Dunn and Cockburn Victoria Crosses loaned to the Canadian War Museum by Upper Canada CollegeMay 17, 2006, Ottawa, Ontario — In a ceremony held today, Upper Canada College loaned the Canadian War Museum Victoria Cross medal groups of the late Lieutenant Alexander Roberts Dunn, Canada’s first Victoria Cross recipient, and Lieutenant Hampden Zane Churchill Cockburn.
The Victoria Cross was instituted on February 5, 1856, with the first awards given to heroes of the Crimean War (1854–1856). It is the British Commonwealth’s highest award for military bravery and has been awarded to only 94 Canadians. Both Dunn, V.C., and Cockburn, V.C., are former students of Upper Canada College (UCC).
"As Canada's national museum of military history, we look forward to sharing with visitors these important artifacts and the stories of these two notable Canadians," said Daniel Glenney, Director of Special Projects at the Canadian War Museum (CWM).
"These Victoria Crosses are an important part of Upper Canada College's heritage," said Andy Pringle, Chair of UCC's Board of Governors. "Because the medals are also national treasures, we are delighted to share them with the wider audience of Canadian War Museum visitors."
Alexander Roberts Dunn received his Victoria Cross for deeds performed in one of the most notorious blunders in military history, the charge of the Light Brigade of October 25, 1854 during the Crimean War. The brigade had charged down a long valley, surrounded on three sides by Russian guns. It was cut to pieces, losing 472 of the 670 who participated. While retreating with the 11th Hussars, Dunn charged, and killed with his sabre, three Russian horsemen threatening a British sergeant whose horse was lagging behind. He subsequently sabred another Russian who was attacking a British private. After the war, when the 11th Hussars as a unit was awarded the newly instituted Victoria Cross, Dunn was selected unanimously by its members to be the recipient.
Hampton Zane Churchill Cockburn was awarded the Victoria Cross at the Battle of Leliefontein during the South African War on November 7, 1900. Leading a small Canadian rearguard force, Cockburn sacrificed himself and his troops in the face of an overwhelming number of Boer mounted soldiers in order to save several Canadian guns. The guns retreated to safety, but only a few of Cockburn’s men escaped, the rest being killed, wounded or captured. Cockburn survived the war and returned home a hero.
The Dunn V.C. medal set consists of the Victoria Cross, the Crimea Medal with Alma, Inkermann, Balaclava, and Sebastopol bars, the Turkish Crimea Medal, and the Abyssinian War Medal. In addition to the Victoria Cross medal set, Upper Canada College has also loaned the Knights Templar star that belonged to John Henry Dunn, Alexander Roberts Dunn’s father. It designates his membership in the Knights Templar, a Masonic organization, and dates to circa 1840.
The Cockburn V.C. medal set includes the Victoria Cross and the Queen’s South Africa Medal with Diamond Hill, Johannesburg, Orange Free State, and Cape Colony Bars. In addition to Cockburn’s Victoria Cross medal set, Upper Canada College has also loaned his Royal Canadian Humane Association Bravery Medal (Bronze) for saving two lives on September 20, 1897, and a Welcome Home medal awarded by the City of Toronto to its soldiers returning from the South African War.
Established in Toronto in 1829, Upper Canada College is a leading independent school for boys. It offers a day program for Senior Kindergarten through Grade 12 and a boarding program for secondary school students. Graduates receive both the Ontario Secondary School Diploma and the International Baccalaureate Diploma.
The Canadian War Museum is Canada’s national museum of military history. It introduces visitors to the role and importance of the military in the development of Canada both at home and on the world stage. One year after opening its new home on LeBreton Flats, the Canadian War Museum has become the second most visited museum in the nation’s capital, attracting over 625,500 visitors in its first year.
The Victoria Crosses of Colonel A. Dunn, V.C., and Major H.Z.C. Cockburn, V.C.
The Victoria Cross was instituted on February 5, 1856, with the first awards given to heroes of the Crimean War (1854–1856). It is the British Commonwealth’s highest award for military bravery.
Since its inception, the Victoria Cross has been awarded to 94 Canadians. Eight of these awards were for actions during the late nineteenth century and the South African War (1899–1902). The vast majority — 70 Victoria Crosses — were awarded for actions during the First World War (1914–1918) and 16 were awarded for the Second World War (1939–1945). No Victoria Crosses have been awarded to Canadians since, and its issue was discontinued when Canada instituted its own awards for bravery and gallantry during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The Victoria Cross was re-instituted in 1993 as Canada’s highest award for bravery in the face of the enemy, and it is distinguished from the earlier British issue by the Latin words Pro Valore.
To date, none of the new Canadian Victoria Crosses have been awarded, and all of the 94 awards to Canadian recipients have been under the former British awards system. The Canadian War Museum has 29 Victoria Crosses in its collection, including one from the nineteenth century, 25 from the First World War and three from the Second World War.
Through the courtesy of Upper Canada College, Toronto, the Victoria Cross medal sets of Colonel Alexander Dunn, V.C., and Major H.Z.C. Cockburn, V.C., are on loan to the Canadian War Museum.
Colonel Dunn (then a lieutenant) was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in the charge of the Light Brigade of 25 October 1854, in the Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War, and he is the first Canadian recipient of the prestigious gallantry award. His medal set consists of the Victoria Cross, the Crimea Medal with Alma, Inkermann, Balaclava, and Sebastopol bars, the Turkish Crimea Medal, and the Abyssinian War Medal. In addition to the Victoria Cross medal set, Upper Canada College has also loaned the silver Knight’s Templar Star that belonged to John Henry Dunn, Alexander Roberts Dunn's father. It designates his membership in the Knights Templar, a Masonic organization, and dates to circa 1840.
Major Cockburn (then a lieutenant) was awarded the Victoria Cross for his gallantry in South Africa at the Battle of Leliefontein on November 7, 1900. His medal set includes the Victoria Cross and the Queen’s South Africa Medal with Diamond Hill, Johannesburg, Orange Free State, and Cape Colony Bars. In addition to the Victoria Cross medal set, Upper Canada College has also loaned his Royal Canadian Humane Association Bravery Medal (Bronze) for two lives on September 20, 1897, and a Welcome Home medal awarded by the City of Toronto to its soldiers returning from the South African War.
Information (media):
Christina Selin
Senior Media Relations Officer
Canadian War Museum
Telephone: (819) 776-8607
E-mail: mailto:christina.selin@warmuseum.ca
Pierre Leduc
Communications Officer
Canadian War Museum
Phone: (819) 776-8608
E-mail: mailto:pierre.leduc@warmuseum.ca
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