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Cadet F/Sgt John Lowe

21 Mount Royal RC Air Cadet Sqn

1947

In 1948 a young Montreal Air Cadet named John Lowe became famous when he single-handedly and at great personal risk saved seven people from drowning. John's heroism and quick action came to the attention of National Defence Headquarters and he was named as first winner of the Cadet Award for Bravery which had just been announced by Defence Minister Brooke Claxton. John did not receive his award immediately, since design work on the medal was in progress at the time.

One day last spring, Cadet F/Sgt John Lowe of No. 21 (Mount Royal) Squadron stood at attention before one of the world's greatest airmen and received his well-earned hero's medal. At a dinner sponsored by the Air Force Veterans Association the famous Lord Trenchard, first Marshal of the Royal Air Force, pinned the bravery medal on F/Sgt Lowe's tunic. For all present, it was a reminder that seven grateful people owed their lives to the quick thinking, alert action and quiet heroism of this modest young Air Cadet.

3 possible unknown awarded pre1949

Cadet Sergeant Donald Topham with his parents, 1949 (Nat.Arch. PA204476)

Cdt Topham's medal with inscription on reverse, note original English only inscription on front (Don Topham)

Cadet Sgt Donald Topham

2158 Peachland (9 Recce Regt) Cadet Corps, Peachland, British Columbia

Saved young comrade from drowning who fell through ice

16 March 1949

Donald Topham is now retired, we are fortunate to have a collection of documents pertaining to his award

Newspaper Articles and documents

Cadet Pierre Sorel

1195 Ecole Superieure St-Stanislas Cadet Corps, Montreal Qc

a sauve un enfantde 8 ans de la noyade

17 avril 1949

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Cadet Floyd Peterson

507 Kentville RC Air Cadet Sqn

1952

The town of Cambridge near Kentville, NS boasts only one school - a two-story frame structure. One Saturday morning last June, Air Cadet Floyd Peterson of No. 507 (Kentville) Squadron was strolling past the school with a crippled friend when he noticed smoke seeping out around the windows. He quickly decided to investigate and noticed from the odor of the fumes that they were generated by phosphorus. Sending his chum for help, Floyd forced a window open and made his way through heavy smoke to the chemistry lab on the second floor. Here he discovered that a bottle of phosphorus had exploded and flaming chunks were flying about the room. The shelves of the lab were already on fire and flames were dangerously close to an array of volatile chemicals including two large containers of alcohol.

Snatching up a coat that had been left in the school Cadet Peterson tossed it over the sputtering phosphorus, picked up the blazing mass and threw it out of a window. Then, ignoring the danger of a possible explosion, he turned his attention to the other fire. By the time help arrived Floyd Peterson, badly burned on the hands and face and nearly blinded from smoke, had the situation completely under control.

When the good people of Cambridge heard the story they handed Floyd a $200 "thank you" cheque to assist the burned youth with medical expenses. But greater honours were to come.

In February Defence Minister Brooke Claxton announced that Air Cadet Floyd Peterson would receive the Cadet Award for Bravery - a medal awarded only to cadets who knowingly risk their lives in the interest of the lives or property of others. As this is written, plans have been made for Cadet Peterson to fly to Ottawa and attend the annual meeting of the Air Cadet League in March, at which time he will be presented with his well-earned hero's medal.

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Cadet Hector J. Moore

294 Chatham RC Air Cadet Sqn

1954

On July 9, 1953, Air Cadet Hector J. Moore of No. 294 Chatham Squadron was playing with friends on the bank of the River Thames when Jeanne Gauthier, aged ten, fell into the deep water.

Cadet Moore dived in and brought the struggling girl within reach of his friends who lifted her to safety. The young cadet, however, was exhausted from his efforts and drowned through lack of strength to save himself.

His outstanding heroism has been recognized by the Minister of National Defence with the posthumous award of the Cadet Award for Bravery, presented only to those cadets who knowingly risk their lives in order to save the lives or property of others.

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Cadet S. Larkins (posthumous)

526 Barrhead RC Air Cadets Sqn

1958

The exceptional heroism of a young Alberta Air Cadet was recognized recently with the posthumous award of the Cadet Award for Bravery to Air Cadet Stuart Larkins of No. 526 Barrhead Squadron. Cadet Larkins sacrificed his life when he went to the rescue of a young girl, Miss Carrol Bassani into the icy, fast flowing water of the Paddle River.

He was successful in aiding Miss Bassani to the river bank where she was pulled to safety. However, Cadet Larkins had so expended himself that he could no longer fight the icy current and he was drowned.

The Award for Bravery, considered to be the cadet equivalent of the Victoria Cross, was presented to the parents of Cadet Larkins by Air Commodore H.H.C. Rutledge, acting on behalf of the Chief of the Air Staff.

Cadet D. Surrette

RC Sea Cadets

The first Cadet Award for Bravery to be received by a member of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets has been presented to 15-year-old Sea Cadet Douglas Surette of RCSCC Chebogue, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, for saving the life of a three-year-old who had fallen through an old wharf into Yarmouth Harbour in September 1959. Cadet Surette jumped into the cold harbour waters after the little girl and brought her to safety. Shown left to right, are Ian Clulee, president of the Yarmouth Branch of the Navy League of Canada; R. J. Bicknell, national president of the league, who made the presentation; Donna, admiring her rescuer's award; Cadet Surette; H. R. Gillard, the league's national secretary, and Lt. D. H. Mitchell, commanding officer of RCSS Chebogue. (Bob Brooks Photo, Yarmouth, N.S.) .

1960

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Cadet Ferguson

RC Sea Cadets

A young sea cadet, William Ferguson, of Cornwall, Ont., became the first sea cadet to be awarded. the Tri-Service Award for Bravery when Rear-Admiral P. D. Budge, Chief of Naval Personnel, made the presentation recently. Sea Cadet Ferguson rescued two youngsters, aged eight and 10, from the Cornwall Canal. He had been fully dressed in uniform.

Author unknown, The Navy’s Heart, The CROWSNEST, January 1962, Volume 14, Number 3, page eight

1961

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Cadet F/Sgt William J. Vincent

511 Humber RC Air Cadet Sqn

1962

Flight Sergeant William J. Vincent of 511 Humber Squadron, Corner Brook, Newfoundland risked his own life to save a young girl - Ruby Tulk - from drowning in the waters of the Tickle River on September 22nd, 1962.

The presentation was made in 1963 by Group Captain A.G. Dagg, Commanding Officer RCAF Station Summerside, who praised FSgt Vincent, a non-swimmer, for his courage in saving the young girl's life.

The Award for Bravery Medal was introduced in 1948 for presentation to cadets who knowingly risk their own lives while saving the lives or property of others.

Cadet Daniel Joseph Primeau

2784 Governor General's Foot Guards Cadet Corps, Ottawa, Ontario

Saved 10 year old friend from drowning

17 April 1977

Cadet Colette Turcotte

2565 Lac-Etchemin Cadet Corps, Lac-Etchemin, P.Q.

premiers soins et confort a un blesse

28 juillet 1982

Cadet Rene Normandin

2859 Corps de Cadet Les Fusiliers de Windsor, Windsor P.Q.

sauve un a jeune copain de la noyade

15 octobre 1982

Cadet Michel Monette

2407 Blind River Canadian Legion Cadet Corps, Blind River, Ontario

Saved 56 year old man from drowning

18 May 1986

Cdt Joe Philion receives a medal for bravery from National Defence, Brigadier General Archie Brown in February of 1989 while recovering from burns in Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children.

Cadet Joe Philion

Cadet Award for Bravery

Cadet Joe Philion joined 99 Squadron at age 14. Six weeks later while asleep in the family home in March 1988, he was awakened by the smell of smoke. Rather than save himself, he ran through the house shouting warnings to his family. Unable to find his mother he stood his ground under surrounded by fire. He suffered 3rd degree burns to 90% of his body. Joe's long recovery of 40 skin grafts was followed by his nomination and approval by the Chief of Defence Staff to receive the Cadet Award for Bravery. The citation read "His selfless act of bravery brings credit to himself, his community and the Canadian Cadet organization."

Cdt Ashley Gulliford (DND)

Cadet CWO Ashley Gulliford

Cadet saves drowning mother

CWO Ashley Gulliford, 2754 Army Cadet Corps in Toronto (North York), has received the nation's highest cadet honour — the Cadet Award for Bravery — for saving her mother from drowning.

The 17-year-old performed the heroic feat in 1998 during a family vacation, when her mother was overcome by fatigue while swimming across a pond. Mrs. Gulliford had all but succumbed to a third descent underwater when Ashley swam from shore to assist her. She kept her mother's head above the surface until her father could join the rescue effort.

CWO Gulliford recalls the terror and fear she felt as she watched her mom slip under the water. "I did what seemed logical at the time, but looking back, I would change a lot. My first instinct was to swim under water and push her up, not thinking of the risks of doing so. This was not an act of courage or bravery, just one's instinctive reaction to such a situation."

CWO Gulliford will retire from her corps where she is regimental sergeant major in the spring to begin university studies. She plans to become a Crown Attorney. She also plans to become a CIC officer. "I've always wanted to become an officer so that I could give back to the organization and help others reach their full potential in the system," she says.

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Cadet Nathan Fredrickson

1998

176 Winnipeg RC Air Cadet Sqn

On May 24, 1998, the officers and cadets of No. 176 Squadron were on exercise near Tulabi Falls, Manitoba, for the purpose of aircrew survival training. At approximately 1210 hours, as the squadron was packing to leave, two senior cadets went to the observation platform overlooking Tulabi Falls. While there they noticed a girl standing in the water at the mouth of the falls.

Tess Furtado, age 12, was washing her feet in the lake when she slipped and fell into the water. The intense current carried her over the falls.

FSgts Nathan Fredrickson and Aaron Arnason ran from the observation deck down a trail beside the water and came to the last section of the falls. Fredrickson jumped into the water and swam out to Furtado. He grabbed onto her and kept her head above the turbulent water. Arnason called to a nearby fishing boat for assistance and arranged for more help from bystanders. The boat brought Tess and Fredrickson to shore.

While shaken up and injured, Furtado received no injuries to her head, neck or back and she had no broken bones or internal injuries.

"When I jumped onto the rocks I thought she was going to die," Fredrickson recalled. "Tess was in hysterics and bleeding. I had to get her to focus, so I gave her my watch and then she climbed toward me and I was able to get her to safety," said Fredrickson, who received cuts on his feet and slight hypothermia.

"Most people in the same situation would do the same thing I did," he said. He noted that the happiest part of receiving the Air Cadet Medal of Bravery was that Furtado was the one who presented Fredrickson and Arnason with their awards.

Cadet Sgt John Lambert

1999

Cdt/Sgt John Lambert was awarded his medal while on course at VACSTC in 1999

Cadet WO Cory Rule

42 Grey & Simcoe Foresters Cadet Corps, Owen Sound, ON

saving his mother and two dogs during a house fire

2001

Cadet MWO K.C. Maple

C/MWO K.C Maple from 337 Queens York Rangers RC(Army)CC was awarded the Cadet Award for Bravery. last summer he took a trip across the Atlantic Ocean with his uncle. they ran into a large storm and the boat tipped leaving him and his uncle alone in the middle of the Atlantic ocean with out a lifeboat. they were eventually picked up 2 hours off the coast of Greenland by the coast guard because MWO Maple called his dad for help just before the boat tipped and the phone cut out. The uncle did not survive the accident. (more to follow)

Cadet WO1 Simon Grant

Abbotsford cadet's brave actions recognized

By Kevin Mills - Abbotsford News

There was no time to think, just time to act.

So that’s what Simon Grant did.

It has been more than two years since Warrant Officer First Class Grant took action, and last week the member of the Air Cadet Squadron 861 Silverfox in Abbotsford was presented with the Cadet Medal of Bravery from the Royal Canadian Air Cadets.

He received the honour for his “outstanding valour as an air cadet, involving the risk of his own life to save others and maintain their well-being.”

The incident took place Oct. 10, 2009 in Fort Langley. Then only 16, Grant and his fellow cadets were helping with the local cranberry festival, unloading and loading trolley buses, which were parked on an incline and filled with people. The bus Grant was helping to load suddenly began to roll on its own, with no driver inside.

“The brakes failed. I heard a snapping, odd sound and suddenly the bus was moving,” he said. Knowing there were passengers on board, Grant moved quickly.

“I just hopped on the bus and looked down at the pedals.”

At that time, he didn’t have a driver’s licence and didn’t know which pedal was which. He chose correctly and managed to bring the bus to a stop long enough for the driver to catch up and take over. When he looked up, all 35 people on the bus were just staring at him.

“It was silent. It was very silent. Nobody knew what was going on. Then I just walked off the bus.”

By the time he stopped the bus’ progress, it had already gone over the curb and was about 10 feet away from an embankment, which would have sent it on a one and a half storey fall.

“It was no more than 10 seconds, the whole thing,” he said.

No one was hurt in the incident. Grant said he doesn’t like to think about what could have happened. Last week’s medal ceremony was a huge thrill for him.

“My hands were numb. I don’t know how to explain it. Exciting doesn’t do it justice. There was a lot of emotion.”

This was not his first award. Grant has also received the Long Service Medal, Lord Strathcona Medal, Chief Instructors Award and the Legion Medal of Excellence. Because he turns 19 later this month, the award ceremony was his last official event as a cadet. But he doesn’t think his involvement in the military has come to an end.

“I have an application into RMC, the military college. I want to be a logistics officer.”

He said his family has a long history of soldiers, police officers, correctional officers, paratroopers and more.

“My family has always been sort of military. ‘There’s never been a Grant out of uniform’ is pretty much the saying.”