Vimy Ridge Victoria Cross Winners

Private William Johnstone Milne, VC

16th Battalion, Manitoba Regiment (Canadian Scottish), Canadian Expeditionary Force

Son of David Milne. Born December 21, 1892, in Cambusnethan, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He emigrated to Canada in 1910 and farmed near Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan prior to joining the army. He enlisted at Moose Jaw in September, 1915.

Citation:

"For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in attack. On approaching the first objective, Pte. Milne observed an enemy machine gun firing on our advancing troops. Crawling on hands and knees, he succeeded in reaching the gun, killing the crew with bombs, and capturing the gun. On the line re-forming, he again located a machine gun in the support line, and stalking this second gun as he had done the first, he succeeded in putting the crew out of action and capturing the gun. His wonderful bravery and resource on these two occasions undoubtedly saved the lives of many of his comrades. Pte. Milne was killed shortly after capturing the second gun."

Date of Death: April 9, 1917. Milne's body was not recovered from the battlefield. He is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial, France.

Private John George Pattison, VC

50th Battalion, Alberta Regiment, Canadian Expeditionary Force

Son of Harry and Mary Pattison; husband of Mrs. S. L. Pattison, of Calgary, Alberta. Born September 8, 1875 in New Cross, England. He emigrated to Canada in 1906 with his wife and four children. He worked for the Calgary Gas Company before he joined the army on March 6, 1916.

Citation:

"For most conspicuous bravery in attack. When the advance of our troops was held up by an enemy machine gun, which was inflicting severe casualties, Pte. Pattison, with utter disregard of his own safety, sprang forward and, jumping from shell-hole to shell-hole, reached cover within thirty yards of the enemy gun. From this point, in face of heavy fire, he hurled bombs, killing and wounding some of the crew, then rushed forward overcoming and bayoneting the surviving five gunners. His valour and initiative undoubtedly saved the situation and made possible the further advance to the objective."

Date of Death: June 3, 1917. Pattison was killed making an attack on a power station near Lens, France. He is buried in the La Chaudiere Military Cemetery, France, approximately 3 kilometres south of Lens on the north-western outskirts of Vimy.

Lance Sergeant Ellis Wellwood Sifton, VC

18th Battalion, Western Ontario Regiment, Canadian Expeditionary Force

Son of John J. Sifton, of Wallacetown, Ontario. Born on October 12, 1891. In civilian life, Lance Sergeant Sifton had been a farmer. He enlisted on October 23 1914, at St. Thomas, Ontario.

Citation:

"For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. During the attack in enemy trenches Sgt. Sifton's company was held up by machine gun fire which inflicted many casualties. Having located the gun he charged it single-handed, killing all the crew. A small enemy party advanced down the trench, but he succeeded keeping these off till our men had gained the position. In carrying out this gallant act he was killed, but his conspicuous valour undoubtedly saved many lives and contributed largely to the success of the operation."

Date of Death: April 9, 1917. Sifton is buried in the Lichfield Crater Cemetery near Neuville-Saint-Vaast, France.

Captain Thain Wendell MacDowell, VC, DSO

38th Battalion, Cameron Highlanders of Canada, Canadian Expeditionary Force

Born in Lachute, Quebec on September 16, 1890. Educated at the University of Toronto. Enlisted in the 41st Regiment (Brockville Rifles) in 1914. Was later commissioned in the 38th Battalion and posted overseas. Awarded the Distinguished Service Order for capturing three machine guns and taking 53 enemy prisoners during the attack on Desire Trench in November, 1916. He was demobilized in the rank of Major. Following the First World War he worked with a number of engineering concerns. From 1923 and 1928 held the appointment of Private Secretary to the Minister of National Defence. In 1923 he was appointed Honourary Lieutenant Colonel of the Frontenac Regiment.

Citation:

"For most conspicuous bravery and indomitable resolution in the face of heavy machine-gun and shell fire. By his initiative and courage this officer, with the assistance of two runners, was enabled, in the face of great difficulties, to capture two machine-guns, besides two officers and seventy-five men. Although wounded in the hand, he continued for five days to hold the position gained, in spite of heavy shell fire, until eventually relieved by his battalion. By his bravery and prompt action he undoubtedly succeeded in rounding up a very strong enemy machine-gun post."

Date of Death: March 29, 1960. MacDowell is buried in the Oakland Cemetery, Brockville, ON.