Public pressure will not factor in whether the National Defence Department will award a Victoria Cross to a Canadian combat veteran for the first time in 78 years, says Blacklock's Reporter..MPs and petitioners demanded the highest award for courage and valour be given to an Afghan War hero..“A committee comprised of the chief of the Defence Staff and other members rigorously reviews all nominations according to established criteria,” staff wrote in a briefing note..“The system for awarding national honours is designed to be insulated from political influence and public pressure.”.Conservative and New Democrat MPs sought a review of the case of Pvt. Jess Larochelle, of Nipissing, Ont. A May 19 Commons petition in support of awarding Larochelle the Victoria Cross drew 14,129 signatures..Larochelle in 2007 was awarded the Star of Military Valour for bravery in combat..“His valiant conduct saved the lives of many members of his company,” said the commendation..Larochelle fought off the enemy at a machine gun post despite injuries from heavy fire that killed two members of his unit and wounded four others..The defence department said it reviewed Larochelle’s case along with those of 19 other Afghan War recipients of the Star of Valour..“The review committee found the process was fair and consistent and that none should have received a different decoration,” said the briefing note..Military commanders twice rejected Larochelle for the highest commendation..The last Canadian VC was Pvt. Ernest Smith, of New Westminster, B.C., credited with fending off a German tank attack in the 1944 Italian campaign. Smith died in 2005 at 91 and was given a state funeral..Larochelle’s case was “part of a broader, rigorous review in 2012 to ensure consistency across awards,” wrote the defence department. There were no errors, it said..“I was in the same company with Jess,” Bruce Moncur of Thompson, Man., founder of the Afghanistan Veterans Association of Canada, said in an earlier interview..“The guy had a broken back and single-handedly fought off 40 Taliban.”.Moncur noted Victoria Cross petitions have been successful in other countries..The Queen in 2020 awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross to an Australian sailor of the Second World War. Edward Sheean, 18 in 1942, was killed aboard a sinking minesweeper after saving the lives of 49 crewmen. Australian navy veterans spent decades petitioning for a review of the case..The first Canadian VC was Lt. Alexander Dunn, of Toronto. Dunn was cited for extraordinary bravery in the 1854 Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava in Crimea.
Public pressure will not factor in whether the National Defence Department will award a Victoria Cross to a Canadian combat veteran for the first time in 78 years, says Blacklock's Reporter..MPs and petitioners demanded the highest award for courage and valour be given to an Afghan War hero..“A committee comprised of the chief of the Defence Staff and other members rigorously reviews all nominations according to established criteria,” staff wrote in a briefing note..“The system for awarding national honours is designed to be insulated from political influence and public pressure.”.Conservative and New Democrat MPs sought a review of the case of Pvt. Jess Larochelle, of Nipissing, Ont. A May 19 Commons petition in support of awarding Larochelle the Victoria Cross drew 14,129 signatures..Larochelle in 2007 was awarded the Star of Military Valour for bravery in combat..“His valiant conduct saved the lives of many members of his company,” said the commendation..Larochelle fought off the enemy at a machine gun post despite injuries from heavy fire that killed two members of his unit and wounded four others..The defence department said it reviewed Larochelle’s case along with those of 19 other Afghan War recipients of the Star of Valour..“The review committee found the process was fair and consistent and that none should have received a different decoration,” said the briefing note..Military commanders twice rejected Larochelle for the highest commendation..The last Canadian VC was Pvt. Ernest Smith, of New Westminster, B.C., credited with fending off a German tank attack in the 1944 Italian campaign. Smith died in 2005 at 91 and was given a state funeral..Larochelle’s case was “part of a broader, rigorous review in 2012 to ensure consistency across awards,” wrote the defence department. There were no errors, it said..“I was in the same company with Jess,” Bruce Moncur of Thompson, Man., founder of the Afghanistan Veterans Association of Canada, said in an earlier interview..“The guy had a broken back and single-handedly fought off 40 Taliban.”.Moncur noted Victoria Cross petitions have been successful in other countries..The Queen in 2020 awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross to an Australian sailor of the Second World War. Edward Sheean, 18 in 1942, was killed aboard a sinking minesweeper after saving the lives of 49 crewmen. Australian navy veterans spent decades petitioning for a review of the case..The first Canadian VC was Lt. Alexander Dunn, of Toronto. Dunn was cited for extraordinary bravery in the 1854 Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava in Crimea.
