So I haven't updated this all that recently. Last September we painted our appartment. Here's what it looks like now.....

So today I'm just doing my job, going through the work email account when I ran across this press release from yesterday.

I was reading these commendations of people who both understood what bravery was and what heroism really meant.

These individuals in most cases sacrificed their lives for both their brothers in arms as well as their country.

Reading some of these accounts I can't help but think about how pathetic our sense of nationalism and honour is in that most of these accounts would be considered 'barbaric' and would most likely be looked down upon by our 'liberal' society.

You only need to look at recent draft resolutions for the NDP national convention calling our troops 'war criminals' to see how far our support for our troops have slipped. I think it's significant on Red Friday (http://www.redfridays.ca/) that we remember our troops overseas who are fighting for the same reasons that we were in WWI and WWII. They're there first and foremost to protect their homeland, secondly they are standing up to tyranny. If we cannot celebrate these individuals who put their lives on the line on a daily basis we are not worthy of the heroism and the legacy of these VC awardees.

So read through these commendations and recognize what it truly means to be a Canadian.

------

Backgrounder

Victoria Cross (VC) Recipients

VC recipients from the Battle of Vimy Ridge

Captain Thain Wendell MacDowell, VC, DSO

Private William Johnstone Milne, VC*

Private John George Pattison, VC

Lance Sergeant Ellis Wellwood Sifton, VC

VC recipients who are commemorated on the Vimy Memorial (no known grave)

Lieutenant Robert Grierson Combe, VC

Sergeant Frederick Hobson, VC

Private William Johnstone Milne, VC*

Sergeant Robert Spall, VC

*Private Milne earned his VC during the battle and is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial.

Captain THAIN WENDELL MACDOWELL, VC, DSO

Died March 29, 1960.

Gravesite: Oakland Cemetery, Brockville, Ontario

Regiment:  Cameron Highlanders of Canada

Unit:  38th Battalion

Citation:

“For most conspicuous bravery and indomitable resolution in the face of heavy machine-gun and shell fire. By his initiative and courage this officer, with the assistance of two runners, was enabled, in the face of great difficulties, to capture two machine-guns, besides two officers and seventy-five men. Although wounded in the hand, he continued for five days to hold the position gained, in spite of heavy shell fire, until eventually relieved by his battalion. By his bravery and prompt action he undoubtedly succeeded in rounding up a very strong enemy machine-gun post.”

Private WILLIAM JOHNSTONE  MILNE, VC

Died April 9, 1917

Age:  24 

Regiment:  Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment) 

Unit:  16th Battalion 

Citation:

“For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in attack. On approaching the first objective, Pte. Milne observed an enemy machine gun firing on our advancing troops. Crawling on hands and knees, he succeeded in reaching the gun, killing the crew with bombs, and capturing the gun. On the line re-forming, he again located a machine gun in the support line, and stalking this second gun as he had done the first, he succeeded in putting the crew out of action and capturing the gun. His wonderful bravery and resource on these two occasions undoubtedly saved the lives of many of his comrades. Pte. Milne was killed shortly after capturing the second gun.” 

Private JOHN GEORGE PATTISON, VC

Died June 3, 1917

Gravesite: La Chaudière Military Cemetery, near Lens, France 

Age: 41

Regiment: Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment)

Unit: 50th Battalion

Citation:

“For most conspicuous bravery in attack. When the advance of our troops was held up by an enemy machine gun, which was inflicting severe casualties, Pte. Pattison, with utter disregard of his own safety, sprang forward and, jumping from shell-hole to shell-hole, reached cover within thirty yards of the enemy gun. From this point, in face of heavy fire, he hurled bombs, killing and wounding some of the crew, then rushed forward overcoming and bayoneting the surviving five gunners. His valour and initiative undoubtedly saved the situation and made possible the further advance to the objective.”

Lance Sergeant ELLIS WELLWOOD SIFTON, VC

Died April 9, 1917.

Gravesite: Lichfield Crater Cemetery near Neuville-Saint-Vaast, France

Age:  25

Regiment:  Canadian Infantry (Western Ontario Regiment)

Unit:  18th Battalion 

Citation:

“For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. During the attack in enemy trenches Sgt. Sifton's company was held up by machine gun fire which inflicted many casualties. Having located the gun he charged it single-handed, killing all the crew. A small enemy party advanced down the trench, but he succeeded keeping these off till our men had gained the position. In carrying out this gallant act he was killed, but his conspicuous valour undoubtedly saved many lives and contributed largely to the success of the operation.”

Lieutenant ROBERT GRIERSON  COMBE, VC

Died May 3, 1917.

Age:  37 

Regiment:  Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment) 

Unit:  27th Battalion (City of Winnipeg)

Citation:

“For most conspicuous bravery and example. He steadied his Company under intense fire and led them through the enemy barrage, reaching the objective with only five men. With great coolness and courage Lt. Combe proceeded to bomb the enemy, and inflicted heavy casualties. He collected small groups of men and succeeded in capturing the Company objective, together with eighty prisoners. He repeatedly charged the enemy, driving them before him, and whilst personally leading his bombers was killed by an enemy sniper. His conduct inspired all ranks, and it was entirely due to his magnificent courage that the position was carried, secured and held.”

Sergeant FREDERICK HOBSON, VC

Died August 18, 1917.

Age:  41 

Regiment:  Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment) 

Unit:  20th Battalion 

Citation:

“During a strong enemy counter-attack a Lewis gun in a forward post in a communication trench leading to the enemy lines, was buried by a shell, and the crew, with the exception of one man, was killed. Sgt. Hobson, though not a gunner, grasping the great importance of the post, rushed from his trench, dug out the gun, and got it into action against the enemy who were now advancing down the trench and across the open. A jam caused the gun to stop firing. Though wounded, he left the gunner to correct the stoppage, rushed forward at the advancing enemy and, with bayonet and clubbed rifle, single-handed, held them back until he himself was killed by a rifle shot. By this time however, the Lewis gun was again in action and reinforcements shortly afterwards arriving, the enemy were beaten off. The valour and devotion to duty displayed by this non-commissioned officer gave the gunner the time required to again get the gun into action, and saved a most serious situation.”

Sergeant ROBERT  SPALL, VC

Died August 13, 1918.

Age:  28

Regiment:  Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment) 

Citation:

“For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice when, during an enemy counter-attack, his platoon was isolated. There upon Sgt. Spall took a Lewis gun and, standing on the parapet, fired upon the advancing enemy, inflicting very severe casualties. He then came down the trench directing the men into a sap seventy-five yards from the enemy. Picking up another Lewis gun, this gallant N.C.O. again climbed the parapet, and by his fire held up the enemy. It was while holding up the enemy at this point that he was killed. Sgt. Spall deliberately gave his life in order to extricate his platoon from a most difficult situation, and it was owing to his bravery that the platoon was saved.”

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