Roger Rowley Major General Roger Rowley , DSO , ED , CD , GCLJ , GOMLJ ( 12 June 1914 - 14 February 2007 ) was a Canadian Army officer who was awarded a Distinguished Service Order for his role in liberating Boulogne during September 1944 , and a Bar five weeks later for the capture of Breskens on the Scheldt estuary . Early life . Rowley was born in Ottawa , Canada , on 12 June 1914 . He was educated at Ashbury College Ottawa , Dalhousie University in Halifax , Nova Scotia . After graduation , Rowley became a bond trader . He joined the Canadian militia and was commissioned as an officer in the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa in 1933 . Second World War . In the early years of the war , Captain ( and later Major ) Rowley served with the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa when they deployed overseas with the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division . This included the regiment ' s part in the raid on Iceland in 1940 . Troops were sent to the northern island country to destroy facilities that might have been of use to German forces if they were to invade the island . The raid was a success . The Vickers machine gun was , along with mortars , the primary weapon of the CH of O as it performed its duties as the Support Battalion to the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division . Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel , Rowley commanded the Stormont , Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders , during the Allied campaign in North West Europe during 1944 . The SD & G formed part of 3rd Canadian Infantry Division , whose participation secured the liberation of the Channel ports of Boulogne and Calais . The Canadians launched their attack on Boulogne on 17 September 1944 . The battle raged for six days until the remaining German prisoners surrendered on 22 September . Rowley ' s DSO citation praised his speed and daring after the heavy bombing of the château outside the town , as well as his action under heavy artillery and machine - gun fire as the battalion attacked the citadel : " " This officer ' s leadership , dash , bravery and unlimited energy were an inspiration to his officers and men , and his action was one of the principal factors in the capture of Boulogne . " " On 22 October 1944 , Rowley was ordered to capture the port of Breskens on the Scheldt estuary . The infantry assault was postponed due to heavy losses among the tank support . Less than two hours later a signal , said to have been ordered by Winston Churchill , insisted there could be no delay . Rowley ' s infantry assaulted along the sea wall and by noon they held the harbour . Rowley ' s citation for his DSO Bar , signed by Montgomery , declared that despite the shortage of time : " " Lt - Col Rowley planned and ordered the new attack with such brilliance and led it with such determination that the garrison was quickly overcome and Breskens was captured . " " After the German surrender , Rowley was posted to the Far East to command an infantry training battalion . After the Japanese surrender , he attended the staff college at Camberley before joining the Canadian Army staff in Washington , DC . He served in Canada ' s NATO army until the late 1960s . Later military career . After the war , Rowley served at the National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa as Director of Military Training . He commanded the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade Group in Germany , then spent a year at the Imperial Defence College in London before becoming commandant at the staff college at Kingston . He was general officer - in - waiting at the Sovereign ' s Parade during 1976 ' s Royal visit to Canada .