Bruce Matthews ( Canadian Army officer ) Major General Albert Bruce Matthews , ( August 12 , 1909 – September 12 , 1991 ) was a Canadian businessman and militia artillery officer in the 1930s . He rose to be the commander of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division during the Second World War , after campaigns in Sicily and Italy . He became noted for his personal bravery and the accuracy and reliability of the artillery under his command . Post - war , his business career continued . In addition , he was active in the Canadian Liberal Party . Early life . Born 1909 , his father , Albert Edward Matthews , was a prominent stockbroker with Liberal connections who became Lieutenant - Governor of Ontario in 1937 . Bruce Matthews was educated at Upper Canada College in Toronto , later serving as President of its Board of Governors , and at Geneva University . He then joined the family firm . Matthews married Victoria Thorne in 1937 ; the couple had one child before the outbreak of war and , after Victoria had visited Matthews in Britain in summer 1940 , there were twins in 1941 , although Matthews did not see them until October 1945 . Military career . At first , in 1927 , Matthews , was turned down for admission to the Royal Military College of Canada and he was also rejected by the Royal Canadian Navy Reserve due to his colour blindness . Nevertheless , in 1928 , he joined the Non - Permanent Active Militia , 30th Field Battery , 3rd Field Brigade , Royal Canadian Artillery , as a provisional lieutenant , qualifying as a lieutenant later that year . He was promoted to captain in 1933 and started a two - year militia staff course . In 1936 , Matthews was appointed adjutant in the 7th Toronto Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery and in 1938 he commanded the 15th Field Battery , as a major . War was declared in September 1939 and Matthews was posted overseas to the UK with the 1st Canadian Infantry Division in December . In the wartime army , Matthews rose steadily ; commanding a battery in March 1940 , then he raised the 5th Medium Regiment ( as a lieutenant - colonel ) in September 1941 . After an appointment from September 1942 as counter battery officer at Headquarters , I Canadian Corps , in January 1943 Matthews was promoted to brigadier at the of age 33 , the youngest at that time in the Canadian Army , and Commander , Royal Artillery , 1st Canadian Infantry Division . Matthews ' active service started in July 1943 , landing in Sicily and directing the naval gunfire of HMS Roberts and later finding artillery locations , while under direct enemy fire , for the assault on Agira during the Sicily campaign . In September 1943 , his Italian mainland campaign began : he was later awarded the DSO . He returned to the UK in January 1944 , having been transferred to the II Canadian Corps as CCRA , regarded as the " second most senior job for a gunner in the Canadian Forces " . II Corps was activated in Normandy on July 11 , 1944 and participated in several actions ( Operations " Atlantic " , " Spring " , " Totalize " and " Tractable " ) in the Battle of Normandy . Matthews developed the artillery firing plans for each of these operations . Matthews ' coordination of the large - scale artillery support in Normandy and Walcheren showed him to be a highly skilled gunner . In November 1944 , Matthews was promoted to major general and appointed GOC 2nd Canadian Infantry Division , bringing it back to high operational efficiency after its gruelling battles on the Scheldt . The Division took part in the Rhineland battles ( Operations " Veritable " and " Blockbuster " ) battles in February and March 1945 . The Division advanced from Calcar , through the Hochwald and Xanten to Wesel , narrowly failing to prevent the demolition of the Rhine bridges by the retreating Germans . Once across the Rhine , Matthews ' Division liberated the northern Netherlands and then made a rapid 150 - mile move to guard XXX Corps ' right flank on the Weser . The Canadians captured Oldenburg and they were approaching Wilhelmshaven when hostilities ceased on May 5 . Post war . Forgoing a promising military career , Matthews returned to Canadian business life and he was appointed to directorships with Excelsior Life , Dome Mines and Standard Broadcasting . He was chairman of Massey - Ferguson from April 19 , 1978 to December 12 , 1978 and president of the Argus Corporation . In politics , he served as President of the Liberal Party of Canada in the late 1950s and early 1960s . He served as Colonel commandant of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery from 1964 to 1969 . Matthews was considered for the post of Governor General but his strong party allegiance precluded him .