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General Foulkes - Domestic Honours

Citations, Domestic Honours for General C. Foulkes

In addition to the citations for foreign medals featured in a previous Story, General Charles Foulkes was awarded many decorations under the British Commonwealth System of Honours and Awards. Some came with certificates and citations, donated to the museum by the recipient in 1960. The lot included his Commission in the rank of Captain issued in 1932, alongside appointment to Companion of Order of Canada, Companion of the Order of the Bath, Additional Commander of the Order of British Empire, Member of the Distinguished Service Order and Mention in Despatches. All of these awards entitled the recipient to use related post nominals, in the case of General Charles Foulkes they are: CC, CB, CBE, DSO, CD. An explanation of these post nominals and close up view of the archive follows below.

Certificate, Commission

Charles Foulkes joined the Canadian Army in 1926 and six years later he received a Captain commission. The certificate featured here was issued on 7 June 1932, then published in the London Gazette.

Foulkes had joined the Canadian permanent force six years earlier and would rise through the ranks to become the General Officer commanding I Canadian Corps in November 1944. On 5 May 1945, on behalf of the Allied Forces, he accepted unconditional surrender of the 25th German Army from General (Generaloberst) Johannes Blaskowitz. In 1945, he was appointed Chief of General Staff. He became the Chairman of Chiefs of Staff in 1951, a position that will be later converted to Chief of the Defence Staff, with increased powers and responsibilities. General Charles Foulkes retired in 1960 and passed away nine years later, in Ottawa.

DATE: 1932
DONATED BY: GENERAL Charles Foulkes
OBJECT ID: RCRM1960.003.0042

Citation, Order of Canada, Companion (CC)

The Order of Canada was established in the centennial year 1967. It represents the cornerstone of the Canadian Honours System. Recognizing extraordinary achievements in all sectors, the Order of Canada has three levels: Companion (CC), Officer (OC), and Member (CM). Charles Foulkes received the highest level of the Order for a “lifetime service to Canada.” The citation featured here and a neck badge (RCRM1960.003.0047) were issued to the recipient.



DATE: 20 DECEMBER 1968
DONATED BY: GENERAL Charles Foulkes
OBJECT ID: RCRM 1960.003.0047

Citation, Order of The Bath, Companion, Military Division (CB)

Created in 1725, the Most Honourable Order of the Bath is the fourth most senior of the British Orders of Chivalry. Three classes of members (Knight Grand Cross, Knight Commander and Companion) are issued in two categories, civilian or military. Charles Foulkes was appointed as a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB), on 2nd of June 1945, “in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy.” The appointment was included in the Supplement to the London Gazette on 21st of June the same year. A neck badge (RCRM1969.001. 0002) and the citation featured here were issued to the recipient.

DATE: 21 JUNE 1945
DONATED BY: GENERAL Charles Foulkes
OBJECT ID: MRCR1960.003.0047

Citation, Commander, Order of The British Empire, Military Division (CBE)

The Most Excellent Order of British Empire is a chivalry order established in 1917 by King George V. It rewards outstanding contributions to all aspects of public service - arts and sciences, charitable sector, etc. Five classes of appointment are available, divided in civil or military: Knight Grand Cross (GBE), Knight or Dame Commander (KBE or DBE), Commander (CBE), Officer (OBE), Member (MBE). An individual may be appointed to a higher class, in which case the citation and insignia previously received must be returned. British citizens receiving the decoration in one of the first two grades were conferred knighthood. Only 281 Canadians have received the CBE.

Charles Foulkes was "granted the dignity of an Additional Commander of the Military Division" on the 31st of December 1943, shortly before taking command of the 2nd Infantry Division of the First Canadian Army during the Normandy campaign in the Second World War. Charles Foulkes' CBE appointment can be found in Supplement to London Gazette, 1 January 1944.

DATE: 1 January 1944
DONATED BY: GENERAL Charles Foulkes
OBJECT ID: RCRM1960.003.0051

Citation, Distinguished Service Order, Member (DSO)

The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a decoration awarded for meritorious service in the military, bestowed upon officers in command who made remarkable contributions in a combat situation. It was established in 1886 and the recipients are authorized to use the post nominals DSO. The citations accompanying the medal are signed by the Minister of Defence at the time of the award.

Charles Foulkes received the DSO on the 23rd of December 1944, in recognition of "gallant and distinguished service in North West Europe", as the London Gazette notice informs us. At the time, Foulkes was in command of the I Canadian Corps.

DATE: 23 December 1944
DONATED BY: GENERAL Charles Foulkes
OBJECT ID: RCRM1960.003.0048
Citation, Distinguished Service Order, Member (DSO)

Certificates, Mentioned in Despatches

In the British Commonwealth, a superior officer may mention the name of a member of the armed forces in an official report sent to the high command, in which their gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy is described. A certificate and an oak leaf device to be worn on the ribbon of the appropriate campaign medal are issued; the despatch is also published in the London Gazette. Only one oak leaf device on the ribbon of the campaign medal can be worn for Mentioned in Despatches, regardless how many times an individual has been mentioned. For general information on this category of recognition, follow this link.

General Charles Foulkes was Mentioned in Despatches on 8 November 1945 and 10 January 1946. One oak leaf device is mounted on his War Medal 1939-1945, as can be seen in the image here attached.