Canada, the United States and nine other countries to receive bronze commemorative markers honouring their Victoria Cross men.

Last week was a busy week for those monitoring Victoria Cross events. The last blog brought you a little about the first Victoria Cross recipient, or better stated the first 3 firsts. It also gave some detail about the first ever presentation of the VC... back 157 years ago, on 26 June 1857 and noted that this site has brought you much information on these events over the past year and more.

Last Thursday was the date of another very significant event. But my daily searches with Google did not produce a single hit on the subject in the print media anywhere  in North America then, or on any day since. 

On Thursday the continuing memorials and reminders of the centenary of the start of the Great War were joined by a most significant event at London England's Lancaster House. Here HRH, the Duke of Kent was joined by Baroness Warsi, the Senior Minister of State at the Foreign Office. Also attending were descendants of Victoria Cross recipients, other dignitaries and most notably Two VC recipients.... Britain's Sgt Johnston Beharry (Iraq VC) and Australia's Cpl Mark Donaldson (Afghanistan VC.) There are only 9 of these heroes still alive out of about 1,360 recipients.

Thursday's ceremony was to unveil 11 bronze plaques containing the names of 175 men that came from 11 different countries and fought for the British Empire and earned the VC. Men who were not already being recognized by paving stones to be unveiled in the very communities in Ireland Britain and Scotland and noted in recent blogs in this space.

HRH Duke of Kent 3rd from right. On his right is Sgt Beharry, VC, Cpl. Mark Donaldson, VC, Baroness Warsi and other dignitaries

These 11 plaques are to be sent to the home countries with the names of their heroes inscribed. Canada will be getting one with 70 names on it. Australia will get one with  66 names, New Zealand 16, South Africa 14, India 6, USA 5, Pakistan 3, Nepal 2, Denmark 2, Belgium 1 and the Ukraine 1. While these and other countries had more, please remember that these plaques only cover the Great War not those before or after.

The British Government has produced a lot of material of this event and you can reference this material by going to url...   https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ww1-victoria-cross-recipients-from-overseas  Here can be found a  list of the recipients involved. All images in this blog are also courtesy of the British Government and more can be seen at    https://www.flickr.com/photos/foreignoffice

I will be trying to find out when this plaque will arrive in Canada, when it will be mounted and if there is to be an appropriate ceremony and bring you more on this as learned. In the mean time Here is a wonderful image of the Canadian plaque as unveiled last week.

Below is the plaque that will be going to the United States. It is apparently heading for Arlington, where the Unknown Soldier of the Great War is buried. On Nov. 11 1921 the British government presented the VC to the Unknown Soldier at Arlington. Dignitaries from several other countries also attended and presented their highest awards. As a past blog has noted, Canada's then serving PM Robert Borden, accompanied by two Canadian VC recipients, also attended. One of those VC men was then the oldest recipient still alive at the time.

It is further most worthy to note that while the four other WW l VC recipients from the US were awarded the medal, each served in a Canadian regiment at the time. Further, George Mullin is buried in Canada at Moosomin Saskatchewan and Raphel Zengel is buried at Rocky Mountain House in Alberta.

I would also like to note that beside  the unveiled US plaque was a wonderful image of Doctor Bellenden Hutchinson who earned his VC while serving with the 75th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces in WW l. This is the unit that later became known as the Toronto Scottish Regiment and one of three units I proudly served for many years from the ranks of Private to Warrant Officer before moving away from Toronto and enlisting with a 2nd, and still later a 3rd regiment and eventually retiring with the rank of Master Warrant Officer. 

Here is the Captain's image...

As soon as I hear more about these plaques I'll bring  news to these blogs. In the mean time why not contact the print media in your area of North American and ask why they are not repeatedly bringing you these stories.

Back on Friday

Bart