Milton Fowler Gregg

Photo by Terry Macdonald

Milton Fowler Gregg, VC, PC, OC, CBE, MC, ED, CD (1892 – 1978) was a Canadian officer, and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest Commonwealth award for gallantry "in the face of the enemy", during the First World War. In later life, he was a Member of the Canadian Parliament, cabinet minister, academic, soldier, diplomat.

Early life

Born April 10, 1892 in Mountain Dale, Kings County, New Brunswick, the son of Elizabeth Celia (Myles) and George Lord Gregg, he graduated with an MA from Acadia University in 1916.

Victoria Cross

Milton Gregg served during the First World War as an officer of The Royal Canadian Regiment. During combat in France in 1917, his actions earned him the Military Cross and in 1918 further valour added a bar to the Cross. Near Cambrai, Nord, France on September 28, 1918 his actions during the Battle of the Canal du Nord earned him the Victoria Cross. The citation for Gregg's Victoria Cross reads::

Lt. Milton Fowler Gregg, M.C., R. Can. Regt., Nova Scotia R. - For most conspicuous bravery and initiative during operations near Cambrai, 27th September to 1st October, 1918.

On 28th September, when the advance of the brigade was held up by fire from both flanks and by thick, uncut wire, he crawled forward alone and explored the wire until he found a small gap through which he subsequently led his men and forced an entry into the enemy trench. The enemy counter-attacked in force and, through lack of bombs, the situation became critical. Although wounded Lt. Gregg returned alone under terrific fire and collected a further supply. Then rejoining his party, which by this time was much reduced in numbers, and in spite of a second wound, he reorganized his men and led them with the greatest determination against the enemy trenches, which he finally cleared. He personally killed or wounded 11 of the enemy and took 25 prisoners, in addition to 12 machine guns captured in the trench. Remaining with his company in spite of wounds he again on the 30th September led his men in attack until severely wounded. The outstanding valour of this officer saved many casualties and enabled the advance to continue.

He later achieved the rank of Brigadier.

His Victoria Cross was donated to the Royal Canadian Regiment Museum in London, Ontario in 1979. The medal was stolen from the museum in 1980. It is currently on display at the Halifax Citadel in the Army Museum.

From 1934 until 1939 he was the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Commons. Following the outbreak of World War II, Gregg served overseas for two years and then commanded officer training centres at various military facilities in Canada.

In 1944, he was appointed President of the University of New Brunswick, serving in that position until 1947 when he was elected to Parliament as Liberal member for the York-Sunbury riding. Gregg served in the cabinets of Prime Ministers William Lyon Mackenzie King and Louis St. Laurent for almost ten years as the Minister of Fisheries, Minister of Veterans Affairs, and Minister of Labour.

Defeated in the 1957 election, Gregg went on to become the United Nations representative in Iraq, the UNICEF administrator in Indonesia, and the Canadian High Commissioner in Georgetown, British Guiana. He retired in 1968. Died March 13, 1978, he is buried at Snider Mountain Baptist Church Cemetery in Snider Mountain, New Brunswick.

Honours

In 1951 he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of British Columbia.

He was sworn into the Privy Council for Canada on September 2, 1947 by Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada on December 22, 1967 and accepted the award in a ceremony performed on April 26, 1968.

After his death the Milton Fowler Gregg VC Memorial Trust Fund Bursary was created in his name. It is offered annually to students entering the Royal Military College of Canada Division of Graduate Studies and Research.

The Brigadier Milton F. Gregg, VC, Centre for the Study of War and Society was created at the University of New Brunswick in 2006 to further Canadians' knowledge about conflict, and is devoted to excellence in the study of war as a complex social phenomena. Dr Marc Milner is the first Director. The centre incorporates the UNB History and UNB Military and Strategic Studies Programs.

References

• Monuments To Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• VCs of the First World War - The Final Days 1918 (Gerald Gliddon, 2000)

External links

• The Royal Canadian Regiment and The First World War - 1914-1919 - Lieut. Milton Fowler Gregg, V.C., M.C.
• Short biography with picture
• Trust Fund Bursary
• Order of Canada citation
• Milton Fowler Gregg - Parliament of Canada biography
• Legion Magazine Article of Milton Gregg
• The Brigadier Milton F. Gregg Centre for the Study of War and Society
• The Royal Canadian Regiment

Persondata
Name	Gregg, Milton Fowler
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1892
Place of birth
Date of death	1978
Place of death