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History World War Ii

Crerar’s Lieutenants

Inventing the Canadian Junior Army Officer, 1939-45

by (author) Geoffrey Hayes

Publisher
UBC Press
Initial publish date
Jan 2018
Category
World War II, Post-Confederation (1867-)
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9780774834865
    Publish Date
    Jan 2018
    List Price
    $125.00
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9780774834834
    Publish Date
    Sep 2017
    List Price
    $95.00
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9780774834841
    Publish Date
    Mar 2018
    List Price
    $34.95

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Description

In 1943, General Harry Crerar noted that there was still much confusion as to “what constitutes an ‘Officer.’” His words reflected the preoccupation of army officials with inventing an ideal officer who would not only meet the demands of war but also conform to notions of social class and masculinity. Drawing on a wide range of sources and exploring the issue of leadership through new lenses, this book looks at how the army selected and trained its junior officers to embody the new ideal. It also sheds light on the challenges these officers faced during the war – not only on the battlefield but from Canadians’ often conflicted views about social class and gender.

About the author

A graduate of WLU and Western, Geoffrey Hayes is a former student and long-time friend of Terry Copp. He teaches Canadian political and military history at the University of Waterloo. He is the co-editor of [http://www.wlupress.wlu.ca/Catalog/hayes.shtml Vimy Ridge: A Canadian Reassessment (WLU Press, 2007) and [http://www.wlupress.wlu.ca/Catalog/hayes-sedra.shtml Afghanistan: Transition under Threat (WLU Press, 2008).

Mike Bechthold is the managing editor of Canadian Military History and the communications director of the Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies. He teaches military history at Wilfrid Laurier University and has published numerous articles on Canada and the Second World War.

Matt Symes is a PhD candidate at Wilfrid Laurier University. He works as the publications manager for the Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies and as the online editor for canadianmilitaryhistory.ca. With Eric McGeer, Matt has published three Battlefield Guides on the Italian Campaign in the Second World War.

Geoffrey Hayes' profile page

Awards

  • Winner, C.P. Stacey Award for scholarly work in Canadian Military History

Editorial Reviews

Hayes’s deep research and extensive knowledge on the topic provides a nuanced appraisal of Canadian officers and their diverse wartime experiences.

H-Net