Issue 023/2005

B Gen (ret'd) Bob Alden
 


5315 Colonel Commandant of the Infantry
School R.P. Bob Alden, OMM, CD

5315 Bob Alden was born in Saint John N.B.  He attended the College militaire royal de Saint-Jean, Que. and the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston Ont.  He graduated in 1963 with a Bachelor of Arts  degree.

He was commissioned into the Black Watch (RHR) of Canada and posted to 1 RHC in Camp Gagetown, N.B.  During the period 1964-1966 he served on a regimental exchange posting with 1st Battalion The Black Watch (British Army) in Minden, Germany. 

He served in the Black Watch until it was deactivated in 1970.  In 1970 he attended the Canadian Land Forces Command and Staff College in Kingston and on graduation in 1971 was promoted to major and posted to 3 Canadian Mechanized Commando at CFB Baden-Sollingen, Germany where he was a company commander until 1974.

From 1974 until 1976 he was the Chief Instructor at the Canadian Forces Recruit School at CFB Cornwallis,N.S.  At that time he joined The Royal Canadian Regiment. 

He was in the Canadian Airborne Regiment in Edmonton, Alta. from 1976 to 1977 and at the Combat Training Centre in Gagetown from 1977 to 1978.  On promotion to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in 1978 he became the Deputy Commander of the Canadian Airborne Regiment in Petawawa, Ont.

In 1979 he was appointed the Commanding Officer of 3rd Battalion The Royal Canadian Regiment in Baden-Sollingen and from there he became the Senior Staff Officer Operations of 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group in Lahr, Germany in 1981. 

He was promoted to colonel in 1983 and became the Chief of Staff of Prairie Militia Area in Winnipeg Man. In 1986 he was appointed Chief of Staff of Canadian Forces Europe in Lahr, Germany.

In 1988 he was promoted to brigadier-general and became the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations at Central Army Group Headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany.  In 1992 he was appointed Commandant of the Canadian Land Forces Command and Staff College and Commander of 1st Canadian Division in Kingston.  He retired in Kingston in 1994.

He is married to Jane Lee of London, Ont. and they have two grown sons.

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