William Kirby Lye Explained

William Kirby Lye
Rank:Brigadier General
Branch:Canadian Forces.
Commands:RMC
Nickname:Bill
Allegiance:Canada
Birth Date:1918
Death Date:2009
Birth Place:Ottawa, Ontario
Death Place:Ottawa, Ontario
Serviceyears:1936-1973
Laterwork:educator
Awards:MBE CD, ADC

Brigadier General William Kirby Lye OBE (1918-2009) was a Canadian soldier.

Education

Lye's father O. G. Lye was the officer commanding the 11th Field Regiment R.F and former mayor of Guelph, Ontario.

Career

He went overseas during the Second World War with 16th Field Company. He was later Second-in-Command of 1st Field Company. In England, he served as Chief Instructor of the Engineer Reinforcement Unit. In 1944, he served as Staff Officer Royal Engineers, Headquarters 2 Canadian Corps. BGen Lye's post-war appointments include: Deputy Commander, Canadian Forces Base Units, Middle East (United Nations Emergency Force); Commander, Camp Chilliwack and Commandant, Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering; Commander Canadian Base Units (Europe); Commander, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island Area; Chief of Staff, Administration, at Headquarters Mobile Command; Senior Assistant Adjutant General and Director General Ordnance Systems and Director General Land Operations in Canadian Forces Headquarters. BGen Lye retired in 1973 after his assignment as Commandant RMC in Kingston.

Honours

He was Mentioned in Despatches and appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his distinguished service in 1944 as Staff Officer Royal Engineers, Headquarters 2 Canadian Corps.

Lake Lye in the Chilcotin Training Area near Williams Lake, British Columbia is named in his honour.