Frederick George Topham VC (1917 - 1974)

Born 10 Aug 1917 in Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada

Ancestors

Died 31 May 1974 at age 56 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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Biography

Frederick Topham VC was awarded the Victoria Cross.

Frederick Topham VC is Notable.

Frederick George Topham, VC (10 August 1917 – 31 May 1974) was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Rank Corporal in 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion

Frederick George Topham was born in Toronto on August 10, 1917. He was educated at King George Public School and Runnymede High School. Prior to his enlistment in the Canadian Army, he worked as a hard-rock miner at the Wright Hargreaves mine at Kirkland Lake.

Frederick George Topham died on May 31, 1974 from a heart attack, in the Borough of York and is buried at Sanctuary Park Cemetery, Etobicoke, Canada.

Citation

“On 24th March 1945, Corporal Topham, a medical orderly, parachuted with his Battalion on to a strongly defended area east of the Rhine. At about 1100 hours, whilst treating casualties sustained in the drop, a cry for help came from a wounded man in the open. Two medical orderlies from a field ambulance went out to this man in succession but both were killed as they knelt beside the casualty.

Without hesitation and on his own initiative, Corporal Topham went forward through intense fire to replace the orderlies who had been killed before his eyes. As he worked on the wounded man, he was himself shot through the nose. In spite of severe bleeding and intense pain, he never faltered in his task. Having completed immediate first aid, he carried the wounded man steadily and slowly back through continuous fire to the shelter of a wood.

During the next two hours Corporal Topham refused all offers of medical help for his own wound. He worked most devotedly throughout this period to bring in wounded, showing complete disregard for the heavy and accurate enemy fire. It was only when all casualties had been cleared that he consented to his own wound being treated.

His immediate evacuation was ordered, but he interceded so earnestly on his own behalf that he was eventually allowed to return to duty.

On his way back to his company he came across a carrier, which had received a direct hit. Enemy mortar bombs were still dropping around, the carrier itself was burning fiercely and its own mortar ammunition was exploding. An experienced officer on the spot had warned all not to approach the carrier.

Corporal Topham, however, immediately went out alone in spite of the blasting ammunition and enemy fire, and rescued the three occupants of the carrier. He brought these men back across the open and, although one died almost immediately afterwards, he arranged for the evacuation of the other two, who undoubtedly owe their lives to him.

This N.C.O. showed sustained gallantry of the highest order. For six hours, most of the time in great pain, he performed a series of acts of outstanding bravery and his magnificent and selfless courage inspired all those who witnessed it.”

(London Gazette, no.37205, 3 August 1945)

Sources

See Also

• 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion Virtual Museum
• Wikipedia
• Biography and Photography of Fred Topham by The 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion Preservation Association C Company
• Victoria Cross recipients
• Victoria Cross - Second World War, 1939-1945