Lieutenant-Colonel Dick Lendrum
Canadian Scottish Regiment
Royal Regiment of Canada

In order to keep abreast of every development Lieutenant Colonel Lendrum positioned himself well forward and from Rolde onward was exposed to enemy sniping, bazooka and automatic weapon fire. With no consideration for his own safety this gallant commander directed every phase of the operation so coolly and competently that his entire force was infused with his infectious confidence and never had any misgivings to the successful outcome of the venture.

(D.S.O. citation, 23 April 1942)

Born in Victoria, British Columbia on 22 January 1911, Richard McNaughton Lendrum was a University of British Columbia graduate, teacher, and assistant principal. In September 1939, he took a leave of absence from teaching to mobilize with the Canadian Scottish Regiment, which he had belonged to since 1933. He landed with the regiment at Juno Beach on D-Day and served as a company commander during the heavy fighting in Normandy.

Lendrum became acting commanding officer of the Canadian Scottish at the beginning of August 1944 when Lieutenant-Colonel F.N. Cabeldu fell ill with stomach flu. He led the regiment through operations to close the Falaise Gap, during which an enemy mortar struck his command carrier killing his signaller. By the end of August, Cabeldu had been promoted to 4th Infantry Brigade and recommended Lendrum take over the Royal Regiment of Canda, which had three commanding officers since it had arrived in France in July.

Lieutenant-Colonel A.M. Young had been removed prior to battle. His successor Lieutenant-Colonel Jack Anderson had performed well but was evacuated with an accidental wound. Acting commanding officer Major R.G. Young reverted to second-in-command with the arrival of Lendrum on 10 September 1944. The Canadian Scottish war diary recorded, “We were pleased to learn of his promotion but were sorry to see him go.”

Lendrum commanded the Royal Regiment until the end of the war, earning the D.S.O. for directing an assault in the Netherlands to secure bridges and cut off enemy escape on 12 April 1945. The citation read in part: “He was complete master of every situation and never relaxed his relentless aggressiveness. As a direct result the success of the operation exceeded the most optimistic expectations.”

Lendrum returned to education in British Columbia after the war, holding an appointment as senior principal for a number of elementary schools. In 1950, he was named the first principle for the new Cowichan High School. In 1969, he moved on to be assistant to the school superintendent and retired in 1973.

He died on 13 September 1976 in Maple Bay, British Columbia.