The E-Sylum:  Volume 7, Number 46, November 14, 2004, Article 12

CANADIAN FUNDRAISING EFFORT FOR TOPHAM'S VICTORIA CROSS

  In previous issues we have discussed sales of the
  rare Victoria Cross medal (see The E-Sylum v7n17,
  for example, which discusses the medal awarded to
  Cpl. Filip Konowal, a Ukrainian immigrant to Canada.

  On November 8 the Canadian Press published a story
  about the upcoming auction of the Victoria Cross
  awarded to another Canadian, Cpl. Fred Topham, "a
  former hard-rock miner from Toronto."

  "Topham earned the Commonwealth's highest military
  award for valour when he dashed headlong into enemy
  fire to save the lives of dozens of wounded soldiers
  in Germany on March 24, 1945."

  "Topham's Victoria Cross is one of only 16 awarded
  to Canadians in the Second World War and the only
  one earned by the 6th Airborne Division, despite
  its record of heavy fighting. It's billed as the
  second-last Victoria Cross awarded to a Canadian
  in the Second World War.

  The medal has attracted the attention of a wealthy
  collector who's offered $319,000, but the family has
  agreed to sell it to the 1st Canadian Parachute
  Battalion Association if it can raise $275,000 by
  the end of the year.

  Those involved in the campaign say the medal,
  appraised at $250,000, must not be lost.

  "This is a piece of Canadiana which is never going
  to be replicated," says Capt. Charles (Chick)
  McGregor."

  To read the full story, see: Full Story

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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