Tag: victoria-cross
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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…
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LCol William George Barker VC in the Great War
British Empire’s Most Decorated Serviceman The deadliest air fighter who ever lived LCol William George Barker, VC, DSO & Bar, MC & Two Bars, Silver Medal, Croix du Guerre, 1914-15 Star, Victory Medal, British War Medal, the most decorated serviceman in the history of Canada, and the British Commonwealth. LCol William ‘Billy’ George Barker, the less famous of the two ‘Billies’, eclipsed…
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Captain Francis Alexander Scrimger VC in the Great War
First Canadian Officer Victoria Cross Captain Francis Alexander Caron Scrimger VC born in Montreal, Quebec, on 10 February 1881 and earned his medical degree from McGill University in 1905. Service in the Great War as Surgeon with the Canadian Army Medical Corps. Scrimger’s paternal grandparents emigrated from Scotland to Galt (Cambridge), Upper Canada, where his…
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Captain Coulson Norman Mitchell VC MC in the Great War
First Victoria Cross Engineer Captain Coulson Norman Mitchell VC MC earned his medals of valour with No.1 Tunneling Company and 4th Battalion, Canadian Engineers in the Great War. Coulson Norman Mitchell the only Canadian Engineer to have earned the highest medal of valour in the British Empire – the Victoria Cross. Early Life of Coulson…
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Winnipeg Grenadiers in the Great War
The 78th Battalion (Winnipeg Grenadiers) led by Lieutenant-Colonel James Kirkcaldy. Two Victoria Crosses (Honey and Tait), the only surviving quadruple-amputee (Curley Christian) and the HALLU EIGHT, only a few of their incredible stories. 78th Canadian Infantry Battalion The 78th Battalion (Winnipeg Grenadiers) organized in July 1915 initially under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel James Bertram Mitchell,…
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Private John Bernard Croak VC in the Great War
Three members of the 13th Battalion awarded the Victoria Cross in the Great War. The first, Private Frederick Fisher, awarded for his action on 23 April 1915 at St. Julien, during the Second Battle of Ypres. Two other members, Corporal Herman James Good and Private John Bernard Croak, awarded their crosses for action on 8 August 1918 at Hangard Wood,…
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Lieutenant Hugh McKenzie VC DCM in the Great War
Lieutenant Hugh McKenzie VC DCM rose in the ranks of the PPCLI, earning the Distinguished Conduct Medal as a Corporal, and later a posthumous recipient of the Victoria Cross as a Lieutenant seconded for duty with 7th Canadian Machine Gun Company. Early Life of Hugh McKenzie McKenzie born in Liverpool, in the United Kingdom, on…
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Lt Col Victor Carl Buchanan DSO in the Great War
13th (Royal Highlanders of Canada) Battalion 13th (Royal Highlanders of Canada) Battalion organized in Valcartier Camp under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel F. O. W. Loomis. About 65% to 75% of the recruits Old Country men, the remainder native Canadians. With a small scattering of total outsiders who for one reason or another had decided to…
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27th Battalion (City of Winnipeg) in the Great War
The 27th Canadian Infantry Battalion organized in October 1914 initially under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Irvine Robinson Snider (served previously in the Northwest Rebellion 1885 and in the Boer War). Mobilized at Winnipeg, and recruited in Brandon, Portage La Prairie, Rainy River, Kenora and Winnipeg. The 27th embarked from Quebec 17 May 1915 aboard CARPATHIA…
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Lieutenant Frederick Maurice Watson Harvey VC in the Great War
Lieutenant Frederick Maurice Watson Harvey, VC, MC an Irish-born Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, Canadian soldier and rugby union player. During the Great War, while serving in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, Lieutenant Frederick Harvey awarded the Victoria Cross, the Military Cross and the French Croix de Guerre. Harvey, born in Athboy, County Meath, Ireland,…