In an effort to make all Canadian Military Honours uniquely Canadian, the government assumed responsibility for the Victoria Cross, previously a British medal, in 1993. After much controversy, including efforts to do away with the VC altogether, (a move blocked by the Monarchist League and the Royal Canadain Legion) a Canadian version of the Victoria Cross was finally adopted and given Royal approval. On May 16, 2008 Governor General Michaëlle Jean and Prime Minister Stephen Harper unveiled the Canadian Victoria Cross at a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.
Pro Valore
The Canadian award is similar to the original in that it is a bronze cross patté suspended from a crimson ribbon. In the center is a lion atop a crown with the Latin words ‘Pro Valore’ (instead of the British ‘For Valour’) enscrolled beneath. The original Victoria Cross was crafted from the bronze of guns captured from the Russians during the Crimean War in 1858. In a move to keep with that tradition, the Canadian VC will also contain metal from those guns as well as metal from the 1867 Confederation Medals and metal from all regions of Canada. A myriad of engravers, engineers and government departments spent countless hours making the distinctive Victoria Cross Canada’s own. "It was important to us that we create a design that would honour tradition and that we produce the Canadian Victoria Cross right here in Canada," Ms. Jean said in a speech at Rideau Hall.
For Conspicuous Bravery
The Victoria Cross is awarded for "the most conspicuous bravery, a daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice or extreme devotion to duty, in the presence of the enemy." It is the highest award for bravery in the Commonwealth. To date 1,356 Victoria Crosses have been awarded including the British, Australian and New Zealand versions. To date no Canadian VCs have been awar4ded.
Some Canadian VC Firsts
- The first Canadian to receive the Victoria Cross was Alexander Roberts Dunn after his heroic deeds during the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava in 1854.
- The first Canadian Naval Victoria Cross, with a blue ribbon, was awarded to William Hall, serving with the Naval Brigade from HMS Shannon during the Indian Mutiny. Hall was, incidentally, also the first Black to receive a VC.
- The first Canadian Air Force VC was won by Captain William Bishop after an attack on a German airfield in 1917.
- The oldest Canadian to win a Victoria Cross was Captain Fred Peters RN, of Charlottetown, PEI who was 53 when he lost his ship attempting to force the boom defenses of Oran Harbour in 1942.
- Timothy O’Shea was awarded the only Victoria Cross to be earned in Canada.
- The youngest Canadian, and only Newfoundlander, to win the VC was 17 year old Thomas Ricketts who distinguished himself at Ledeghem, Belgium in 1918.
- The last Canadian VC was that of Robert Gray from Trail, BC who gave his life to sink a Japanese destroyer in August 1945.
- The last surviving Canadian VC recipient was Ernest ‘Smokey’ Smith who earned his Cross fighting Germans along the Savio River in Italy in 1944. He is probably also the only VC winner who had to be kept in jail the night before he received his award. Smokey died in August 2005 at the age of 91 and was accorded a full military funeral.
Official vs Actual
The number of Canadian Victoria Cross recipients varies depending on the criteria used. The ‘official’ count is 94 but this does not take into account the many valiant men who became Canadians after the fact and in many cases lived more years in Canada than elsewhere. Sergeant George Richardson was one of those forgotten VCs.
Bibliography
Arthur, Max. Symbol of Courage. London; Sidgwick & Jackson, 2004
Bishop, Arthur. Our Bravest and Our Best. Toronto; McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 1995
Swettenham, John (ed.). Valiant Men. Toronto; Canadian War Museum, 1973
Canwest News Service
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