Frederick George Topham
| Frederick George Topham | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
10 August 1917 Toronto, Ontario |
| Died | 31 May 1974 (aged 56) Toronto, Ontario |
| Buried at | Sanctuary Park Cemetery, Etobicoke, Canada |
| Allegiance |
 Canada
|
| Service/branch |
 Canadian Army
|
| Years of service | 1942–1945 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit | 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | |
_ribbon.png){kind=small}
Frederick George Topham, VC (August 10, 1917 – May 31, 1974) was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Born in York Township, Topham was educated here at King George Public School and Runnymede High School (now Runnymede Collegiate Institute) before working in the mines at Kirkland Lake. He enlisted on August 3, 1942, and served at home and abroad as a medical orderly. On March 24, 1945, while serving with the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, he defied heavy enemy fire to treat casualties sustained in a parachute drop east of the Rhine, near Wesel. Rejecting treatment for his own severe face wound, he continued to rescue the injured for two hours. While returning to his company, he saved three occupants of a burning carrier which was in danger of exploding. For these exceptional deeds, Topham was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for valour in the British Commonwealth.
He was 27 years old, and a corporal (medical orderly) in the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, Canadian Army during the Second World War when the following deeds took place for which he was awarded the VC:
Department of National Defence, Ottawa. 3rd August, 1945.
THE CANADIAN ARMY.
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the VICTORIA CROSS to: —
No. B.39039 Corporal Frederick George TOPHAM, 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion.
On 24th March, 1945, Corporal Topham, a medical orderly, parachuted with his Battalion on to a strongly defended area east of the Rhine. At about 1100 hours, whilst treating casualties sustained in the drop, a cry for help came from a wounded man in the open. Two medical orderlies from a field ambulance went out to this man in succession but both were killed as they knelt beside the casualty.
Without, hesitation and on his own initiative, Corporal Topham went forward through intense fire to replace the orderlies who had been killed before his eyes. As he worked on the wounded man, he was himself shot through the nose. In spite of severe bleeding and intense pain, he never faltered in his task. Having completed immediate first aid, he carried the wounded man steadily and slowly back through continuous fire to the shelter of a wood.
...
Wikipedia