The Beast's Castle...

[HeavyBalls]

I'm leaning towards Canadian Victoria Cross Recipients.

 

[lillianaZ]

I'm leaning towards Canadian Victoria Cross Recipients.

Okay! That's probably the one area that I know the least so it should be good!

*gets blanket and chamomile tea and curls up in the chair by the fireplace*

 

[HeavyBalls]

The topic is Canadian Victoria Cross Recipients.

Please note that the men who received the aforementioned decoration received what we would know as the British version of the decoration. As Canada only recently created a Victoria Cross of our own, and it has yet to be awarded.

Company Sgt. Major Fred Hall
Company Sgt. Major John Osborn
Corporal Joseph Kaeble

 

[HeavyBalls]

The awards these men received have something else in common as well. But that will become rather apparent.

Fred Hall was serving in Belgium during the First World War when he earned his VC. Throughout the night, Sgt. Hall had been slipping into no man's land between the Canadian and German lines, to retrieve wounded men who could not make it back on their own. Twice during the night he was successful, however around 9am he heard the cries of another wounded Canadian trapped in the middle of the battlefield, as German fire impacted all around him. Without orders, Sgt. Hall once again crept into no man's land to retrieve his comrade in arms. He managed to carry the wounded man back to the Canadian line and pass him into the trench. As Sgt. Hall was about to enter the trench himself, he was struck in the back of the head and died instantly. Due to the ferocity of the fighting, Sgt. Halls body was never recovered. His name is now displayed on the Menin Gate in Ypres, where the men of the Commonwealth who died in Flanders (Belguim) and who have no know grave are honoured. A bittersweet postscript to this event: the last man Sgt. Hall brought back into the Canadian trench, later succumbed to his wounds.

 

[justasimplegirl]

*pours the Beast a cup of tea and settles in with a cup of her own to listen*

 

[HeavyBalls]

Company Sgt. Major John Osborn was with the Canadian contingent posted to the defense of Hong Kong in December of 1941. December 6th the Japanese invaded Hong Kong, at that time it was still a British possession.

The Allied forces were quickly overrun on the island and Sgt. Major Osborn led the defense of Mt. Butler. Brigadier General Lawson, the highest ranking Canadian to die in the war had recently fallen in battle actively fighting the Japanese invaders. The Canadians under Osborn found themselves on the summit of Mt. Butler, surrounded by the Japanese, who in the effort to displace the Canadians started throwing hand grenades into their positions. Sgt. Major Osborn at that point began picking them up and hurling them back at the Japanese attackers like baseballs. He continued this fear several times until a grenade fell where he could not reach it in time. At that point Osborn shouted a warning to his fellow soldiers and threw himself upon the grenade as it blew, killing him instantly. This gallant act saved the lives of the men around him who would continue to fight and later be captured by the Japanese.

 

[HeavyBalls]

Corporal Joseph Kaeble was a member of the 22e Battalion, fated to be later known as the Van Doos (as a play on the pronunciation 22 in French). In June of 1918 in France, Corporal Kaeble was in command of a Lewis Machine Gun section. That day the Germans attacked his section of the line with artillery barrages and the advancement of several companies across no man's land. A full platoon of 50 Germans was headed towards Corporal Kaeble's position. At this point his entire section were wounded including the corporal himself. Showing immense courage and devotion to duty Corporal Kaeble took the Lewis Gun and stood on the parapet of the trench, firing from the hip at the mass of Advancing German soldiers. All while they continued to fire and hurl grenades at him, exploding all around him. Despite accumulating wounds, bones broken and bleeding in a dozen places Corporal Kaeble kept firing. However at this point the Germans are no longer advancing on his position, they are retreating. With the last of his strength as he fell back into the trench, Corporal Kaeble managed to heft the Lewis Gun over his head and fire out into the retreating Germans, all while shouting to his men "we must stop them, do not let them pass!" and encouraging those who still could to bring their arms to bear on the Germans.

Corporal Kaeble was evacuated to hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds the next evening.

These three V.C.'s help define the fact that the Victoria Cross is not awarded for courage, it is awarded for valour...

 

[justasimplegirl]

*adjusts glasses and continues taking notes*

 

[HeavyBalls]

Any questions?

 

[lillianaZ]

Any questions?

Thank you, Beast. That was fascinating. Tragic, but then life is often tragic. It's important that someone remembers those who sacrificed their own lives in the hopes of saving others.

 

[barefootgirl69]

*brings in my blanket and runs back to the kitchen for a pot of homemade soup*

We can share while we listen.
So, define the difference between courage and valour, please.

 

[HeavyBalls]

Courage is action in the face of Danger. Valour... valour is the same action, with pure selflessness, knowing you'll likely not come back...

 

[barefootgirl69]

Courage is action in the face of Danger. Valour... valour is the same action, with pure selflessness, knowing you'll likely not come back...

Tell me about the citizens, the homefront during the war.
*gets cozy*

 

[HeavyBalls]

Tell me about the citizens, the homefront during the war.
*gets cozy*

Canada in both world wars, you could say pretty much geared up for a total war effort at home, pretty much everything you see in the states was done here too. New industries were started, infastructure was created and communities were connected.

For WW2 we went from having nothing, to world power level status. With the 3rd largest navy, 4th largest air force and 5th largest army if I recall correctly.

 

[SubTulip]

Snuggles into my blanket having very much enjoyed the lecture.

May we have some more please?

 

[HeavyBalls]

Does anyone know why the poppy is used a symbol of remembrance?

 

[lillianaZ]

Does anyone know why the poppy is used a symbol of remembrance?

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place, and in the sky,
The larks, still bravely singing, fly,
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead; short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe!
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high!
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

~John McCrae, 1872 - 1918
Canadian physician and Lt. Colonel during WW1

 

[HeavyBalls]

Quite correct Lili...

But do you know why he wrote that when he did?

Bonus points: Does anyone know what is different about his grave than most other Canadian Soldiers?

 

[justasimplegirl]

Quite correct Lili...

But do you know why he wrote that when he did?

Bonus points: Does anyone know what is different about his grave than most other Canadian Soldiers?

I know he wrote it after presiding over the funeral of a friend who was also a soldier. I don't remember the details.

 

[HeavyBalls]

Partial credit, JSG. He was a fellow soldier, however he was also one of the medical students he was teaching back in Canada. He fell in the Second Battle Ypres.

Speaking of the Second Battle of Ypres... Does anyone know why that battle is significant to Canada?

 

[lillianaZ]

......

 

[gracie920101]

Partial credit, JSG. He was a fellow soldier, however he was also one of the medical students he was teaching back in Canada. He fell in the Second Battle Ypres.

Speaking of the Second Battle of Ypres... Does anyone know why that battle is significant to Canada?

I know it was the first widespread use of gas and a Canadian Division? or maybe a regiment was instrumental in turning the tide in the battle for the area. 1915 May.

 

[HeavyBalls]

Sorry, supper duties were calling me.

I’m not sure, but a few things I can remember: It was the first time German troops engaged in wide spread use of poison gas on the Western Front. It was the first time that a Canadian regiment defeated a German regiment. (I think it was the first time a former colonial regiment won a battle on European soil?) It was an important point to hold because it was in Western Belgium. And the Canadian troops withdrew on May 3…(I remember that because it’s my birthday.)

Yes it was the first major offensive use of poison (chlorine) gas by the German army. In essence it was the first time Canada defeated Germany. it was in effect the first time a colonial power defeated a European power on European soil.

It was also the first major action the Canadians faced in WW1, French Moroccan troops initial held the line but fled in face of the gas. The Canadians moved into the gap and held the line in face of the gas. They were deemed to have saved the situation by command. They also had no gas masks...

 

[HeavyBalls]

Any other questions or topics you'd like to see covered?

 

[HeavyBalls]

*sits in my chair in the north wing, alone...*