George Randolph Pearkes

George Randolph Pearkes (26 February 1888 - 30 May 1984) was a Canadian soldier, Victoria Cross recipient, senior military commander and public servant whose career extended from the First World War trenches to senior command during the Second World War and later to federal and vice-regal office. He served as Minister of National Defence and as the 20th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. Contemporary Canadian parliamentary records give his birth date as 26 February 1888, and the Office of the Lieutenant Governor identifies him as British Columbia's 20th lieutenant governor.

Pearkes was born in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, and was educated at Berkhamsted School. He immigrated to Canada in 1906 and trained in farming near Red Deer, Alberta. After working on other farms, he established his own homestead on a quarter-section near Dovercourt, Alberta, in 1909. He later worked with a Dominion survey party in northern Alberta before joining the Royal North-West Mounted Police.

On 13 February 1913, Pearkes joined the Royal North-West Mounted Police as Regimental No. 5529 and served in the Yukon. He purchased his discharge in February 1915 in order to volunteer for overseas military service. In March 1915 he enlisted as a private in the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles, Canadian Expeditionary Force, under service number 107473. He went overseas with that unit and served in France, rising rapidly through the ranks. In September 1916 he transferred to the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles, rather than first joining the Canadian Mounted Rifles at that date.

Pearkes was commissioned in the field in 1916 and rose to acting captain and then acting major. During the Somme fighting he distinguished himself while leading a bombing party and was awarded the Military Cross. His citation, published in December 1916, credited him with leading his men with courage and determination, clearing approximately 600 yards of enemy trench, taking eighteen prisoners and remaining on duty after being wounded.

His most celebrated action came during the Second Battle of Passchendaele on 30 and 31 October 1917. Serving as an acting major with the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles, Pearkes was wounded in the left thigh shortly before the advance but refused to leave his command. He continued forward with his men, captured a German strongpoint threatening the advance and held his position against repeated counter-attacks despite exposed flanks and severe casualties. His conduct earned him the Victoria Cross. Library and Archives Canada confirms that Pearkes was wounded five times during the First World War and subsequently received the Victoria Cross, Military Cross and Distinguished Service Order.

His Victoria Cross citation appeared in The London Gazette, No. 30471, page 722, dated 11 January 1918:

"For most conspicuous bravery and skilful handling of the troops under his command during the capture and consolidation of considerably more than the objectives allotted to him, in an attack. Just prior to the advance Major Pearkes was wounded in the thigh. Regardless of his wound, he continued to lead his men with the utmost gallantry, despite many obstacles. At a particular stage of the attack his further advance was threatened by a strong point which was an objective of the battalion on his left, but which they had not succeeded in capturing. Quickly appreciating the situation, he captured and held this point, thus enabling his further advance to be successfully pushed forward. It was entirely due to his determination and fearless personality that he was able to maintain his objective with the small number of men at his command against repeated enemy counter attacks, both his flanks being unprotected for a considerable depth meanwhile. His appreciation of the situation throughout and the reports rendered by him were invaluable to his Commanding Officer in making dispositions of troops to hold the position captured. He showed throughout a supreme contempt of danger and wonderful powers of control and leading."

The November 1917 chronology requires particular care. Pearkes was not promoted to lieutenant-colonel and placed in command of the 116th Battalion in November 1917. The 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles war diary records that on 30 November 1917 he left the battalion to take up duties as senior major of the 116th Battalion, CEF. He subsequently assumed command during Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Sharpe's absence. Pearkes attained acting lieutenant-colonel rank in January 1918 and temporary lieutenant-colonel rank in March. He commanded the 116th during major operations in 1918 and received the Distinguished Service Order for his leadership.

Pearkes's command of the 116th was interrupted after he was severely wounded for the fifth time in September 1918. Another officer temporarily commanded the battalion while Pearkes recovered. He returned after the Armistice, rejoined the 116th and resumed command through its return and demobilization. The battalion's own published history records both his severe wound and his return in time to lead the unit's march through Belgium and eventual return to Canada.

After the First World War, Pearkes remained in the Permanent Force and joined Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. He attended the Staff College at Camberley and subsequently held a succession of staff and command appointments in Canada, including postings in Calgary and Winnipeg and service at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston. From 1929 to 1933 he served as a General Staff Officer at RMC. He later became Director of Military Training and Staff Duties at Army Headquarters and attended the Imperial Defence College in Britain before taking command of Military District No. 13 in Calgary.

With the outbreak of the Second World War, Pearkes was appointed to command the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade and led it overseas in December 1939. In July 1940 he was promoted to major-general and assumed command of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division. In September 1942 he returned to Canada to become General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Pacific Command, responsible for the defence of Canada's western approaches. His command also became involved in Canadian participation in operations against the Japanese-held Aleutian Islands. He remained in Pacific Command until February 1945.

Pearkes retired from the Canadian Army in 1945 and entered federal politics as a Progressive Conservative. He was elected to the House of Commons for Nanaimo in 1945 and again in 1949, then represented Esquimalt-Saanich following the 1953, 1957 and 1958 elections. On 21 June 1957 he became Minister of National Defence in the government of Prime Minister John Diefenbaker and remained in that office until October 1960. His tenure included the development and formal establishment of the binational North American Air Defense Command, NORAD. The Canada-United States NORAD agreement became official on 12 May 1958.

After leaving federal politics, Pearkes became the 20th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, serving from 1960 until 1968. In recognition of his military and public service, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1967. The Governor General's official honours register records the award date as 6 July 1967 and his investiture at Rideau Hall as 24 November 1967, so the investiture date should not be presented as the date of appointment.

Pearkes died in Victoria, British Columbia, on 30 May 1984 at the age of 96. He was buried at Holy Trinity Cemetery in West Saanich. His name remains closely associated with Canadian military history, including through the Major-General George R. Pearkes Building in Ottawa, named in his honour.