Imperial Defence College no relation National Defence Headquarters
Lieutenant-General Kenneth Stuart  (September 9, 1891 – November 3, 1945) was a senior Canadian Army officer who saw active service during both the First World War and, later, the Second World War. During the latter conflict, he served as Chief of the General Staff (CGS), the head of the Canadian Army, from December 1941 until December 1943, but he is perhaps most remembered today for his role in the Conscription Crisis of 1944.Between the wars
Stuart was to remain in the army during the interwar period, returning to Canada soon after the armistice. His service was typical for an officer of that time period, moving to and from several military districts, initially as Temporary Senior Engineer Officer with the 13th Military District in Calgary, Alberta, a post he held from May 1919 until May 1920. After this he was then sent to the 5th Military District in his native Quebec, to serve as a District Engineer Officer, a position he held for well over five years, from June 1920 to November 1925. His service at home was then interrupted when Stuart went to England where he attended the Staff College, Camberley from 1926 to 1927.After graduation from Camberley Stuart once again returned to Canada, where he was made a District Engineer Officer, this time with the 11th Military District in Victoria, British Columbia. Stuart's service there brought him into contact with a man who was to play a significant part in his life and his later military career, Andrew McNaughton, who was then the 11th Military District's District Officer Commanding (DOC). McNaughton soon became the Chief of the General Staff (CGS), the head of the Canadian Army. The two men and their families grew close over the next few years, especially when McNaughton became CGS. Stuart's mother, a widow who lived with the Stuarts for 18 years, grew close to McNaughton and his family, who had no grandmother, and "Andy" in particular. She would alternate Christmases in Victoria and Ottawa between both the Stuart and McNaughton families. When the Second World War broke out in 1939 she died but was found in her nursing home holding two pictures, one of McNaughton, the other of her own son.In 1929 he became the editor of the Canadian Defence Quarterly, to which he contributed many articles. On June 22, 1931 he was promoted to brevet lieutenant colonel. In 1934 he was appointed GSO1 at the Royal Military College of Canada, where he pushed for reforms to the curriculum and to the recruitment system. On July 1, 1936 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. In 1938 he was appointed Director of Military Operations and Intelligence at National Defence Headquarters (NDHQ) and at some point he attended the Imperial Defence College in England.Second World War
Shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, Stuart was appointed Commandant of the Royal Military College (RMC) of Canada and was promoted to the temporary rank of brigadier (his permanent rank being colonel on the same date) on October 15, 1939. He succeeded Harry Crerar who went to London in a senior staff appointment. Although Stuart enjoyed being back at the RMC, he was at the same time frustrated at being left behind in what he considered to be a backwater. He tried numerous times to escape over the next few months but it would not be until July 1940 when his wish was granted due to Crerar returning to Canada where he assumed the position of Chief of the General Staff (CGS). He immediately made Stuart Deputy Chief of the General Staff (DCGS), which also included being an army member on the Permanent Joint Board on Defence. In March 1941 his title of DCGS was changed to that of Vice Chief of the General Staff (VCGS). On November 19, 1941 he was promoted to major general, and soon afterwards succeeded Crerar as CGS and was promoted to lieutenant general on December 24, 1941. Just over three years before he had been a lieutenant colonel.