Biography

Edson Louis Millard (Tommy) Burns, born in Westmount, Quebec, on June 17th, 1897; died in Manotick, Ontario, on September 13th, 1985.  Canadian Army officer and diplomat
”Tommy” Burns is one of the most distinguished generals in Canadian history.  After service in both World Wars, he became Deputy Minister of Veterans’ Affairs.  He was then transferred to the Department of External Affairs as a Special Staff of the Truce supervision Organization in Palestine (1954-56) and was thus nearby when the Suez Crisis of 1956 occurred.

He was a natural choice to lead the UN Emergency Force (UNEF) as he did this with distinction from November of 1956 to December of 1959, showing skill not only as a commander but also as a negotiator with national land local authorities in the area.

General Burns subsequently served for almost a decade as Canada’s principal disarmament negotiator (1960-68).  Although quiet and unassuming, he made a powerful impact through his intellectual command of the complex issues and his tireless devotion to the cause.  A President of the UNAC during the 1980s, he held the chair of Strategic Studies at the Norman Paterson School for International Affairs, Carleton University in 1969-75.

“Tommy” Burns is one of the most distinguished generals in Canadian history.  After service

in both World Wars, he became Deputy Minister of Veterans’ Affairs.  He was then transferred to the Department of External Affairs as a Special Staff of the Truce supervision Organization in Palestine (1954-56) and was thus nearby when the Suez Crisis of 1956 occurred.

 

He was a natural choice to lead the UN Emergency Force (UNEF) as he did this with distinction from November of 1956 to December of 1959, showing skill not only as a commander but also as a negotiator with national and local authorities in the area.

“Tommy” Burns is one of the most distinguished generals in Canadian history.  After service

in both World Wars, he became Deputy Minister of Veterans’ Affairs.  He was then transferred to the Department of External Affairs as a Special Staff of the Truce supervision Organization in Palestine (1954-56) and was thus nearby when the Suez Crisis of 1956 occurred.

 

He was a natural choice to lead the UN Emergency Force (UNEF) as he did this with distinction from November of 1956 to December of 1959, showing skill not only as a commander but also as a negotiator with national and local authorities in the area.

E.L.M. Burns, Royal Military College of Canada cadet