief of the Defence Staff, the highest ranking position in the Canadian Forces, from 1980-1983. He died of a heart attack in 2014.
Born in Scarborough, Ontario to Scottish immigrant parents, Withers spent 35 years in uniform, serving in the Korean War and in command and staff positions throughout Canada and overseas. General Ramsey Withers served 35 years in the Regular Force and six years in the Militia. He served during the Korean War. His reserve service was as Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the Governor-General’s Foot Guards. Withers was a professional engineer and a Fellow of Georgian College, holding earned degrees from the Royal Military College of Canada (student # 2951) and Queen's University. He was a graduate of the Canadian Army Staff College and Britain's Joint Services Staff College. He is a graduate of the Canadian Army Staff College and Britain’s Joint Services Staff College.
On graduation from the Royal Military College of Canada in 1952, his first posting was to 1 R 22eR in Korea. He was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals. His first appointment as a general officer was in 1970 as the founding Commander of Canadian Forces Northern Region, with headquarters in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. He commanded Canadian Forces Europe, in the rank of major-general. In 1977 on promotion to lieutenant-general, he returned to Canada as Vice Chief of the Defence Staff. In 1980, on promotion to general, he was appointed Canada’s sixth Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Principal Commander of the Order of Military Merit. He retired in 1983. He was appointed Deputy Minister of Transport Canada 1983 until 1988, and served under Ministers Pépin, Axworthy, Mazankowski and Crosbie. During which time he was awarded the Commissioner's Award of the Northwest Territories and the Outstanding Achievement Award of the Public Service of Canada. He retired from the Public Service in 1988.
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