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Guy Simonds and the Art of Command English.Qxp Guy Simonds and the Art of Command Terry Copp © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of National Defence, 2007. Canadian Defence Academy Press PO Box 17000 Stn Forces Kingston, Ontario K7K 7B4 Produced for the Canadian Defence Academy Press by the Army Publishing Office, Fort Frontenac, Kingston, Ontario. Cover Photo: Lieutenant-General G.G. Simonds, General Officer Commanding 2nd Canadian Corps, inspecting personnel of the Royal Canadian Artillery (R.C.A.), Meppen, Germany, 31 May 1945, Copy negative: PA-159372, Library and Archives Canada. Guy Simonds and the Art of Command by Terry Copp Issued by Canadian Forces Leadership Institute. Includes biographical references. ISBN D2-185/2007E-PDF 0-662-44589-9 Printed in Canada by St. Joseph’s Print Group. Table of Contents FOREWORD v PREFACE vii INTRODUCTION ix CHAPTER 1: FROM CAPTAIN TO CORPS COMMANDER 1 Operational Policy — 2 Cdn Corps, 17 Feb 44 10 Letter “Efficiency of Command,” 19 Feb 44 17 Annexure to Letter GOC “Essential Qualities in the Leader,” 19 Feb 44 21 Letter “Honours and Awards,” 26 Feb 44 25 CHAPTER 2: NORMANDY: THE JULY BATTLES 31 Draft Policy—The Tactical Handling of Troops 37 Address by Lieut.-General G.G. Simonds, CBE, DSO 42 Operation “Spring,” by G.G. Simonds, Lieut-General 50 CHAPTER 3: TOTALIZE AND TRACTABLE 57 Resume of Remarks by Lieut.-General G.G. Simonds, CBE, DSO 77 Appreciation 31 July 44 80 Letter “Leadership and the Fighting Spirit” 29 July 44 82 “O” Group Conference by GOC, 2 Cnd Corps, 13 Aug 44 83 Letter of Congratulation 17 Aug 44 87 Letter “To Be Read by All Officers” 23 Aug 44 87 i GUY SIMONDS AND THE ART OF COMMAND CHAPTER 4: ACTING ARMY COMMANDER 95 Appreciation, Operation “Infatuate,” 19 Sept 44 112 Commentary on Appreciation, 21 Sept 44 122 Commentary on Royal Navy Report on “Infatuate” 1 Jan 45 126 CHAPTER 5: BATTLE EXHAUSTION AND MORALE 133 Letter on “Exhaustion Neurosis” 15 July 44 139 Letter “To all Formation Commanders 2nd Canadian Corps” 30 July 44 140 Letter “Fighting Strengths” 29 Aug 44 144 Letter “Absorbtion of Reinforcement Personnel” 28 Oct 44 145 CHAPTER 6: THE RHINELAND BATTLES AND THE LIBERATION OF THE NETHERLANDS 149 Resume of Conference 2nd Cdn Corps HQ 20 Dec 44 170 Resume of Conference of Commander on Operation “Blockbuster” 22 Feb 45 171 Notes on Conference held by 2 Cdn Corps 17 Mar 45 174 ANNEX A: AN ARMY THAT CAN ATTACK – A DIVISION THAT CAN DEFEND 177 ANNEX B: WHAT PRICE ASSAULT WITHOUT SUPPORT? 185 ANNEX C: THE ATTACK 193 AFTERWORD 207 SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY 209 ii List of Maps VERRIÈRES RIDGE (18-20 JULY 44) 35 OPERATION “SPRING” 38 OPERATION “TOTALIZE” 66 OPERATION “TRACTABLE” 71 THE BRESKENS POCKET 106 ANTWERP AND THE SCHELDT 107 THE RHINELAND: OPERATION “VERITABLE” 156 THE RHINELAND: OPERATION “BLOCKBUSTER” 159 NORTHERN HOLLAND (28 MARCH – 22 APRIL 45) 164 THE NORTHERN FRONT (26 APRIL 45) 165 iii Foreword am delighted to have been asked to write the foreword to Guy Simonds and the Art of Command for a number of reasons. First, General G.G. Simonds is Iunquestionably one of Canada’s great wartime military commanders and his insights and views on command and leadership are extremely relevant for the education and professional development of military professionals. Although the battlespace the Canadian Army operates in today is significantly different from the one our forefathers fought in, the concepts, principles and application of command and leadership are not. They remain as critical to success, if not more so, now in the ambiguous, complex and lethal environment of fourth generation warfare as they did in the Second World War. Moreover, the insights provided by this examination of General Simonds, particularly the annexes that replicate his actual writings and directives, provide expert advice by a skilled practitioner and commander. The second reason I agreed to endorse this book is the fact that it is written by a very distinguished Canadian historian, Terry Copp, who is recognized both in Canada and internationally as an expert in military history, especially the period in question. Copp has shown great skill and knowledge in recounting the trials and tribulations, as well as the Herculean feats of the Canadian Army. He has shown a rare commitment to honouring this nation’s soldiers, as well as educating his fellow Canadians. This volume is just one more example of Terry’s achievements. Finally, I agreed to write the foreword to this excellent monograph because I fully support the concept of continuing education and study for Canadian Forces personnel. Training and experience are vital for the development of individuals and a first class army. However, education is equally important. We as military professionals, as society’s trusted practitioners of violence, must v GUY SIMONDS AND THE ART OF COMMAND continually expand our knowledge and understanding of the profession of arms. With so much at stake, namely the lives of those who we may command in harm’s way, it is incumbent on each and every one of us who aspires to lead, to be as conversant with the concepts and practice of the profession of arms as possible. Studying the successes and failures of the past is one method to achieve this. Just as critical is learning from the examples, experiences and knowledge of those who came before. Lieutenant-General A.B. Leslie Commander, Canadian Army vi Preface he Canadian Forces Leadership Institute (CFLI) is proud to release another publication in its Strategic Leadership Writing Project under the auspices of Tthe Canadian Defence Academy (CDA) Press. Our intention has always been to create a distinct Canadian body of operational leadership knowledge so that professional development centres, military professionals, civilian members of defence, scholars and the public at large could study Canadian examples instead of the traditional reliance on foreign allied examples. After all, our military history is rich with examples, and moreover, they are more pertinent and relevant to our own military culture, temperament and character. Significantly, our goal is being achieved through the collaborative efforts of CFLI, Canadian Forces personnel, academic institutions and individual researchers and scholars. Through their combined efforts, the body of Canadian-specific military literature is growing and it is providing the necessary examples and reference sources for military and civilian institutions across the country and abroad. This book, Guy Simonds and the Art of Command is a significant addition to the project. Written by Terry Copp, a renowned Canadian military historian, it provides an excellent account of one of Canada’s great military commanders. Although an examination of the command and leadership of G.G. Simonds in the Second World War, the lessons drawn out are relevant to this day. Arguably, the art and science of command and leadership are timeless and the value of Simonds’ thoughts on these concepts, revealed through an analysis of Simonds’ campaigns, specifically his directives, orders and writings, provide important insights into the command philosophy of one of Canada’s greatest wartime commanders. Many, if not most, of these insights or “lessons” on command and leadership are as pertinent today as they were when they were written. vii GUY SIMONDS AND THE ART OF COMMAND I believe you will find this book of great interest and value whether you are a military professional, scholar or simply interested in the study of command and leadership. As always, we at CFLI invite your comment and discussion. Colonel Bernd Horn Director Canadian Forces Leadership Institute viii Introduction he purpose of this book is to document the ideas on leadership and command expressed by Lieutenant-General Guy Simonds while serving as TGeneral Officer Commanding (GOC) 2nd Canadian Corps. I have attempted to offer a description of the context within which his views were put forward and have included a brief explanation of the outcome of operational decisions, but this is a book about Simonds’ approach to war, not a history of the campaign in Northwest Europe. Guy Simonds has been the subject of a book length biography, Dominick Graham’s The Price of Command as well as a number of essays and theses including J.L. Granatstein’s superb chapter “Simonds: Master of the Battlefield” in his book The Generals.1 I have drawn upon these sources for background information but relied on my own reading of the primary sources on operational matters, borrowing from my books on the campaign, especially Fields of Fire: The Canadians in Normandy and Cinderella Army: The Canadians in Northwest Europe.2 The text deliberately avoids theoretical discussions of ideas about leadership and command echoing Simonds’ pragmatic, analytical approach to both training and operations. Simonds would have found the current fascination with “operational art” and the “operational level of war” of some interest.3 Simonds would have had no quarrel with current Canadian joint doctrine which defines the operational level of conflict as: The level at which campaigns and major operations are planned, conducted and sustained to accomplish strategic objectives within theatres or areas of operations. Activities at this level link tactics and strategy by establishing operational objectives needed to accomplish strategic objectives, sequencing events to achieve the ix GUY SIMONDS AND THE ART OF COMMAND operational objectives, and initiating actions and applying resources to bring about and sustain those events. These activities imply a broader dimension of time and space than do tactics: they ensure the logistic and administrative support of tactical forces and provide the means by which tactical successes are exploited to achieve strategic objectives. The operational level is not defined by the number and size of forces or the echelon of headquarters involved.
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