Lieutenant-Colonel Thain Wendell MacDowell
PERSONAL INFORMATION
MILITARY INFORMATION
- Lieutenant-Colonel, 38th Battalion, Infantry (Army).
- Major, 38th Battalion, Infantry (Army).
Victoria Cross (Vimy Ridge)
Date of award: 1917-04-09
Comment: On 9 April 1917 at Vimy Ridge, France, Captain MacDowell, with the assistance of two runners (company orderlies, Pvts. Kebus and Hay) reached the German position ahead of his company. After destroying one machine-gun nest he chased the crew from another. MacDowell spotted one German going into a tunnel. At the base of the tunnel meet the Prussian Guard, MacDowell was able bluff the Germans to think he was part of a much larger force. Two German officers and 75 German soldiers surrendered to him. He sent the prisoners up out the tunnel in groups of 12 so that Kebus and Hay could take them back to the Canadian line. Seeing that they had been fooled, a German prisoner grabbed a rifle and tried to shoot one of the runners. The German was then shot and killed.Although wounded in the hand, MacDowell continued for five days to hold the position gained, in spite of heavy shellfire, until eventually relieved by his battalion. He was promoted to the rank of Major following his actions at Vimy Ridge. He later achieved the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel of the Frontenac Regiment, Napanee, Ontario.
Notes: Colonel MacDowell's Victoria Cross medal is on display at the University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
Distinguished Service Order (The Somme)
Images
RESEARCH INFORMATION
Previously had served in the 41st regiment for 1 year and the Queens Own for 4 months.
He was awarded :
DSO at the Somme 1916 (rank of Captain)The Victoria Cross at Vimy Ridge in 1917 (rank of Major). His was one of four Victoria Crosses awarded at Vimy Ridge. The others were for: Lance Sergeant Ellis Wellwood Sifton, Private William Johnstone Milne and Private John George Pattison. Privates James Thomas Kobus and Arthur James Hay were awarded the DCM for their part in assisting him in the above action at Vimy Ridge.
He died in Nassau, Bahamas on 28th March 1960.
The Legacy Voices Project- Military file digitized at LAC (see link above.)
The Legacy Voices Project - Jaku Konbit Academy
Info from the attestation papers and there is no mention in the CWGC site.
Info re the Victoria Cross comes from the Wikipedia - Thain_Wendell_MacDowell
War diary Battle Reports, April 9th, 1917:
Description of event for which he received Victoria Cross - 8:00 a.m. Report from dugout - 10:30 a.m.Details of the dugout he and Privates James Thomas Kobus and Arthur James Hay captured - 2:45 p.m. [Major Army Canadian Infantry 38th Battalion Lieutenant Colonel Army Canadian Infantry 38th Battalion Distinguished Service Order The Somme Victoria Cross Vimy RidgeOn 9 April 1917 at Vimy Ridge, France, Captain MacDowell, with the assistance of two runners (company orderlies, Pvts. Kebus and Hay) reached the German position ahead of his company. After destroying one machine-gun nest he chased the crew from another. MacDowell spotted one German going into a tunnel. At the base of the tunnel meet the Prussian Guard, MacDowell was able bluff the Germans to think he was part of a much larger force. Two German officers and 75 German soldiers surrendered to him. He sent the prisoners up out the tunnel in groups of 12 so that Kebus and Hay could take them back to the Canadian line. Seeing that they had been fooled, a German prisoner grabbed a rifle and tried to shoot one of the runners. The German was then shot and killed.
Although wounded in the hand, MacDowell continued for five days to hold the position gained, in spite of heavy shellfire, until eventually relieved by his battalion. He was promoted to the rank of Major following his actions at Vimy Ridge. He later achieved the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel of the Frontenac Regiment, Napanee, Ontario.
]