Cpl Frederick G. Topham, Victoria Cross
1st Canadian Parachute Battalion
24 March 1945
For his gallantry in the face of enemy fire on March 24, 1945, Corporal Fred Topham, 27, a medical orderly in the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, received the Victoria Cross, the Commonwealth's highest award for bravery on the field of battle.
In one of the final engagements of World War II, his battalion had parachuted into a strongly-defended area east of the River Rhine. While treating casualties, Cpl Topham saw two medical orderlies killed while giving aid to another wounded man. Taking over from the dead orderlies under intense fire, Cpl Topham was shot in the face. Despite severe bleeding and pain, he dressed the soldier's wounds and carried him to safety. Refusing treatment for his own injury and continuing to disregard withering enemy small-arms, rifle and machine gun fire, Cpl Topham worked steadily to aid and bring in wounded men.
Hours later, his own wound treated, despite being ordered to evacuate, he returned to duty, enroute coming across a Bren Gun Carrier which had received a direct hit. Enemy mortar bombs were landing, the carrier was burning fiercely and its ammunition was exploding. Regardless, while under fierce attack, he rescued the three occupants of the carrier. Although one died, Cpl Topham's actions undoubtedly saved the lives of the other two men.
The Toronto-born soldier showed gallantry of the highest order. For six hours, most of the time in great pain, Cpl Fred Topham performed a sustained series of acts of outstanding bravery, and his magnificent and selfless courage inspired all those who witnessed it.
Cpl Topham and his wife Mary are interred in Section A, 147C.
Plaque via Alan L. Brown's site Toronto Plaques. Full page here.