Skip to main content

Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm

Established by royal decree on 25 October 1915, the Croix de Guerre is a Belgian military decoration awarded for bravery or military virtue on the battlefield. Re-established on 20 July 1940 by the Belgian government in exile, it recognized acts of bravery during World War II. The addition of a palm indicates a mention in dispatches at the national level. The decoration could be awarded to both individuals and units, with unit awards denoted by affixing the war cross ribbon to the unit's colours. It is one of Belgium's most esteemed military honors for gallantry.

 

Craftsman Joyce Beckett Abercrombie

Date of Award: August 31, 1946

Citation

Craftsman Abercrombie has been employed in this unit in the recovery section from D Day to the present time. During the period in which the Canadian Army completed its task in the Scheldt Estuary, this soldier by his initiative, forethought and devotion to duty successfully effected the recovery of a 40-mm Bofors gun which had been embedded in the soft ground some distance from the roadway. The action took place in the vicinity of Maldegem amidst enemy mortar fire which was directed from short range. During the lull in the enemy fire Craftsman Abercrombie proceeded to the gun site without fear for his own safety and calmly proceeded to effect its removal. Several times during this operation he had to take cover and after approximately two to three hours the gun was successfully recovered. The coolness and sense of duty of this soldier while operating the breakdown in this dangerous position had an inspiring effect among his comrades. During the campaign of the Canadian Army in Northwest Europe this soldier has given excellent service at all times and on more than one occasion has proved a great asset to his unit and corps. It is considered that the devotion to duty and complete disregard to personal safety displayed by this Craftsman helped materially in the ultimate liberation of Belgium.

Notes

(B111666) Canada Gazette dated 31 August 1946 and CARO/6733 dated 2 September 1946. Recommendation with Headquarters, 3 Canadian Infantry Division, 20-23 September 1945 (supported by Brigadier L. G. Clarke, Acting General Officer Commanding); with Headquarters, Canadian Forces in the Netherlands, 24 September to 6 October 1945 (approved by Lieutenant-General G. G. Simonds).

Private Donald Richard Grant

Date of Award: August 31, 1946

Citation

On 13 September 1944, “D” Company The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada were defending the cross roads at Bray Dunes. The company had been completely surrounded by the enemy since 0530 hours and all efforts to relieve them had failed. At approximately 1900 hours, the convent on the Northwest corner of the cross roads was set on fire by enemy shelling and the troops occupying it were forced to withdraw across the road under very heavy small arms fire. Private Grant, showing remarkable courage after the evacuation of personnel was complete, and subjected to heavy small arms fire, made two additional trips to the convent to rescue food and ammunition. This enable the company to hold out for a further period of thirty-six hours, while they were cut off from the rest of the Battalion. This act of gallantry did much to raise the morale of the company and was one of the main factors contributing to the successful action which "D" Company fought to cut off the escape and maintenance routes of the enemy in the vicinity of Bray Dunes. This is but one example of the gallantry displayed by Private Grant throughout the campaign in Belgium.

Notes

(H10576) Supplement to the London Gazette 16 January 1947, p330, and Canada Gazette dated 31 August 1946 and CARO/6733 dated 2 September 1946. He is recorded as being in the Canadian Infantry Corps (The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada). Recommended by LieutenantColonel R.L. Rutherford, Commanding Officer, Queen's Own Camerons Highlanders of Canada on 26 June 1945; approved by Brigadier J.V. Allard, Officer Commanding, 6 Canadian Infantry Brigade on 27 June 1945 and passed forward on 7 August 1945; approved by Major-General A.B. Matthews, General Officer Commanding, 2 Canadian Infantry Division; approved by Lieutenant-General G.G. Simonds, General Officer Commanding Canadian Forces in the Netherlands on 13 August 1945 and passed for action on 6 October 1945. After the war, he was a craftsman in 212 Workshop, with a Dutch war bride. He presumably switched to RCEME after the war, but is not listed in Hodgson’s list of personnel serving in WW2.

Craftsman E. R. Legere

Date of Award: July 17, 1948

Notes

(G621) Canada Gazette No. 29,17 July 1948 (posthumous).

Colonel Maxwell Charles Gordon Meighen

Date of Award: August 31, 1946

Citation

Throughout the operations, which resulted in the liberation of Belgium, Colonel Meighen performed his duties as DDME with outstanding ability and efficiency. His accurate appreciation of the problems involved, his sound forward planning to meet emergencies and his aggressive control of the facilities at his disposal enable the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineer units to function with maximum effectiveness. His work was a major contribution to the success of the operations.

Notes

Canada Gazette dated 31 August 1946 and CARO/6733 dated 2 September 1946. Recommended for work with 2 Canadian Corps by Lieutenant-General G.G. Simonds, General Officer Commanding Canadian Forces in the Netherlands, August 1945 although not signed off until 6 October 1945.

Armament Quartermaster Sergeant H. S. Revill

Date of Award: July 17, 1948

Notes

(C31588) Canada Gazette No. 29, 17 July 1948 (posthumous). The reconnaissance and recovery elements of the armoured regiment LADs worked with the forward tanks to ensure that damaged or stuck tanks were repaired or recovered without delay. This often brought them into direct contact with the enemy. During the advance into Bruges on 8 September 1944, Armament-Quarter-Master-Sergeant (Warrant Officer Class 2) H.S. Revill was with the leading element of the British Columbia Regiment. He was shot by a sniper at one of the city’s gates and Belgian civilians who were hiding in nearby buildings took him in. As the battle for Bruges raged they cared for him, even arranging for him to be carried through the “no-man’s land” to receive treatment in a hospital from a doctor. Despite this care he died on October 3rd. Four days later the townsfolk gave him an impressive military funeral in the city cathedral “to pay the last honour to this heroic Canadian as well as to remember all the Canadians who had sacrificed their lives for our Freedom.” Warrant Officer Revill was Mentioned in Dispatches, awarded posthumously the Croix de Geurre of Belgium, and is one of seven of Canada’s Craftsmen who are buried in Adegem Canadian War Cemetery.