"I would have followed him through Hell," said one of the
men who was serving with George Pearkes at Passchendaele where he won
the Victoria Cross. If his men were devoted to him, he was equally so
to them. In the character of this distinguished Canadian soldier and
statesman "most conspicuous bravery," "utmost
gallantry," and "supreme contempt of danger" were
combined with a deep sense of duty and a zeal for service.

Set against the background of Canada's twentieth century
transformation from a rural and agricultural society into an urban
technological nation, General Pearkes's career makes a compelling
biographical study.

After proving up his homestead in Alberta, Pearkes joined the Royal
North West Mounted Police and served in the Yukon until he was able to
purchase his discharge and enlist in 1915. In Europe he was soon in the
trenches, where, wounded five times, he saw the Canadian Army engage in
battle after battle on the Western Front and win a reputation as an
elite corps.

In the two decades between the World Wars Pearkes served in the
small permanent force as district commander, deputy commandant at the
Royal Military College, Kingston, and as Director of Military Training
in Ottawa. Neglect and apathy in the 1920's and financial
stringencies and isolationism in the 1930's made the task of
maintaining the militia in a state of preparedness increasingly
difficult.

When the inevitable war broke out in September 1939, Pearkes was
among those who had to forge the weapon. Until late in 1942, when he
was recalled to Canada to take charge of the Pacific Command, Pearkes
served overseas training the 2nd Brigade and later the 1st Division as
the Battle of Britain was waged overhead and plans and techniques for
the eventual invasion of Europe were perfected. Back in Canada he
became involved in the major political furore caused by the continuing
need for reinforcements. Pearkes's role in the conscription crisis
and the "Generals' Revolt" sheds new light on these
important issues.

Shortly before the war ended, Pearkes retired, but he soon accepted
the call to stand as a member of Parliament. From 1945 to 1960, when he
was appointed lieutenant-governor of British Columbia, he served as a
Conservative defence critic and as Minister of Defence in the
Diefenbaker cabinet. He was deeply involved in the highly charged and
hotly debated decisions of the cold war era, including Bomarc, the
Arrow, NATO, NORAD, and provisions for civil defence, and his views on
them will be significant to those interested in Canadian political and
military history.