LGen Michael Reginald Dare - A Life of Military Service

LGen Michael Reginald Dare, DSO, CD

Section 27, Range D, Grave 224 

Michael Dare was born in Montreal August 7, 1917. He began his military career as a 2nd lieutenant in the Non-Permanent Active Militia in the Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles in Brantford, Ontario, before the Second World War. His active service began as an infantry officer when he was commissioned as a lieutenant in The Royal Canadian Regiment in February, 1940.

Upon being posted overseas in July, 1940, he served as an instructor with the 1st Canadian Infantry Division in England until May, when he rejoined The RCR, which was a part of 1st Division. In November, 1942, Dare was posted to Headquarters, 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade, where he served as a liaison officer and staff captain through Sicily and Italy until October, 1943, when he returned to Canada to attend the Canadian War Staff course.

On completion of the course in April 1944 he was promoted to major and returned overseas to serve as a general staff officer, Grade 2, with Headquarters, 4th Canadian Armoured Division, thus beginning his association with the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps. Dare served in this Headquarters in Normandy and during the clearing of the Channel Ports until September, 1944, when he was appointed Brigade Major, 4th Canadian Armoured Brigade, a formation within 4th division.

Dare continued in this appointment during the Battle of the Scheldt and operations on the River Maas until February, 1945, when he went to the Lincoln and Welland Regiment, one of the Infantry Battalions in 4th Armoured Division, as second in command. In March, 1945 he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and assumed the appointment of assistant adjutant and quartermaster-general, Headquarters, 4th Canadian Armoured Division.

On his return to Canada in January, 1946, Dare transferred from the Infantry to the Armoured Corps and joined the Lord Strathcona Horse. In March, 1946, he was appointed assistant adjutant and quartermastergeneral, Headquarters, British Columbia Area.

He assumed the appointment of general staff officer, 1st Grade, Headquarters, Western Command, in October, 1943, where he remained until September 1951 when he was appointed commandant, Officers Candidate School, at Camp Borden. In February, 1953 Dare attended the Joint Services Staff College in Great Britain. On completion of the course in August, he was posted to Korea as general staff officer, Grade 1, Headquarters, 1st Commonwealth Division.

He returned to Canada in July, 1955 and was appointed commandant of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps School at Camp Borden, Ontario. In January, 1957 Dare was appointed commander, Canadian Base Units, Middle East, heading Canada’s contribution to the United Nations Expeditionary Force in Egypt.

He was back in Canada by April of that year, where he assumed his previous appointment as commandant, Royal Canadian Armoured Corps School. He remained there until January, 1958, when he was appointed Director, Royal Canadian Armoured Corps, Army Headquarters, Ottawa. In November, 1959 he was appointed Director of Military Training, Army Headquarters, and held this appointment until February, 1962, when he was promoted to brigadier and appointed commander, 3 Canadian Infantry Brigade Group, Camp Gagetown. He assumed command of 4 Canadian Infantry Brigade Group, Europe, in August, I962.

Dare was selected to attend the Imperial Defence College, London, England, in January, 1965. On completion of the course in December, I965 he was appointed Director General, Operations Support, Mobile Command Headquarters. In March, I966, he was appointed Director General Operations and Intelligence in the same command. In July, I966, he was promoted to major-general and appointed Deputy Chief Reserves, Canadian Forces Headquarters.

As a result of on internal re-organization at CFHQ, he was appointed Deputy Chief Operations and Reserves in April, 1968. On September 15, 1969 major-general Dare was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general and assumed the duties of Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, a position he held until 1972. After retiring as Vice Chief, Dare was seconded to the Privy Council Office where he was the author of a report, in 1972, on how the government should respond to emergencies such as the FLQ crisis in October 1970.

In 1973, Dare was appointed to the Order of the Military Merit.

Dare passed away in Victoria, BC on May 22, 1996.