War Museum Acquires Final “Valour Road” Victoria Cross

Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Shankland, CWM 19910109-725, George Metcalf Archival Collection, © Canadian War Museum

Since its inception in 1856, the Victoria Cross, the highest military honour for British and Commonwealth forces, has been awarded to only 96 Canadians. Incredibly, three of those Victoria Crosses were awarded during the First World War to men from the same street—even the same block—in Winnipeg. With the recent acquisition, supported by the National Collection Fund, of the Frederick William Hall Victoria Cross, the Canadian War Museum is now in possession of all three of the Valour Road Victoria Crosses.

Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Shankland, Corporal Lionel B. (“Leo”) Clarke and Company Sergeant-Major Frederick William Hall all lived in the 700 block of Winnipeg’s Pine Street, which in 1925 was renamed in their honour Valour Road. The Victoria Cross is inscribed with the words “For Valour.”

“We are honoured to be the custodians of this extraordinary legacy of bravery and honour,” says Canadian War Museum Director General James Whitham. “The Victoria Cross is a rare honour. For three soldiers from the same street to receive a Victoria Cross is incredible. There is no equivalent anywhere in the world. This is a unique story of courage and sacrifice that Canadians need to know about and we’re grateful to every contributor to the National Collection Fund.” The trio of medals is now on permanent display in the Royal Canadian Legion Hall of Honour.

A Legacy for Future Generations

Corporal Lionel B. Clarke, CWM 19940079-024, George Metcalf Archival Collection, © Canadian War Museum

Two of the Valour Road Victoria Crosses were acquired with funds from the donor-supported National Collection Fund, which enables the Canadian War Museum and the Canadian Museum of Civilization to acquire artifacts that might otherwise be lost to Canadian national heritage.

Canadian Heroes

Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Shankland earned his Victoria Cross in Passchendaele, Belgium, on October 26, 1917. After leading a platoon of 40 men in capturing and holding a trench line defending the approach to Passchendaele, Shankland made his way alone through thick mud and enemy shelling to battalion headquarters to present plans for a counterattack with reinforcements. He returned to his platoon and led the counterattack.

Corporal Lionel B. (“Leo”) Clarke earned his Victoria Cross on the Somme Front on September 9, 1916. Clarke led a small group that captured a section of enemy trench in fighting so fierce that all of his comrades were killed or incapacitated by injuries. When 20 enemy soldiers counter-attacked, Clarke killed or captured all of his assailants armed only with a semi-automatic pistol.

Company Sergeant-Major Frederick William Hall, CWM 19940079-035, George Metcalf Archival Collection, © Canadian War Museum

Frederick William Hall was awarded the Victoria Cross on April 24, 1915 for giving up his life to save a wounded comrade during the Second Battle of Ypres. When the wounded man, laying 15 metres from the trench, called for help, Hall and two other soldiers tried to reach him despite heavy enemy gunfire. This first attempt failed when the two soldiers accompanying Hall were wounded. Hall then made a second attempt alone, and was fatally shot as he lifted up the wounded soldier.

The Frederick William Hall Victoria Cross was unveiled, in the company of the other Valour Road Victoria Crosses, in The Royal Canadian Legion Hall of Honour at the Canadian War Museum on November 5, 2012 the first day of Remembrance Week.

If you would like to support the National Collection Fund, please call the Development Department at 819-776-8625 or historymuseum.ca/support and warmuseum.ca/support. Your gift will ensure that our national treasures are preserved.