Canadian Medal of  

          Honor.com

  • Sunday evening's blogs
  • graves, memorials and medals
  • About the Author
  • contact the Author
  • Home

Remembering some more of our forgotten vets at Xmas Time

12/18/2016

0 Comments

 

Over the past four years I have brought you close to 400 stories about Canadian heroes and a handful associated with Canada. You've heard about some of them but most I suspect you have not.

In those stories I have not only told about the medal that was earned, when and for what, but I have brought you something else. For over 17 yrs I have  been looking for other information as well about these heroes... something about their lives, and whatever happened to them. Also of great interest is developments in later years, news about posthumous awards to the heroes, buildings and roads, armouries and monuments and new markers and the like. All matters of interest far and above the battlefield action that brought the medal in the first place.

Last week I reminded you of some "December" news about Toronto born Peter Lemon, Zorra Ontario born Benjamin Youngs, Nova Scotia born William Pelham, NB born John Grady, Quebec born Peter Russell and threw in some facts about three of the Queens Scarf men.  All but two of these heroes were Medal of Honor Recipients. Most being men I suspect you had never known about till you found this blog.

Today I want to leave you with some more "December Moments", if you will.

Moments and hours that also must be spent to remember and comfort and honour our men and women of today, who have doned the uniforms of the day, and are off on far away duties so that we can sit in peace in front of our Christmas trees and be with family and friends. And as we sit, in the comfort of our homes, many with a chair that sits empty in wait of their return, we pray that they return safe some day soon, and that they know we will always be thanking them for their service.

And before I give some more of these "December Thoughts," I want to note that I am taking a break from the blog for a few weeks... But as Arnie says... I'll be back. 

The next blog will be on January 8th. Please watch for it, as I hope it will have some VERY EXCITING NEWS.

But now for some homework! By using the search engine at upper right, you can explore many "December" stories on this site. They should keep you reading till I return early in the new year.

You can start with Bathurst New Brunswick born Hugh Ross, a birthday boy of 14 December.  So little is known about him but lots on the event that brought him, erroneously... the Medal of Honor.

Type in the 27th Maine, and you will find quite a few stories about the 3 month volunteer regiment. The Confederates were only a few miles from DC and most of the Union troops were steered of towards Pennsylvania to meet in a little event called Gettysburg, where upwards of 700 Canadians may have fought. Many died on that July day back in 1863 and to this day lay buried in graves in several areas of the battle.

The President offered every soldier that would extend their service days and head of to the battle, a Medal of Honor but most declined and went home.  But about 300 stayed to do battle. Turns out they were not needed, but nevertheless demanded the promised medal. Years later they got them... and so did the rest of the regiment that went home. 

About 50 years later the men were told to return them, even though the demand was illegal. Much has been mentioned in this site about the event.

Robert Coffey, 15 December born, and  another New Brunswick lad  went to the US with family when only 8 yrs old. When the Civil War started he would get caught up in the excitement, that no doubt lost its thrill after being involved in some 20 battles including Gettysburg, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Petersburg, Weldon. On his 50th birthday he would get a nice gift from the US President. It was a Medal of Honor. 

Antoine  Gaujot, who's deed was on the 19th, was an American born who lived for a time in Ontario with his bother and parents, and possibly a sister. His fascinating story includes the fact that he and brother Julian would both be awarded Medals of Honor. They would be one of about a dozen sets in the history of the medal to be so awarded, and the only set that each, would earn a medal in a different  war. The family story is quite bizarre and I encourage its reading on this site. A story that includes him being charged... and acquitted... of 2 murder charges and then becoming himself murdered  by his own brothers' son. Is a gotta read!

Robert Sweeney is one of the 21 Medal of Honor recipients who actually were awarded 2 medals. Most on the net say there were 19, but refuse to include 2 others oft mentioned in this space. One of the Sweeney medals was earned on 20 December. For considerable time he was thought  to have been from Montreal but it has been showed that he wasn't from Canada.

Yet another New Brunswick recipient was Stephen O'Neil, born on December 23rd. His 3 year enlistment ended up being 29 before he finally got out of the service. Some of the major notches on is belt came from Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Richmond, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania.

Nova Scotia born Joseph Noil, a 26 December life saving hero, needs no introduction in this space. Much has been written here about this black hero, who history had denied the fame a counterpart by the name on William Hall has received for many decades.

Charles MacGillivary, from PEI has also received much attention in this space in the past. He was a WWll hero for actions in the Battle of the Bulge. Becoming an amputee did not slow him down from decades of continued advocacy for veterans, his playing a  role in the establishment of the Medal of Honor Society as we know it today, and also the model of grave markers that lay beside the remains of thousands of MOH men across north America. He would also become one of only two non American born recipients to be voted in as President of the MOH society many years ago.

Like Charles, Daniel Campbell was also a PEI man, being born there on the 26th of December. As a sharpshooter with the US Marine Corp during the Spanish American War he would be one of the men protecting the 50 or more who were sent off to cut the communications cables that would later result in about 50 Medals of Honor. Several came to Canadians.. like Daniel.  The job was a suicide misioj calling for volunters and all being told to make up their wills the night before as none expected to return. All but a few did.

So there is your homework.. start reading, and hopefully enjoying,

cheers till early January, and PLEASE

Say a prayer for our men and women in uniform...

Bart

0 Comments

Remembering still more Canadian Medal of Honor Men.

12/11/2016

0 Comments

 
Last week's blog gave brief mention to Toronto born Peter Lemon, Zorra Ontario's Benjamin F Youngs, Nova Scotia's William Pelham  and New Brunswick's John Grady. All being Medal of Honor heroes with important December dates in their lives.

It was on 1 December back in 1956 that Quebec born Henry Peter Russell passed away. On the 11th of December, 120 years ago Peter was having a much better day as he enlisted in the United States Navy. He moved to the US with family when only about 2 yrs of age, took little schooling and then decided to sign up for a military life at sea. Soon he would find himself embroiled in the Spanish American War, and as a Landsman (recruit) on board the massive USS Marblehead'

In May 1889 the Marblehead and a twin vessel... the USS Nashville dispatched 4 work-boats on a mission to dredge up and cut heavy underwater cables that provided communication links between Cuba and Spain. 110 Medals of Honor would be awarded for the 110 day war, almost half coming from the cable cutting actions, noted often in this space. Henry Russell and several other Canadians earned their medals in this action.

Picture
The Marblehead is shown above all stripped down and ready to do battle. Below is the same vessel cleaned up after the war and shows one of the work-boats with some of the medaled men posing for a photo-op.
Picture
About 25 Medals of Honor would be awarded to crews of this ship and  the same number for her twin vessel. In these,  close to 50 percent went to men who were born in numerous countries other than the US.

In September 1898 the massive memorial to Champlain was unveiled at Quebec. The USS Marblehead was invited to attend on a tour and complied, complete with a march through the streets and front row seating for the unveiling. It's crew of MOH men would have been no doubt featured in the event. And this may well have been the only time in the entire history of the MOH that so many recipients, set foot on Canadian soil at the same time.

One of Russel's shipmates was Leonard Chadwick from Delaware, and also a recipient often mentioned in this space in the past.


Picture
Within months of Chadwick's leaving the navy after the SpanAmWar his career didn't go to the dogs, but it did to the mules. He got caught up in the massive movement of these critters to South Africa for use in the 2nd Boer War Hundreds of thousands would be killed while hauling for both sides. The enemy were so concerned with the size of the mules supply, coming from both Canada and the US, that they sent spies to the US to bomb some of the facilities.

Meanwhile, Chadwick decided to don a uniform again and while serving with the Roberts Horse would do battle in so many actions that his campaign medals had more clasps than most in the entire war. His bravery throughout saw several recommendations for the Victoria Cross, the awarding of the Distinguished Conduct Medal, several Mentions in Dispatches... and the Queen's Scarf, one of only 8 in the world knitted by the very hand of Queen Victoria. (Much also on this site about the scarf.)


The fellow on the right (above)  is Private Richard Rowland Thompson, 2nd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment. He too would be awarded the scarf.
Picture
Four of the 8 scarves made were to go to Sgt's of the 4 British regiments involved. The remaining 4 were to go to private soldiers. All recipients were to be awarded after a VOTE was taken to find the bravest of the bravest of the bravest of each outfit. The men selected were NOT to be selected by officers.

The four privates were to come from Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Shown about is Sergeant William ColClough who served  with the 2nd Devonshire Regiment. His 60" long, 9" wide scarf is shown above.

Picture
At some point someone has affixed the cap badge of the 2nd Devonshire to the scarf. Please also note the Queen's Royal Cypher hand stitched into one of the loops, with the usual.... VRI.  This was stitched into each one of the scarves.

While many in the military world knew of the 2 scarves coming home to North America, many possibly did not know that a third also came to Canada. The very one shown above. History detectives have yet to locate the Chadwick scarf, but all others are accounted for.

The latest chapter  on this front is possibly being written this  very day.

In Dallas Texas the above scarf is being auctioned off with a starting bid of $100,000 US... about 8 zillion today in Canadian dollars.

Sgt ColClough moved to Canada after the war and joined up with the 106th Winnipeg Light Infantry. He so served in WWl with the unit and returned home to later command it.

After his death the scarf passed through the family, and later was on display in a museum. Still later it found its way to being  offered for sale today in Texas. I just learned minutes ago that it did not sell and will come up again on the 26th. And they have put the bid up to $125,000.

Tomorrow is this blog's birthday. Four years old, and almost 400 stories strong.

Here's a hint.. I would love a scarf!

cheers all,
Bart

0 Comments

The important contributions of foreign born members in the US military recently acknowledged!

12/6/2016

0 Comments

 
It was back in the Fall of 2012 when "Flo" Florent saw a suicide bomber coming towards his troops in Afghanistan. Attacking the men the bomb went off and severally injured the Captain and killed several others. Three years later he would be standing at Attention as President Obama draped the Medal of Honor around his neck, as shown below.  But Flo was not from the  US. He came to America from near Paris France as a youth, would later become a naturalized citizen, join the forces and later become one of over 700 others who, being Non-American born, would reach a major milestone in their military career ...as Medal of Honor men. (That's one in five non-American born heroes earning the medal over its entire history dating back to Civil War days.)

Just a few weeks ago Flo would get another incredible recognition. He would be awarded the Outstanding Citizen by Choice Award.  Mr Eric Fanning, the US Army's Secretary attended and while praising the Captain's heroism also ..."Hailed the diversity in the room" and noted that the foreign born members were..."critical to America's strength."

Back in 2009 another Medal of Honor recipient also got the same award by the President. Hopefully you recognize his picture from past blogs. Shown below as well, this is Sergeant Peter Lemon, Toronto born, and a recipient for heroism in Vietnam.
Picture
There are a few other news articles of note that I want to tell you about tonight. But first an honourable mention at this time of year to three recipients, all from Canada.  The story of each has been told in this space in the past.

The first, Benjamin F Youngs was born at Zorra Ontario and fought with a sharpshooter regiment for the Union back in 1864 when he captured an enemy flag. His award was announced in a General Order dated on 5 December... 152 years ago. 

Picture
This is Benjamin's actual Medal of Honor, and presentation box. He was issued 2, a second being a later model, but of course could only wear one at a time and he is not considered what many call... a double recipient. History claims there were 19 double recipients, but history likes to conveniently forget two others, as noted often in this space. And as you shell see in this space very soon,  there was almost  another double recipient. Benjamin is shown above in his later years.

Navy man William Pelham from Halifax Nova Scotia earned his Medal of Honor  in 1864 at the Battle of Mobile Bay. When his ship's cannon blew up and killed many, he helped get some of the wounded below deck and then returned to continue the fight on another gun. He was born on 8 December back in 1847.

Picture
Here you see the reverse of his actual medal. He is shown wearing the medal ... in the center of two other medals. Actually they are badges of membership and attendance at function of the Grand Army of the Republic which started up for the veterans a few years after the CW ended. A very close look at the lapel pin looks like yet a miniature Medal of Honor, but is actually also a GAR membership pin and not a medal for heroism.

On 4 December back in 1915, New Brunswick born John Grady, a naval Lieutenant, would be awarded a Medal of Honor for his bravery about  1 1/2 yrs earlier at Vera Cruz.  Going ashore with landing parties, he constantly exposed himself to enemy fire as he led... not a naval unit... but a regiment of Artillery into battle.

Picture
John would end up as a naval captain, would earn the Navy Cross during WWl and would become the highest ranking Canadian naval officer to be awarded the MOH.

There are many numbers of Canadians listed on the net as being Medal of Honor recipients and holding the rank of a general. My list is believed to be the most extensive and has 8 men so listed. 

Others duties are screaming at me for attention, so I have to leave it off with the above. But On Sunday I want to bring you some very interesting news, touching on Canadians and the Spanish American War where 110 medals were awarded. almost 50 % of which also went to Non American born heroes.

See you on Sunday.


0 Comments

Juggling acts are resulting in the blog being put off till Tuesday night.. sorry folks..

12/4/2016

0 Comments

 
0 Comments

    Author;
    Bart Armstrong, C.D.,
    Recipient, Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers 

    Archives

    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly