Cobourg
Northumberland County's beloved Charlie, Rutherford, farmer, postmaster, municipal clerk, politician, holds three of the highest awards for military gallantry. At 84, his courageous deeds are known to all. Last year, he was honored by his fellow citizens at a special Barnum House event at Grafton.
Rutherford was a young lieutenant in the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in World War I. At Monchy-de-Preux, France, he took 80 German prisoners on August 26, 1918.
Rutherford was leading an assault, and was well in from of his men when he came upon a party of 45 heavily-armed Germans. He waved his pistol, motioning the Germans to come over to him. An officer returned the signal, and Rutherford -- with an honest Northumberland face -- walked over and single-handedly told them they were prisoners. "By masterly bluff", says the Times History of the War, he convinced the Germans they were surrounded and took them in, including three machine guns.
When his men arrived, they moved forward and took another pill-box, and Rutherford took 35 more prisoners and more machine guns. His one day's total stood at 80 prisoners.
Tonight, Charlie is giving the pistol he used that day to the Royal Canadian Military Institute in Toronto.
Mr. and Mrs. Rutherford have lived most of the years since, in Cobourg or the county, except for a period at Keswick on Lake Simcoe.
The Victoria Cross is the Commonwealth's highest military decoration for bravery. It is awarded for "conspicuous bravery or devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy." It was founded by Queen Victoria in 1856 during the Crimean War. The dull red ribbon holds a bronze cross and the Royal crest and the words "For Valour."
The George Cross stands just under the Victoria Cross as the Common Wealth's second highest award for bravery. It is given "For Gallantry", and is a plain silver cross with Saint George slaying the dragon, hanging on a ribbon of garter blue. It can be awarded to civilians as well as military -- the distinction being for acts of gallantry, but not necessarily in the presence of the enemy. The G.C. was begun by King George VI in 1940 for "acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger."
Holders of the two awards meet together in the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association. Rear Admiral Godfrey Place. V.C., who is in Cobourg this weekend is president of this association which is Commonwealth-wide.
There are two claims for the "first" Canadian Victoria Cross winner. A Lieut. Dunn, a Canadian, Won a V.C. in the "Charge of the Light Brigade" at Balaclava in the Crimean War. William Hall, a Nova Scotian serving with the Royal Navy, won the V.C. at Lucknow. India in 1857.
The book Valiant Men lists 93 Canadians or foreign nationals serving with Canadian units as V.C. winners -- 69 in World War I. There were only 13 V.C.s won by Canadians in World War II and five of them were posthumous.
There have been nine awards of the George Cross to Canadians or persons serving with Canadian units.
In 1972, the federal government announced distinctive Canadian decorations for bravery. It is questionable whether there will be any more Victoria Crosses or George Crosses awarded to Canadians.
The persons who now hold them may be the last of a breed.
