Victoria Cross

Today is the 102nd Anniversary of the Capture of the Hopewell Cape Vimy Gun - April 9, 1917

Today is the 102nd Anniversary of the Capture of the Hopewell Cape Vimy Gun - April 9, 1917

102 years ago today, April 9, 1917 the men of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, stormed the hills of Vimy Ridge for the first Allied Victory of the First World War.

The Canadian Corps captured more ground, more prisoners and more guns than any previous Allied offensive. It was a major victory for the Allies. With the overall success of the Battle of Arras, a turning point in the Great War had been reached. Read more…

Today is the 98th Anniversary of the Hopewell Vimy Gun Arriving in Hopewell Cape - May 28, 1920

Today is the 98th Anniversary of the Hopewell Vimy Gun Arriving in Hopewell Cape - May 28, 1920

98 years ago today, May 28, 1920  the Hopewell Cape Vimy Gun arrived at Cape Station and was towed to Hopewell Cape. You can learn about the exciting story, from it's capture at Vimy Ridge, April 9, 1917 to it's arrival in Hopewell Cape at the County of Heroes-Cyrus Peck, VC and the Victory Cannons Exhibit.  The exhibit opened at the Albert County Museum on May 19th.

County of Heroes Exhibit Opens Saturday, May 19th - See you there!

County of Heroes Exhibit Opens Saturday, May 19th - See you there!

On Saturday, May 19, County of Heroes-Cyrus Peck, VC and the Victory Cannon opens at the Albert County Museum in Hopewell Cape, New Brunswick. The exhibit highlights the life of Albert County born, Colonel Cyrus Peck, VC, DSO (1871-1956) who won the Victoria Cross on September 2, 1918 during the Second Battle of Arras. In addition, the exhibit tells the exciting story of the capture of the Vimy Gun, from its use on the battlefield to its final resting place in Hopewell Cape Square. Housed in a stylized First World War trench, complete with sandbags, and rusted corrugated steel, the exhibit creates a life-like setting for both parts of the exhibit.

On the 101st Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge - We are pleased to announce our New Exhibit - County of Heroes - Cy Peck, VC and the Victory Cannons

On the 101st  Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge - We are pleased to announce our New Exhibit - County of Heroes - Cy Peck, VC and the Victory Cannons

On the 101st  Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge - We are pleased to introduce our New Exhibit - County of Heroes - Cy Peck, VC and the Victory Cannons

Commemoration of 100 Years to the Day Sailing of the 26th NB Battalion a ROARING Success!

Commemoration of 100 Years to the Day Sailing of the 26th NB Battalion a ROARING Success!

The Albert County Museum's 100th Anniversary Commemoration of the Sailing of the 26th Battalion on June 13, 1915 took place this past Saturday (June 13th, 2015) - 100 years to the day the Battalion sailed to England and war. Read more...

The HOPEWELL HILL HERO - Albert County's Victoria Cross Winner

Victoria Cross Background:

The Victoria Cross (VC), instituted in 1856 by Queen Victoria, is the Commonwealth’s highest military decoration for valour. It is awarded in recognition of the most exceptional bravery displayed in the presence of the enemy, although in rare instances the decoration has been given to mark other courageous acts.

Since its inception during the Crimean War, the VC has been awarded 1,356 times, 300 of them posthumously. Depending on which of a variety of sources is cited and on the selection criteria applied, somewhere between 94 and 98 Victoria Crosses have been awarded to Canadians or to others serving with the Canadian Forces. A distinctly Canadian version of the medal was introduced in 1993. To date no one has been awarded the Canadian medal.

LCol Cyrus Wesley Peck:

Cyrus Wesley Peck was born in Hopewell Hill, New Brunswick, on April 26, 1871, and was educated at Hopewell Hill Superior School. In June 1887, at the age of 16, he and his family moved to New Westminster, British Columbia, then later to Skeena, BC.

As a young man, he pioneered in the Klondike, and set himself up as a broker in salmon canning, sawmills and towing operations. He was also an elected Unionist Member of Parliament for the Skeena riding. As a member of the militia, Peck was given a captain's commission and attached to the 30th Battalion, with which he sailed to England. In April 1915, he was promoted to major and later transferred to the 16th Battalion, Canadian Scottish. He was wounded in both legs during fighting around the town of Festubert, France, May 21, 1915. In January 1916, he was given command of the regiment.

In addition to the Victoria Cross, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) twice and Mentioned in Dispatches five times. In 1917, while he was overseas, he was elected to the House of Commons as the Member of Parliament for Skeena in British Columbia.

VC Citation: Lieutenant-Colonel Peck was awarded the Victoria Cross for his courageous leadership on September 2, 1918, during the fighting for the Drocourt-Quéant Line, near Cagnicourt in France.

“For most conspicuous bravery and skilful leading when in attack under intense fire. His command quickly captured the first objective, but progress to the further objective was held up by enemy machine-gun fire on his right flank. The situation being critical in the extreme, Colonel Peck pushed forward and made a personal reconnaissance under heavy machine-gun and sniping fire, across a stretch of ground which was heavily swept by fire. Having reconnoitred the position he returned, reorganised his battalion, and, acting upon the knowledge personally gained, pushed them forward and arranged to protect his flanks. He then went out under the most intense artillery and machine gun fire, intercepted the Tanks, gave them the necessary directions, pointing out where they were to make for, and thus pave the way for a Canadian Infantry battalion to push forward. To this battalion he subsequently gave requisite support. His magnificent display of courage and fine qualities of leadership enabled the advance to be continued, although always under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire, and contributed largely to the success of the brigade attack.”

The London Gazette, November 15, 1918

Post War: At the end of the war, Peck returned home to Skeena, and reclaimed his seat in the House of Commons, being active in veterans' rights issues. In 1924, he became a Legislative Member for British Columbia. He later acted as aide-decamp for two of Canada's Governors General. Peck died in Sydney, British Columbia on September 27, 1956.

Gravesite: He is buried in the New Westminster Crematorium in Vancouver, BC.

Medal Location: His Victoria Cross is held at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, Ontario.

Post Script: As the Canadian Corps moved against the Drocourt-Quéant defensive line from 1 to 4 September 1918, six other VCs were awarded to Canadians in addition to that of Lieutenant-Colonel Peck. They were Captain Bellenden Seymour Hutcheson, Sergeant Arthur George Knight, Lance- Corporal William Henry Metcalf and Privates Claude Joseph Patrick Nunney, Walter Leigh Rayfield and John Francis Young.

Peck is reputedly the only Member of Parliament in the British Empire/Commonwealth to have been awarded the Victoria Cross while in office.  

This Article was taken Verbatim from Fact Sheet # 67 Published by: The Friends of the Canadian War Museum and was written by Captain (N) (Ret’d) M. Braham, CD. The original article can be found here.