Edward Amy
Encyclopedia
Brigadier-General
Edward Alfred Charles "Ned" Amy, DSO
, CD
(March 28, 1918 – February 2, 2011) was one of Canada's most decorated soldiers.
He died on February 2, 2011, in the Camp Hill hospital, Halifax, aged 92.
in Kingston, Ontario
in 1939, student # 2510.
, where he won the Military Cross
for his "determined and gallant leadership in taking and holding a vital bridgehead over the Moro River" with his Sherman tanks in December, 1943. He was a recipient of the Distinguished Service Order, an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, and recipient of the Military Cross
, the Canadian Forces Decoration
and the American Bronze Star.
Amy arrived in Normandy, France on July 26, 1944, seven weeks after D-Day as a Major. He commanded a troop of the 22nd Armoured Regiment (The Canadian Grenadier Guards) in the fight for Grentheville three days later. During the next five weeks, he participated in all the battles that led to the liberation of Normandy. His regiment was awarded four distinctions for its action in the Battle of Falaise. He led an attack against Kurt Meyer's 12th SS Panzer Division that resulted in the liberation of Cintheaux
and Bretteville
. From August 14 to 17, 1944, his unit was committed to the battle of Rouves, where his tank was destroyed. He took part in the fights of Falaise against elements of the 3rd SS Panzer Division and the 2nd SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment. After the Battle of Normandy
, his unit went into action on the Seine
and Somme
Rivers, liberating many towns and villages and taking many German prisoners. In the closing months of the war, he fought in Belgium
and Germany
, where he was wounded. After the war, he remained in the Canadian Forces
and retired as a brigadier-general in 1972.
, France's highest distinction. The citation, stated that he "demonstrated outstanding bravery in France during the fiercest battles of World War II." He lived at Indian Point, Lunenburg County then in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was an advocate for the reactivation of the Halifax Rifles (RCAC) as a reconnaissance unit, a project which was successfully completed in 2009.
On November 14, 2007, Wilfred Moore
, a Canadian senator, congratulated him, thanked him and those who served under his command for their service to Canada.
The Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia
, Mayann Francis, presented the Royal United Services Institute of Nova Scotia SAC Award to BGen Ned Amy on 7 November 2007.
On February 10, 2011, Wilfred P. Moore, a Canadian senator gave a tribute in the Senate to the late Brigadier-General Edward "Ned" Amy, DSO, CD.
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
Edward Alfred Charles "Ned" Amy, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, CD
Canadian Forces Decoration
The Canadian Forces Decoration is a Canadian award bestowed upon members of the Canadian Forces who have completed twelve years of military service, with certain conditions. By convention, it is also given to the Governor General of Canada upon his or her appointment as viceroy, which includes the...
(March 28, 1918 – February 2, 2011) was one of Canada's most decorated soldiers.
He died on February 2, 2011, in the Camp Hill hospital, Halifax, aged 92.
Education
Edward Amy graduated from the Royal Military College of CanadaRoyal Military College of Canada
The Royal Military College of Canada, RMC, or RMCC , is the military academy of the Canadian Forces, and is a degree-granting university. RMC was established in 1876. RMC is the only federal institution in Canada with degree granting powers...
in Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
in 1939, student # 2510.
Military service
Amy served as a tank commander. He commanded A Squadron of the 14th Armoured Regiment (The Calgary Regiment), in ItalyItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, where he won the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
for his "determined and gallant leadership in taking and holding a vital bridgehead over the Moro River" with his Sherman tanks in December, 1943. He was a recipient of the Distinguished Service Order, an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, and recipient of the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
, the Canadian Forces Decoration
Canadian Forces Decoration
The Canadian Forces Decoration is a Canadian award bestowed upon members of the Canadian Forces who have completed twelve years of military service, with certain conditions. By convention, it is also given to the Governor General of Canada upon his or her appointment as viceroy, which includes the...
and the American Bronze Star.
Amy arrived in Normandy, France on July 26, 1944, seven weeks after D-Day as a Major. He commanded a troop of the 22nd Armoured Regiment (The Canadian Grenadier Guards) in the fight for Grentheville three days later. During the next five weeks, he participated in all the battles that led to the liberation of Normandy. His regiment was awarded four distinctions for its action in the Battle of Falaise. He led an attack against Kurt Meyer's 12th SS Panzer Division that resulted in the liberation of Cintheaux
Cintheaux
Cintheaux is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Geography:The commune is located between Caen and Falaise and is the home to the Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery....
and Bretteville
Bretteville-sur-Laize
Bretteville-sur-Laize is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.The scene of heavy fighting following the Normandy landings, much of the town is of post-WW2 construction.-Population:-Twin towns:...
. From August 14 to 17, 1944, his unit was committed to the battle of Rouves, where his tank was destroyed. He took part in the fights of Falaise against elements of the 3rd SS Panzer Division and the 2nd SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment. After the Battle of Normandy
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
, his unit went into action on the Seine
Seine
The Seine is a -long river and an important commercial waterway within the Paris Basin in the north of France. It rises at Saint-Seine near Dijon in northeastern France in the Langres plateau, flowing through Paris and into the English Channel at Le Havre . It is navigable by ocean-going vessels...
and Somme
Somme
Somme is a department of France, located in the north of the country and named after the Somme river. It is part of the Picardy region of France....
Rivers, liberating many towns and villages and taking many German prisoners. In the closing months of the war, he fought in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, where he was wounded. After the war, he remained in the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
and retired as a brigadier-general in 1972.
Recognition
On July 18, 2007, he was awarded the Légion d'honneurLégion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
, France's highest distinction. The citation, stated that he "demonstrated outstanding bravery in France during the fiercest battles of World War II." He lived at Indian Point, Lunenburg County then in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was an advocate for the reactivation of the Halifax Rifles (RCAC) as a reconnaissance unit, a project which was successfully completed in 2009.
On November 14, 2007, Wilfred Moore
Wilfred Moore
Wilfred P. Moore, QC is a Canadian Senator representing Nova Scotia.-Early life and education:Born in Halifax, Moore received a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Saint Mary’s University in 1964 and a law degree from Dalhousie University in 1968...
, a Canadian senator, congratulated him, thanked him and those who served under his command for their service to Canada.
The Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia
Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia
The Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia is the viceregal representative in Nova Scotia of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the...
, Mayann Francis, presented the Royal United Services Institute of Nova Scotia SAC Award to BGen Ned Amy on 7 November 2007.
On February 10, 2011, Wilfred P. Moore, a Canadian senator gave a tribute in the Senate to the late Brigadier-General Edward "Ned" Amy, DSO, CD.