Article submitted by 10642 Doug Wright, Chair RMC Wall of Honour Committee
2759 Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Jean-Charles (Charly) Forbes, RMWO, LH, CD, MID, BScMil (Deceased 2010)
Jean-Charles Forbes entered RMC in September 1940 from Matane, Québec as a member of the Last (pre) War Class. Forbes excelled at sports, however, he struggled with the all-English academic program at RMC. He left RMC in 1941, attended officer training in Brockville, Ontario, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieut. in Le Régiment de Maisonneuve, of the 5th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Infantry Division.
Part of the Normandy invasion in 1944, Lieutenant Forbes was seen as a capable and courageous infantry platoon leader. Forbes distinguished himself, in November 1944, in the Battle of the Walcheren Causeway, the last operation to clear the Scheldt Estuary. A month later, unknown to most of his peers Forbes was knighted by Her Majesty Queen Wilhelmine of Holland as a Knight of the Military Order of William (RMWO) (the Dutch equivalent to a Victoria Cross) in recognition of his courage and leadership in the Schelt.
Forbes is well recognized in the French-Canadian military community. After the Second World War, he played an active role in the Royal Canadian Legion in Quebec, where he presided over the creation of La filiale Victor Côté (Matane No. 130) (LASNIER, Georges). The Quebec City branch established in 1994, in recognition of his many contributions, bears his name, La filiale Lt. Col. J. Charles Forbes RMWO (Québec No. 265). READ MORE HERE
2897 Major-General Herbert Chelsey Pitts, MC, CD (Deceased 2018)
General Pitts was an outstanding Army Officer in war and peace; mentoring the next generation through his personal example. In the over 30 years of civilian life after his retirement from the Army he was a tireless volunteer in many of public service activities including honorary roles with the four Regiments in which he had served. He died in 2018.
Herb Pitts entered Royal Roads Military College in 1948. He was commissioned into the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) in 1951, and immediately sent to the Korea where he was awarded the Military Cross for heroic combat leadership. Back in Canada, swift promotion to command and staff appointments included command of the First Battalion in Victoria from 1967 to 69, and the command, from 1971 to 73, of the Canadian Airborne Regiment (CAR) in Edmonton, with his career culminating in his promotion to Major General in 1976. He retired in 1978.
In retirement Herb Pitts dedicated his life to public service filling senior leadership positions in national, provincial and community organizations. Over 30 years he focused his exemplary leadership across four themes: (1) develop Canadian Youth, (2) commemorate Canadian heritage; (3) support Canadian military and veterans’ organizations; and (4) serve his community. READ MORE HERE.
Le comité du mur d’honneur du CMR est heureux d’annoncer les lauréats 2022 :
2759 Lieutenant-colonel honoraire Sir Jean-Charles (Charly) Forbes, RMWO, LH, CD, MID, BScMil (décédé en 2010)
Jean-Charles Forbes est entré au RMC en septembre 1940 en provenance de Matane, au Québec, en tant que membre de la classe Last (pre) War. Forbes excellait dans le sport, cependant, il avait du mal avec le programme académique entièrement en anglais du RMC. Il a quitté le CMR en 1941, a suivi une formation d’officier à Brockville, en Ontario, et a été nommé sous-lieutenant. dans Le Régiment de Maisonneuve, de la 5e brigade d’infanterie, 2e division d’infanterie canadienne.
Participant à l’invasion de la Normandie en 1944, le lieutenant Forbes était considéré comme un chef de peloton d’infanterie capable et courageux. Forbes se distingua, en novembre 1944, lors de la bataille de la chaussée de Walcheren, dernière opération de dégagement de l’estuaire de l’Escaut. Un mois plus tard, à l’insu de la plupart de ses pairs, Forbes a été fait chevalier par Sa Majesté la reine Wilhelmine de Hollande en tant que Chevalier de l’Ordre militaire de Guillaume (RMWO) (l’équivalent néerlandais de la Croix de Victoria) en reconnaissance de son courage et de son leadership dans le Escaut. En savoir plus ici
2897 Major-général Herbert Chelsey Pitts, MC, CD (décédé en 2018)
Le général Pitts était un officier de l’armée exceptionnel en temps de guerre et de paix ; encadrer la prochaine génération par son exemple personnel. Au cours des plus de 30 années de vie civile après sa retraite de l’armée, il a été un bénévole infatigable dans de nombreuses activités de service public, y compris des rôles honorifiques avec les quatre régiments dans lesquels il avait servi. Il est décédé en 2018.
Herb Pitts est entré au Royal Roads Military College en 1948. Il a été nommé dans le Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) en 1951 et immédiatement envoyé en Corée où il a reçu la Croix militaire pour son leadership héroïque au combat. De retour au Canada, une promotion rapide au commandement et des nominations à l’état-major comprennent le commandement du premier bataillon à Victoria de 1967 à 1969 et le commandement, de 1971 à 1973, du Régiment aéroporté du Canada (RAC) à Edmonton. promu major général en 1976. Il a pris sa retraite en 1978. En savoir plus ici
Very pleased to see Herb Pitts receive this long overdue honour. He served his country, his Army , his military colleges (Royal Roads and RMC), his many regiments and an impressive number of civilian institutions with great distinction and courageous leadership. His focus was never on himself, but always on doing what he could to help and better his fellow Canadians.
I cannot but echo David Wightman’s comments as it was Col Pitts, my Regimental Commander, the Canadian Airborne Regiment, who inspired me to seek out his appointment, albeit several years later.