Вінніпеґ Український № 2 (26) (April 2017)

HISTORY. ІСТОРІЯ
Five other Canadians
joined Cpl. Filip Konowal
with being awarded the Victoria
Cross.
Cpl. Filip Konowal was
evacuated to Beauwood
Medical Facility near
London where he was
treated for severe trauma
to the head, shrapnel
wounds and neurological
damage. Upon release, he
was reassigned to The 16 th
Canadian Reserve Battalion
and The Canadian Forestry
Corps in England. He also served with
The Canadian Siberian Expeditionary
Force, once again a return to Vladivistok
in Siberia. His advantage was his linguistic
skill. He was discharged with honours
after military service to Canada - 3 years
and 357 days.
Cpl. Filip Konowal was awarded the
Victoria Cross – “Pro Valore” and promoted
to rank of Sergeant Filip Konowal
VC. After pinning the medal, His Majesty,
King George V stated: “your exploit is one
of the most daring and heroic
in the history of my army. For
this accept my thanks.”*
In addition to the Victoria
Cross, he was
awarded the British War
Medal (1914-20), Victory
Medal (1914-19), George
VI Coronation Medal
(1937), Elizabeth II Coronation
Medal (1953)
and Cross of St. George,
4 th Class (Russia).
Sgt. Filip Konowal
found employment at the House of Commons
in Ottawa. Prime Minister William
Lyon Mackenzie King noticed his Victoria
Cross ribbon colours, he arranged for
Konowal to be reassigned to a lifetime job
in the Prime Minister’s office.
Sgt. Filip Konowal died in 1959 at Hull,
Québec. He is buried at Notre Dame de
Lourdes Cemetery, Ottawa.
Sgt. Filip Konowal became the patron of
The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 360
(Konowal Branch) in Toronto.
Victoria Cross Medal Set, Corporal Filip Konowal, VC. The Canadian W
His medals are located at The Canadian
War Museum in Ottawa.
There are memorials both in Canada,
France and in his native village.
“Just as the scar on Filip Konowal’s face has not
disappeared, so will never fade the fame of this
former Canadian soldier of Ukrainian origin, whose
name is written in letters of gold in the history of
Canada and the First World War.” – George Salsky 11
February 1954 CBC Radio
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28 Український Вінніпеґ - КВІТЕНЬ 2017 -