Valour

Valour Road is a street in the West End district of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Originally called Pine Street, it was renamed Valour Road in 1925 to recognize the courage of three young men who lived in the 700 block and served in the First World War.[2] Corporal Leo Clarke, Sergeant-Major Frederick William Hall, and Lieutenant Robert Shankland each received the Victoria Cross for acts of bravery during the war. Shankland was the only one to survive the war; the other two men were awarded the medal posthumously. All three medals are now on permanent display at the Canadian War Museum.

The (Canadian) Victoria Cross (French: Croix de Victoria), created in 1993, is a military decoration and the highest award within the Canadian honours system, taking precedence over all other orders, decorations, and medals. It is awarded by either the Canadian monarch or his or her viceregal representative, the Governor General of Canada, to any member of the Canadian Forces or allies serving under or with Canadian military command for extraordinary valour and devotion to duty while facing hostile forces. Whereas in many other Commonwealth countries the relevant version of the Victoria Cross can only be awarded for actions against the enemy in a wartime setting, the Canadian government has a broader definition of the term enemy, and so the Victoria Cross can be awarded for action against armed mutineers, pirates, or other such hostile forces without war being officially declared. Recipients are entitled to use the post-nominal letters VC (for both English and French) and also to receive an annuity of C$3,000.[1] The decoration has not been awarded since its inception

CANADIAN VICTORIA CROSS

BURROWS, Flying Officer Sydney Edward (34099) - Air Force Cross - No.434 Squadron, No.4 (F) Wing - awarded as per Canada Gazette dated 30 July 1955 and AFRO 367/55 dated 30 July 1955. Born in Burnaby, British Columbia. Enlisted 1951 in Vancouver. Trained at Centralia (wings, 1952), Air Gunnery School (Macdonald, Manitoba) OTU (Chatham). Posted to Germany, March 1953. After accident described below he was graded as monocular and grounded; transferred to Flying Control duties. However, he lobbied and finally regained flying category on T-33 and Dakota Navigational Training aircraft. Commander, No.440 (Rescue) Squadron, 1968. In 1971 he went to No.424 Squadron Detachment, UN forces, Srinagar, Kashmir, flying a Twin Otter, Trenton to Kashmir. Later Base Operations Officer, Comox. Retired, September 1982. Later an executive with the Royal Canadian Legion.

On Monday, 13 September 1954, Flying Officer Burrows was flying a routine training mission as a member of a four plane formation of F-86 Sabre jets. While approximately 20 miles from No.4 (Fighter) Wing, Baden Soelingen, Germany, a bird struck the perspex canopy of Burrows' aircraft, shattering the canopy. Pieces of the shattered canopy were imbedded in Flying Officer Burrows' face and left eye. Partially blinded and covered with blood, this pilot retained control of his aircraft and quickly gave the international distress call of "Mayday". He then had to tear off his helmet to clear his face and eyes, thus leaving him with no radio communications. The section leader, on determining the emergency, assigned a wing man to lead Flying Officer Burrows to 4 (Fighter) Wing. Although Burrows was losing blood, suffering great pain and shock, and almost completely blinded by perspex and blood, he safely executed a wheels down landing on the aerodrome. He then taxied his aircraft clear of the runway to enable the remainder of the formation to land. He was lifted from his aircraft and taken to the Wing Hospital for emergency treatment. This young officer, instead of parachuting to safety and losing his aircraft, demonstrated extreme courage and devotion to duty in flying his aircraft back to base to carry out a safe landing while suffering extensive pain and being almost totally blind.

Canadian Victoria Cross Aviators in World War 2