"I believe that one cant command sitting on ones ass in the rear. One has to up among the forward brigade commanders, even as far as battalion commanders, especially if one is fighting a defensive action. One simply has to know what is going on."
Major-General Christopher Vokes was a Canadian Army officer who fought in World War II. Born in Armagh, Ireland, he commanded the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade during the Allied invasion of Sicily. Promoted to major-general, Vokes led the 1st Canadian Infantry Division through several battles of the Italian campaign, which included fierce house-to-house fighting in the Battle of Ortona and the adv
"I wanted people who wouldnt become too worried about casualties. One always should be concerned about casualties, but the risk of incurring casualties cant be allowed to affect decisions, unless its evident casualties will be prohibitively heavy. There may be no safe way to write this."
Christopher Vokes"The meek are a hell of a long way from inheriting the earth."
Christopher Vokes"In Ceylon I had a black nurse who wet - nursed me. Years later I was told by my father that she said of me:"This boy plenty belly, big stick."
Christopher Vokes"I reckon that the Bailey Bridge and the bulldozer were the greatest advances in military engineering in the years between World War I and World War II."
Christopher Vokes"Among the mouldering bones there was the head of a flaxen haired girl. One side of her face was well preserved, almost mummified. She must have been a beauty. But the other side of her face was all bone and a horrifying sight, not the sort of thing one likes to think about after."
Christopher Vokes"Some more of Montys boys came up, soon after Malone had left but they, too, spent their time getting shelled by the ever-persistent Germans. Likewise, they departed, their minds expanded and their sphinctres contracted."
Christopher Vokes