Medals of First World War Hero John Macgregor, VC, Find Home at the Canadian War Museum
Ottawa, August 11, 1997 -- The acquisition of the John MacGregor Victoria Cross and Medals Group by the Canadian War Museum was jointly announced today in Ottawa by Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps and Director General of the Canadian War Museum Victor Suthren."Housed here at the Canadian War Museum, these medals will remain a permanent reminder to Canadians of the magnificent courage and sacrifice of Jock MacGregor," said
Minister Copps.
The eleven medals of one of Canada's most-decorated soldiers, the late John (Jock) MacGregor, VC, of Powell River, B.C., were returned to Canada from an auction house in London, England, at the request of the federal department of Canadian Heritage. Funding for the acquisition by the Canadian War Museum was provided by Canadian Heritage, the Government of British Columbia and the MacGregor Medals Fund.
"This ensures that the honours won by an outstanding soldier will be visible to future generations, so that Canadians may never forget the sacrifices that were made for us all," stated Mr. Suthren.
Captain John MacGregor won the Victoria Cross during the First World War battle to break through the heavily fortified Hindenburg Line. Despite being wounded, he advanced single-handedly on an enemy machine gun nest, killing four men and taking eight prisoners. In the Second World War, MacGregor became Lieutenant-Colonel of the 2nd Battalion Canadian Scottish Regiment and commanded a training camp in Wainwright, Alberta.
In addition to the Victoria Cross, the MacGregor medals include the Military Cross and Bar, Distinguished Conduct Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, 1939-45 Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Bar, 1939-45 War Medal, 1937 Coronation Medal (King George VI) and the Efficiency Decoration.
The medals were acquired by a private collector in 1984. They were to be auctioned in London in November of last year, but the sale was blocked by Canadian Heritage, which controls the export of cultural property from Canada. The Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board created a delay period to allow a Canadian institution the opportunity of purchasing the medals. The Board also certified the medals as cultural property for tax purposes, providing a further incentive for sale of the medals to a Canadian institution.
"The return of the MacGregor medals represents an important step in the federal government's protection of Canada's cultural heritage," Minister Copps said.
MacGregor's youngest son, Don MacGregor, also of Powell River, undertook to recover the medals with the hope that they would be displayed in a Canadian museum. The Powell River Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion established the MacGregor Medals Fund and, within a few months, secured over $40,000 from private sources and $35,000 from the Government of British Columbia toward the purchase. These funds were provided to the Canadian War Museum and were supplemented by a grant of $100,000 from Canadian Heritage.
Information:
Janet Bax
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788
Manon Champagne
Media Relations Officer
Canadian War Museum
(819) 776-7169
BACKGROUNDER
Lieutenant-Colonel John MacGregor, VC, MC, DCM, ED
John MacGregor, VC, was born in 1888 in Cawdor, Scotland, and came to Canada in 1909. He trained as a mason and carpenter and entered the construction business in British Columbia. In March 1915, he is said to have snowshoed some 400 kilometres to Prince Rupert to join the army. He was initially refused because of his poor physical state, but in March he joined the 11th Canadian Mounted Rifles at Vancouver as a trooper. He transferred to the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles before arriving in France in September of that year.
In 1916 MacGregor was made a sergeant, and in May 1917 he fought at Vimy Ridge. He received the Distinguished Conduct Medal in July 1917. The citation read "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He single-handedly captured an enemy machine-gun and shot the crew, thereby undoubtedly saving his company from many casualties." The following year MacGregor, by then a lieutenant, was awarded the Military Cross for a successful trench raid.
Promoted captain, MacGregor won the Victoria Cross for his "most conspicuous bravery, leadership and self-sacrificing devotion to duty near Cambrai from 29th September to 3rd October 1918." Despite being wounded during the battle to break through the heavily fortified Hindenburg Line, he advanced single-handedly on an enemy machine gun position, killing four men and taking eight prisoners.
Finally, MacGregor received a Bar to his Military Cross for action in November 1918.
In the Second World War, MacGregor joined the 2nd Battalion Canadian Scottish Regiment in 1940 and became lieutenant-colonel in command of a training camp in Wainwright, Alberta. He served until 1946.
After the war, MacGregor, VC, returned to Powell River, B.C., and established his own business at Cranberry Lake. Following a long illness, he died in Powell River Hospital on June 9, 1952.
BACKGROUNDER
DEPARTMENT OF CANADIAN HERITAGE
MOVABLE CULTURAL PROPERTY
The Cultural Property Export and Import Act came into force on September 6, 1977. It regulates the import and export of cultural property, and provides special tax incentives to encourage Canadians to donate or sell important objects to public institutions in Canada. The Movable Cultural Property Division of the Department of Canadian Heritage provides administrative services to the Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board and administers the Act, which contains the following features:
Export Control
The export of cultural property is regulated by reference to the Canadian Cultural Property Export Control List, which establishes categories of objects, and age and value limits. The departure from Canada of an object falling within the Control List can be postponed if, as a result of an appeal by a person who has had an export permit refused, the Review Board judges that a reasonable delay period should be created. This provides an opportunity for interested custodial institutions in Canada to purchase the object before the expiration of the delay period.
Tax Incentives
The combines provisions of the Cultural Property Export and Import Act and the Income Tax Act provide for tax credits of up to 100% of net income, and exemptions from the payment of capital gains tax, for cultural property donated or sold to "designated" institutions in Canada, that is determined to be of "outstanding significance and national importance". The Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board makes this determination, and also establishes the fair market value of the cultural property for income tax purposes.
Grants and Loans
Funds are available to provide assistance to "designated" Canadian institutions to purchase objects threatened by export, and for which the Review Board has created a delay period. These funds may also be used to repatriate cultural property related to Canadian heritage which is offered for sale on the international market.
International Cooperation
The Act contains provisions prohibiting the import into Canada of cultural property illegally exported from other countries. The Cultural Property Export and Import Act also includes procedures for the recovery and return of foreign cultural property which has been illegally exported from its country of origin.
Information:
Charles Gruchy
Director General
Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7774
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