Many months ago I started to bring you some stories on how the British Government were taking the opportunity of the 100th anniversary of WWl to commemorate the troops. They were to also highlight the heroism of those brave men who earned the Victoria Cross during that war. Blogs told of the public dismay when only certain recipients would be honoured while almost 150 recipients were to be falling through the cracks due to the selection process proposed. The pubic of course were up in arms and soon the government was forced to rethink the project. After all the hooplaw was sorted out a decision to make Paving Stones honouring all WW1 recipients was made. These would be unveiled within Britain on the 100th anniversary of the very day that resulted in each award... and in the communities they were born or raised in. Thirteen plaques were also made that listed multiple names from 13 countries around the world were recipients came from. Each country later received their plaques listing their country's recipients.
The late Lt. Colonel Phillip Bent, born at Halifax Nova Scotia was one of the originals to slip through the cracks, but later added to a plaque that was sent to Ottawa and unveiled by a Royal Family member last November. It was duly noted in this space.
It was a powerful group who advocated for Bent's inclusion in the program along with many others. Other groups joined the advocacy and when all was said and done, about 145 new names were added to this most honourable list of heroes.
The late Lt. Colonel Phillip Bent, born at Halifax Nova Scotia was one of the originals to slip through the cracks, but later added to a plaque that was sent to Ottawa and unveiled by a Royal Family member last November. It was duly noted in this space.
It was a powerful group who advocated for Bent's inclusion in the program along with many others. Other groups joined the advocacy and when all was said and done, about 145 new names were added to this most honourable list of heroes.
Philip Bent moved to England as a youth, served with the Navy as a cadet at first, then the Merchant Navy and final he joined the Army when war was declared. He rose throught the ranks very quickly and took temporary command of one of the Batallions of a Regiment near Polygon Wood in Belgium. When friendly foces to his right were pushed back, his quick action in rallying the troops and pushing forward resulted in keeping the enemy in check. But Bent, then an acting Lt. Colonel and only at the age of 26, was shot and killed leading the charge. For this he was awarded posthumously with the Victoria Cross. He had already been awarded a DSO.
His image appears above. His body was never recovered but his name was added to about 35,000 other's listed who's graves were never found. The Tyne Cot Memorial, shown above is in Belgium and very close to the farthest point into the country that the Allies advanced.
A few blogs ago I also told of the unveiling of 145 paving stones in Britain in one place... the National Memorial Arboretum at Staffordshire. Several of these stones honour Canadians... including Philp Bent.
His image appears above. His body was never recovered but his name was added to about 35,000 other's listed who's graves were never found. The Tyne Cot Memorial, shown above is in Belgium and very close to the farthest point into the country that the Allies advanced.
A few blogs ago I also told of the unveiling of 145 paving stones in Britain in one place... the National Memorial Arboretum at Staffordshire. Several of these stones honour Canadians... including Philp Bent.
Cecil Kinross, at left, was born in Britain and by age 16 moved with family to Alberta. Soon after he joined up with the army and it was during fighting at Passhendaele that this private stood up in broad daylight, and charged an enemy Machine Gun positon killing its 6 man crew and destroying their weapon. His fellow troopers were so pumped up they charged forward and captured another 300 yards of enemy territory. King George would pin the VC to his chest less than 6 months later at Buckingham Palace.
While the paving stone project called for an unveiling on the 100th anniversary of the deed, his paving stone, as shown at left, was unveiled by the Hillingdon Council in England last month.
Another Paving Stone unveiled last month in Britain was in honour of the Irishman Fred Hall who moved to Canada and lived on Pine Street. He and fellow recipients Robert Shankland and Leo Clarke all lived on Pine Street in Winnipeg... and within the same block. Probably the only such occurence in the entire VC world of recipients. Back in 1925 the street was renamed Valour Road in their honour.
While the paving stone project called for an unveiling on the 100th anniversary of the deed, his paving stone, as shown at left, was unveiled by the Hillingdon Council in England last month.
Another Paving Stone unveiled last month in Britain was in honour of the Irishman Fred Hall who moved to Canada and lived on Pine Street. He and fellow recipients Robert Shankland and Leo Clarke all lived on Pine Street in Winnipeg... and within the same block. Probably the only such occurence in the entire VC world of recipients. Back in 1925 the street was renamed Valour Road in their honour.
Hall, pictured above, moved to Canada at about the age of 25, and joined up with the Canadian Forces when the Great War started. It would be during the 2nd Battle in Ypres in 1915 that Hall, as a Sergeant Major crawled out twice to recover the wounded. The following morning in broad daylight he again went out to recover a wounded man under very heavy fire. He got to the fellow and raised him up to bring him to safety when both were shot and killed. He was later awarded a VC posthumously.
In late April of this year Mayor Councillor Geoff Pearl of St Helens was present at Victoria Square where he is shown above kneeling next to the Paving Stone unveiled in honour of Fred Hall.
In late April of this year Mayor Councillor Geoff Pearl of St Helens was present at Victoria Square where he is shown above kneeling next to the Paving Stone unveiled in honour of Fred Hall.
In late April a news announcement in England told how the Durham Light Infantry Museum and the Durham Art Gallery are holding a display... paving stones for several VC recipients that will be errected and unveiled in the future. One of these is honouring British born George McKean. After his parents died George came to Canada to visit with a brother. He was here when the war started and so he decided to join up with a Canadian unit and went off to war.
It would be near Vimy that Lt. McKean, shown at left above, on his own, captured an enemy trench, killed several of the enemy, leaped into another, killed 2 and captured four, and drove the rest into a dugout which he then destroyed. For this he was awarded with the VC, and by war's end would also have the MC and MM. It is expected that later this month County Durham will unveil the paving stone in his honour.
Yet another press release told of about 100 Canadian soldiers and others that gathered at London in mid April to conduct a ceremony in honour of WWl veterans of the Calgary Highlanders and the Canadian Scottish who fought at St. Julien and Kitchener's Woods. Attending the rememberance were several digintaries including the Royal Family member who is the Colonel in Chief of the Canadian Scottish, their honorary Colonel and also His Excellency Gordon Campbell, Canada's High Commissioner to Britain and a former BC Premiere. The toops were also to travel to some of the battlefields of both units in Europe, lay wreaths and conduct ceremonies honoring men like Colonel Cy Peck of the Canadian Scottish, Captain Hutcheson of the foreunner of the Toronto Sottish, (center picture) and William Metcalfe also of the Canadian Scottish. All three are VC recipients. The later two are two of the 6 Americans who earned the VC, four being in the CF and also earning their VC's in WWl.
It would be near Vimy that Lt. McKean, shown at left above, on his own, captured an enemy trench, killed several of the enemy, leaped into another, killed 2 and captured four, and drove the rest into a dugout which he then destroyed. For this he was awarded with the VC, and by war's end would also have the MC and MM. It is expected that later this month County Durham will unveil the paving stone in his honour.
Yet another press release told of about 100 Canadian soldiers and others that gathered at London in mid April to conduct a ceremony in honour of WWl veterans of the Calgary Highlanders and the Canadian Scottish who fought at St. Julien and Kitchener's Woods. Attending the rememberance were several digintaries including the Royal Family member who is the Colonel in Chief of the Canadian Scottish, their honorary Colonel and also His Excellency Gordon Campbell, Canada's High Commissioner to Britain and a former BC Premiere. The toops were also to travel to some of the battlefields of both units in Europe, lay wreaths and conduct ceremonies honoring men like Colonel Cy Peck of the Canadian Scottish, Captain Hutcheson of the foreunner of the Toronto Sottish, (center picture) and William Metcalfe also of the Canadian Scottish. All three are VC recipients. The later two are two of the 6 Americans who earned the VC, four being in the CF and also earning their VC's in WWl.
On a closing note, just yesterday a ten year project finally came to fruition at Edmonton Alberta.
The Victoria Cross Memorial Society unveiled their monument that lists and honours all Canadian Victoria Cross recpients by name, unit and conflict.
There is little on the net about this so far but watch for news re the event.
They note that their project is the first of its kind in Canada. But I beleive they are forgetting the great work done at Barrie Ontario that was unveiled back in October 2013, and covered in this space. Images of the later are at right, above.
Regardless, congratulations to all that assisted in getting this new monument created and unveiled. There is always room for more of these in Canada.
Cheers till next week,
Bart
The Victoria Cross Memorial Society unveiled their monument that lists and honours all Canadian Victoria Cross recpients by name, unit and conflict.
There is little on the net about this so far but watch for news re the event.
They note that their project is the first of its kind in Canada. But I beleive they are forgetting the great work done at Barrie Ontario that was unveiled back in October 2013, and covered in this space. Images of the later are at right, above.
Regardless, congratulations to all that assisted in getting this new monument created and unveiled. There is always room for more of these in Canada.
Cheers till next week,
Bart
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