Medals, Honours and Awards

Each individual that served during World War Two was entitled to receive service medals, appropriate to the time and place he/she served. These medals were normally noted on the individual’s discharge papers. In addition, an individual may have earned honours and/or awards for bravery or service with distinction. These may or may not have appeared on the individual’s discharge papers.

A description of these medals and awards can be found at Veterans Affairs Canada website Index of Medals and Decorations.

In my database I have identified 208 individuals from Cape Breton that received additional honours and/or awards during World War Two The following list identifies those I currently have in my database. If anyone can add to this list please contact me.

Honours and Awards presented to Cape Bretoners during World War Two, in order of merit:

Commander, Order of the Bath

A/M Harold (Gus) Edwards, Royal Canadian Air Force

Commander, Order of the British Empire

G/C Clarence R. (Larry)Dunlap, Royal Canadian Air Force

H/Brig. Ronald Cameron[Rev. Fr.] MacGillivray, Canadian Chaplain Services

Distinguished Service Order

S/L Colin Francis Campbell, Royal Air Force

A/Lt. Col. Donald Frederick Forbes, North Nova Scotia Highlanders

Cmdr. Harry (The Horse) Freeland, Royal Canadian Navy Reserve

Lt. Col. Sylvester (Syl) MacKinnon, Cape Breton Highlanders

Lt. Col. Robert Boyd Somerville, Cape Breton Highlanders

Officer, Order of the British Empire

Lt. Col. Thomas Edward Guy, Canadian Provost Corps

Lt. Col. James Arnold Noble, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps

Member, Order of the British Empire

Capt. St. Clair Allen, Canadian Merchant Navy

Maj. Clarence Melville [Dr.] Bethune, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps

WO1 John Benjamin Butterworth, Cape Breton Highlanders

RQMS Henry Cantwell, Cape Breton Highlanders

QMS WO I Harold Robbins Cotton, Royal Canadian Artillery

A/Lt. Col. Michael Reginald Dare, 4th Canadian Armoured Division

Maj. Edgar Fortune Cape Breton Highlanders

Maj. John Foxe, Canadian Postal Corps

Maj. Archibald A. MacDonald, Royal Canadian Artillery

CSM James Bernard MacInnis, Royal Canadian Artillery

Lt. Col. Bernard Francis [Dr.] Miller, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps

Maj. Max Morris, Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers

Philip D. Townsend. Canadian Merchant Navy

Member, Order of the British Empire (Civil Divison)

Suprv. Wensley Ritchie MacCoy, Canadian Auxiliary Services

Royal Red Cross Award, 1st Class

Maj. Hilda Mae Boutilier, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps

Capt. Mary Belle MacNeill, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps

Distinguished Service Cross

Lt. Cdr. James Philip Fraser, Royal Canadian Navy Reserve

Lt. David Lloyd Miller, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve

Military Cross

Maj. Perry Lewis Cadegan, Royal Canadian Corps of Signals

Capt. Donald Alexander Campbell, Cape Breton Highlanders

Capt. David Gaum, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps

Capt. Rhindress Ian Grant, Royal Canadian Artillery

Pte. Walter Harris MacLeod, Canadian Scottish Regiment

Maj. Gordon Leo French MacNeil, West Nova Scotia Regimen Lt. Arthur Bruce McDonald, Royal Winnipeg Rifles

Lt. Colin Douglas Nickerson, Princess Louise Fusiliers

Distinguished Flying Cross

F/O Norman Thomas Adams Royal Canadian Air Force

P/O Hubert George (Bertie) Bishop Royal Canadian Air Force

F/L Ralph E. Britten Royal Canadian Air Force

S/L Colin Francis Campbell Royal Air Force

F/O Michael John Campbell Royal Canadian Air Force

F/L Loran Wendell Farris Royal Canadian Air Force

F/L Leo Alton Fownes Royal Canadian Air Force

F/L William Alexander (Bill) Gardiner Royal Canadian Air Force

F/O Edgar William (Gill) Gillis Royal Canadian Air Force

F/O W.E. Gillis Royal Canadian Air Force

F/L Aaron E. Glustein Royal Canadian Air Force

F/O Harold Harvie Harding Royal Canadian Air Force

F/L James Thomas (Tommy) Head Royal Canadian Air Force

P/O Francis Albert Kay Royal Canadian Air Force

S/L James Cameron (Jim) Lovelace Royal Canadian Air Force

F/L Allan Charles MacDonald Royal Canadian Air Force

F/L Harry Burns MacDonald Royal Canadian Air Force

F/L Howard (Bud) MacDonald Royal Canadian Air Force

F/O Arthur James MacLeod Royal Canadian Air Force

F/O Daniel Thomas (Dan T.) MacNeil Royal Canadian Air Force

F/L John Joseph MacNeil Royal Canadian Air Force

P/O Malcolm MacNeil Royal Canadian Air Force

F/L (WOp) Alfred John Miles Royal Canadian Air Force

F/O John Walter Murray Royal Canadian Air Force

P/O John James O'Handley Royal Canadian Air Force

F/L Bernard Harold (Ben) O'Neil Royal Canadian Air Force

S/L Percy Edwin (Eddie) Spence Royal Canadian Air Force

F/L Samuel Thomas Taylor Royal Canadian Air Force

F/L Gordon William Troke Royal Canadian Air Force

Distinguished Flying Cross+ 1 Bar

F/L Patrick Crosby (Patsy) Cadegan Royal Canadian Air Force

Distinguished Flying Cross+ 2 Bars

S/L George Urquhart Hill Royal Canadian Air Force

Air Force Cross

WO2 Tom Lindsay, Royal Canadian Air Force

W/C Maurice Lipton, Royal Canadian Air Force

S/L Lewis Beatteay Stevenson, Royal Canadian Air Force

W/C Edwin Mountford (Teddy) Williams, Royal Canadian Air Force

Associate Royal Red Cross Medal

Lt. (NS) Mildred Rose Pride, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps

Lt. (NS) Doris Douglas Salton, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps

Distinguished Conduct Medal

CQMS Austin Bennett, North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment

Sgt. John (Jack) Bewsher, West Nova Scotia Regiment

L/Sgt. Patrick Jerome Jessome, Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers

Sgt. Michael Bernard MacDonald, Cape Breton Highlanders

Sgt. Alexander Ross MacLeod, 1st Hussars (6th Armoured)

CSM WO II John Hugh MacQueen, Cape Breton Highlanders

Maj. Arnel R. Milburn, Royal Canadian Artillery

CSM Joseph Winston Oldford, Cape Breton Highlanders

Military Medal

CQMS David Leo Bellefontaine, Cape Breton Highlanders

Bdr. Henry Courtney Brewer, Royal Canadian Artillery

Pte. Robert Basil Crane, 48th Highlanders of Canada

Cpl. Francis Archie Hannigan, Irish Regiment of Canada

Spr. John Henry Hawkins, Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers

L/Cpl. Fraser Peter Hutchinson, Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers

Sgt. Hezekiah Daniel MacCormack, Cape Breton Highlanders

Pte. Allan MacDonald, Royal Hamilton Light Infantry

Tpr. George MacLean, Calgary Regiment (Tank) (14th Canadian Armoured)

Pte. Angus Donald MacLeod, Cape Breton Highlanders

Sgt. John Alexander MacLeod, West Nova Scotia Regiment

Pte. Donald Angus (Dan) MacNeil, North Nova Scotia Highlanders

Sgt. Philip MacPhail, Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers

L/Sgt. John Joseph Martin, North Nova Scotia Highlanders

L/Sgt. George John Lionel Meadows, Royal Canadian Regiment

Sgt. Raymond Joseph Noonan, North Nova Scotia Highlanders

Sgt. Francis James (Frank) O'Connell, Canadian Provost Corps

L/Cpl. Alexander (Slugger) Vingar, West Nova Scotia Regiment

Cpl. Henry Seward Waye, West Nova Scotia Regiment

L/Sgt. Francis Allister (Allie) Wood, Cape Breton Highlanders

Miltary Medal + Bar

L/Cpl. Charles Joseph Harte Cape Breton Highlanders

Distinguished Flying Medal

WO2 Nolan Butts Royal Canadian Air Force

Sgt. Robert Francis Cromarty Royal Canadian Air Force

P/O Ronald MacLeod Royal Canadian Air Force

British Empire Medal

SBPO Roger Phillipe Arsenault, Royal Canadian Navy Reserve

Sgt. Bertha Margaret Hinkley, Canadian Women's Army Corps

Cpl William James (Bill) Johnston, Royal Canadian Air Force

Sgt. Roy Everett LeDrew, Canadian Provost Corps

QMS James Hector (Hec) MacKay, Royal Canadian Artillery

Cpl. Murdoch Matheson, Canadian Provost Corps

Pte. Mary Lillian Quinlan, Canadian Women's Army Corps

S/Sgt. James William Ryan, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps

Pte. Alexander Smith, Royal Canadian Army Service Corps

Cpl. Harold Robert Stewart, Royal Canadian Air Force

Canadian Efficiency Medal

Sgt. Herbert (Harold) E. Archer, 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion

A/Lt. Col. Donald Frederick Forbes, North Nova Scotia Highlanders

Sgt. Piper William Bernard (Willie the Piper) Gillis, Cape Breton Highlanders

Spr. C.E. Hilton, Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers

BSM Earle V. MacInnis, Royal Canadian Artillery

CSM James Bernard MacInnis, Royal Canadian Artillery

Maj. J.I. MacLean, Cape Breton Highlanders

WO2 Cecil E. Merlin, Royal Canadian Artillery

Lt. John Roger Mitchell, Royal Canadian Corps of Signals

Gnr. Francis Muise, Royal Canadian Artillery

CQMS Frank R.E. Rowe, Cape Breton Highlanders

Pte. Henry William (Harry) Walsh, West Nova Scotia Regiment

Commended for Valuable Services

F/O John Thomas Bryden, Royal Canadian Air Force

Mentioned in Despatches

Ldg. Ck. John Adams, Royal Canadian Navy Reserve

Cpl. Frank Norman Andrecyk, North Nova Scotia Highlanders

L/Cpl. George Arbuckle, North Nova Scotia Highlanders

L/Cpl. James William Barlow, Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers

CQMS Austin Bennett, North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment

L/Sgt. Walter Francis Briand, Cape Breton Highlanders

CEA James Edward Brophy, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve

A/P/O Creighton Benjamin Bungay, Royal Canadian Navy Reserve

Pte. Charles Burke, Cape Breton Highlanders

Capt. Eugene Campbell (Buzz) Bannerman, Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical

Pte. Charles Kenneth Chandler, Canadian Provost Corps

Engineer Samuel A. Clarke, Royal Canadian Navy Reserve

CQMS Michael Danyluk, Cape Breton Highlanders

LAC John William Denney, Royal Canadian Air Force

Maj. Henry Ewen Dickson, Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers

PO Peter Wilfred Doary, Royal Canadian Navy Reserve

RSM WO 1 Archibald Dunlop, Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers

L/Sgt. John Joseph Eddy, Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers

L/Bdr. Murdock A. Ferguson, Royal Canadian Artillery

Sigmn. Harry Sylvester Ford, Royal Canadian Corps of Signals

Sgt. Frank Greene, Cape Breton Highlanders

Pte. George Thomas Hardy, Army

L/Cpl. Charles Joseph Hart, Cape Breton Highlanders

Pte. Alphonsus Hickey, Cape Breton Highlanders

Pte. Stephen Humeniuk, Cape Breton Highlanders

L/Cpl. Garfield Archibald Ivany, Royal Regiment of Canada

F/O James Alfred Jackson, Royal Canadian Air Force

Maj. John R. Johnson, Cape Breton Highlanders

F/L Richard James Jones, Royal Canadian Air Force

CPO Morton Harry Keeler, Royal Canadian Navy

CPOMM Hubert L. LeBlanc, Royal Canadian Navy Reserve

Sgt. Leo Lighter, Canadian Intelligence Corps

Sgt. Charles Evans Peter MacAulay, Royal Canadian Army Service Corps

F/L John Bernard MacDonald, Royal Canadian Air Force

Sigmn. Melvin MacDonald, Royal Canadian Corps of Signals

Sect/O Edith Cavell MacInnes, Women's Division, Royal Canadian Air Force

LAC Arthur MacKinnon, Royal Canadian Air Force

Lt. (NS) Elizabeth Claire MacKinnon, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps

Sgt. Francis John MacKinnon, Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers

Pte. Herbert MacLean, Cape Breton Highlanders

AB Thomas Alexander MacMullin, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve

Pte. Francis J. MacNeil, West Nova Scotia Regiment

F/O (N) Hugh Columba MacNeil, Royal Canadian Air Force

Tpr. Wilfred P. Maillet

LAC Alexander Lauchlin Matheson, Royal Canadian Air Force

G/C Edwin Archibald McGowan, Royal Canadian Air Force

ERA 2 Daniel McPhee, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve

Pte. Michael Melnick, Cape Breton Highlanders

Cpl. Henry Lemuel Mills, Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical

Maj. Max Morris, Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers

Maj. Ernest Fraser Munro, Royal Canadian Army Service Corps

Spr. Andrew Ignatius Neary, Carleton and York Regiment

Maj. John Fraser Nicholson, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps

Gnr. Joseph Clarence O'Connell, Royal Canadian Artillery

W/C Joseph Wendell (Windy) Reid, Royal Canadian Air Force

F/L William Roy (Bill) Robertson, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Pte. Alonzo Joseph Sampson, Calgary Highlanders

Sgt. William Patrick (Billie) Sampson, Royal Canadian Air Force

SPO Edward Philip Seymour, Royal Canadian Navy Reserve

Sgt. Jacob Simms, Cape Breton Highlanders

Sto. PO William Smith, Royal Canadian Navy Reserve

Lt. Col. Robert Boyd Somerville, Cape Breton Highlanders

S/L Percy Edwin (Eddie) Spence, Royal Canadian Air Force

P/O Alexander (Sandy) Sutherland, Royal Canadian Air Force

F/O Donald J. Urquhart, Royal Canadian Air Force

Capt. James A. Murray (Fat) Walsh, Canadian Provost Corps

S/L Richard Noel Francis Whalley, Royal Canadian Air Force

LAC Herbert Zorychta, Royal Canadian Air Force

Mentioned in Despatches; Oak Leaf and Medal

Pte. Richard Miles, Royal Canadian Army Service Corps

Sgt. William Arthur Roberts, Canadian Provost Corps

Mentioned in Despatches; Oak Leaf Cluster

Tpr. Harry Gilbert Hinkley, Canadian Armoured Corps

Sgt. John Edward Nicol, Royal Regiment of Canada

Pathfinder Badge

F/L Aaron E. Glustein, Royal Canadian Air Force

Foreign Awards:

Order of the White Lion for Victory - Star, First Class (Czechoslovakia)

A/M Harold (Gus) Edwards, Royal Canadian Air Force

Croix de Guerre avec Etoile D'Argent (France)

G/C Clarence R. (Larry) Dunlap, Royal Canadian Air Force

Lt. Hugh Gerald MacAdam, Royal Canadian Artillery

Croix de Guerre avec Palm (France)

A/M Harold (Gus) Edwards, Royal Canadian Air Force

Officer of the Legion of Honour (France)

A/M Harold (Gus) Edwards, Royal Canadian Air Force

Knight Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau, with Swords (Netherlands)

Lt. Alexander George MacAulay, Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers

Bronze Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau (Netherlands)

WO2 Robert Gillan, Cape Breton Highlanders

F/L Harold Morris MacLeod, Royal Canadian Air Force

Spr. Alfred John Theriault, Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers

Commander, Legion of Merit (United States)

A/M Harold (Gus) Edwards, Royal Canadian Air Force

Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)

W/C Joseph Wendell (Windy) Reid, Royal Canadian Air Force

Silver Star (United States)

G/C Clarence R. (Larry) Dunlap, Royal Canadian Air Force

Gnr. Joseph Alexander (Dinke) Kalbhenn, Royal Canadian Artillery

Tech. Sgt. Harold Buchanan Morrison, United States Army

Bronze Star Medal (United States)

Lt. (NS) Nellie [Mrs.] Bewsher, United States Army Nursing Corps

Sgt. Lawrence H. Devison, 1st Special Service Force (Devil's Brigade)

Pte. Palmer Oswald Griffiths, 1st Special Service Force (Devil's Brigade)

Lt. James Mackie, United States Army

Cpl. Joseph Benedict MacNeil, Cape Breton Highlanders

S/Sgt. Roy MacVicar, United States Army

Tech. Sgt. Harold Buchanan Morrison, United States Army

Capt. Margaret Morrison, United States Army Nursing Corps

Bronze Star, Oak Leaf Cluster (United States)

CWO William H. Pierson, United States Army

Citation For Bravery (United States)

Neil Robert Clapp, Unites States Marine Corps

Pfc John Francis MacNeil, United States Army

Purple Heart (United States)

Pte. Bert L. Conway, United States Army, 8th Service Group Air Corps

Pte. Angus J. MacSween, United States Army

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