Victoria Cross
He is wearing two wound stripes on his sleeve.
Military Cross
Military Medal
Charles Smith Rutherford born in Colborner, Ontario on 9 January 1892. As a Sergeant, he earned the Military Medal at Passchendaele, Belgium, in 1917, and the Military Cross at Arvillers in 1918 as Lt Charles Smith Rutherford. He earned the Victoria Cross in Monchy-le-Preux, France, 26 August 1918 with the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion whilst leading an assaulting party.
Wounded
Rutherford wounded twice, 1-10-16 (GSW right arm at Albert), discharged 24-10-16 and 7-6-17 (GSW left cheek and temple at Vimy), discharged 26-7-17. Jaundice in November 1916.
Military Medal Action – Passchendaele
On 28 October 1917, the battalion left the SUPPORT AREA and relieved the 2nd CMR in the FRONT LINE. HQ at KRON FRANZ FARM. A prisoner captured the following day from the 10th Bavarians.
5th CMR attacked in two waves on 30 October 1917 with the objective of capturing the BLUE LINE. By 10:45 am, Major Pearkes reported by pigeon message they had sustained severe casualties and in urgent need of reinforcements. By evening, casualties estimated at over 300, with no communication from A and B Coys.
Major Pearkes sent another message on 31 October 1917 at 1pm: “Am holding line of shell holes with about 20 men and 3 Lts. Both my flanks in the air. Brigade on left must endeavour to come up. Am short SAA but will hold on.” At 2:45 pm, Major Pearkes reported: “All very much exhausted. Ammunition running short. Do not think we can hold out much longer without being relieved.” At dusk, A Coy received ammunition they had asked for. During the night, 4th Battalion KSLI relieved what remained of the 5th CMR.
Lt Charles Smith Rutherford
Heavy losses at Passchendaele
In retrospect, the 5th CMR complained of a generally faulty and unsatisfactory artillery barrage which inflicted many casualties on their own men as they left the trenches for the attack. Objectives had been obtained, though the men were forced to abandon VANITY FARM.
Awards
Sgt Rutherford awarded the MM 22-10-18, London Gazette No. 30450. The war diary of 10 December 1917 notes Sgt C S Rutherford awarded the MM for gallantry and devotion to duty during the advance at Passchendaele. Fifteen other men of the 5th CMR also merited the MM on this day.
Captain (A/Major) G R Pearkes MC at present On Command with the 116th Battalion, awarded the Victoria Cross on 28 January 1918.
Major George Pearkes, 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles, is photographed wearing the Military Cross service ribbon, but has not yet received the ribbon for the Victoria Cross, which he was awarded due to his personal bravery, and masterly command decisions capturing and holding enemy strongpoints during the Battle of Passchendaele. He is wearing 4 wound stripes on his sleeve.
February 1918
Rutherford in England qualifying for his commission and not posted to the 5th CMR as a Lieutenant until June 1918.
Military Cross Action – Battle of Amiens
Arvillers, 9 August 1918. Four tanks of the 5th Tank Battalion under Command of Captaion Dawson. As enemy appeared to be evacuating ARVILLERS, a platoon under Command of Lt Rutherford ordered to move south-west and clear ARVILLERS. One tank detailed to assist.
Likely the very tank assigned to the 5th CMR with Lt Charles Smith Rutherford somewhere in the photo.
Military Cross Citation
“As our right flank was ”in the air ” for over 4,000 yards, this officer was detailed with his platoon and a Tank to clear up a village. This he did most successfully, killing a large number of the enemy and taking several prisoners. The coolness and determination which he displayed in clearing up the village and his marked control over his men at all times cannot be too highly commended.” – London Gazette, no. 31119, 10 January 1919
Very much unlike Passchendaele, casualties during the Battle of Amiens small during their advance of approximately 4500 yards. By the end of August, Lt Rutherford MC MM would earn his second medal of valour in less than a month.
Victoria Cross Action – Battle of Arras
Finding himself a considerable distance ahead of his men, he noted an enemy party standing before a pillbox ahead of him. Lieutenant Rutherford beckoned, revolver in hand, for them to come to him, and the enemy in return waved for him to come to them.
Lt Charles Smith Rutherford
Masterly Bluff
This he did, and by masterly bluff, he informed them that they were surrounded. Incredible, the entire enemy party of 45, including two officers, surrendered to him. Rutherford then persuaded one of the officers to stop the fire of an enemy machine gun nearby. This allowed his own men to advance quickly to his support. Rutherford then captured another pillbox nearby, and another 35 prisoners, as well as a machine gun.
Subsequently he induced the enemy officer to stop the fire of an enemy machine-gun close by, and Lt Charles Smith Rutherford took advantage of the opportunity to hasten the advance of his men to his support.
Lt Charles Smith Rutherford
Lt. Rutherford then observed that the right assaulting party was held up by heavy machine-gun fire from another ‘Pill Box.’ Indicating an objective to the remainder of his party he attacked the ‘Pill Box’ with a Lewis gun section and captured a further 35 prisoners with machine guns, thus enabling the party to continue their advance.
The bold and gallant action of this officer contributed very materially to the capture of the main objective and was a wonderful inspiration to all ranks in pressing home the attack on a very strong position.” – London Gazette, no.31012, 15 November 1918
Victoria Cross Citation
“For most conspicuous bravery, initiative and devotion to duty. When in command of an assaulting party Lt. Rutherford found himself a considerable distance ahead of his men, and at the same moment observed a fully armed strong enemy party outside a ‘Pill Box’ ahead of him. He beckoned to them with his revolver to come to him, in return they waves to him to come to them. This he boldly did, and informed them that they were prisoners. This fact an enemy officer disputed and invited Lt. Rutherford to enter the ‘Pill Box,’ an invitation he discreetly declined. By masterly bluff, however, he persuaded the enemy that they were surrounded, and the whole party of 45, including two officers and three machine guns, surrendered to him.
Investiture
Presumably with his mother Isabel Kellie Rutherford
Presumably with his mother Isabel Kellie Rutherford
5th CMR returned aboard RMS CARMANIA along with 4th CMR and the PPCLI, embarking Halifax on 17 March 1919.
1935
From 1935 to 1940, Lt Charles Smith Rutherford the Sergeant at Arms of the Ontario Legislature when Mitchell Hepburn was Premier.
24 Dec 1935 apptd Sgt-at-Arms of Ontario Legislature, succeeding Capt W L Rayfield VC.
MIKAN 3220705
1956
He was the first Sergeant to eject a member of the Legislature. In 1939 postmaster of Colborne and joined No 33 Coy, Veterans Guardd of Canada, reaching the rank of Captain. In 1942 guard to Duke of Windsor when Gov of Bahamas. He guarded POW camps, Kingston, Canada, and worked at RMC (Canada). In July 1945 retired as Captain and became postmaster again at Colborne. Finally in 1955 left Post Office and ran general store in Keswick, Ontario with wife.
1967
Victoria Cross Recipients, front row from left to right: Frederick Maurice Watson Harvey, VC, MC, Raphael Louis Zengel, VC, MM George Randolph Pearkes, VC, PC, CB, DSO, MC, CD, the Governor General, Paul Triquet, VC, CD, Ernest Alvia “Smokey” Smith, VC, CD, and also Benjamin Handley Geary, VC.
Rear row from left to right: Ernest Ralph Clyde Frost, GC, David Vivian Currie, VC, CD, Alexander Picton Brereton, VC, Charles Smith Rutherford, VC, MC, MM, Charles Cecil Ingersoll Merritt, VC, ED, John Keefer Mahony, VC, Coulson Norman Mitchell, VC, MC, Frederick Albert Tilston, VC, Arthur Dwight Ross, GC, CBE, CD, Thomas Fasti Dinesen, VC, John Weir Foote, VC, CD, and also John MacMillan Stevenson Patton, GC, CBE.
During Rutherford’s visit with VC recipients in London, he met Prince Charles, and asked “How’s your mother”?
The Rutherford’s opened another store for dry goods and after his wife’s death in 1980, moved to his daughter’s farm. In 1988 moved into the Veterans Home, Ottawa, where he lived out his last days.
Rutherford died at Rideau Veteran’s Home in Ottawa, Ontario, on 11 June 1989 – the last recipient of the Victoria Cross from the Great War to die – and is buried in the Colborne Union Cemetery, Colborne, Northumberland County, Ontario.
Keswick
Rutherford had strong ties to Georgina. In the 1950s, he and his brother-in-law ran a general and dry goods store in Keswick (northernmost municipality inside of York Region). Rutherford was also a senior member of the Sutton Royal Canadian Legion.
The Georgina Military Museum has an entire display case dedicated to Rutherford, which includes write-ups of his amazing deeds, photos as a young soldier, and a Victoria Cross replica. “Visitors are quite wowed that we have a local Victoria Cross winner,” says Sid. “Very few people are aware of that. We always make a point of pushing that one home.”
