A funeral was held today at Beechwood National Military Cemetery for former Chief of the Defence Staff, General Ramsey Muir Withers, who passed away on December 24th in Ottawa, at the age of 84.
General Withers was born in Scarborough, Ontario in 1930 and joined the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in 1948, when he was just 18 years old. He was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals in 1952 upon graduating from the Royal Military College of Canada. Highlights of his CAF career include serving as a signals officer in the 1st Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment during the Korean War from 1952 to 1953, becoming the first commander of the Northern Region Headquarters in Yellowknife in 1970, commanding Canadian Forces Europe, and in 1977, following his promotion to lieutenant-general, serving as Vice Chief of the Defence Staff. His military career culminated in his selection as Canada’s 6th Chief of the Defence Staff in 1980. His 35 year career was complemented by his six years of reserve service as Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the Governor General’s Foot Guards.
“I am very saddened by the loss of General Ramsey Withers but find comfort in the tremendous legacy he leaves Canada. From his heroism in the Korean War, his leadership of the Canadian Armed Forces, to the Withers Report that helped define officer training for my generation of military leaders, his tireless efforts over decades of service have left a profound impact on our country. I offer my deepest sympathies to General Withers’ family and friends.”
The Honourable Erin O’Toole
Minister of Veterans Affairs
Media Relations Department of National Defence
Phone: (613) 996-2353
Toll-Free: 1 866 377-0811
