Major-General C. Basil Price
3rd Infantry Brigade
3rd Canadian Division

In this ideological struggle we must call upon our physical forces. We must build up our armed forces and industrial potential, we must be prepared for sacrifices, such as high taxes and austerity, if we are to prevent another world conflict.

(Quoted in Montreal Gazette, 10 Nov 1949, 13)

Born on 12 December 1889 in Montreal, Charles Basil Price was a decorated First World War veteran, Canadian Legion spokesman, diary farmer, and former commanding officer of the Royal Montreal Regiment. A member of the Victoria Rifles since 1905, he enlisted with the 14th Battalion in September 1914. While on patrol at St. Julien in May 1915, he earned the Distinguished Conduct Medal for rescuing a comrade: “Company Sgt Major Price went out and shooting the two Germans who had wounded him brought in the man, undoubtedly saving life. His conduct all through the action was of the most meritorious and self-sacrificing kind.”

Commissioned in June 1915, Price would be three-times wounded in action and ended the war at the rank of major. During the Hundred Day’s campaign in September 1918, he earned the Distinguished Service Order:

He successfully gained all his objectives and captured and cleared up the village of Sains-les-Marqulon, and, though wounded, refused to be evacuated until his colonel, arriving opportunely from leave as the barrage started, arrived on the scene and relieved him. He had complete grasp of the situation at all times.

He served two terms as commanding officer of the Royal Montreal Regiment, which perpetuated the 14th Battalion, from 1920 to 1924 and 1927 to 1929. He served as alderman for Westmount in the early 1930s and became commanding officer of the 17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars on the eve of the Second World War. With the formation of the 1st Division, Price was promoted to brigadier of the 3rd Infantry Brigade in October 1939:

In closing I would just like to tell you that I believe that any success the Regiment has achieved to date is due first of all to the pride that all ranks have shown for their Regiment, and secondly to the Character and Ability of everyone. The combination of two qualities, plus Courage and Faith in the Justness of our Cause that I know is so strong with you, can only mean a bright and glorious future for the Regiment.

Price commanded the 3rd Brigade in the United Kingdom until March 1941 when he was recalled to Canada and promoted to major-general of the 3rd Division. The division embarked overseas in summer 1941. Unsatisfied with most of Canada’s senior generals, General Bernard Montgomery determined to remove First World War veterans like Pearkes, Potts, and Price.

“I hope to be sending Price back to you,” Monty wrote to an officer in Canada, “he will be of great value in Canada where his knowledge of the milk industry will help on the national war effort.” By September 1942, Monty reported, “I have at last got rid of Basil Price; it has taken 6 mths. He is a very decent chap, but no soldier.” Price became overseas commissioner for the Canadian Red Cross in the United Kingdom until the end of 1944.

He contested the riding of Saint-Antoine—Westmount for the Progressive Conservatives in the 1945 federal election but narrowly lost to future defence minister Douglas Abbott. In 1957, Price was named honorary colonel of the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps. He opposed armed forces integration in the late 1960s, arguing:

Forms of warfare change, but the importance of the spirit of the individual remains constant, indeed assumes greater importance as the engines of war become more terrible. Morale, the cost of the loss of which cannot be measure in money is based on unit and service esprit de corps, which in turn is nourished by tradition.

Price retired to Knowlton, Quebec where he died on 15 February 1975