Back on 11 February I brought you a story about the first of seven Americans who earned a Victoria Cross, the highest medal for bravery in any of the British Commonwealth Countries. That hero was Stoughton Massachusetts born William Sweeney who was awarded his Victoria Cross while an Ordinary Seaman with the British Navy serving at the Straights of Shimonoseki Japan back in 1864. The 4 March blog told about the 2nd American to be awarded a VC, Sergeant George Mullin from Portand Oregon who was rewarded for his bravery at Passchendaele on 3 October 1917. Just 5 weeks later in the same battle a third American would be awarded for bravery.
Mullins was a child of two yrs age, when he came to Canada with his family. Today's hero must have been an old man...at age six... when he came to Canada's village of Plunkett Saskatchewan from Fairibault Minnesota with his widowed mother in 1900. They made the journey northwest some 800 miles to the village of about 75 and took on homesteading.
Mullins was a child of two yrs age, when he came to Canada with his family. Today's hero must have been an old man...at age six... when he came to Canada's village of Plunkett Saskatchewan from Fairibault Minnesota with his widowed mother in 1900. They made the journey northwest some 800 miles to the village of about 75 and took on homesteading.
At some point our man Ray, who's full name was Raphael Louis Zengel. moved to the Virden area of Manitoba. When WW1 broke out he answered the call by enlisting with the 45th battalion in Jan of 1915. He no doubt got his basic training before having arrived at Halifax by train and then sailing the dangerous Atlantic to London. Later shipped off to France he would be transferred to the 5th Saskatchewan and soon was at the front of fighting in many of the dreaded battles of Europe.
After the war years Ray would have a special reason to celebrate November 11th. First... it was his birthday. Second, it was on that very day in 1917 that Ray Zengel performed so heroically in trench warfare at Passchendaele that he would later be awarded the Military Medal.
It was just about 3 weeks earlier that fellow American George Mullins, noted above, had earned his Victoria Cross... on the same battlefield.
After the war years Ray would have a special reason to celebrate November 11th. First... it was his birthday. Second, it was on that very day in 1917 that Ray Zengel performed so heroically in trench warfare at Passchendaele that he would later be awarded the Military Medal.
It was just about 3 weeks earlier that fellow American George Mullins, noted above, had earned his Victoria Cross... on the same battlefield.
The London Gazette dated on 13 March 1918 published a long list of soldiers who had been awarded the Military Medal.
The list is the most brief of announcements, giving no details whatsoever, of the deeds performed, but nevertheless listing Ray Zengel as being awarded his Military Medal. After going through quite a few pages, I found his announcement, as noted above, at page 3254. (bottom left) Six months later he would again appear in print in the London Gazette. This time it would take almost half a page of print.
The list is the most brief of announcements, giving no details whatsoever, of the deeds performed, but nevertheless listing Ray Zengel as being awarded his Military Medal. After going through quite a few pages, I found his announcement, as noted above, at page 3254. (bottom left) Six months later he would again appear in print in the London Gazette. This time it would take almost half a page of print.
Ray Zengel, now a Sergeant, was in charge of a platoon of men that were in the midst of the Allied advance about 100 miles north of Paris, France, and heading westerly some 40 miles east of Amiens, (At B and heading to A, in above map.)
The enemy machinegun fire was very heavy and had taken out many of the Allied troops to Ray's left. His own platoon was pinned down also under heavy fire. Ray had the men take cover and on his own initiative advanced some 200 yards into no man's land also still under very heavy fire and managed miraculously to take out the officer and soldier manning the most dagerous of machinguns and in the process dispersing the enemy troops that were left at the gun. This allowed his platoon to catch up and the advance continue forward.
But he again came under ferocious fire from another MG position and brought very effective fire down onto that position. He was soon knocked out by the concussion of an enemy shell, but regained conscienceness and still fought most actively in the continuing battle of the day.
Here is the London Gazette's announcement of Ray's being awarding of the Victoria Cross for these actions....
The enemy machinegun fire was very heavy and had taken out many of the Allied troops to Ray's left. His own platoon was pinned down also under heavy fire. Ray had the men take cover and on his own initiative advanced some 200 yards into no man's land also still under very heavy fire and managed miraculously to take out the officer and soldier manning the most dagerous of machinguns and in the process dispersing the enemy troops that were left at the gun. This allowed his platoon to catch up and the advance continue forward.
But he again came under ferocious fire from another MG position and brought very effective fire down onto that position. He was soon knocked out by the concussion of an enemy shell, but regained conscienceness and still fought most actively in the continuing battle of the day.
Here is the London Gazette's announcement of Ray's being awarding of the Victoria Cross for these actions....
After the Great War that was supposed to end all wars, Ray Zengel moved to the Calgary area and worked as a fireman for a time then relocated to the Rocky Mountain House area about 100 miles north west of Calgary Alberta where he worked a farm till WW11 started. He served in that war also, but now as a Sergeant major and Training officer at Suffield Alta, In the mid 1960's he got married and a few years later continued his jorney westward and settled at Parksville BC.
Over the years he would be honoured several times. The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 8 at Rocky Mountain House was named after him. Mount Zengel receiving its name in Jasper Park in 1957 and even a lake in N/E Saskatchewan was named the Zengel Lake. A great Granddaughter in the construction trade and co-builder of a 13 home cull-de-sac in Parksville would honor Ray by calling the road... "Zengel Way."
Over the years he would be honoured several times. The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 8 at Rocky Mountain House was named after him. Mount Zengel receiving its name in Jasper Park in 1957 and even a lake in N/E Saskatchewan was named the Zengel Lake. A great Granddaughter in the construction trade and co-builder of a 13 home cull-de-sac in Parksville would honor Ray by calling the road... "Zengel Way."
I'll leave this hero with the posting of his WW1 picture, a VC and a photo of him wearing his VC, (hard to see but it is on far left,) his MM and other medals shortly before his death in Febraury of 1977 at Parksville BC.
Bart
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