Brigadier T. Graeme Gibson
Royal Winnipeg Rifles
9th, 3rd, 2nd & 7th Infantry Brigades

We in Canada inherited the regimental system and reaped its benefits in World War II and Korea … In our regiments from coast to coast, the system kept the militia alive for more than a century in peacetime and provided a warm human environment to the Canadian fighting man in the brutal adversities of war.

(T. Graeme Gibson, National Post, 5 May 1973, 36)

Born on 26 April 1908 in Toronto, Thomas Graeme Gibson joined the Queen’s Own Rifles in 1925 and became a Permanent Force officer with the Royal Canadian Regiment in 1931. He attended the war staff college at Camberley, England and first served as liaison staff officer with the 2nd Canadian Division in 1940. Following general staff duties with 2nd Infantry Brigade he was appointed commanding officer of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles in January 1942. He succeeded two First World War veterans twenty years’ his senior.

After six months as a battalion commander he returned to a general staff posing with First Canadian Army headquarters in June 1942. When promoted in April 1943, he became the youngest brigadier in the Canadian forces at the age of 35. He would go on to command four infantry brigades, three of which in action. He left 9th Brigade in the United Kingdom to take over 3rd Brigade in the Italian theatre in October 1943. He transferred to 2nd Brigade in April 1944 and earned the D.S.O. for leading “his brigade in a skilful manner, inspiring confidence in all ranks of his command, often under enemy fire which he disregarded without thought for his own personal safety.” From February 1945 to the end the war commanded 7th Brigade in Northwest Europe.

In recognition of his service, Gibson was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1946:

During the operations which led to the capture of Rimini during the Italian campaign, he led his brigade with great skill, was Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the Distinguished Service Order. Brigadier Gibson later served in the Northwest European theatre and on the cessation of hostilities commanded a composite brigade in the Canadian Army of Occupation. Brigadier Gibson has consistently displayed the utmost devotion to duty and he is considered deserving of high recognition.

Following several senior staff postings and commands, he retired as head of the Canadian Army Staff in Washington, D.C. in 1962. His son, Graeme Gibson went on to be a prominent novelist and husband of Margret Atwood. Brigadier Gibson shared a strong literary interest, frequently reviewing books for the National Post on a range of historical and political subjects, but most prominently involving the war.

He died in Toronto on 3 January 1986.