It’s been 77 years since Canada awarded any military servicemember the Victoria Cross, the highest military medal available, but a local veteran is working with his colleagues to change that.
John Thomson appeared during city council’s Feb. 28 regular meeting and spoke about how national veterans group Valour in the Presence of the Enemy is working to convince the Canadian government and military to upgrade Pte. Jesse Larochelle’s Star of Military Valour — the second-highest military award — to the Canadian Victoria Cross.
Larochelle fought in Afghanistan in 2006, and during one engagement, defended his position against enemy attack and saved many lives while demonstrating an unparalleled sense of duty and commitment. The military gave him the Star of Military Valour for his role in that battle.
Valour in the Presence of the Enemy began advocating for Larochelle online in December 2020 and created a petition on Sept. 15, 2021 to have Larochelle considered for the Victoria Cross.
During the meeting, council voted unanimously to endorse Thomson’s request — on behalf of Valour in the Presence of the Enemy — to have Larochelle awarded the Victoria Cross. Council also agreed to send a copy of the motion to Governor General Mary Simon, the area MP, Defence Minister Anita Anand and the Valour organization.
From 1867 to 1993, Canadian military personnel received the Victoria Cross under the British Empire and Commonwealth. The federal government created a Canadian version of the medal in 1993.
Ninety-nine Canadians have received the Victoria Cross; the last one was issued during the Second World War.
Presentation
Thomson — who grew up in west-central Saskatchewan — served for 20 years in the Royal Canadian Medical Services and deployed three times to Afghanistan and once to Sri Lanka, he explained. After retiring, he began a blog dedicated to telling veterans’ stories and advocating for their interests.
While writing, he came across Valour in the Presence of the Enemy, a group composed of former soldiers and filmmakers.
“Their goal is to assist Canadian soldiers to gain the proper recognition of their heroic acts serving their country, and specifically, to enable the awarding of the Canadian Victoria Cross for gallant service in Afghanistan,” he said.
The group wrote to the Governor General and asked that her awards committee investigate and review new evidence around Larochelle’s heroic actions on Oct. 14, 2006, and consider him for the Victoria Cross, Thomson continued.
Larochelle, then 20, was manning an observation post in Afghanistan with others when more than 20 Taliban insurgents overwhelmed them. The insurgents fired on the position from three sides while the soldiers defended themselves with their machine guns until a rocket-propelled grenade hit the post and knocked them unconscious.
When he awoke, Larochelle found that two comrades were dead and four were injured. Larochelle dragged himself to the machine gun to ensure the position was not overrun. However, the explosion had destroyed the gun but did not destroy 15 new rocket launchers beside him.
“Disregarding his own safety and exposing himself to accurate enemy fire, Pte. Larochelle launched all the rockets at his disposal, driving off the enemy and forcing them to retreat,” said Thomson. “His actions saved the lives of the remainder of his section.”
Larochelle later helped carry the caskets of his buddies onto a plane. Afterward, he sought medical attention; doctors determined the explosion fractured his back while firing the rockets further contributed to his injuries.
The soldier was later sent home, given the Star of Military Valour, and then discharged from the military.
After Valour began advocating for Larochelle, a squadmate came forward and said the gun turrets on nearby armoured vehicles had malfunctioned at the time. This meant the soldier’s actions prevented the squad’s flank from being overrun.
Legion Magazine later published this new information and Larochelle’s story became widely known.
Coun. Jamey Logan thanked Thomson for his presentation.
“The story, I’m blown away by how amazing these people are and what they do for our country. It’s unbelievable,” he said. “It puts everything in perspective, especially with what’s going on in the world right now.”
The next regular council meeting is Monday, March 14.
