Corporal Filip Konowal VC in the Great War

Ten years following the Great War, Corporal Filip Konowal VC, a homeless veteran, living on the streets in the nation’s capital.

“…the Victoria Cross does not protect a man from poverty.”

Liberal MP John James Kinley

According to Brigadier General (Ret’d) Alan Mulawyshyn, deputy executive director of the charity Veteran’s House Canada, more than 100 homeless veterans live in Ottawa alone, and between 3,000 and 5,000 across the country.

Homeless Veterans

In March 2015, the first study of Veteran Homelessness in Canada published.

• An estimated 2,250 Veterans use homeless shelters each year in Canada.
• About 2.7% of annual shelter users identified as Veterans
• Higher rate of episodic homelessness for Veterans compared to non-Veterans
• Homeless Veterans older, on average, than homeless non-Veterans

“I’d estimate there is a minimum of 7,000 to 8,000 homeless veterans,” said former British Columbia/Yukon Command president Angus Stanfield, a founding director of Cockrell House in Victoria, which had been serving homeless veterans since 2009. Legion Foundation BC/Yukon now owns the Cockrell House site and the South Vancouver Island Housing Society oversees the day-to-day operations of Veterans House Victoria, an 11-bedroom duplex formerly called Cockrell House. 

Help a Veteran

To help a homeless veteran, contact:

• The Royal Canadian Legion Dominion Command Service Bureau at servicebureau@legion.ca, or 1-877-534-4666.
• VETS Canada (Veterans Emergency Transition Services) at vetscanada.org/get-help.php, or 1-888-228-3871.
• Veterans Affairs Canada Emergency Funds at information@vac-acc.gc.ca, call 1-866-522-2122 or a VAC area office, listed at www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/contact/map.

First Ukrainian-born Victoria Cross Recipient

As always, stories of the Great War so very relevant today, and Konowal is no exception to this rule. The first, and only, Ukrainian-born recipient of the Commonwealth’s highest award for valour. But, something else set Konowal apart from other Canadian VC’s. Just before he died in 1956, Konowal received a special recognition from the living Canadian VC recipients.

Kudkiv, Ukraine

Filip Konowal born in 1887 or 1888 near the village of Kutkivtsi (Kudkiv), Ukraine, then under Imperial Russian control. The Konowal family farm situated on the Zbruch River, which formed the border between the Russian and the Austro Hungarian Empires.

The farm in the hamlet of Rudka, 2 kilometers east the Zbruch River. Myron, his father, also had a stone-cutting business.

Russian Imperial Army

In 1909, Filip conscripted into the Russian Imperial Army for a five-year term at the age of 21. Take note, Konowal served for five years in the Imperial Russian Army as a bayonet/hand-to-hand combat instructor.

Canada

Konowal emigrated to Canada in 1913, leaving behind a wife and daughter, and then worked for a short period as a lumberjack in British Columbia. By the outbreak of the war, living in Hull and working at the E.B. Eddy match factory, hauling logs.

77th Canadian Infantry Battalion

On 12 July 1915, Private Filip Konowal 144039 enlisted in the 77th Canadian Infantry Battalion at Ottawa. He was 27 years, 11 months of age, standing 5′ 6 1/2″ tall, with medium complexion, brown eyes and hair.

Konowal’s physical development not noted, but this is surely a very strong man, slightly above average in height for the time. At this time, his wife and daughter living in P.O. Husiatin, Podolskoy, Gubernia Selo, Kuthovtse, Russia.

Lieutenant-Colonel Douglas Richmond Street

The 77th organized in July 1915 initially under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Douglas Richmond Street. Mobilized at Ottawa, and also recruited in Ottawa, Lindsay, Smith Falls, Arnprior, Renfrew, Finch, Alexandria, Cornwall, Iroquois, Shawville, Quyon, Buckingham, Hull, Aylmer.

Between July and September 1915, 31 members of the Ottawa Ukrainian-Canadian community joined this battalion, commanded by the popular Colonel D R Church. The bond Konowal made with Colonel Church and other members of the 77th would serve him throughout his life and help perpetuate his memory.

The following also enlisted on 12 July 1915 with Corporal Filip Konowal in Ottawa.

• Private Hordy Capok 144144, Shulake, Russia
• Private Wasel Gux 144040, Waraware, Poland
• Pte Metro Marchuk 144035, Kundrence, Russia
• Private Warily Maykut 144094, Repince, Russia

Private Metro Marchuk

Private Metro Marchuk suffered a GSW to the face in January of 1917. Returned to his unit following his recovery, he found himself on trial on 11 November 1917 for cowardice.

The FGCM sentenced him to death, but his sentence rapidly reduced to penal servitude, and only four days later, he was sent to the front lines. On 15 November 1917, Pte Marchuk suffered another GSW to his chest, and he was evacuated to England. Marchuk, and the three other soldiers that attested with Konowal, all demobilized in Canada in 1919.

Parliament Buildings

Corporal Filip Konowal would later be employed in the House of Parliament from 1935 to 1956. The heroes of the 1916 blaze, who risked their lives to rescue colleagues and salvage what they could from the building, included firefighters, police officers and soldiers of the 77th Battalion – perhaps Konowal too. 

I merely add without comment, we hear that the men of the 77th battalion in Ottawa looted the Parliament Buildings the night of the fire. I am prepared to say this—I never thought it worth mentioning it, but my attention was brought to it yesterday–that the men of the 77th, as well as the Engineers, conducted themselves in the most orderly and becoming manner on that night…

 (Sam Hughes, Debates, 16 Feb 1916, 855)

When the building destroyed by fire in 1916, the House of Commons sat in the nearby Victoria Memorial Museum Building, where it remained until 1920, when the new and current Parliament Building opened.

While testifying before a royal commission into the cause of the fire, Parliamentary Library clerk M. C. MacCormac denied all allegations that the guarding soldiers had engaged in theft:

There is another thing—that is a statement in regard to Colonel Street of the 77th and his men. Those men if so fond of pilfering could have taken thousands of dollars worth of valuables from the library. We have a collection of Canadian coins- and medals and also the Jubilee coins, and they could have been taken, without anybody seeing them for we were attending to the removal of the books at that time and there was not five cents’ worth taken from the library, so I wanted to make that statement on behalf of the staff of the library because it had been reported that these men were stealing everything and had filled their pockets with coins.

England

The 77th Battalion embarked from Halifax 20 June 1916 aboard MISSANABIE and later disembarked England 28 June 1916 with a strength of 38 officers, 1007 other ranks. Draft of 32 to 73rd Battalion and another draft to 4th Canadian Division in July 1916. Absorbed in November 1916. Personnel transferred to 38th, 50th, 247th and 273rd Battalions.

During a six-week layover at Bramshott Camp, many men from the 77th Battalion
reassigned to bring other Canadian units up to strength. As a result, Konowal transferred to the 47th (British Columbia) Battalion as a lance corporal.

The 47th one of the four battalions in the 10th Brigade of the newly created 4th Canadian Division, which embarked for France on 10 August 1916. There, the 4th
Division held in reserve while the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Divisions committed to the
Somme offensive from early September to mid-October. The 4th relieved these divisions and placed in the front lines on 10 October 1916.

1917

Vimy Ridge

Just three days prior to the Battle of Vimy Ridge, Konowal appointed acting corporal.

The Pimple

The 47th Battalion, then in reserve, ordered to assault the Pimple, which had up to this point in the battle, produced hundreds of Canadian casualties. To add to normal confusion of battle, a freak snow storm struck as the Canadians began their attack. This blizzard, however, proved fortunate. The snow temporarily blinded the German machine gunners and in minutes the Pimple finally in Canadian hands.

Hill 70

At 0435 hours on 21 August 1917, the men of the 47th advanced. As the early morning ground fog and drizzle dissipated, a German artillery barrage hit the advancing Canadians, killing or wounding most of the officers and senior NCOs in Konowal’s company. Adding to the confusion an ill-timed smoke barrage
that temporarily blinded the Canadians.

Konowal took hold of the situation and restored order to his company by his calm demeanour and steadying presence. One contemporary account wrote that the Canadians under Konowal’s command “went forward, penetrating the immediate German barrage without hesitation, and moving as if on parade.”

Lens-Arras Road

Not satisfied with merely holding his position, Konowal extended his company’s new position across the Lens-Arras Road. However, the advance was blocked by German machine gun fire emanating from a cluster of ruined buildings. Konowal and his men, along with a wounded captain, found themselves trapped in a water-filled trench. Konowal made a snap decision to take on a nearby German machine gun nest single handedly. Armed only with a couple of grenades and an Enfield rifle, he leaped out of the trench and began to move towards the machine gun nest.

While approaching the machine gun nest he entered a bombed out cottage. Finding no one on the surface, Konowal jumped into the building’s darkened cellar. He was immediately fired upon by three Germans as he landed.

Unharmed, Konowal took on the three opponents in the pitch darkness of the cellar, and killed them in a confused melee. After leaving the cottage, Konowal resumed his advance on the machine gun nest, ever alert to locate the close
rifle crack that would expose an enemy sniper.

Hand grenades

The machine gun nest, littered with Canadian dead around it, was situated in a large crater on the east of the Lens-Arras Road. Upon reaching it, Konowal caught seven Germans as they were attempting to evacuate. After throwing his hand
grenades, Konowal shot three Germans dead and then charged the others. Within seconds, Konowal had bayonetted the remaining members of the German machine gun crew. He then returned to the Canadian lines with the captured
machine gun on his shoulders.

Konowal’s sudden decision to attack the machine gun nest had caught everyone by surprise. To his men, Konowal appeared to explode or go mad. He would later state in a newspaper interview that the wounded captain had a different interpretation of his actions, as he “tried to shoot me because he figured I was
deserting. “Forty years later Konowal gave the following humble and matter-of-fact explanation: “I was so fed up standing in the trench with water to my waist that I said to hell with it and started after the German Army. “

Prisoner of War

On 22 August, the two companies of Canadians had still not succeeded in capturing Green Crassier. To assist another attack, the 47th was ordered to conduct a diversionary raid on another machine gun nest near Fosse (crater) #4. Once more Konowal attempted another one-man attack on a German machine
gun nest. This time it seemed that his luck had run out. While approaching the German position, he was surprised by an enemy reconnaissance patrol and taken prisoner.

Unperturbed, Konowal turned on and killed his captors and made his escape. He then proceeded towards the machine gun nest and tossed two charges of ammonal (an ammonia based high explosive) into the darkness. Within
seconds, he had bayonetted the stunned defenders and destroyed the machine gun. He remained in command of the company until relieved by a replacement officer late that day.

Turkey Shoot

By the time Konowal returned from destroying the second machine gun nest, the
German High Command had suspended their counterattacks. In a ten-day period the Canadian Corps had captured and held Hill 70 and inflicted an estimated 20,000 casualties on the enemy. The Canadians had suffered 9,198 casualties of which 5,671 had occurred after Hill 70 had been initially captured.

Filip Konowal and five other Canadians awarded the Victoria Cross for their heroism in this battle. Konowal escaped from the battle virtually unscathed. However, late on the evening of 22 August 1917, he received a gun shot wound to the face and neck from sniper fire. This occurred when standing in a Canadian trench being debriefed by a newly-arrived officer. As with many veterans, these injuries would become a source of recurring medical problems that would have a devastating impact on the remainder of his life.

Investiture, 15 October 1917

Following preliminary treatment in Lens and Etaples, Konowal evacuated to England on 26 August 1917. Recovering from his wounds, sent to London where he was awarded the Victoria Cross by King George V on 15 October 1917.

Victoria Cross Citation

Konowal’s citation in the London Gazette read:

No. 144039 A./Cpl. Filip Konowal, Can. Inf.

For most conspicuous bravery and leadership when in charge of a section in attack. His section had the difficult task of mopping up cellars, craters and machine-gun emplacements. Under his able direction all resistance was overcome successfully, and heavy casualties inflicted on the enemy. In one cellar he himself bayonetted three enemy and attacked single-handed seven others in a crater, killing them all.

On reaching the objective, a machine-gun was holding up the right flank, causing many casualties. Cpl. Konowal rushed forward and entered the emplacement, killed the crew, and brought the gun back to our lines.

The next day he again attacked single-handed another machine-gun emplacement, killed three of the crew, and destroyed the gun and emplacement with explosives. This non-commissioned officer alone killed at least sixteen of the enemy, and during the two days’ actual fighting carried on continuously his good work until severely wounded.

London Gazette, 23 November 1917

After pinning the Victoria Cross on Konowal, King George remarked:

“Your exploit is one of the most daring and heroic in the history of my army. For this, accept my thanks.”

King George V

Russian Embassy

Corporal Filip Konowal VC released from hospital on 22 September 1917. ToS by the 16th Canadian Reserve Battalion on 1 November 1917, and assigned to be an assistant to the Canadian military liaison officer at the Russian Embassy in London.

1918

Konowal appointed Acting Sergeant on 30 December 1917, and remained on duty at the Russian embassy until 1 August 1918, at which time he reverted
to the rank of corporal.

Canadian Forestry Corps

For the next six weeks Corporal Filip Konowal VC assigned to the Canadian Forestry Corps in England, until the opportunity for a special duty presented itself.

Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force

Konowal and over 100 men from the Forestry Corps volunteered for duty in Siberia and returned to Canada on 10 September 1918. He was formally taken on strength with the CSEF and assigned duties with the Base Headquarters
Unit. Konowal embarked for Siberia on 1 October 1918 reaching Vladivostok three days later. During the voyage, Private Edward Biddle, Base Guard, died of complication of pneumonia at sea (S.S. Empress of Japan).

Despite the Armistice which ended fighting on the Western Front, the Allies could not leave Siberia immediately without jeopardizing the loyal White Russian forces. Still, clear that the Allied intervention in Siberia to be brief. Konowal accompanied a small liaison group to Omsk, the main Allied base, but Bolshevik gains eventually necessitated the group’s withdrawal.

In early June, with the Red Army’s victory apparently assured, Corporal Filip Konowal VC rejoined the main body of the CSEF and departed Vladivostok for Vancouver. The war finally over for Filip Konowal VC. He had served for three years and 357 days in the Canadian Army – one week short of four years.

1919

Peace Parade

On 19 July 1919, Corporal Filip Konowal VC led the first postwar Peace Parade through the streets of Ottawa to Parliament Hill. The day, though, marred by violence, especially in Toronto, where a mob of roughly 200 youths led by two veterans with criminal records threw bricks at a Jewish peddler and set his stable and wagons ablaze.

Rioters broke into and vandalized several restaurants. Two streetcars suffered fire damage. A crowd rushed into one Chinese-owned store that, although closed, had left its light on. In Hamilton, veterans interrupted speeches at the official celebration at Dundurn Park with demands for beer, still under wartime prohibition measures.

53rd Victim

Tempers still flaring across the country the following day when Konowal killed an Austrian, Wasyl Artich, in Hull, Quebec, reportedly after Artich attacked Konowal’s friend, Leonti Diedek (Leon Diadik).

When police arrived, Konowal, his hands bloodied and making no attempts at escape, said, “I killed 52 Germans, and this will be my 53rd,” noting, too, that, “He tried to kill my chum and I killed him.”

Bail

During a special assembly of the GWVA on the evening of 16 October 1919, the membership voted unanimously to support Konowal in any manner. Before adjourning over $3,000 raised for his defence. After mounting pressure from both the Ottawa and Hull communities, the court set bail at $8,000 the following morning. The bail paid by the GWVA ($4,000), Colonel Church ($2,000) and H.W. Bowe ($2,000), a close friend of Colonel Church. Konowal released on bail on 18 October 1919.

1920

By early 1920, Konowal’s condition had deteriorated. He began to experience long periods of acute pain followed by complete memory loss for hours, and later
days, at a time. During these periods, Konowal would have flashbacks to the battles on the Western Front. In these periods, he often believed that he had to defend his men at Hill 70 and assumed individuals around him were the enemy. On one occasion, Konowal was arrested and briefly detained after a bar room
confrontation. He claimed to have no memory of the incident.

Counsel

Colonel Church and the veterans became more determined to help Konowal. As
well as retaining the services of George Wright, they added Alban Germain K.C., a noted Montreal defence lawyer, and R. MacDonald, another leading Hull lawyer, to the defence team. The team soon decided on their strategy – they would argue that Konowal had killed Artich, but not responsible for his actions by reason of insanity.

Trial

Twenty-one months after the murder, the trial of Filip Konowal VC began on 15 April 1921, with Judge Philemon Cousineau presiding. The defence team did not contest the fact that Konowal had killed Artich. However, both Diedek and Henri Simard confirmed that Artich had struck Konowal in the head and then stabbed
him in the arm.

The prosecution and defence called a number of specialists, including Dr. C.K. Wallace. Their unanimous opinion was that the skull fracture caused by the gun shot wound had rendered Konowal mentally unstable and not responsible for his actions. They further contended that Artich’s blow to Konowal’s head had triggered the mental episode which resulted in the victim’s death.

Verdict

Judge Cousineau instructed the jury that justice would be served if Konowal found not guilty by reason of insanity. The jury complied. Shaking hands with his legal counsel, Konowal removed to a Hull jail cell. His Victoria Cross and other medals placed in safe keeping at the request of the GWVA.

Private Leon Diadik

Konowal shared much in common with the man he came to defend.

Ottawa, May 5.–Pte. Leon Diadik 144528 is walking the streets of Ottawa with the sum of $1,500 lying to the credit of his wife. He is unable to find any trace of his family, who seem completely to have disappeared in the turmoil in Ukraina.

1921

Corporal Filip Konowal VC released from the Hull Jail on 27 April 1921, and confined in Montréal‘s Saint-Jean-de-Dieu Hospital (now the Louis Hippolyte Lafontaine Hospital), an asylum he shared with the French Canadian poet, Émile Nelligan.

1926

Following Soviet inquiries in August 1926, seeking Konowal’s deportation, spirited away to another facility, near Bordeaux, Québec.

1928

Finally released in 1928, just before the Great Depression, Konowal eventually returned to the Hull area and following three years of idleness, he secured employment on the maintenance staff of the Ottawa Electrical Company building. Through the intervention of the officers of the 77th, now the Governor General’s Foot Guards, his medals returned to him.

Major Milton Fowler Gregg VC

Konowal also taken into No. 4 Company of his beloved regiment. At this time No. 4 Company commanded by another Victoria Cross winner, Major Milton Fowler Gregg. His friendship with Major Gregg would prove to be another fateful development in his life.

1929

A VC reunion dinner held Saturday, 9th November 1929 at Royal Gallery, House of Lords, Palace of Westminster. Toasts made on behalf of the Navy, Army, Air Force and Overseas VCs respectively by Lieutenant-Commander Harold Auten VC, DSO; Sergeant Charles Spackman VC; Lieutenant-Colonel William Bishop VC, DSO, MC, DFC and Lieutenant-Colonel George Pearkes VC, DSO, MC.

Due to hospitalization, Konowal unable to attend the reunion of Empire VCs held in London, England. Twenty-seven years later, the Canadian VC recipients that had attended this celebration would give Konowal a special recognition.

1934

Juliette Leduc-Auger

While attempting to contact his family in Ukraine, Konowal received news his wife dead and his daughter an orphan lost in Stalin’s vast communist bureaucracy. Meanwhile, a young widow, Juliette Leduc-Auger, facing the daunting task of raising her two sons, Roland and Albert, and caring for an invalid brother.

In 1934, Juliette and Filip were married in a Roman Catholic ceremony in Hull. Konowal was 47, Juliette 33.

1935

Shortly after marrying Juliette, Konowal found himself once more unemployed. A few months later his luck changed for the better. By chance Konowal met Major Gregg near the Parliament Buildings and outlined his problems.

Gregg held the position of Sergeant-at-Arms for the House of Commons, and offered Konowal a position as a junior caretaker. Although thankful for a job when tens of thousands were unemployed, he still was assigned the most menial tasks, including brewing coffee for the other caretakers.

1936

Another chance for recognition and reunion with his wartime comrades came with the Vimy Pilgrimage in 1936. The monument completed and formally
dedicated by King Edward VIII on Sunday, 29 July 1936. The dedication ceremony attended by thousands of Canadian veterans and their families.

Vimy Dedication Ceremony

Thomas Wayling, President of the Parliamentary Press Gallery, wrote directly to Mackenzie King requesting that the House of Commons recognize their two VCs, Gregg and Konowal, and provide government funds to send Konowal to the dedication ceremony. The request forwarded to the Minister of National Defence.
However, no funds offered for Konowal’s travel expenses. He would not be one of the 6,400 Canadians en route to France, and would be the only VC recipient left behind.

William Lyon Mackenzie King

One day Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King saw the colours of a Victoria Cross ribbon flashing on a caretaker washing floors. Upon learning his identity, King had Konowal reassigned as the special custodian for Room No. 16, the Prime Minister’s Office, a post he held until his death on 3 June 1959.

Room Sixteen, a common room set up by King for all MPs, senators and press gallery members to mingle and promote a wider acquaintance.

1939

During the 1930s and 1940s the Konowal family resided at 75 Rue Demontyny, Hull. During the 1939 Royal Tour of Canada, Filip Konowal’s act of bravery once more acknowledged, when King George VI shook his hand during the dedication of the National War Memorial, just as his father had done 22 years before.

After Canada’s entry into the Second World War, Konowal briefly joined Le Regiment de Hull but, at age 52, too old for active service.

1942

By 1942, Konowal asked to appear before a parliamentary committee on orders and decorations, “the man’s appearance before the committee,” wrote the Citizen, “was, to say the least, a highly dramatic one”.

“When … this veteran of a war which now seems to be sinking into the limbo of things past and forgotten, sidled into the richly appointed committee room, it was hard to visualize him as he once must have been — a young, stalwart soldier standing before King George V to receive the Victoria Cross and the congratulations of his Monarch. For here was merely the shell of a man. and in place of the uniform he once wore so proudly was the drab, ill-fitting work suit of the mopper of floors and cleaner of cuspidors. True the suit was khaki colored, but it was not one upon which the Victoria Cross would have shown to good advantage.”

Ottawa Citizen

Committee

Konowal told the committee of his war experiences, the Germans he’d killed, and showed them the scars left by a bullet that went through his left cheek and neck. He told them of his $15-a-month pension, and of how he had worked for the E.B. Eddy Company and Ottawa Electric Company, followed by three years of unemployment before being hired to clean Parliament.

Members of the committee applauded and shook his hand, and promised to do what they could to help. “The only value of his testimony,” said Liberal MP John James Kinley, “is to show that even the Victoria Cross does not protect a man from poverty.” Fellow Liberal MP Duncan McCuaig remarked, “I think a man awarded the Victoria Cross is entitled to live better than this man, whether he is employed or not.”

1945

Konowal joined the Legion de Hull, Branch No. 30, Royal Canadian Legion on 20 December 1945.

1953

In the early 1950s, the Ukrainian Canadian Veterans’ Association actively establishing branches of the Royal Canadian Legion in Montreal, Toronto,
Winnipeg and Edmonton that would meet the special needs of veterans of Ukrainian ancestry. The Toronto Branch No.360 voted to make Konowal its
patron in 1953.

Upon learning that Konowal still a custodian at the Parliament Buildings, Branch President Stephen Pawluk and the other Branch members appalled and began an active campaign to improve his situation.

“We notice that Mr. Konowal VC is employed on the Cleaning Staff of the House of Commons. It is hardly necessary to say our branch feels somewhat indignant about this matter. We feel that the very few Canadians who hold the Victoria Cross deserve a somewhat better position.”

Pawluk to Michael Starr, MP

During the Remembrance Dinner, Konowal recognized as Patron and also awarded the Branch Merit Award. Apparent at the dinner that Konowal’s health deteriorating.

“Age and ill health are taking a toll in the autumn of his [Konowal’s] life and there was general resentment, when it was learned this National hero is a cleaner in the Civil Service in Ottawa.”

Ray Mann, Legion Vice President of the Central Region, Ontario Command

1954

On 4 & 5 December 1954, the Ukrainian Canadian Veterans Association held their
convention at the Chateau Laurier Hotel in Ottawa. Konowal once more made the “guest of honour.”

During the convention banquet, Konowal made Honourary President of the Ukrainian Canadian Veterans’ Association. As a token of appreciation, also presented a gold watch engraved with the Victoria Cross emblem and the words “For Valour. “

1956

The greatest tribute to Konowal would come two years later in 1956. That year marked the 1OOth Anniversary of the Institution of the Victoria Cross. Finally, after three significant opportunities missed, Konowal photographed with all living Canadian recipients of the Victoria Cross.

There was something that set Konowal apart from other Canadian VC recipients. He had certainly earned the respect of his comrades, when they insisted he be front and center in this photo.

Corporal Filip Konowal VC seated front and center during the gathering of living Canadian VC recipients in London during 1956. The event marked the 100th anniversary of the Victoria Cross.

Final Interview

Before he died, Corporal Filip Konowal VC gave an interview to the Ottawa Citizen in 1956, saying he was at peace with his work as a parliamentary janitor: “I mopped up overseas with a rifle, and here I must mop up with a mop.” He also revealed something about the circumstances surrounding his bravery at Hill 70: “I was so fed up standing in the trench with water to my waist that I said the hell with it and started after the German army. My captain tried to shoot me because he figured I was deserting.”

Corporal Filip Konowal VC buried by his regiment from St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church with full military honours, in Lot 502, Section A at the Notre-Dame Cemetery in Ottawa, resting not far from Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier. Konowal’s wife Juliette was buried beside him on 3 March 1987.

VC Stolen

Following his death, Konowal’s Victoria Cross and other medals entrusted to F/Lt G.R. Bohdan Panchuk, a Royal Canadian Air Force veteran of the Second World War and leading member of the Ukrainian Canadian Veterans Association. Acquired by the Canadian War Museum from an Ottawa dealer in 1969.

1995

On 8 December 1995 the secretary of The Victoria Cross and George Cross Association, Mrs. D. Grahame, wrote that Corporal Konowal’s Victoria Cross “is held by the Canadian War Museum”.

However, it may be that the museum does not own Konowal’s medal. In a letter to Dr. L. Luciuk, 3 May 1996, Mr. D. Glenney, the museum’s Director, Collections and Research, reported.

“I must also inform you of some unfortunate news. The Victoria Cross shown is a replica… The Canadian War Museum acquired Konowal’s medals from an Ottawa dealer in 1969. They were displayed until 1972, and later put in storage. Our records indicate that at some point between 1972 and 1974, the Victoria Cross was listed as missing. However, our early records are sketchy; the medals are not described in detail as to engraving. It is possible that we may never had received the original. An exhaustive search of our records at my request this winter failed to shed any new light on the situation. We are continuing to investigate the issue of this important Victoria Cross, to determine once and for all if the original was ever acquired, and if so, what happened to it”.

Recovery

The medal not recovered until April 2004, when Iain Stewart alerted Dr. Lubomyr Luciuk that it had resurfaced at auction in London, Ontario, resulting in a timely seizure by the RCMP. Konowal’s VC now the focal point of a permanent exhibit at the Canadian War Museum, ceremoniously unveiled on 23 August 2004.

Legacy

Among the memorials following his death in 1959:

Konowal recognized on a cairn at the Ukrainian Village (Selo Ukraina) in Dauphin.

With a bas-relief near Lens, France, initiatives supported by Branch #360 and the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association under the chairmanship of John B. Gregorovich.

In August 2017, a memorial unveiled near Loos, France, marking the 100th anniversary of the Battle for Hill 70. There could be no more fitting place for Konowal’s valour to be remembered.

Arms of Ronald Bernard Sorobey

Mr Ron Sorobey was a trade policy analyst for Revenue Canada, (Customs) in Ottawa during the 1990s. Awarded the Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee Medal (2002). Most of this post from Sorobey’s excellent article in Canadian Military History, 1996.

• In Fear of the Barbed Wire Fence: Canada’s First National Internment Operations and the Ukrainian Canadians, 1914-1920 by Lubomyr Y. Luciuk and Ron Sorobey.
• Konowal: a Canadian Hero by Lubomyr Y. Luciuk and Ron Sorobey.
• Filip Konowal, VC: The Rebirth of a Canadian Hero by Ron Sorobey, Canadian Military History, Volume 5, Issue 2.
• Grant of Arms and Flag, August 15, 2008

Symbolism

Blue and yellow are the colours of the Ukraine, Mr. Sorobey’s ancestral home. The central element based on the main charge of the arms of the city of Chortkiv in the Ternopil oblast in the western Ukraine, from where Mr. Sorobey’s family originated.

Here, the rose replaced by the prairie crocus, the provincial flower of Manitoba, marking the fact that Mr. Sorobey born in this province. The key and sword combinations taken from the flag of the Ternopil oblast, and the keys can also represent Mr. Sorobey’s career as a customs officer.

Lion of Lviv

The lion of Lviv a symbol of the Ukraine, shown here with a coronet of maple leaves. The trizub another Ukrainian national symbol; here, made unique to Mr. Sorobey by its use in the key, furthering the symbolism of the arms.

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