Lieutenant General Ledford George Lilley (Ret'd) DSO, CD died on 26 March, 2006 at the age of 92 years.
Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, he graduated from the University of New Brunswick in 1935 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. Lt.-Gen Lilley served in the Militia in the1930s and was commissioned in 1939 in the 3rd Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers, a unit he later commanded in action in Sicily and Italy. In 1940 he went overseas with elements of 1st Canadian Division and later served with headquarters, Royal Canadian Engineers, of this Division. In 1944 he commanded a Canadian Engineer Reinforcement Unit and later that year became Commander, RCE, 2nd Canadian Division and Staff Officer RCE at Headquarters First Canadian Army.
At war's end, Lt.-Gen Lilley became Assistance Quartermaster-General at Army Headquarters and, in 1947, was appointed Commandant of the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering at Camp Chilliwack, BC. After this tour, he attended the Canadian Army Staff College, Kingston in 1949 and then became Command Engineer at Headquarters Western Command. From 1950 until 1958 Lt.-Gen Lilley held senior engineer appointments at Army Headquarters and, in 1958, attended the Imperial Defence College in England. In 1959 he was appointed Commander Central Ontario Area. In 1960, he became Commander and Chief Engineer on the Northwest Highway System and two years later was appointed Comptroller General of the Canadian Army. Lt.-Gen Lilley became the Canadian Forces Deputy Chief of Logistics (Engineering and Development) in 1964 and was appointed Deputy Chief of Engineering the following year. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and appointed Chief of Technical Services in Ottawa in May 1966.
After retiring from the Armed Forces in 1968, Lt.-Gen Lilley was Managing Director of the Canadian Standards Association for five years. He was an Honorary Life Member of the Military Engineers Association of Canada.
Friends may visit at the West Chapel of Hulse, Playfair & McGarry, 150 Woodroffe Ave. at Richmond Rd, Ottawa on Thursday, 30 Mar 2006 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Funeral service will be held in the Chapel on Friday, 31 March 2006 at 10:00 AM. Private cremation. For those wishing, donations may be made to https://www.righttoplay.ca/en-ca/.