Herbert Cyril Thacker

Major-General Herbert Cyril Thacker, CB CMG DSO (16 September 1870 – 2 June 1953) was a Canadian soldier and Chief of the General Staff, the head of the Canadian Army from 1927 until 1929. [http://ia340903.us.archive.org/2/items/prominentpeopleo00stjouoft/prominentpeopleo00stjouoft.pdf _____. (1922). "Prominent People of the Maritime Provinces," p. 193.] ]

He was born the son of Major-General J. Thacker of the Bombay Staff Corps in 1870 in Poona, India. His attended Upper Canada College (UCC in Toronto; and in 1887, he graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada. [see above] ] Commissioned in the Royal Canadian Artillery in 1891, he conducted survey work in western Canada for the Canadian Pacific Railway.

His service in the South African War of 1900 led to the award of the Queen’s medal with three clasps.Pacey, Elizabeth. [http://www.tridentnews.ca/PDFArchives/Oct18_2004.pdf "Commander’s residence at Royal Artillery park,"] "Trident." 38:20, 7. October 18, 2004.]

From 1904-1905 he had the unique Canadian assignment as a military attaché with the Japanese Army during the Russo-Japanese War. [see above] ]

In 1907, his appointment as Director of Artillery at Ottawa accompanied a promotion as Commanding Officer of the Royal Canadian Garrison Artillery (RCGA), which becoming one of the 65 to live in the Commanding Officers’ Residence at Royal Artillery Park in Halifax. [see above] ]

At the outbreak of The Great War, Thacker joined the Canadian Expeditionary Forces (CEF), sailing for Europe with the 1st Canadian Division. Thacker went on to command the 2nd Canadian Divisional Artillery from 1914-1915. After General Sir Henry E. Burstall was promoted, he commanded the 1st Canadian Divisional Artillery from September 1915 through the end of World War and the CEF return to Canada.

After the war, Thacker was appointed the District Officer Commanding Military District 6, returning with his family to live at Royal Artillery Park. [see above] ] His career was capped with service as Chief of the General Staff from 1927-29.

ervice record

His military service is characterized by steady increases in responsibility and rank. [see above] ]
* 1893 -- Lieutenant, Royal Canadian Artillery
* 1900 -- South African War, Canadian Field Artillery
* 1904-05 -- Russo-Japanese War, Military Attaché with Japanese Army in the field
* 1907-11 -- Commanding Officer, Royal Canadian Garrison Artillery, Halifax
* 1911-15 -- Inspector of Coast Defense Artillery
* 1915-18 -- Brigadier-General, 1st Canadian Division Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Forces
* 1919 -- Commanding officer, Military District No. 6, Halifax
* 1921 -- Major-General
* 1927-29 -- Chief of General Staff

Thacker retired from military service in 1929. He died in Victoria, British Columbia, in June 1953.

Honors

For his service in the Boer War, Thacker was awarded the Queen's Medal with three clasps (1900). [see above] ]

He was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Third Class by the Japanese government for his services during the Russo-Japanese War. [ [http://www.editions-harmattan.fr/index.asp?navig=catalogue&obj=article&no=8245 L'Harmattan web site (in French)] ] He also received the Japanese War medal for service during that campaign. [see above] ] For service in World War I, he was made a Companion of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (CMG) in 1916. Thacker was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in 1918. He was created a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in 1919. [see above] ]

Notes

References

* Hitsman, J. Mackay and Desmond Morton. [http://www.jstor.org/pss/1983479 "Canada's First Military Attache: Capt. H. C. Thacker in the Russo-Japanese War,"] "Military Affairs", Vol. 34, No. 3 (Oct., 1970), pp. 82-84

ee also

* Library and Archives Canada: [http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/archivianet/cef/001042-119.01-e.php?id_nbr=274264 CEF Attestation paper]

External links

*
* [http://thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0007934 Herbert Cyril Thacker] at The Canadian Encyclopedia