Denis Whitaker

Brigadier William Denis Whitaker, (February 27, 1915 – May 30, 2001) was a Canadian athlete, soldier, businessman, and author.

Early life Born in Calgary, Alberta and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Whitaker was educated at the University of Toronto Schools and later at the Royal Military College of Canada. He won a second Distinguished Service Order in February 1945 for leadership in the Battle of Goch-Calcar Road during Operation Veritable.

At the end of the war, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier. Whitaker left the army in 1951, but returned as Honorary Colonel of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry from 1972 to 1992.

Business career After his military service, he was a commercial manager of radio station CHML. In 1962, he was named vice-president of O'Keefe Brewing Co. and soon became the president. He was also the president of Major Market Advertising and a financial consultant with Nesbitt Burns.

Sports career

Decorations and honours

Distinguished Service Order with Bar Efficiency Decoration (E.D.) Commander of the Order of the Crown (Belgium) In 1989, he was named a Member of the Order of Canada. In April 1995, the French government awarded Whitaker the Order of the Legion of Honour for his role in the liberation of France.

Selected works Normandy: The Real Story of How Ordinary Allied Soldiers Defeated Hitler by Denis Whitaker, Shelagh Whitaker, and Terry Copp Victory at Falaise: The Soldier's Story by Denis Whitaker and Shelagh Whitaker with Terry Copp Tug of War: The Allied Victory That Opened Antwerp by Denis Whitaker and Shelagh Whitaker Dieppe: Tragedy to Triumph by Denis Whitaker and Shelagh Whitaker Rhineland: The Battle to End the War by Denis Whitaker and Shelagh Whitaker, 1989 in German: Endkampf am Rhein. Transl. Ute Spengler. Ullstein, Berlin 1991 The Battle of the Scheldt by Denis Whitaker