Weeks, Ernest Geoffrey

Ernest Geoffrey Weeks
	30 May 1896 – 7 September 1987
	;
Nickname	Bunny
Place of birth	Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Place of death	Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Place of burial	Sherwood Cemetery, Charlottetown PEI
Allegiance	Canada
Service/branch	Canadian Army
Years of service	1910 - 1949
Rank	Major-General
Awards	CB, CBE, MC with bar, MM with bar

Major-General Ernest Geoffrey Weeks CB, CBE, MC, MM, CD (30 May 1896 - 7 September 1987) was a Canadian soldier in the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals.

Personal Life

Ernest Geoffrey Weeks, also known as "Bunny", was born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, May 30, 1896. He was the son of Major William Arthur Weeks and Fanny Maria Weeks both of Charlottetown. He was educated at Prince of Wales College and married Winnifred (Vivien) Rose Scott of Toronto (4 October 1930^[1]) and they had one son, William Alwyn Weeks. He died in Charlottetown at the age of 91 on September 7, 1987.^[2]

Service

Weeks served in the Canadian militia from 1910-1914 prior to going overseas in the Great War. He served with the 1st Canadian Divisional Signal Company, C.E.F and received his commission in the field. He was decorated for outstanding service receiving the Military Medal^[3] with bar^[4] and the Military Cross^[5] with bar^[6].

After he returned to Canada he was promoted to captaincy and commanded District Signals sections throughout Canada. He was transferred to National Defence Headquarters, Ottawa as Assistant-Director of Organization in 1938 and was then saw active service in the Second World War. During the war he served as Commanding Officer First Canadian Corps Signals (17 Oct 1939 to 19 May 1940), Assistant Adjutant & Quartermaster-General 2nd Canadian Division (20 May 1940 to 5 October 1941), General Staff Officer I 2nd Canadian Division (6 October 1941 to 14 October 1941), Director of Military Training, National Defence Headquarters (15 October 1941 to 1 February 1942), Deputy Adjutant-General, National Defence Headquarters (2 February 1942 to 10 April 1942), Deputy Chief General Staff, National Defence Headquarters (11 April 1942 to 29 June 1943), Assistant Deputy Adjutant-General Canadian Military Headquarters, England (1 July 1943 to 12 February 1944), Chief Canadian Section 1st Echelon Headquarters Allied Armies Italy (13 February 1944 to 29 November 1944) and Chief Administration Officer Canadian Military Headquarters, England (30 November 1944 to 31 August 1945).^[7] In recognition of his service in the Second World War he was made a Companion of the Order of Bath^[8], a Commander of the Order of the British Empire^[9] and was Mentioned in Despatches^[10]. In addition, he was made a Commander de l’Ordre de la Couronne (Belgium)^[11] and received the Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander) (USA)^[12].

Following the War, Weeks served as Adjutant-General at National Defence Headquarters until his retirement in 1949.^[2]

Military Cross Citation

The citation for Weeks' first Military Cross, won as an 'Immediate Award' for service during the attack on HILL 70 Aug 15, 1917^[13] read:

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When in charge of the buried cable system in the forward area, he displayed the greatest coolness and disregard of personal safety, making several reconnaissances through heavy fire, and sparing no effort to secure valuable information for his brigade headquarters. He set a splendid example to his men.

Military Medal Citation

The citation for Weeks' first Military Medal read:

For devotion to duty on the night of April 26th 1916 during the bombardment on the 1st Bde front whom after all the lines to the right battalion at the Dump had been smashed by shell fire, Sgt Weeks and another went out and succeeded in repairing the lines under heavy shell fire. Both had previously rendered useful service as linesmen at Ypres, Festubert and Givenchy.

Bar to the Military Medal Citation

The citation for Weeks' Bar to the Military Medal read:

For constant and conspicuous gallantry as a telephone line man notable on Sept 9th during an intense enemy bombardment. Sgt Weeks went over the open and despite the heavy shelling, succeeded in restoring communications twice buried in so doing. On 10th September the N.C.O. again greatly distinguished himself under similar conditions running a line across open country.

Commander of the Order of the British Empire

The citation for Week's appointment as a Commander in the Order of the British Empire read:

Brigadier WEEKS, as Officer IC Cdn Sec GHQ 1 Ech, is the Canadian Representative at HQ Allied Armies in Italy, which important duty he has fulfilled ably and well. He also commands and controls all Canadian troops and establishements in this theatre not comprised within 1 Cdn Corps. By his unflagging efforts and example, Brigadier WEEKS has created a very high standard of efficiency throughout all Canadian Base and Line of Communication untis. He has greatly improved the reinforcement organization thereby contributing to the success of operations. He has spared no thought or pains in promoting hte welfare of Canadian force in this theatre in particular by improving the mail service and recreational facilities. In the present war Brigadier WEEKS has held the important positions of ADAG CHMQ, and DCGS NDHQ. In both these appointment he rendered outstanding service. Throughout his service, his kindliness, sincerity, devotion to duty and soldierly spirit have been an inspiration and source of strength to those serving with him. [Canadian Section, GHQ 1 Ech (AAI)]