Canadian War Museum successful in its bid to acquire the Shankland Victoria Cross at auction
Ottawa, Ontario, May 25, 2009 — The Canadian War Museum is delighted to announce its successful purchase at auction today of the Robert Shankland medal set, which includes both the Victoria Cross and Distinguished Conduct Medal.
“Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Shankland’s story is an essential part of the national heritage of all Canadians” stated Mark O’Neill, the Museum’s Director General. “The story of this great Canadian and his contribution to our history deserves to be preserved in our national military museum.”
“The War Museum has done Canada a great service,” says Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore. “This medal, and the heroism that earned it, are part of our proud history of service and sacrifice. On behalf of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the Government of Canada and all Canadians, I salute the Museum for its commitment and support in honouring our past.”
With its successful purchase, the Canadian War Museum now holds 30 of the 94 Victoria Crosses awarded to Canadians in its collections.
The medal set was purchased with the assistance of the Museum’s National Collection Fund. The Fund, which is an ongoing fundraising initiative established in 2005 by the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation, enables the Canadian War Museum and the Canadian Museum of Civilization to acquire artifacts that might otherwise be lost to Canadian national heritage.
BACKGROUNDLieutenant-Colonel Shankland Victoria Cross Medal Set
The Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (V.C.) was instituted on February 5, 1856, with the first awards given to heroes of the Crimean War (1854–1856). It is the British Commonwealth’s highest award for military bravery.
Since its inception, the Victoria Cross has been awarded to 94 Canadians. Eight of these awards were for actions during the late nineteenth century and the South African War (1899–1902). The vast majority — 70 Victoria Crosses — were awarded for actions during the First World War (1914–1918) and 16 were awarded for the Second World War (1939–1945). No Victoria Crosses have been awarded to Canadians since, and its issue was discontinued when Canada instituted its own awards for bravery and gallantry during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The Victoria Cross was re-instituted in 1993 as Canada’s highest award for bravery in the face of the enemy, and it is distinguished from the earlier British issue by the Latin words
Pro Valore.
To date, none of the new Canadian Victoria Crosses have been awarded, and all of the 94 awards to Canadian recipients have been under the former British awards system. With the acquisition of the Shankland VC, the Canadian War Museum now has 30 Victoria Crosses in its collection, including one from the nineteenth century, 26 from the First World War and three from the Second World War.
Medal SetLieutenant-Colonel Shankland’s medal set consists of the Victoria Cross, Distinguished Conduct Medal, British War Medal 1914–1920, Victory Medal 1914–1919, Defense Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Bar, War Medal 1939–1945, King George VI Coronation Medal 1937, and the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953.
Victoria Cross ActionLieutenant-Colonel Robert Shankland received the Victoria Cross for his actions on October 26, 1917, during the Battle of Passchendaele. At the time of his actions, Robert Shankland was a Lieutenant in the 43rd Canadian Infantry Battalion (Cameron Highlanders of Canada), raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1914. Shankland had joined the 43rd on December 18, 1914, and rose in rank from Private to Sergeant by 1916. On the morning of October 26, 1917, the opening day of the Battle of Passchendaele, Lieutenant Robert Shankland led his platoon of men from the 43rd to the crest of the hill overlooking the enemy trenches at Bellevue Spur. To his right were elements of the 58th Battalion and to his left were troops from the 8th Brigade, consisting of the 1st to the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles.
When the Canadians moved forward, B Company of the 43rd Battalion captured Bellevue Spur, but heavy enemy fire caused the 58th to retire, leaving Shankland and his platoon from D Company exposed on the right flank. Eventually, the left flank retired, further exposing Shankland’s troops to enemy fire, a counter-attack, and sustained casualties for four hours. Under these circumstances, Shankland returned to the Battalion headquarters where he requested reinforcements after providing a detailed report of the situation and a plan to counter-attack. Reinforcements were provided from the 58th and the 52nd Battalions, both part of the 9th Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division, which included the 43rd Battalion. Lieutenant Robert Shankland was awarded the Victoria Cross for his leadership and courage.
Passchendaele Victoria CrossesThere were nine Victoria Crosses awarded to Canadians for the Battle of Passchendaele from October 26 to November 6, 1917. The Canadian War Museum currently has the four, the Victoria Crosses awarded to Major Christopher O’Kelly, Lieutenant Hugh McKenzie, Sergeant George Mullin, and Major General George Randolph Pearkes. The acquisition of Shankland’s Victoria Cross medal set is the fifth of nine Passchendale V.C.s.
