Bellenden Seymour Hutcheson VC MC (1883 - 1954)

Born 16 Dec 1883 in Mount Carmel, Wabash, Illinois, United States

Died 9 Apr 1954 at age 70 in Cairo, Alexander, Illinois, United States

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Biography

Bellenden Hutcheson VC MC was awarded the Victoria Cross.

Bellenden Hutcheson VC MC was awarded the Military Cross.

Bellenden Hutcheson VC MC is Notable.

Captain Dr. Bellenden Seymour Hutcheson VC, MC (16 December 1883 – 9 April 1954) was an American-born Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC) during the First World War. The VC is the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Hutcheson was one of the seven Canadians to be awarded the Victoria Cross for their deeds on one single day, 2 September 1918, for actions across the 30 km long Drocourt-Quéant Line near Arras, France.

Citation

“For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on September 2nd, when under most intense shell, machine-gun and rifle fire, he went through the Quéant-Drocourt Support Line with the battalion. Without hesitation and with utter disregard of personal safety he remained on the field until every wounded man had been attended to. He dressed the wounds of a seriously wounded officer under terrific machine-gun and shell fire, and, with the assistance of prisoners and of his own men, succeeded in evacuating him to safety, despite the fact that the bearer party suffered heavy casualties.

Immediately afterwards he rushed forward, in full view of the enemy, under heavy machine-gun and rifle fire, to tend a wounded serjeant, and, having placed him in a shell-hole, dressed his wounds. Captain Hutcheson performed many similar gallant acts, and, by his coolness and devotion to duty, many lives were saved.”

(London Gazette, no.31067, 14 December 1918)

In 2014 Princess Anne visited the Canadian Cross of Sacrifice in Arlington when she unveiled a plaque commemorating the four United States’ recipients of the Victoria Cross:^[1]

• Captain Bellenden Seymour Hutcheson VC, MC, Canadian Army Medical Corps attached to 75th Battalion (Mississauga)
• Lance Corporal William Henry Metcalf VC, MM, 16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish)
• Sergeant George Harry Mullin, VC, MM*, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry
• Sergeant Raphael Louis Zengel VC, MM, 5th Battalion (Western Cavalry)

Resources

• Personnel Records of the First World War
• Victoria Cross - First World War, 1914-1918
• Legion Magazine
• Wikipedia

Bellenden Seymour Hutcheson was born 16 December 1883 in Mount Carmel Precinct, Wabash, Illinois, USA son of Bellenden Hutcheson and Luella Wiley

Bellenden married Frances Rand Young 1 Dec 1919 in Kentville, Kings, Nova Scotia ^[2]

Bellenden passed away 9 April 1954 in Cairo, Alexander, Illinois, USA and was buried in Rosehill Cemetery, Mount Carmel, Illinois, USA. Find A Grave: Memorial #7034721

Sources

1. ↑ Metcalfe, Nick. "The Canadian Cross of Sacrifice at Arlington National Cemetery." Sacrifice. October 29, 2015. Accessed June 29, 2018. https://ww1sacrifice.com/2015/10/29/the-canadian-cross-of-sacrifice-at-arlington-national-cemetery/.
2. ↑ Canada, Nova Scotia Marriages, 1907-193

See Also

• United States Census 1900
• United States Census 1930
• United States Census, 1940