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Chapter Three
Ordinary Men, Extraordinary Courage: Our Victoria Cross Recipients
Leaf through this chapter. Look at the faces. Some are grown men. Some look like kids. British Columbia regiments and British Columbia men were put in some very hot spots during the war. They did their best and many died trying. At least sixteen Victoria Crosses can be linked in one way or another to our province. The recipients served in the infantry, as stretcher bearers, in the Royal Navy Reserve, in cavalry units, as pipers, and in the regiments of other Allied countries.
They earned their honours at sea, on the Western Front, and in Mesopotamia. Some were killed in action. Others lived to tell their grandchildren about events half a world away. Some went on to distinguished careers after the war. At least one ended up broke on skid row.
They came back to the cities and small towns of Western Canada and their acts of valour were often forgotten. But after all they’d been through, some even served again in World War II.
Here are the remarkable sixteen.
Contents
Holding Back the Enemy at Ypres: Captain Edward Bellew, 7th Battalion (BC Regiment)
Determined to Do His Part: Rowland Bourke, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
The Last Great Cavalry Charge: Lieutenant Gordon Flowerdew, Lord Strathcona’s Horse
Capturing Hill 70: Sergeant Major Robert Hanna, 29th Battalion(Tobin’s Tigers)
He Chose War over Homesteading: Private John Chipman “Chip” Kerr, 49th Batallion (Edmonton Regiment)
Fighting for a Country That Interned His Countrymen: Corporal Filip Konowal, 47th Battalion (Westminster Regiment)
Courage at Canal du Nord: Lieutenant Graham Tomson Lyall, 102nd Battalion
Canada’s Most Decorated Soldier: Lieutenant-Colonel John MacGregor, 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles
“Mickey”: Private Michael O’Rourke, 7th Battalion (BC Regiment)
A Career Soldier: Major General George Pearkes, 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles
He Feared Nothing: Lieutenant-Colonel Cyrus Peck, 16th Battalion
Hero of Arras: Private Walter Rayfield, 7th Battalion (BC Regiment)
A Storm of Lead: Piper James Cleland Richardson, 16th Infantry Battalion
A Splendid Example and Inspiration: Captain Robert Shankland, 43rd Battalion
A Distinguished Career: John Alexander Sinton, Indian Medical Service, Indian Army, VC, FRS, OBE
Died in the Line of Duty as a Vancouver Policeman: Lance Corporal Robert McBeath
Sidebar: From Our Listeners
Holding Back the Enemy at Ypres: Captain Edward Bellew, 7th Battalion (BC Regiment)
Captain Edward Bellew was born on the high seas in 1882, according to his attestation papers. He attended the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, served with the Royal Irish Regiment around the turn of the century and then emigrated to Canada in 1903 to work with the Department of Public Works as a civil engineer. When war broke out in 1914, he was already an experienced military man. Like many other British nationals, Bellew was among the first to sign up in September 1914 and joined the 7th Battalion (BC Regiment).
Most men thought the war would be over quickly and Bellew confidently left his wife behind in North Vancouver while he went overseas to mop things up. He was thirty-one, over six feet tall and in fine fighting form. By April 1915, he was in the thick of the action at Ypres. His machine-gun post came under overwhelming attack and his sergeant was killed. Bellew was wounded but fought on until his ammunition ran out and he was captured. He spent the rest of the war as a prisoner.
The Canadians were hit with gas at Ypres and Bellew’s medical records show he had gas poisoning. In 1917 he was moved to internment in Switzerland. He was finally released in December 1918. In 1919, his valour at Ypres was recognized with the awarding of the Victoria Cross. Bellew returned to Canada where he continued to work in surveying and construction. He retired to Monte Creek near Kamloops where he spent his last years, living on until 1961. Heroism ran in the family. A second cousin from Scotland also won the VC.
Citation: For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty near Keerselaere on 24th April, 1915, during the German attack on the Ypres salient. Capt. (then Lieut.) Bellew, as Battalion Machine Gun Officer, had two guns in action on the high ground overlooking Keerselaere. The enemy’s attack broke in full force on the morning of the 24th against the front and right flank of the Battalion— the latter being exposed owing to a gap in the line. The right Company was soon put out of action, but the advance was temporarily stayed by Capt. Bellew, who had sited his guns on the left of the right Company. Reinforcements were sent forward but they in turn were surrounded and destroyed. With the enemy in strength less than 100 yards from him, with no further assistance in sight, and with his rear threatened, Capt. Bellew and Serjt. Peerless, each operating a gun, decided to stay where they were and fight it out. Serjt. Peerless was killed and Capt. Bellew was wounded and fell. Nevertheless, he got up and maintained his fire till ammunition failed and the enemy rushed the position. Capt. Bellew then seized a rifle, smashed his machine gun, and fighting to the last, was taken prisoner.
—London Gazette, no. 31340, May 15, 191
Determined to Do His Part: Rowland Bourke, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
This mild-mannered Kootenay fruit farmer was rejected by all three arms of service because of his eyesight, but Rowland Bourke persisted until he found a place in Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve working on motor launches. His Victoria Cross came in 1918 when he worked tirelessly to rescue men from ships sunk in a blockade effort in Belgium (for the whole story, see Chapter 4).
Citation: Volunteered for rescue work in command of Motor Launch 276, and followed Vindictive into Ostend, engaging the enemy’s machine guns on both piers with Lewis guns. After ML 254 had backed out, Lieut. Bourke laid his vessel alongside Vindictive to make further search. Finding no one, he withdrew, but hearing cries in the water, he again entered the harbour, and after a prolonged search, eventually found Lieutenant Sir John Alleyne, and two ratings, all badly wounded, and in the water, clinging to an upended skiff, and he rescued them. During all this time the motor launch was under very heavy fire at close range, being hit in fifty-five places, once by a 6 in. shell—two of her small crew being killed and others wounded. The vessel was seriously damaged and speed greatly reduced. Lieut. Bourke, however, managed to bring her out and carry on until he fell in with a Monitor, which took him in tow. This episode displayed daring and skill of a very high order, and Lieut. Bourke’s bravery and perseverance undoubtedly saved the lives of Lieut. Alleyne and two of the Vindictive’s Crew.
The Last Great Cavalry Charge: Lieutenant Gordon Flowerdew, Lord Strathcona’s Horse
Gordon Flowerdew once confided to a friend that the bar was so high for winning the Victoria Cross that it would probably cost the recipient his life. That proved to be the case when Flowerdew led one of the few cavalry charges of the war at Moreuil Wood in 1918. He was killed in action and awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously (for more on Flowerdew and his roots in Walhachin, see Chapter 7).
Citation: For most conspicuous bravery and dash when in command of a squadron detailed for special service of a very important nature. On reaching the first objective, Lieutenant Flowerdew saw two lines of the enemy, each about sixty strong, with machine guns in the centre and flanks, one line being about two hundred yards behind the other. Realising the critical nature of the operation and how much depended upon it, Lieutenant Flowerdew ordered a troop under Lieutenant Harvey, VC, to dismount and carry out a special movement while he led the remaining three troops to the charge. The squadron (less one troop) passed over both lines, killing many of the enemy with the sword; and wheeling about galloped at them again. Although the squadron had then lost about 70 per cent of its numbers, killed and wounded, from rifle and machine-gun fire directed on it from the front and both flanks, the enemy broke and retired. The survivors of the squadron then established themselves in a position where they were joined, after much hand-to-hand fighting, by Lieutenant Harvey’s party. Lieutenant Flowerdew was dangerously wounded through both thighs during the operation, but continued to cheer on his men. There can be no doubt that this officer’s great valour was the prime factor in the capture of the position.
—London Gazette, no. 30648, April 24, 1918
Capturing Hill 70: Sergeant Major Robert Hanna, 29th Battalion (Tobin’s Tigers)
Robert Hanna’s tight-lipped grin stands out among the band of brothers that grace the mural on Vancouver’s Beatty Street. He was one of the lucky Victoria Cross recipients to live a long life, passing on in Mount Lehman in 1967. Hanna was an Irishman, born in County Down. He came out to Canada in the early 1900s and was nearly thirty when he joined up in November 1914 at Vancouver. He listed his trade as lumberman. Hanna caught the German measles in 1916. But there are no indications he suffered any other injuries. He earned his Victoria Cross at Hill 70 in August 1917 by capturing a fortified machine-gun post that had repelled several other attacks with heavy casualties. Hanna led the team of men who finally took the position and used his bayonet to kill three of the enemy. It was a bloody affair under desperate circumstances. But persisting after seeing other men mowed down must have taken courage.
Citation: For most conspicuous bravery in attack, when his company met with most severe enemy resistance and all the company officers became casualties. A strong point, heavily protected by wire and held by a machine gun, had beaten off three assaults of the company with heavy casualties. This Warrant Officer under heavy machine gun and rifle fire, coolly collected a party of men, and leading them against this strong point, rushed through the wire and personally bayoneted three of the enemy and brained the fourth, capturing the position and silencing the machine gun.
This most courageous action, displayed courage and personal bravery of the highest order at this most critical moment of the attack, was responsible for the capture of a most important tactical point, and but for his daring action and determined handling of a desperate situation the attack would not have succeeded.
C.S./M. Hanna’s outstanding gallantry, personal courage and determined leading of hiscompany is deserving of the highest possible reward.
—London Gazette, no. 30372, November 8, 1917
He Chose War over Homesteading: Private John Chipman “Chip” Kerr, 49th Batallion (Edmonton Regiment)
Told with help from grandsons Ian and Graham Kerr
John Chipman Kerr was a lot like other young Canadians who signed up in the early years of the war. He was toughened by his experiences in the bush of Western Canada and he was ready for something more exciting. Born in Nova Scotia, Kerr came to British Columbia to work as a lumberjack in the Kootenays. Then he and his brother Roland decided to give homesteading a try and found a place in Spirit River, Alberta. They stuck to it for a while, but by September 1915 they had had enough. As the story goes, they closed up the cabin and headed for Edmonton to enlist, leaving only a terse message on the cabin door: War is Hell, but what is homesteading?
That sums up pretty well the motivation of a lot of young Canadians. Farming or working in a bank was tedious compared to the glamour of London or Paris and deeds of valour at the front. The farming brothers were soon in the thick of battle, serving with the 49th Edmonton Battalion.
Chip Kerr’s moment of glory would come at Courcelette in September 1916, where the British first introduced tanks into battle. Kerr was twenty-nine years old and spoiling for a fight. He got his wish. The citation for his Victoria Cross captures the action well.
Citation: For most conspicuous bravery. During a bombing attack he was acting as bayonet man, and, knowing that bombs were running short, he ran along the parados under heavy fire until he was in close contact with the enemy, when he opened fire on them at point-blank range, and inflicted heavy loss. The enemy, thinking they were surrounded, surrendered. Sixty-two prisoners were taken and 250 yards of enemy trench captured. Before carrying out this very plucky act one of Private Kerr’s fingers had been blown off by a bomb. Later, with two other men, he escorted back the prisoners under fire, and then returned to report himself for duty before having his wound dressed.
—London Gazette, no. 29802, October 26, 1916
The German trenches that Kerr was ordered to take were heavily fortified. The new tanks added to the general confusion. The British and Canadians had the advantage. But 250 yards of trench proved to be more resistant. It fell upon Chip Kerr and his men to take that stretch. They jumped in and started working their way along it until they encountered a sentry who threw a grenade. Kerr put up his hand to protect his face and the explosion took off his finger. Then both sides started bombing each other and it became difficult to see a way forward. At that point, Kerr jumped out of the trench and made his way along the top of the back wall—the parados. According to some accounts, his rifle jammed so he took the rifle of his second bayonet man and kept firing. Finally, deciding that all was lost, the enemy soldiers surrendered and Kerr was able to get some treatment for his damaged hand.
“Chip lost a part of his little finger on his left hand in the attack,” grandson Graham told us. “It didn’t seem to slow him up much.”
Kerr received British Columbia’s third Victoria Cross in the war. And Kerr, just a regular guy, was a national hero. His portrait was painted by A.Y. Jackson, his face appeared on cigarette cards, and he earned a lifetime annuity along with his decoration. Chip survived the war but his brother Roland wasn’t as lucky. He was killed in 1917 at Passchendaele.
John Chipman Kerr returned to his homestead and raised a family. He never did enjoy farming much and worked in the oil fields and as a forest ranger. His cabin still stands in Spirit River. A mountain in the Rockies was named after him. And during World War II, he re-enlisted, returning to British Columbia where he worked as a service policeman. He told the family at one point he had spotted a Japanese sub lading water in a remote inlet. Paddling out in a small boat to drive the sub away, he was surprised when the Japanese crew invited him on board and served him a meal. According to Chip, they let him return to shore, confident that he was not a threat.
After the war, he retired to Port Moody, BC. On February 19, 1963, he died at age seventy-six and was buried in Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver.
Fighting for a Country That Interned His Countrymen: Corporal Filip Konowal, 47th Battalion (Westminster Regiment)
BC was not a friendly place for Ukrainian Canadians in 1914. They were considered enemy aliens, citizens of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, even though their natural allegiance did not lie there. Many were interned in camps across the province, and even in the camps they were second-class citizens, forced to do heavy labour building roads and breaking rock. So the fact that Filip Konowal served and served with such distinction is an incredible story. There is a plaque dedicated to his accomplishments outside the drill hall in New Westminster, the home of the regiment he served in. As it says, he was personally awarded the Victoria Cross by King George V in London for valour at Hill 70 in 1917. He killed at least sixteen of the enemy in the assault. He was severely wounded but went on to fight with the Siberian Canadian Expeditionary Force when the war was over. He died in Ottawa in 1959. We’ll tell more of Konowal’s story in Chapter 14.
Citation: For most conspicuous bravery and leadership when in charge of a section in attack. His section had the difficult task of mopping up cellars, craters and machine-gun emplacements. Under his able direction all resistance was overcome successfully, and heavy casualties inflicted on the enemy. In one cellar he himself bayonetted three enemy and attacked single-handed seven others in a crater, killing them all.
On reaching the objective, a machine-gun was holding up the right flank, causing many casualties. Cpl. Konowal rushed forward and entered the emplacement, killed the crew, and brought the gun back to our lines.
The next day he again attacked single-handed another machine-gun emplacement, killed three of the crew, and destroyed the gun and emplacement with explosives.
This non-commissioned officer alone killed at least sixteen of the enemy, and during the two days’ actual fighting carried on continuously his good work until severely wounded.
—London Gazette, no. 30400, November 26, 1917
Courage at Canal du Nord: Lieutenant Graham Tomson Lyall, 102nd Battalion
Lieutenant Graham Lyall was born in Manchester and moved to Ontario but signed up in 1914 when the war broke out and ended up with the 102nd Battalion, a northern BC unit. His Victoria Cross came at Canal du Nord in 1918 when he overran a heavily defended position and captured dozens of prisoners. He returned to England in 1919 and eventually served again in World War II, rising to the rank of colonel. In 1941, he died of a heart attack in Egypt, where he is buried.
Citation: For most conspicuous bravery and skilful leading during the operations north of Cambrai.
On September 27th, 1918, whilst leading his platoon against Bourlon Wood, he rendered invaluable support to the leading company, which was held up a by a strong point, which he captured, by a flank movement, together with thirteen prisoners, one field gun and four machine guns.
Later, his platoon, now much weakened by casualties, was held up by machine guns at the southern end of Bourlon Wood. Collecting any man available, he led them towards the strong point, and springing forward alone, rushed the position single-handed and killed the officer in charge, subsequently capturing at this point forty-five prisoners and five machine guns. Having made good his final objective, with a further capture of forty-seven prisoners, he consolidated his position and thus protected the remainder of the company.
On October 1st, in the neighbourhood of Blecourt, when in command of a weak company, by skilful dispositions he captured a strongly defended position, which yielded eighty prisoners and seventeen machine guns.
During two days of operations Lt. Lyall captured in all 3 officers, 182 other ranks, 26 machine guns and one field gun, exclusive of heavy casualties inflicted. He showed throughout the utmost valour and high powers of command.
—London Gazette, no. 31067, December 14, 1918
Canada’s Most Decorated Soldier: Lieutenant-Colonel John MacGregor, 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles
Granddaughter Jaye Roter wrote to us
He was a great man, and I am very proud of what he did for our country. Not having met my grandfather, I am not completely sure what gave him his toughness. I do know, however, that my dad had that same toughness, and must have got his personality traits from his dad. Both men had a strong code of honour and great pride. If you set out to do something, you did it to the very best of your ability. There was no doing things halfway—it was all or nothing. There was great “MacGregor” pride, and yes, the MacGregors were descendants of Rob Roy!
John MacGregor was from Cawdor, near Nairn. He was living on a croft and it is said that he left Scotland because he didn’t want to be beholden to the local laird. After his father died, he decided to emigrate to Canada—a land of opportunity and open space. That was 1909. In 1912, he was in the Prince Rupert area, where he learned to trap and fish and build his own cabin. News travelled slowly in the bush and it wasn’t until about six months after the war began that MacGregor learned of it. After a long trek out, he arrived at Prince Rupert looking pretty grim. Recruiters in Prince Rupert wouldn’t have him so he headed for Vancouver, where he was able to sign up in March 1915. He listed his trade as carpenter and mentioned previous military experience at the Nairn Garrison.
MacGregor made it home to Cawdor for a short visit with his family before heading for Ypres and then the Somme. In April 1917, he was at Vimy. He was rising through the ranks, to sergeant, lieutenant and then captain. He was wounded twice and came down with influenza and pleurisy as well. In 1917, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for singlehandedly capturing an enemy machine gun, “undoubtedly saving his company from many casualties.” In January 1918, he was awarded the Military Cross to which he later added a Bar. It was in late 1918, during the last hundred days, that he again braved machine gun fire at Cambrai, and carried on after being wounded to overtake an enemy position.
Citation: For most conspicuous bravery, leadership and self-sacrificing devotion to duty nearCambrai from 29th September to 3rd October, 1918.
He led his company under intense fire, and when the advance was checked by machine guns, although wounded, pushed on and located the enemy guns. He then ran forward in broad daylight, in face of heavy fire from all directions, and, with rifle and bayonet, single-handed, put the enemy crews out of action, killing four and taking eight prisoners. His prompt action saved many casualties and enabled the advance to continue.
After reorganising his command under heavy fire he rendered the most useful support to neighbouring troops. When the enemy were showing stubborn resistance, he went along the line regardless of danger, organised the platoons, took command of the leading waves, and continued the advance. Later, after a personal daylight reconnaissance under heavy fire, he established his company in Neuville St. Remy, thereby greatly assisting the advance into Tilloy. Throughout the operations Capt. MacGregor displayed magnificent bravery and heroic leadership.
—London Gazette, no. 31108, January 6, 1919
MacGregor came home to Canada in 1919, but his story doesn’t end there. He married in 1924 and moved the family to Powell River to be part of the paper mill operation there. His strict integrity during the Depression put him out of work when he refused to give the foreman a kickback to keep his job. He wouldn’t play the “VC card” to keep his job but was later reinstated when the truth became known.
MacGregor re-enlisted in World War II as a private, but when fellow VC General George Pearkes came to inspect his unit, he was found out and was made company commander. He spent most of his time on the home front because of health issues. MacGregor went back to work as a carpenter after the war and died in 1952 in Powell River.
“One thing I always remember my dad telling me,” says Jaye Roter, “is that he once asked his dad which accomplishment he was most proud of. My grandfather’s response was ‘My Canadian Citizenship.’”
“Mickey”: Private Michael O’Rourke, 7th Battalion (BC Regiment)
Michael O’Rourke was front-page news when he died in Vancouver in December 1957. Seven Victoria Cross winners were his pallbearers at Holy Rosary Cathedral, among them Sergeant Robert Hanna, Chip Kerr and Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Shankland, who also served in the Great War.
“It was a requiem mass unique in Vancouver history,” read the Vancouver Province, “not only because the casket was flanked by seven members of the commonwealth’s highest award, but because it was attended by people from every walk of life.”
Generals, judges, aldermen and other dignitaries flocked to the cathedral to pay their respects. “But most of the 200 mourners were Mickey’s old pals from the 7th Battalion,” said the Province reporter, “... and the grey and grizzled dockworkers and homeless old timers from Powell and Main streets who knew Mickey in his days as a longshoreman.”
Michael O’Rourke was a tough Irish Catholic from Limerick who came to Canada to blast tunnels and build railways. Mickey was older than most, thirty-six when he signed up in March 1915. He told recruiters that he had already served in the Royal Munster Fusiliers in the old country. But he wasn’t starry-eyed about military life. In July, while still training, he was written up for drunkenness and abusive language. He was on his way to France later that year. In June 1916, he was again disciplined for drunkenness. A few months later, he was awarded the Military Medal for bravery at the Somme after leading a counterattack on enemy trenches at his own initiative. In August 1917, serving as a stretcher bearer during the battle of Hill 70, he was awarded the Victoria Cross for “conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty.”
“He was a brawler and a boozer,” says historian Kevin Dooley, who has written extensively about O’Rourke. “But he was also very calm under fire as well as very tough.”
During his years in the trenches, O’Rourke had been gassed and hit by shrapnel, and by the end of the war was no longer fit for service. But the brawling Irishman from Limerick received his VC at Buckingham Palace, which must have been a bit of a hoot. O’Rourke’s discipline issues meant he was still a humble private—albeit with a lifelong Victoria Cross annuity. He was also eligible for a minimal disability pension.
“He suffered from neurasthenia [shell shock] and severe ulcers,” says Kevin Dooley. “It took him many years of struggle to earn a 40 percent pension.”
After the war, O’Rourke travelled around the West for a while and then returned to Vancouver, where he served as a night watchman on the waterfront. In 1935, he was back in the headlines, leading a waterfront strike protest parade wearing his medals. “The Battle of Ballantyne Pier” ended with tear gas and a police charge on horseback.
“Scores of men including fourteen police officers were injured,” says Dooley. “O’Rourke was not a labour leader but he agreed to lead the parade in 1935 with other vets, and that was a pretty courageous act.”
Friends pulled him out of the action before any heads were broken and he earned the eternal gratitude of waterfront workers. Those were the kind of men who showed up at his funeral in 1957, honoured to have known Mickey, a man of the people.
Citation: For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty during prolonged operations. For three days and nights, Private O’Rourke, who is a stretcher-bearer, worked unceasingly in bringing the wounded into safety, dressing them, and getting them food and water.
During the whole of this period the area in which he worked was subjected to very severe shelling and swept by heavy machine gun and rifle fire. On several occasions he was knocked down and partially buried by enemy shells. Seeing a comrade who had been blinded, stumbling around ahead of our trench, in full view of the enemy who were sniping him, Private O’Rourke jumped out of his trench and brought the man back, being himself heavily sniped at while doing so. Again he went forward about 50 yards in front of our barrage under very heavy and accurate fire from enemy machine guns and snipers, and brought in a comrade. On a subsequent occasion, when the line of advanced posts was retired to the line to be consolidated, he went forward under very heavy enemy fire of every description and brought back a wounded man who had been left behind.
He showed throughout an absolute disregard for his own safety, going wherever there were wounded to succour, and his magnificent courage and devotion in continuing his rescue work, in spite of exhaustion and the incessant heavy enemy fire of every description, inspired all ranks and undoubtedly saved many lives.
—London Gazette, no. 30372, November 8, 1917
A Career Soldier: Major General George Pearkes, 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles
George Pearkes was born in England and came to Canada in 1906 where he joined the Royal North West Mounted Police. In 1915, he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, later commanding the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles. His Victoria Cross came at Passchendaele in 1917.
Citation: For most conspicuous bravery and skilful handling of the troops under his command during the capture and consolidation of considerably more than the objectives allotted to him, in an attack. Just prior to the advance, Maj. Pearkes was wounded in the left thigh. Regardless of his wound, he continued to lead his men with the utmost gallantry, despite many obstacles.
At a particular stage of the attack his further advance was threatened by a strong point which was an objective of the battalion on his left, but which they had not succeeded in capturing. Quickly appreciating the situation, he captured and held this point, thus enabling his further advance to be successfully pushed forward.
It was entirely due to his determination and fearless personality that he was able to maintain his objective with the small number of men at his command against repeated enemy counter-attacks, both his flanks being unprotected for a considerable depth meanwhile.
His appreciation of the situation throughout and the reports rendered by him were invaluable to his Commanding Officer in making dispositions of troops to hold the position captured. He showed throughout a supreme contempt of danger and wonderful powers of control and leading.
—London Gazette, no. 30471, January 11, 1918
Pearkes was a career soldier and held major commands during World War II. After retiring from the army, he ended up on Vancouver Island and entered federal politics as a Conservative. He was elected four times to the House of Commons (1945, 1953, 1957 and 1958). Pearkes served as minister of national defence in Prime Minister John Diefenbaker’s Cabinet from 1957 until 1960. In 1961, he was appointed lieutenant-governor of British Columbia, a position he held until 1968. He died in 1984 in Victoria.
He Feared Nothing: Lieutenant-Colonel Cyrus Peck, 16th Battalion
Cyrus Peck was not a kid when he enlisted in November 1914. He was forty-three and a big burly man, over two hundred pounds. In Prince Rupert before the war, he ran a fish cannery. But he hit his stride once in uniform. His wartime record was impressive: mentioned in dispatches at least five times, awarded the DSO twice, wounded twice and then gassed in 1918. In November 1916, Peck was promoted to command the 16th Infantry Battalion. His VC came late in the war when he was forty-seven years old. It was in 1918 during the fighting for the Drocourt-Quéant Line, near Cagnicourt in France.
Citation: For most conspicuous bravery and skilful leading when in attack under intense fire. His command quickly captured the first objective, but progress to the further objective was held up by enemy machine-gun fire on his right flank.
The situation being critical in the extreme, Colonel Peck pushed forward and made a personal reconnaissance under heavy machine-gun and sniping fire, across a stretch of ground which was heavily swept by fire.
Having reconnoitred the position he returned, reorganised his battalion, and, acting upon the knowledge personally gained, pushed them forward and arranged to protect his flanks. He then went out under the most intense artillery and machine-gun fire, intercepted the Tanks,gave them the necessary directions, pointing out where they were to make for, and thus pave the way for a Canadian Infantry battalion to push forward. To this battalion he subsequently gave requisite support.
His magnificent display of courage and fine qualities of leadership enabled the advance to be continued, although always under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire, and contributed largely to the success of the brigade attack.
—London Gazette, no. 31012, November 15, 1918
In 1917, while he was still overseas, Peck was elected to the House of Commons as the member of parliament for Skeena during the khaki election. He was defeated in 1921 but went on to serve as an member of the legislative assembly on Vancouver Island during the 1920s. He died in 1956, well into his eighties, and has a gravestone in New Westminster, though some of his ashes were also scattered at Metlakatla Pass near Prince Rupert. Someone said of him, “He feared nothing that walked or talked.”
Hero of Arras: Private Walter Rayfield, 7th Battalion (BC Regiment)
Walter Rayfield was born in England and was working as a lumberjack when he signed up in Victoria in July 1917 with the Forestry Depot. He was later transferred to the 7th Battalion. It was during the last hundred days at Arras that Rayfield displayed “indomitable courage” in rushing an enemy trench under sniper fire. For capturing forty prisoners, he was awarded the VC. He was also made a member of the Royal Order of the Crown of Belgium by the Belgian government. He died in Toronto in 1949.
Citation: For most conspicuous bravery, devotion to duty, and initiative during the operations east of Arras from 2nd to 4th September, 1918.
Ahead of his company, he rushed a trench occupied by a large party of the enemy, personally bayoneting two and taking ten prisoners.
Later, he located and engaged with great skill, under constant rifle fire, an enemy sniper who was causing many casualties. He then rushed the section of trench from which the sniper had beenoperating, and so demoralised the enemy by his coolness and daring that thirty others surrendered to him.
Again, regardless of his personal safety, he left cover under heavy machine-gun fire and carried in a badly wounded comrade.
His indomitable courage, cool foresight, and daring reconnaissance were invaluable to his Company Commander and an inspiration to all ranks.
—London Gazette, no. 31067, December 14, 1918
A Storm of Lead: Piper James Cleland Richardson, 16th Infantry Battalion
He is one of Chilliwack’s most cherished sons. Piper James Cleland Richardson was killed at the Somme in 1916 and awarded the Victoria Cross for his rare act of bravery. He was just seven weeks shy of his twenty-first birthday when he perished.
Born in 1895, James was the eldest of eight children and immigrated to Canada with his family from Scotland in 1913 when his father was hired as chief of police in Chilliwack. A driller by trade, James served with the cadet corps of the Seaforth Highlanders and worked at a factory on Vancouver’s False Creek, where he was credited with attempting to save the life of a young boy who fell into the water and drowned. James was also a noted piper who won his share of competitions here in BC.
When the war arrived he wasted no time enlisting as a piper with the 16th Infantry Battalion (the Canadian Scottish CEF) in September 1914. His battalion was involved in the attack on Regina Trench, north of Courcelette, and his Victoria Cross citation tells the story of his selfless actions:
Citation: For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when, prior to attack, he obtained permission from his Commanding Officer to play his company “over the top.”
As the company approached the objective, it was held up by very strong wire and came under intense fire, which caused heavy casualties and demoralised the formation for the moment. Realizing the situation, Piper Richardson strode up and down outside the wire, playing his pipes with the greatest coolness. The effect was instantaneous. Inspired by his splendid example, the company rushed the wire with such fury and determination that the obstacle was overcome and the position captured.
Later, after participating in bombing operations, he was detailed to take back a wounded comrade and prisoners.
After proceeding about 200 yards Piper Richardson remembered that he had left his pipes behind. Although strongly urged not to do so, he insisted on returning to recover his pipes. He has never been seen since, and death has been presumed accordingly owing to lapse of time.
—London Gazette, no.30967, October 22, 1918
Piper Richardson’s enduring story was also recounted by Colonel C.W. Peck, the former commander of his 16th Battalion, in the book Piper Richardson VC, An Untold Tale of Heroism and Sacrifice:
Suddenly the whole scene changed.Young Richardson took in the situation. Danger seemed to stimulate and accentuate the Scotch intellect. For some reason, he hadn’t been allowed to play up to this point. Turning to the sergeant major in the shell hole beside him, he said, ”Will I gie ’em wind?” "Aye mon, gie ’em wind,” was the laconic reply. Good God! Look at that! There was a young, smooth-faced boy coolly playing up and down the wire in that hail storm of lead.
James Richardson’s pipes were found in the Somme mud and taken to Scotland in 1917, where they remained at a local school until 2003. Once the pipes were identified, the efforts of many individuals and organizations brought them home. The pipes are now on display at the BC legislature.
A Splendid Example and Inspiration: Captain Robert Shankland, 43rd Battalion
Robert Shankland was born in Scotland and was an unmarried clerk when he signed up in Winnipeg in December 1914. He was in his twenties and had previous military experience. He wasn’t a big man, only about five foot four. But he was brave. He earned a Distinguished Conduct Medal in 1916 after volunteering to join a party of stretcher bearers under heavy shellfire, bringing in men who had been wounded and partially buried. His military records say, “His courage and devotion to duty were most marked.” He was wounded at Passchendaele in October 1917 when under attack but rallied his men to defend their position. He moved to Victoria after the war and served again in World War II. Shankland died in Vancouver in 1968.
Citation: For most conspicuous bravery and resource in action under critical and adverse conditions.
Having gained a position he rallied the remnant of his own platoon and men of other companies, disposed them to command the ground in front, and inflicted heavy casualties upon the retreating enemy. Later, he dispersed a counter-attack, thus enabling supporting troops to come up unmolested.
He then personally communicated to Battalion Headquarters an accurate and valuable report as to the position on the Brigade frontage, and after doing so rejoined his command and carried on until relieved.
His courage and splendid example inspired all ranks and coupled with his great gallantry and skill undoubtedly saved a very critical situation.
—London Gazette, no. 30433, December 18, 1917
A Distinguished Career: John Alexander Sinton, Indian Medical Service, Indian Army, VC, FRS, OBE
John Alexander Sinton was born in Victoria in 1884 but his family returned to Ulster when he was young. He studied medicine at Queen’s and joined the Indian Medical Service in 1911. He was a captain in the Indian Army after the war. Sinton was mentioned in dispatches four times and served in Mesopotamia (Iraq), where he was severely wounded in action but continued to help others.
Citation: For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. Although shot through both arms and through the side, he refused to go to hospital, and remained as long as daylight lasted, attending to his duties under very heavy fire. In three previous actions Captain Sinton displayed the utmost bravery.
—London Gazette, June 21, 1916
When the war was over, Sinton continued with a distinguished career in medicine, becoming an expert in tropical diseases. He served again as an officer in World War II and was given the Order of St. George. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1946. Sinton died in Northern Ireland in 1956.
Died in the Line of Duty as a Vancouver Policeman: Lance Corporal Robert McBeath
Robert McBeath earned his VC in the British Army and didn’t emigrate to Canada until after the war. He won honours for action at the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917.
Citation: For most conspicuous bravery when with his company in attack and approaching the final objective, a nest of enemy machine-guns in the western outskirts of a village opened fire both on his own unit and on the unit to the right. The advance was checked and heavy casualties resulted.
When a Lewis gun was called for to deal with these machine-guns, L/Corpl. McBeath volunteered for the duty, and immediately moved off alone with a Lewis gun and his revolver. He located one of the machine guns in action, and worked his way towards it, shooting the gunner with his revolver at 20 yards range. Finding several of the hostile machine-guns in action, he, with the assistance of a tank, attacked them and drove the gunners to ground in a deep dugout.
L/Corpl. McBeath, regardless of all danger, rushed in after them, shot an enemy who opposed him on the steps, and drove the remainder of the garrison out of the dug-out, capturing three officers and 30 men. There were in all five machine-guns mounted round the dug-out, and by putting them out of action he cleared the way for the advance of both units. The conduct of L/ Corpl. McBeath throughout three days of severe fighting was beyond praise.
—London Gazette, January 11, 1918
When McBeath moved to Vancouver after the war, he joined the BC Provincial Police and then the Vancouver Police Department. In October 1922, while trying to make a routine arrest, he and a fellow officer were both shot. McBeath’s partner survived, but he was killed. He was twenty-three and his grave at Mountain View Cemetery in Vancouver reads as an impressive monument to service: Killed in the faithful discharge of his Duty on the Vancouver Police Force.
From Our Listeners
A Montenegran-Canadian Hero—Sergeant Valisa Bogichevich: At twenty-eight years of age and with militia experience, he rose through the ranks in Tobin’s Tigers to sergeant. He received a rare combination of gallantry awards: a Military Medal (MM), a Bar to the MM, and the Distinguished Conduct Medal... [Read more]
Remembering Ernest Edward Woodley: At age 102 he received the Legion of Honour presented by the French consul general. Other than being a bit hard of hearing, his general health was great—and he was a grand fellow... [Read more]
My Father’s Story: The three men cleared a machine-gun defended section of the road and captured no fewer than fifty German prisoners in the process. The events are well documented in the archives of the 72nd Battalion... [Read more]
A Sketch of Geoffrey Murray Downton: While serving with the Canadians in the trenches, he wrote a poem about men in the trenches: “…but we are very ordinary men.” In a letter to the young girl who was to become his wife, he described himself in the same way... [Read more]