Major-General Holley Keefler
6th Infantry Brigade
3rd Canadian Division

Brigadier Keefler appreciating the need for quick and determined action and also appreciating the effect on morale the loss of their Commander would have on the troops of the brigade, took immediate command of the situation and directed the complete operation from the brigade level. Under heavy artillery and small arms fire, he personally visited the assaulting battalions, encouraging and directing the officers and other ranks and making tactical decisions on the spot. 

(D.S.O. citation, 17 Nov 1944)

Born in Weston, Ontario on 12 September 1912, Ralph Holley Keefler was a graduate of the University of Toronto and employee of Bell Telephone in Montreal. The son of a lieutenant-colonel, he joined the militia in 1925 and transferred to the artillery two years later. By 1938, he had qualified as a lieutenant-colonel and organized the first anti-aircraft battery in Canada. With the outbreak of war, he served as staff officer and later brigade major with the 2nd Artillery Division.

After attending the war staff college at Camberley, England, Keefler was appointed director of military training at National Defence Headquarters in 1942. Although promoted to full colonel, he reverted to take command of a field artillery regiment overseas in February 1943. By the end of the year, he was promoted to brigadier in command of an artillery formation.

From the Normandy invasion, he command Royal Canadian Artillery, 2nd Canadian Division in France. A citation for CBE read in part:

During this period, he has demonstrated untiring and aggressive devotion to duty, outstanding tactical and technical ability under most difficult conditions and the highest possible standard of self-sacrifice and energy in exercising the arduous and sustained functions of his command. Through his foresight and sound practical judgement, his extensive military background and his close personal liaison with infantry and armored commanders and staffs he has inspired absolute confidence and admiration throughout the Division. 

In October 1944, he was appointed to command 6th Infantry Brigade following the wounding of Brigadier Guy Gauvreau. While acting commander of 2nd Canadian Division during operations in Holland at the end of the month, Keefler earned the D.S.O.:

His coolness, skill and determination were responsible for one of the most successful operations in which the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade and the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division were ever engaged, and his cheerfulness and concern for the welfare of all ranks earned for him the respect and the admiration of the troops for which he was responsible.

Less than six months later, Keefler succeeded Major-General Dan Spry of 3rd Canadian Division, which he commanded until the end of the war in Europe.

After demobilization and returning to civilian life, Keefler resumed work for Bell Telephone. He joined Northern Electric in 1961, and served as chairman until retirement in 1970. He died in Ireland on 17 September 1983.