Harcus Strachan

Harcus Strachan

Harcus Strachan VC MC (November 7 1884 - May 1 1982) was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Strachan was 33 years of age, and serving in the First World War with the Canadian Expeditionary Force as a lieutenant in The Fort Garry Horse, when he performed the action for which he was awarded the VC. It has become traditional for the Garrys to hold a parade every year on the anniversary of Strachan's unlikely cavalry exploit.

During the Battle of Cambrai on 20 November 1917 at Masnières, France, Lieutenant Strachan took command of a mounted squadron of Garrys when the squadron leader, approaching the German front line at a gallop, was killed. Lieutenant Strachan led the squadron through the enemy line of machine-gun posts and then, with the surviving men, led the charge on the German battery, killing seven of the gunners with his sword. When all the gunners were killed and the battery silenced, he rallied his men and fought his way back at night on foot through the enemy's lines, bringing all unwounded men safely in, together with 15 prisoners.

Strachan, having been promoted to captain, received his VC from King George V on January 6 1918. After the war, he farmed in Edmonton before going into banking.

Strachan later commanded the 1st Battalion, Edmonton Fusiliers during the Second World War. After the war he retired and moved to Vancouver.

He is also sometimes enumerated amongst Scottish VC winners since he was born in Barrowtouness, Scotland and attended the Royal High School, Edinburgh. Strachan eventually attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. The surname is properly pronounced "Strawn". Strachan is buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Burnaby, British Columbia.

References

*Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
*The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
*Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)

External links

* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7768616 Find-A-Grave website has a photograph of Harcus Strachan]
* [http://www.legionmagazine.com/features/victoriacross/05-07.asp Legion Magazine Article on Harcus Strachan]


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