John Weir Foote
John Weir Foote 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. Major Foote is the only member of the Canadian Chaplains' Services ever to be awarded the Victoria Cross. He is also considered Irish.
Early Life
John Weir Foote was born in Madoc in eastern Ontario on May 5, 1904. He was educated at the University of Western Ontario in London, at Queen's University in Kingston and at McGill University in Montreal. He entered the Presbyterian ministry in 1934, serving congregations in Fort-Coulonge, Quebec, and Port Hope, Ontario.
In December 1939, after the outbreak of the Second World War, he enlisted in the Canadian Army. He was posted to the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment) as the Regimental Chaplain with the rank of Honorary Captain.
Victoria Cross
He was 38 years old when, as padre of the RHLI, when he did the following deed for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross:
On August 19, 1942 at Dieppe, France, Captain Foote coolly and calmly during the eight hours of the battle walked about collecting the wounded, saving many lives by his gallant efforts and inspiring those around him by his example. At the end of this gruelling time he climbed from the landing craft that was to have taken him to safety and deliberately walked into the German position in order to be taken prisoner so that he could be a help to those men who would be in captivity until May 5, 1945.
His VC award was gazetted after the Second World War in 1946. Prior to his death, John Foote donated his medals to the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry where it is held at RHLI Heritage Museum at the John W Foote VC Armoury.
Later Life
Later achieving the rank of Major, he remained with the Canadian Chaplains' Services until being demobilized in 1948. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as Progressive Conservative MLA for Durham County. He was appointed to the cabinet as Ontario Minister of Reform Institutions.
He made his home with his wife in Cobourg, Ontario, until his death on the May 2, 1988. He is buried in Union Cemetery, Cobourg. The James Street Armoury in Hamilton, Ontario was renamed the John W. Foote VC Armoury in memory of Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel John Weir Foote, VC, CD.
Reference
- Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
- Monuments To Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
See also
External links
This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission.
This page has been updated by the Public Affairs Officer of the The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry.
It has also been modified slightly in form, presentation and content after migration.