Several mentions in this space have told of the plaque coming to the United States to honor the five US WW l recipients of the Victoria Cross. There is still no news about when it will arrive from England and when it will be unveiled at Arlington National Cemetery or details of any expected ceremony. One of the recipients is the unknown soldier of the Great War. The remaining 4 came north to Canada and served with Canadian Forces when they earned their medals, I have now been able to reach all four regiments the men served under and briefed them of the event. Hopefully they can send a rep to participate. I have also tipped off the Canadian Embassy at DC about the event. As more details become available I will bring more to this space. The above image is of the very plaque en-route to the US and lists the names of these heroes. It is believed that the regiments and the embassy all first heard of this event through contact from this blog.
On another matter, a few days ago I came across a most interesting Medal of Honor link whilst searching related matters. The internet link told the story, like many over past two months, about the bravery back in November of 2010 of US Marine hero Kyle Carpenter. He was serving in Afghanistan as a Corporal and was on the roof of a building when his unit came under heavy fire. A grenade landed between him and one other marine and immediate action was required. All the rest of the men were too far away and so Kyle dived on top of the grenade, saved his comrade.and myraculously was not killed. Wounded from head to foot, flap jacket destroyed, other metal gear melted, helmet riffled with shrapnel, yet Kyle still lived. He'd be in a comma for several weeks and would have to undergo over 40 operations over next few years.
Google his name to see the full story. And check out the video talking about his heroism, his receiving the Medal of Honor in June of this year at the White House and the process recipients go through once selected to receive this highest of highest of awards for bravery. It is a great video and is at... www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2014/09/15/heres-what-medal-honor-presentation-white-house-looks
June of course also marked the D Day anniversary and many a website tell the stories of the Allies, including the Canadians and Americans who landed at the various beaches that June day. The Canadians landed at Juno and not far away at Utah and Omaha Beaches the Americans landed. And one of the later Yanks was a soldier who just a few years earlier took out his American citizenship, and was a former Canadian from PEI. His name was Charles MacGillivary and hopefully you have read some of his many mentions in this space.
On another matter, a few days ago I came across a most interesting Medal of Honor link whilst searching related matters. The internet link told the story, like many over past two months, about the bravery back in November of 2010 of US Marine hero Kyle Carpenter. He was serving in Afghanistan as a Corporal and was on the roof of a building when his unit came under heavy fire. A grenade landed between him and one other marine and immediate action was required. All the rest of the men were too far away and so Kyle dived on top of the grenade, saved his comrade.and myraculously was not killed. Wounded from head to foot, flap jacket destroyed, other metal gear melted, helmet riffled with shrapnel, yet Kyle still lived. He'd be in a comma for several weeks and would have to undergo over 40 operations over next few years.
Google his name to see the full story. And check out the video talking about his heroism, his receiving the Medal of Honor in June of this year at the White House and the process recipients go through once selected to receive this highest of highest of awards for bravery. It is a great video and is at... www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2014/09/15/heres-what-medal-honor-presentation-white-house-looks
June of course also marked the D Day anniversary and many a website tell the stories of the Allies, including the Canadians and Americans who landed at the various beaches that June day. The Canadians landed at Juno and not far away at Utah and Omaha Beaches the Americans landed. And one of the later Yanks was a soldier who just a few years earlier took out his American citizenship, and was a former Canadian from PEI. His name was Charles MacGillivary and hopefully you have read some of his many mentions in this space.
Charles lost his arm while taking out several enemy machine gun nests during the Battle of the Bulge and later was awarded the Medal of Honor. He is shown in the image with Jack Kennedy who at the time was running for the US Congress. They are at Boston's Fenway Park during the World Series of 1946. It was game 3, where the Red Sox lost to the Cardinals who later took the World Series. Mac is being presented the game ball in the picture. Most may not realize, when recalling Mac's heroism that he also earned several other bravery awards... including the Distinguished Service Cross, for his actions when he landed at Omaha Beech on June 6 1944. The five beaches are also shown above.
And finally, I have this wonderful picture to share, which just arrived in my email this week.
And finally, I have this wonderful picture to share, which just arrived in my email this week.
The picture of these 3 siblings was taken in November of 1890. The fellow on the right is about five years old. The young girl at the left is 9 and the girl in the centre about 7. Look carefully at the poles and you ought to be able to see a net on the ends. The three were probably off on a holiday and either posing...or actually off to do some fishing, possibly in the area of Canterbury or maybe Herne Bay, some 8 miles to the north and both about 60 miles to the east of London England.
A granddaughter of the girl on the left told me today that the girl's father gathered up the family and moved from England to the Yukon where the father practiced as a doctor. They first lived in a tent and then moved into a family built log cabin. He doctored to the gold rush men and built another log cabin... it was apparently the first hospital in the area. One of the above girls used to head out to dances...on her own dog sled. The doctor was said to be the first white man to have passed through the Chilkoot Pass.
A granddaughter of the girl on the left told me today that the girl's father gathered up the family and moved from England to the Yukon where the father practiced as a doctor. They first lived in a tent and then moved into a family built log cabin. He doctored to the gold rush men and built another log cabin... it was apparently the first hospital in the area. One of the above girls used to head out to dances...on her own dog sled. The doctor was said to be the first white man to have passed through the Chilkoot Pass.
Prior to coming to Canada, the family lived in London. The map above shows where the photographer was based who took the image of the three children. He had offices at Herne Bay and Canterbury, the later being marked with the red marker above.
Hopefully you will by now recognize the image to the right. It is the little boy with the two girls, but now a grown man..and recipient of the Victoria Cross. It is Rowland Bourke covered often in this space. And his sister is Winifred, to the left in the above image and beside her, at the centre, is Mae. The image has been supplied most kindly by the granddaughter Judith and her son Jason Jones of Victoria BC.
See you next week,
Bart
Hopefully you will by now recognize the image to the right. It is the little boy with the two girls, but now a grown man..and recipient of the Victoria Cross. It is Rowland Bourke covered often in this space. And his sister is Winifred, to the left in the above image and beside her, at the centre, is Mae. The image has been supplied most kindly by the granddaughter Judith and her son Jason Jones of Victoria BC.
See you next week,
Bart
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