In the US, as regular readers of this space know, the same scenario took place. Starting back in Civil War days, throughout the Medal of Honor's history well over 700 went to non-American born heroes. That's one in every five folks. Hundreds of stories here have told you about most of the Canadian individuals. Today's is yet another!
On 20 June the British Press told the world how it is continuing to honour the foreign born WW1 Victoria Cross recipients.
In order to gain some details I used three different search phrases, and "Google News." From the first 120 hits that came up, only 9 were on topic. And from these ONLY ONE WAS A CANADIAN STORY about the subject I will bring you today.
ONLY ONE in all of Canada, that came up on the search, despite the fact that in less than 24 hrs, it is a week old.
I have been bringing you the same message in this space for over 3 years. That message is that we seem to have have forgotten the catch line... "Lest We forget!" I thought it was supposed to be a daily message... not just a preamble to yet another long weekend!
On 20 June the British Press told the world how it is continuing to honour the foreign born WW1 Victoria Cross recipients.
In order to gain some details I used three different search phrases, and "Google News." From the first 120 hits that came up, only 9 were on topic. And from these ONLY ONE WAS A CANADIAN STORY about the subject I will bring you today.
ONLY ONE in all of Canada, that came up on the search, despite the fact that in less than 24 hrs, it is a week old.
I have been bringing you the same message in this space for over 3 years. That message is that we seem to have have forgotten the catch line... "Lest We forget!" I thought it was supposed to be a daily message... not just a preamble to yet another long weekend!
Today's story actually began back in 2012. Covered in earlier blogs here, I noted that the British government planned on honouring the Victoria Cross recipients born and buried in England that earned the medals for bravery in the Great War. The plan called for the unveiling of a marker like that shown above, center for the hero with his name and date of action. The marker would be unveiled in the town or city he came from or another location chosen by local officials, and unveiled on the 100th anniversary of the battle.
Above is Fred Hall, one of the 3 famous heroes from Winnipeg's Valour Road. Search this site to find the story of the Mayor's unveiling.
Sounded great at first but then the officials discovered the restrictive parameters would result in "a few" not being also honoured. Those few grew to at least 175.
Then came plan B, if you will!
Above is Fred Hall, one of the 3 famous heroes from Winnipeg's Valour Road. Search this site to find the story of the Mayor's unveiling.
Sounded great at first but then the officials discovered the restrictive parameters would result in "a few" not being also honoured. Those few grew to at least 175.
Then came plan B, if you will!
This plan called for the creation of plaques for 11 countries where the forgotten came from. The names missed in plan A would go onto the plaques and each would be sent off to the individual countries. Shown here are the American (left) and Canadian plaques now mounted at Arlington and Ottawa and also noted in past blogs.
So the most recent news is the unveiling, if you will, of the third phase, a digital collection of the foreign born VC recipients stories, complete with details of the action involved, the citation, a brief bio and 3 minute film clip.
So the most recent news is the unveiling, if you will, of the third phase, a digital collection of the foreign born VC recipients stories, complete with details of the action involved, the citation, a brief bio and 3 minute film clip.
To see this clip just google... "Victoria Cross Overseas".
Near the beginning of the clip the narrator tells of the Canadians arriving overseas and show several images. This one, while not identified, seems to show my old regiment... The Toronto Scottish.
By using the above search you will arrive at the site of the digital archive. From there you will be given some details of the program. From there you can also use a search tool to look up any one of the 175 claimed names. But when you go to the individual listing of countries, my addition tells me they have listed 186 names. Within these you will see 4 of the 5 US and two other heroes listed twice. They are listed by birth country and then again by country they served with.. in this case being Canada. Take away the doubles and and the Unknown, and you still end up with 179. Yet they claim 175. Hmmm!
By using the above search you will arrive at the site of the digital archive. From there you will be given some details of the program. From there you can also use a search tool to look up any one of the 175 claimed names. But when you go to the individual listing of countries, my addition tells me they have listed 186 names. Within these you will see 4 of the 5 US and two other heroes listed twice. They are listed by birth country and then again by country they served with.. in this case being Canada. Take away the doubles and and the Unknown, and you still end up with 179. Yet they claim 175. Hmmm!
By clicking on any of the above names you will get the details about that hero. Each has been written about in past blogs. As has the story of the US Unknown Soldier's ceremony back in 1921. Dignitaries from several countries attended. Canadian PM Borden attended with 2 Canadian VC men, one being 89 and the oldest of all VC recipients in the world at that time.
Note Hutcheson's name starting the above list of American born men. He is also listed on the Canadian list at the new site. Here is his entry.
Note Hutcheson's name starting the above list of American born men. He is also listed on the Canadian list at the new site. Here is his entry.
The site has a Canadian listing of 70 heroes, and is longer than all the other countries.
When the British Government changed its original plan and expanded it as above noted, it also commented on public demands for more. They didn't want the memorials stopped there and called for all VC recipients being included.
Regardless of what war, where born, died or buried. Statements a few years ago indicated that this too was coming so we must watch for this.
But with media coverage like that noted above, finding the news may be more difficult than need be.
Hope to be with you again next week,
Bart
When the British Government changed its original plan and expanded it as above noted, it also commented on public demands for more. They didn't want the memorials stopped there and called for all VC recipients being included.
Regardless of what war, where born, died or buried. Statements a few years ago indicated that this too was coming so we must watch for this.
But with media coverage like that noted above, finding the news may be more difficult than need be.
Hope to be with you again next week,
Bart
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