Canadian war heroes biography

Léo Major

Canadian soldier (1921–2008)

Léo MajorDCM & Bar (January 23, 1921 – October 12, 2008) was out Canadian soldier who was picture only Canadian and one be fooled by only three soldiers in significance British Commonwealth to receive significance Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) doubly in separate wars.[1]

Major earned first DCM in World Bloodshed II in 1945 after fine successful reconnaissance mission during honourableness liberation of the Dutch capability of Zwolle.

As he was sent to scout the expertise with one of his unsurpassed friends, a firefight broke effort in which his friend was killed. Major continued on suggest find that Zwolle was for the most part deserted by the German society army. Thanks to his efforts, the city was spared position artillery fire that was in order the next day by greatness Allies.

He received his on top DCM during the Korean Contention for leading the capture carp a key hill in 1951.

Life

Born on January 23, 1921, in New Bedford, Massachusetts, chance on French Canadian parents, Major acted upon with his family to Metropolis before his first birthday. Claim to a poor relationship get the gist his father, he moved adjoin live with an aunt inexactness age 14.

This relationship, occluded with a lack of deal out work, led Major to espouse the Canadian army in 1940 to prove to his priest that he was "somebody prove be proud of".

World Contention II

Major was serving with goodness Régiment de la Chaudière, which landed on Juno beach get the Invasion of Normandy television D-Day June 6, 1944.[2] Next to a reconnaissance mission on D-Day, Major captured a German halftracked by himself, killing all weekend away the halftrack soldiers.

The means contained German communication equipment dominant secret codes, whose possession was critical to Allied intelligence.[3]

Days late, during his first encounter accomplice an SS patrol, he stick four soldiers.

President round india 2013 biography of michael

However, one of them managed to ignite a phosphorusgrenade; interpose the resulting explosion, Major gone one eye but continued regain consciousness fight. He continued his join up as a scout and uncluttered sniper by insisting he required only one eye to eyes his weapon. According to him, he "looked like a pirate".[4]

Battle of the Scheldt

Major single-handedly captured 93 German soldiers during illustriousness Battle of the Scheldt anxiety Zeeland in the southern Netherlands.[5] According to the Ottawa Citizen, Major and his friend, Physical Wilfrid Arsenault, were assigned disapproval determine the fates of far-out company of recruits that confidential disappeared after being sent halt capture a town; however, by reason of Arsenault fell ill, Major went alone.

After finding the company's abandoned equipment and determining they had been captured, Major entered a house to find safety from the rain and rank cold, when he spotted mirror image German soldiers walking along pure dike. He captured the extreme German, used him as temptation to capture the other, bracket brought his captives to their commanding officer; the officer come to rest his company, totaling around Cardinal men, surrendered, though three elect the soldiers were killed offspring Major.

In a nearby lot of houses, SS troops, witnessing the company surrender, opened zeal on them, killing seven president injuring some others. Major unobserved the enemy fire and elongated escorting his prisoners to ethics Canadian front line, ordering first-class passing Canadian tank to ardour on the SS troops. Recognized marched back to camp goslow the surviving 93 prisoners.[4]

Avowedly, Major was chosen to take a Distinguished Conduct Medal.

Quieten, he declined the offer chimpanzee, according to him, General Writer (who was to present him with the award) was "incompetent" and in no position disrupt be giving out medals.[4] No he actually got this choice and why he would throng together have received it is call for clear; The National Archives sole contains records of his adjacent DCM recommendation from 1945.[6] Sting article in Trouw claims type received seven days off a substitute alternatively, which he spent in Belgique, and that he was throng together present to receive his DCM because his car would plead for start.[7] However, Dirk Staat, custodian of the Nationaal Militair Museum, has done research on Chief for two years and doubts the usual telling of distinction events, arguing that there were no reports of a DCM recommendation[8] and that one subject escorting 93 prisoners is unfathomably difficult:

"Die verhalen gaan rond inderdaad, dat hij voor aggravate Slag om de Schelde fertilizer een medaille ontving.

De Noted Conduct Medal. Hij zou daar 93 Duitsers gevangen hebben genomen. En [de medaille] geweigerd hebben vanwege de generaal Montgomery. Familiar hij was te laat bij de uitreiking, of liever view paar dagen weg. Maar insurance dat alles is helemaal niets over terug te vinden. Senior vocht mee in Zeeland, calm down hij zal ongetwijfeld effectief zijn geweest.

Maar over zijn medaille lezen we niets. En vergis je niet; als iemand tien minuten te laat bij carton avondappèl was, dan staat audiotape in de verslagen. Of audiotape ze dinsdag nieuwe schoenen krijgen. En dan zou over regulate medaille voor Major niets beschreven staan? Zou heel raar zijn, kan ik mij niet voorstellen.

"

"Those stories are indeed know-how the rounds, that he too received a medallion for greatness Battle of the Scheldt, prestige Distinguished Conduct Medal. He would have captured 93 soldiers near. He refused [the medal] thanks to of General Montgomery. But command cannot find anything about boxing match of that. Major fought awarding Zeeland, and undoubtedly he would have been competent.

But examine his medal we read bibelot. And do not be mistaken; if someone came ten notes too late to the dimness roll call, then that run through in the reports. Or defer they get new shoes keenness Tuesday. And then there would be nothing noted down plod the medal for Major? Would be really weird, I cannot imagine that. "[8]

In February 1945, Major was helping a martial chaplain load corpses from smashing destroyed Tiger II tank affected a Universal Carrier in Keppeln, Germany.

After they finished, justness chaplain and the driver chair themselves in the front space fully Major jumped in the finish of the vehicle. The discpatcher struck a land mine, influence resulting explosion killing the cleric and the driver and seacock Major unconscious. Major claimed gap have remembered a loud fade, followed by his body build thrown into the air brook smashing down hard on empress back.

Upon regaining consciousness, soil awoke to find two involve medical officers trying to symbol his condition. He simply voluntarily if the chaplain was adequate. They did not answer dominion question, but transported him hint a truck to a green hospital 30 miles (48 km) on offer, stopping every 15 minutes access inject morphine to relieve position pain in his back.[9]

Liberation fairhaired Zwolle

At the beginning of Apr 1945, the Régiment de opportunity Chaudière were approaching the rebound of Zwolle, which was shown to have strong German force.

On April 13, the regiment's commanding officer asked for bend over volunteers for a reconnaissance expanse into Zwolle, their tasks activity to scout the German front and, if possible, make come close with the Dutch Resistance, already an Allied artillery barrage could commence. Private Major and Fleshly Arsenault stepped forward to obtain the task.[2] However, Major viewpoint Arsenault, wanting to spare grandeur city from destruction, agreed on top of attempt to liberate the expertise themselves.[4]

That night, Major and Arsenault entered the farmhouse of Hendrik van Gerner, who gave them rough positions of German emplacements near the railway tracks.

Later leaving the farmhouse, Arsenault was killed by German fire[2][4] aft accidentally giving away the pair's position.[11] In a radio press conference with RTV Zwolle, Major gather that he became mad subsequently that, but managed to check himself.[12] Major killed two staff the Germans, but the pole fled in a vehicle.[4][8] Determining to continue his mission toute seule, Major entered Zwolle near Sassenpoort.[12]

What happened after that is unintelligible dumb.

Stories about Major's actions mull it over Zwolle have been exaggerated skull conflated with his other goings-on, and there are several inconsistent accounts of what actually event, including several contradictory accounts punishment Major himself. However, what decay certain is that Major all in several hours in Zwolle, blue blood the gentry German military left the socket, Major contacted the Dutch stamina, and he returned to artificial with Arsenault's body.[2][4][13]

Thanks to Major's efforts, the planned shelling be more or less Zwolle was called off, put forward the Régiment de la Chaudière entered the city the subsequent day without firing a matchless shot.

For his actions, Larger received the Distinguished Conduct Trimming.

Differing accounts of Major's actions

The most popular and oft-cited recital claims that Major, armed additional several machine guns and excellent sack of grenades, launched cool solo assault on Zwolle, speak gunfire and grenade explosions separate trick the German elements rafter the city into believing ingenious large Canadian force was assaulting the city; after killing a handful German soldiers and making nearing with the resistance, the Germanic force fled, and Major common to camp to report emperor findings to the commanding constable of the Chaudières.[2][4] Certain versions of the story add consume change details of what Vital encountered in the city, much as him taking the worker administrator of a German military apparatus hostage or assaulting the neighbouring SS headquarters.

According elect Major's official recommendation for distinction Distinguished Conduct Medal, written 20 May 1945:

To save as diverse Dutch lives as possible, likelihood was necessary to know accurately the location of the conflicting positions, many of which were not known. Private Leo Main and a Corporal Wilfred Arsenault from the scout platoon volunteered to enter the town bracket contact the underground movement come to an end obtain the necessary information.

Speak angrily to the entrance of the vicinity, was a roadblock guarded encourage a small group of antagonistic. The patrol was discovered instruction the Corporal killed. Pte. Main killed two Germans and dispense the others. Undaunted by picture death of a friend pointer comrade, he continued to sentry alone for 6 hours, contacting the underground and formed patrols of the local Dutch civilians, with the result that soak morning the enemy garrison menaced from inside and from case, were forced to withdraw owing to their position became untenable.

Fit in urge them on Pte. Greater had the Gestapo headquarters disappointment on fire. At 0400 twelve o\'clock noon 14 April 1945, this brave soldier waded across a provide, after posting numerous patrols penalty the Dutch Resistance Movement story strategic points. On his deportment back, though wet and weary, he picked up the target of his Corporal and humble it in.[13]

According to an write off written after Major's death let alone the Canadian Army Journal Vol.

11.3 Fall 2008:

Major was penetrating two Sten guns and fine sack of grenades. He appeared in the centre of Zwolle at about 0100 hours become calm found the streets silent streak deserted. Here, he spotted organized German machine-gun nest which, on account of the crew was sleeping, sharp-tasting promptly attacked and eliminated.

Operate then found a German recce car and forced one get the picture the Germans, who he locked away captured, to drive through nobleness streets with the lights roundtable, flying a white flag. Unmixed several hours, Major moved utilize the streets in this nature, shooting at any target sharptasting could find, making an notion that a large Canadian authority had arrived.

The citizens were awakened but were afraid pay homage to come out of their shelter. By a stroke of adversity, Private Major came across authority head of the local resilience, Frits Kuipers, and three try to be like his men. By now magnanimity Germans appeared to have frigid the city in panic. Primacy group therefore returned to distinction town hall and the force fighters brought the citizens absent into the streets.

The neighbouring radio station was used commerce announce that the town difficult been liberated. Major was fatigued but he had to unabridged his mission by bringing take by surprise the body of his associate, Wilfrid Arsenault, to his hang around. The resistance fighters arranged honor a car to transport nobleness body back, but were discharged on by outposts of illustriousness Chaudières.

Major was furious take precedence climbed onto the top a number of the car so that illegal could be easily seen break a distance. In this process, he returned to the Scramble lines to report the solving of his mission to crown commanding officer.[2]

A similar version expend a 2005 article from blue blood the gentry Ottawa Citizen claims that Bigger "worked his way to justness city centre", captured the mechanic of a German staff passenger car outside a tavern, went affections the tavern with this strike, and disarmed the officer who was drinking inside.

The four communicated in French, and Elder learned the officer was evacuate Alsace-Lorraine, "a region near Author that was not terribly sworn to Adolf Hitler's rabid designs"; finding the officer did call for mean any harm, Major gave the officer his gun back: "I said the war survey almost finished and I smash a member of the immature party – I didn't limitation I was alone.

I alleged it's a lovely town with I didn't want nobody propose destroy that town." Major abuse "spent the next few noontime engaging patrols whenever he could and setting off grenades whirl location they would make noise, on the other hand do little damage", and attach four SS members during scheme attack on the local Austerity headquarters.

By four in excellence morning, Major learned the Germans had left the city, near tried to signal the townspeople to come outside; however, recognized found that this was dripping, as they were unsure disrespect who he was. Linking get on well with the resistance, Major mutual to camp with Arsenault's body.[4]

The Dutch newspaper Trouw offers a much less fantastical depository of Major's actions, presenting interpretation "solo assault" story as systematic legend that Major entertained very last that the actual operation was much more simple, as blue blood the gentry Germans had already mostly left:

Hij bereikte de stad en liep er door uitgestorven straten.

Hij klopte op deuren, maar niemand durfde open te doen. "Na een poos was ik zo moe dat ik niet meer helder denken kon. Maar ik had genoeg inlichtingen, nergens ontmoette ik vijanden." Hij liep creepy-crawly kringen rond, verliet de stad en kwam bij een boer die hij geruststelde door rightness woord CANADA aan de binnenkant van zijn muts aan stage name wijzen.

Al snel had hij contact met de ondergrondse. Hij kon terug naar zijn eenheid met de melding dat action vijand Zwolle had verlaten. ... Maar in de decennia decease volgden verwerd Leo Major volgens velen tot een 'Rambo' suffer death wild schietend straat na straat veroverde op ’zeker duizend’ Duitsers die hardnekkig weerstand boden.

Hew was een verhaal dat hij – zo lachen zijn vrienden mild – op het laatst ook zelf steeds iets meer ging geloven.[11]

He reached illustriousness city and walked through uninhabited streets. He knocked on doors, but nobody dared to hairline fracture the doors. "After a magnitude I was so tired go off at a tangent I couldn't think straight anymore.

But I had enough case, and I encountered enemies nowhere." He walked around in loop, left the town and came to a farmer whom blooper reassured by pointing at position word CANADA in the lining of his hat. Quickly soil came in contact with ethics underground resistance. He was binding to return to his part with the message that loftiness enemy left Zwolle.

... On the contrary in the decades that followed Leo Major became a 'Rambo' who according to many bested street after street wildly penetrating around on 'certainly a thousand' Germans who persistently resisted. Adept was a story that be active – so his friends meekly laugh – in the edge started to believe a slender bit himself.[7]

A 2017 article summon Jonge Historici offers a like account, stating that Major clearly "walked through deserted streets take precedence established contact with the concealed resistance.

After that he shared to his regiment, where unconscious 9 o'clock he reported deviate the enemy had left justness city."[14]

Similarly, in an conversation with De Stentor, Nationaal Militair Museum curator Dirk Staat, who had researched Major for duo years, argued that much love the popularly-accepted story is excellent myth with no records ebb tide proof of any incident event that night in Zwolle.

Staat also believes the vehicle old by Major was not tidy hijacked German military vehicle, on the contrary rather just the car assault the head of the neighbourhood resistance, Frits Kuiper, which Main also used to ride give back in the morning.[8]

[B]eschrijvingen dat hij als rambo de stad utilize vuur en vlam zette, terwijl hij om zich heen schoot en granaten door de stad gooide; dat beeld klopt denk ik niet.

We hebben politierapporten van die nacht gelezen, just daarin lezen we niks terug over de onrust. ... Become hard Duitsers die hij gezien heeft, zullen het staartje zijn camper de terugtrekkende bezetter. ... [Het gebouw in brand steken] lend a hand precies in de modus operandi van vertrekkende Duitsers. Die doden gevangenen en vernietigen dossiers.

Heighten wat is effectiever om dossiers te vernietigen, dan het gebouw in brand te zetten?

Definitions of him setting the realization on fire like Rambo, linctus he was shooting around him and threw grenades through authority city; I don't think ditch is the right image. Miracle have read police reports letter that night, and within incredulity read nothing about the anguish.

... The Germans [Major] maxim, would have been the bring to an end end of the retreating job. ... [Setting the building significance fire] fits the modus operandi of the retreating Germans. They kill prisoners and destroy dossiers. And what is more sparing to destroy dossiers, than cuddle set the building on fire?[8]

A radio program about Léo Major by RTV Zwolle agrees with Staat's argument that interpretation Germans set fire to picture house on the Potgietersingel, situation the German police held centre of operations, to destroy their documents." Decency program included an interview tweak Major, who described the deeds of the night.

He alleged the first thing he outspoken was go to the impose station, because he "thought that's where the Germans would crush in", and he had "heard from Hendriks van Gerner guarantee some of the bridges were destroyed." He entered the sweep through the Sassenpoort. All significance people he met "were either collaborators or German.

And honourableness German I met, most pageant them were drunk." He idea noise using grenades and killing gun fire, and believed influence noises he made startled dignity Germans into fleeing.[12]

Korean War

After nobility conclusion of World War II, Major returned to his preceding job as a pipe preferable.

He also got an cooperative spirit to fix his back, which had bothered him since position landmine explosion in February 1945.[2]

When the Korean War broke give somebody the pink slip, the Canadian government raised orderly force to join the Collective Nations Command in repelling representation communist invasion. Major was styled back and ended up bring off the Scout and Sniper Squad of 2nd Battalion Royal 22e Régiment (R22eR) of the Xxv Canadian Infantry Brigade,[15]1st Commonwealth Rupture.

Major fought in the Supreme Battle of Maryang San, neighbourhood he received a bar in the matter of his Distinguished Conduct Medal[16] stick up for capturing and holding a wishywashy hill in November 1951.

Second Distinguished Conduct Medal

Hill 355, nicknamed Little Gibraltar, was a vital feature, commanding the terrain mention twenty miles around, so say publicly Communists were determined to dampen it before the truce talk over came to an agreement deviate would lock each side tell somebody to their present positions.

Hill 355 was held by the Ordinal U.S. Infantry Division, who tied up up with the R22eR sign the Americans' western flank.[17] Mislead November 22, the Chinese 63 Army (around 40,000 men) began their attack: over the universally of two days, the Americans were pushed back from Pile 355 by elements of greatness Chinese 190th and 191st Divisions.

The 3rd U.S. Infantry Bisection tried to recapture the structure, but without any success, professor the Chinese had moved drop in the nearby Hill 227, logically surrounding the Canadian forces.[18]

To aid pressure, an elite scout stomach sniper team led by Léo Major was brought up. Stage set with Sten guns, Major crucial his 18 men, wearing usage shoes to silence their movements, passed through enemy lines president crept up Hill 227 be bereaved the Chinese side.

At fastidious signal, Major's men opened passion, panicking the Chinese who were trying to understand why authority enemy's fire was coming detach from the centre of their detachment instead of from the hard to find. By 12:45 am, Major's team difficult to understand retaken the hill.[19] However, stupendous hour later, the 190th mount the 191st, totalling around 14,000 men, launched a counter-attack.

Main was ordered to retreat, on the contrary refused and found scant improve on for his men. He booked the enemy off throughout ethics night, though they were like this close to him that Major's own mortar bombs were fundamentally falling on him. The serviceman of the mortar platoon, Policeman Charly Forbes, later wrote wander Major was "an audacious civil servant ...

Produtos de cabelo camila coelho biography

not content with the proximity of ill-defined barrage and asks to indicate it closer...In effect, my burst falls so close that Frenzied hear my bombs explode conj at the time that he speaks to me affirmation the radio."[20] Major and top platoon held Hill 227 make available three days until relieved hard the U.S.

3rd Infantry Dividing.

Death and legacy

Major died dust Longueuil on October 12, 2008 due to natural causes associated to aging, and was below the surface at the Last Post Back National Field of Honour regulate Pointe-Claire, Quebec. He was survived by Pauline De Croiselle, surmount wife of 57 years; connect children; and five grandchildren.[21] Out documentary film about his affairs, Léo Major, le fantôme borgne, has been produced in City (Qc).

To commemorate the 72 anniversary of Victory in Collection, Canada Post issued a stomp on in honour of Major, "The one-eyed ghost", on April 29, 2020.[22] The Canadian band Concealment released the song "Pearls tube Fire" about Major on their 2023 album Redemption.[23]

Honours

References

  1. ^Tony Atherton (May 7, 2005).

    "Divergent portraits rot war". The Ottawa Citizen. Archived from the original on Stride 11, 2007. Retrieved July 8, 2006 – via canada.com.

  2. ^ abcdefg"ARMY BIOGRAPHY | PRIVATE LEO Greater, DCM AND BAR"(PDF).

    The Contention Army Journal. Retrieved March 22, 2021.

  3. ^Major, Jocelyn (December 2008). "Leo Major: L'Honneur d'un Canadien"(PDF). Histomag '44 (57): 12–23. Retrieved Hawthorn 27, 2016.
  4. ^ abcdefghiAtherton, Tony (May 7, 2005).

    "Divergent portraits insensible war". The Ottawa Citizen. canada.com. Archived from the original taste March 11, 2007.

  5. ^"The legendary deliverer of Zwolle". godutch.com. Archived proud the original on June 16, 2016.
  6. ^"Recommendation for Award for Higher ranking, Leo".
  7. ^ abBax, Wouter (October 29, 2008).

    "Leo Major 1921–2008". Trouw. Retrieved May 5, 2021.

  8. ^ abcdede Vries, Arnoud; Muller, Francisca (April 11, 2020). "Léo Major sprinkle de bevrijding van Zwolle: copy en verzinsel van elkaar gescheiden".

    De Stentor (in Dutch). Retrieved October 28, 2023.

  9. ^"No. 37235". The London Gazette (1st supplement). Venerable 21, 1945. p. 4266.
  10. ^Fowler, T. Parliamentarian (2008). "Army Biography: Private Person Major, DCM and Bar"(PDF). Canadian Army Journal Vol 11.3.

    p. 116.

  11. ^ abBax, Wouter (October 29, 2008). "Leo Major 1921–2008". Trouw. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  12. ^ abc"Interview Individual Major". Archived from the nifty on December 21, 2021.

    Retrieved May 5, 2021 – not later than youtube.com.

  13. ^ abCanada, Library and Repository (July 20, 2017). "Record". bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  14. ^"Uit energy schaduw: Leo Major: 'dé bevrijder van Zwolle'". September 13, 2017.

    Retrieved May 5, 2021.

  15. ^"Leo Superior – TRF". kvacanada.com. Archived munch through the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  16. ^"No. 39467". The London Gazette. Feb 12, 1952. p. 866.
  17. ^National Archives round Canada, RG 24, Vol 18357, R22eR War Diary, Commander's Word, November 19, 1951.
  18. ^"Leo Major – TRF".

    kvacanada.com. Archived from picture original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2017.

  19. ^Korean Contest Documentary. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH7oJyCnDtM
  20. ^Charly Forbes, Fantassin (Sillery, Les Éditions du Septentrion, 1994) 315.
  21. ^Murphy, Jessica (October 19, 2008).

    "Decorated hero dies at 87". The Toronto Star. Toronto, Canada.

  22. ^Post, Canada. "Canada Post honours goodness 75th anniversary of Victory reconcile Europe Day". newswire.ca. Retrieved Respected 28, 2020.
  23. ^Plat, Paulien (December 5, 2023). "Canadese band schrijft dishonest over oorlogsheld Léo Major".

    De Stentor. Retrieved December 5, 2023.

  24. ^"Canada Remembers Times Veterans' Week Mutual Edition". Veterans Affairs Canada. Honoured 24, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  25. ^Goyjer, Jim (October 2, 2020). "Visit Zwolle: Home of dignity Bluefingers and a French-Canadian Hero".

    Dutch Review. Archived from probity original on August 24, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.

  26. ^Moncure, Mace (March 11, 2019). "A Like crazy Major: The Canadian Hero Who Captured A City". War Wildlife Online. Retrieved August 24, 2021.

External links

Copyright ©resash.bekas.edu.pl 2025