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{{short description|Canadian Army officer}}
{{Infobox military person
{{Infobox military person
|name= Daniel Charles Spry
|name= Daniel Charles Spry |birth_date= February 4, 1913 |death_date= 1989 |birth_place= [[Winnipeg]]|death_place= |image= Daniel_Spry.jpg|caption= MGen Daniel Charles Spry {{Post-nominals|CBE|DSO|CD}}|rank= [[Major General]]|serviceyears= 1932 - 1946|commands= [[3rd Canadian Infantry Division|3rd Infantry Division]]|battles= [[Operation Husky|Sicily]]<br>Italy<br>[[Normandy]]<br>[[Operation Wellhit|Boulogne]]<br>[[Battle of the Scheldt|Scheldt]]<br>[[Operation Veritable|Rhineland]]|awards= [[CBE]]<br>[[Distinguished Service Order|DSO]]<br>[[Canadian Forces Decoration|CD]]|laterwork= Chief Executive Commissioner of the [[Scout Movement in Canada]] }}
|birth_date= February 4, 1913

|death_date= {{Death date and age|1989|04|02|1913|02|04}}
Major-General '''Daniel Charles Spry''' {{Post-nominals|CBE|DSO|CD}} was the Canadian commander of the [[3rd Canadian Infantry Division]] during [[Operation Veritable]] in [[World War II]]. He was born in [[Winnipeg]], Manitoba, on February 4, 1913 and died in 1989.<ref name=juno>{{cite web
|placeofburial = [[Beechwood Cemetery]], Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
|birth_place= [[Winnipeg|Winnipeg, Manitoba]], Canada
|death_place= [[Ottawa|Ottawa, Ontario]], Canada
|image= Daniel_Spry.jpg
|image_size=150px
|caption=
|rank= [[Major general|Major General]]
|allegiance={{flag|Canada|1921}}
|branch={{army|Canada|1921}}
|serviceyears= 1932−1946
⚫
|unit=[[The Royal Canadian Regiment]]
|commands= 1st Battalion, [[The Royal Canadian Regiment]]<br>[[1st Canadian Infantry Brigade]]<br>[[11th Canadian Infantry Brigade]]<br>[[3rd Canadian Division|3rd Canadian Infantry Division]]
|battles= [[Allied invasion of Sicily|Sicily]]<br>[[Allied invasion of Italy|Italy]]<br>[[Normandy]]<br>[[Operation Wellhit|Boulogne]]<br>[[Battle of the Scheldt|Scheldt]]<br>[[Operation Veritable|Rhineland]]
|awards= [[Order of the British Empire|Commander of the Order of the British Empire]]<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=37408|page=134|date=28 December 1945|supp=y}}</ref><br>[[Distinguished Service Order]]<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=36668|page=3924|date=22 August 1944|supp=y}}</ref><br>[[Canadian Forces' Decoration]]
|laterwork= Chief Executive Commissioner of the [[Scout Movement in Canada]]
⚫
}}
[[Major general|Major General]] '''Daniel Charles Spry''' [[Order of the British Empire|CBE]] [[Distinguished Service Order|DSO]] [[Canadian Forces' Decoration|CD]] (February 4, 1913 &ndash; April 2, 1989) was a senior [[Canadian Army]] [[Officer (armed forces)|officer]] who commanded the [[3rd Canadian Division|3rd Canadian Infantry Division]] during [[Operation Veritable]] in [[World War II]].<ref name=juno>{{cite web
| last =
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| first =
| first =
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| url = http://www.junobeach.org/e/3/can-pep-can-spry-e.htm
| url = http://www.junobeach.org/e/3/can-pep-can-spry-e.htm
| doi =
| doi =
| accessdate = June 1, 2009 }}</ref>
| access-date = June 1, 2009 }}</ref>


==War service==
==Second World War==
In 1943, Spry commanded the 1st Battalion, [[The Royal Canadian Regiment]] and then the [[1st Canadian Infantry Brigade]], in Italy. In 1944, he commanded the [[12th Canadian Infantry Brigade]]. Later, in 1944, he took charge of the 3rd Canadian Division, in North-West Europe, until the end of the [[Rhineland Campaign]].<ref name=cangen>{{cite web
By 1943 and the fourth year of the [[World War II|Second World War]], Spry had commanded the 1st Battalion, [[The Royal Canadian Regiment]] and then the [[1st Canadian Infantry Brigade]], both of which had fought in [[Allied invasion of Sicily|Sicily]] and, later, [[Italian campaign (World War II)|Italy]]. In 1944, now a [[brigadier]], he commanded the [[12th Canadian Infantry Brigade]], part of the [[5th Canadian Division|5th Canadian Armoured Division]], which was also serving in Italy.

Later, in August, he took charge of the [[3rd Canadian Division|3rd Canadian Infantry Division]], in [[Western Front (World War II)|Northwest Europe]], commanding the division in place of the fired Major General [[Rod Keller]] until the end of the [[Rhineland campaign]] in March 1945.<ref name=cangen>{{cite web
| last = Ammentorp
| last = Ammentorp
| first = Steen
| first = Steen
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| url = http://www.generals.dk/general/Spry/Daniel_Charles/Canada.html
| url = http://www.generals.dk/general/Spry/Daniel_Charles/Canada.html
| doi =
| doi =
| accessdate = June 1, 2009 }}</ref> The commander of [[II Canadian Corps]], [[Guy Simonds]], was dissatisfied with Spry's performance during the assaults on heavily defended woodland near [[Moyland]], southeast of [[Kleve]] and later on the [[Hochwald]], saying that he "lacked quick tactical appreciation and robust drive in ... urgent tactical situations". In turn, Spry felt that neither Simonds nor Crerar fully understood the situation "at the sharp end of battle". Simonds was adamant that Spry should go but Crerar was more sympathetic and he campaigned for Spry's appointment to the Canadian Reinforcement Units in Britain, appreciating Spry's ability as a trainer of soldiers (endorsed by Simonds) and the value of having a battle experienced officer in that role.<ref name=vcangen>{{cite book
| access-date = June 1, 2009 }}</ref> The commander of the 3rd Division's parent formation, [[II Canadian Corps]], Lieutenant General [[Guy Simonds]], was dissatisfied with Spry's performance during the assaults on heavily defended woodland near [[Moyland]], southeast of [[Kleve]] and later on the [[Operation Blockbuster|Hochwald]], saying that he "lacked quick tactical appreciation and robust drive in ... urgent tactical situations". In turn, Spry felt that neither Simonds nor the latter's superior, General [[Harry Crerar]], commanding the [[First Canadian Army]], fully understood the situation "at the sharp end of battle". Simonds was adamant that Spry should go but Crerar was more sympathetic and he campaigned for Spry's appointment to the Canadian Reinforcement Units in Britain, appreciating Spry's ability as a trainer of soldiers (endorsed by Simonds) and the value of having a battle experienced officer in that role.<ref name=vcangen>{{cite book|last=Dickson|first=Paul Douglas|authorlink=|title=A thoroughly Canadian general|work=|publisher=[[University of Toronto Press]]|year=2007|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qs-J7xMH5-0C&q=dan+spry+moyland+1945&pg=RA2-PA402
| last = Dickson
| first = Paul Douglas
| authorlink =
| title = A thoroughly Canadian general
| work =
| publisher = [[University of Toronto Press]]
⚫
| year = 2007
| url = http://books.google.com/books?id=Qs-J7xMH5-0C&pg=RA2-PA402&lpg=RA2-PA402&dq=dan+spry+moyland+1945&source=bl&ots=F224VbX5GY&sig=ljJlxfIH-2Zu8hzdcF58AWPURig&hl=en&ei=Jo4mSpquAYSsjAfG0KHhBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1
| format =
| format =
| doi =
| doi =
| accessdate = June 3, 2009 }}</ref><ref name=price>{{cite book
| access-date = June 3, 2009 | isbn = 9780802008022
}}</ref><ref name=price>{{cite book
| last = Copp
| last = Copp
| first = J. T.
| first = J. T.
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| publisher = McGraw-Hill Ryerson
| publisher = McGraw-Hill Ryerson
| year = 1996
| year = 1996
| url = http://books.google.com/books?id=Uvh-4rXVpvEC&pg=PA204&lpg=PA204&dq=dan+spry+moyland+1945&source=bl&ots=6qjuGnoT_v&sig=vRT8mvYNO4g6Xb8o3mKPBBpZYms&hl=en&ei=CZUmStXBBtrRjAeltIzkBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Uvh-4rXVpvEC&q=dan+spry+moyland+1945&pg=PA204
| format =
| format =
| doi =
| doi =
| accessdate = June 3, 2009 }}</ref> Spry was relieved of command of the 3rd Division at the end of [[Operation Blockbuster]] and he duly left for Britain to command the Canadian Reinforcement Units.
| access-date = June 3, 2009 | isbn = 9780075527138
}}</ref> Spry was relieved of command of the 3rd Division at the end of [[Operation Blockbuster]] and he duly left for Britain to command the Canadian Reinforcement Units.


==Postwar==
==Postwar==
In 1946, Spry became Vice-Chief of the General Staff at [[Canadian Army|National Defence HQ]] in [[Ottawa]]<ref name=juno /> and retired later that year.<ref name=cangen />
In 1946, Spry became Vice-Chief of the General Staff at [[Canadian Army|National Defence HQ]] in [[Ottawa]]<ref name=juno /> and retired later that year.<ref name=cangen />


In 1969, Spry presented the [[Major-General D.C. Spry Trophy]], an annual small arms competition for the [[Royal Canadian Regiment]].<ref name=rcr>{{cite web
In 1969, Spry presented the [[Major-General D. C. Spry Trophy]], an annual small arms competition for [[The Royal Canadian Regiment]].<ref name=rcr>{{cite web
| last =
|last=
| first =
|first=
| authorlink =
|authorlink=
| title = The Major-General D.C. Spry Trophy
|title=The Major-General D.C. Spry Trophy
|publisher=Royal Canadian Regiment
| work =
⚫
|year=2009
⚫
| publisher = Royal Canadian Regiment
⚫
|url=http://www.theroyalcanadianregiment.ca/customs_traditions/spry_trophy.htm
| year = 2009
⚫
|doi=
⚫
| url = http://www.theroyalcanadianregiment.ca/customs_traditions/spry_trophy.htm
⚫
|access-date=June 1, 2009
⚫
| doi =
}}{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
⚫
| accessdate = June 1, 2009 }}</ref>

== Scouting ==

Spry became Director of the [[Boy Scouts World Bureau]] and was awarded the [[Bronze Wolf]], the only distinction of the [[World Organization of the Scout Movement]], awarded by the [[World Scout Committee]] for exceptional services to world Scouting, in 1961.<ref>John S. Wilson (1959), Scouting Round the World. First edition, Blandford Press. p. 133, 190, 194, 218, 219, 239, 256, 262, 266, 271, 276, 281</ref> In 1956 he also received the highest distinction of the [[Scout Association of Japan]], the [[Golden Pheasant Award]].<ref name="reinanzaka">{{Cite web |date=2014-05-23|script-title=ja:䝪䞊䜲䝇䜹䜴䝖日本連盟 きじ章受章者 |trans-title=Recipient of the Golden Pheasant Award of the Scout Association of Japan |url=http://reinanzaka-sc.o.oo7.jp/kiroku/documents/20140523-3-kiji-list.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811030258/http://reinanzaka-sc.o.oo7.jp/kiroku/documents/20140523-3-kiji-list.pdf |archive-date=2020-08-11 |website=Reinanzaka Scout Club| language=ja}}</ref>

{{s-start}}
{{s-npo|wosm}}
{{s-bef|before=[[J. S. Wilson]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Secretary General]]|years=1951–1965}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Richard T. Lund]]}}
{{end}}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Rod Keller]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[3rd Canadian Division|GOC 3rd Canadian Infantry Division]]|years=1944–1945}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Ralph Holley Keefler]]}}
{{s-end}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Spry, Daniel
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Canadian general
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1913
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Winnipeg]]
| DATE OF DEATH = 1989
| PLACE OF DEATH =
⚫
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spry, Daniel}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spry, Daniel}}
[[Category:1913 births]]
[[Category:1913 births]]
[[Category:1989 deaths]]
[[Category:1989 deaths]]
[[Category:Burials at Beechwood Cemetery (Ottawa)]]
⚫
[[Category:Canadian Companions of the Distinguished Service Order]]
⚫
[[Category:Canadian Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
⚫
[[Category:Recipients of the Bronze Wolf Award]]
[[Category:Canadian Army generals of World War II]]
[[Category:Royal Canadian Regiment officers]]
[[Category:Canadian generals]]
[[Category:Canadian generals]]
[[Category:Canadian military personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Canadian military personnel from Manitoba]]
⚫
[[Category:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order]]
⚫
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
⚫
[[Category:Recipients of the Canadian Forces Decoration]]

Latest revision as of 19:43, 30 July 2024

Daniel Charles Spry
BornFebruary 4, 1913
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
DiedApril 2, 1989(1989-04-02) (aged 76)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Buried
Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Allegiance Canada
Service / branch Canadian Army
Years of service1932−1946
RankMajor General
UnitThe Royal Canadian Regiment
Commands1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment
1st Canadian Infantry Brigade
11th Canadian Infantry Brigade
3rd Canadian Infantry Division
Battles / warsSicily
Italy
Normandy
Boulogne
Scheldt
Rhineland
AwardsCommander of the Order of the British Empire[1]
Distinguished Service Order[2]
Canadian Forces' Decoration
Other workChief Executive Commissioner of the Scout Movement in Canada

Major General Daniel Charles Spry CBE DSO CD (February 4, 1913 – April 2, 1989) was a senior Canadian Army officer who commanded the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division during Operation Veritable in World War II.[3]

Second World War

[edit]

By 1943 and the fourth year of the Second World War, Spry had commanded the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment and then the 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade, both of which had fought in Sicily and, later, Italy. In 1944, now a brigadier, he commanded the 12th Canadian Infantry Brigade, part of the 5th Canadian Armoured Division, which was also serving in Italy.

Later, in August, he took charge of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, in Northwest Europe, commanding the division in place of the fired Major General Rod Keller until the end of the Rhineland campaign in March 1945.[4] The commander of the 3rd Division's parent formation, II Canadian Corps, Lieutenant General Guy Simonds, was dissatisfied with Spry's performance during the assaults on heavily defended woodland near Moyland, southeast of Kleve and later on the Hochwald, saying that he "lacked quick tactical appreciation and robust drive in ... urgent tactical situations". In turn, Spry felt that neither Simonds nor the latter's superior, General Harry Crerar, commanding the First Canadian Army, fully understood the situation "at the sharp end of battle". Simonds was adamant that Spry should go but Crerar was more sympathetic and he campaigned for Spry's appointment to the Canadian Reinforcement Units in Britain, appreciating Spry's ability as a trainer of soldiers (endorsed by Simonds) and the value of having a battle experienced officer in that role.[5][6] Spry was relieved of command of the 3rd Division at the end of Operation Blockbuster and he duly left for Britain to command the Canadian Reinforcement Units.

Postwar

[edit]

In 1946, Spry became Vice-Chief of the General Staff at National Defence HQ in Ottawa[3] and retired later that year.[4]

In 1969, Spry presented the Major-General D. C. Spry Trophy, an annual small arms competition for The Royal Canadian Regiment.[7]

Scouting

[edit]

Spry became Director of the Boy Scouts World Bureau and was awarded the Bronze Wolf, the only distinction of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, awarded by the World Scout Committee for exceptional services to world Scouting, in 1961.[8] In 1956 he also received the highest distinction of the Scout Association of Japan, the Golden Pheasant Award.[9]

World Organization of the Scout Movement
Preceded by Secretary General
1951–1965 		Succeeded by

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "No. 37408". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December 1945. p. 134.
  2. ^ "No. 36668". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 August 1944. p. 3924.
  3. ^ a b "Major-General D.C. Spry". Canada in WWII. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  4. ^ a b Ammentorp, Steen (2000–2009). "Major-General D.C. Spry". Canadian Generals. generals.dk. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
  5. ^ Dickson, Paul Douglas (2007). A thoroughly Canadian general. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 9780802008022. Retrieved June 3, 2009.
  6. ^ Copp, J. T.; Richard Nielsen (1996). No price too high: Canadians and the Second World War. McGraw-Hill Ryerson. ISBN 9780075527138. Retrieved June 3, 2009.
  7. ^ "The Major-General D.C. Spry Trophy". Royal Canadian Regiment. 2009. Retrieved June 1, 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  8. ^ John S. Wilson (1959), Scouting Round the World. First edition, Blandford Press. p. 133, 190, 194, 218, 219, 239, 256, 262, 266, 271, 276, 281
  9. ^ 䝪䞊䜲䝇䜹䜴䝖日本連盟 きじ章受章者 [Recipient of the Golden Pheasant Award of the Scout Association of Japan] (PDF). Reinanzaka Scout Club (in Japanese). 2014-05-23. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-08-11.
Military offices
Preceded by GOC 3rd Canadian Infantry Division
1944–1945 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Daniel_Spry&oldid=1237640230"