Cadet Medal of Bravery
The Cadet Award for Bravery may be awarded to a cadet who performs an outstanding deed of valour, involving risk of his or her life, in attempting to save the life or property of another person. A recommendation that a cadet be awarded the Cadet Award for Bravery shall be initiated by the commanding officer of the cadet corps, who shall obtain the concurrence of the appropriate league at the local, provincial and national levels. The recommendation, together with the league concurrence, shall be forwarded through the military chain of command to the Chief of the Defence Staff.
Notification that a cadet has been awarded the Cadet Award for Bravery shall be promulgated in Canadian Forces Supplementary Orders, and the region commander shall notify the cadet and the commanding officer of his or her cadet corps. The medal or the ribbon of the Cadet Award for Bravery shall be worn on the right breast of the uniform and take precedence over the Royal Canadian Humane Association Medal or ribbon, respectively. The medal of the Cadet Award for Bravery shall be worn on a cadet uniform for ceremonial occasions and, for other occasions, the ribbon only shall be worn. Neither the medal nor the ribbon of the Cadet Award for Bravery shall be worn on any uniform other than the uniform authorized for cadets under article 5.22. Records appear to indicate that a total of 8 Army Cadets have won the Cadet Award for Bravery since its inception 1948.
This medal has be awarded only on eighteen known occasions to army, air or sea cadets in 61 years, making it exceedingly rare.
List of Cadet Medal of Bravery awarded to Army, Air and Sea Cadets
18 (known) awarded since 1947
Cadet 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 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
Cadet Pierre Sorel
1195 Ecole Superieure St-Stanislas Cadet Corps, Montreal Qc
a sauve un enfantde 8 ans de la noyade
17 avril 1949
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.
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.
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
1960
Cadet Ferguson
RC Sea Cadets
1961
Cadet Flight Sergeant 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 Ashley Gulliford (DND)
Cadet 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.
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 John Lambert
1999
Cdt/Sgt John Lambert was awarded his medal while on course at VACSTC in 1999
Cadet Rule
42 Grey & Simcoe Foresters Cadet Corps, Owen Sound, ON
saving his mother and two dogs during a house fire
2001
C/MWO K.C. Maple 337 Queens York Rangers RC(Army)CC
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)
