The Canadian Medic who should have received the Victoria Cross
Reprinted courtesy of The Korean War Veteran International Journal with excerpts from the Calgary Herald
Three soldiers killed in same attack by B Company of the 2nd Battalion of The Royal Canadian Regiment, in Operation Commando, on October 4, 1951. Private Gerald Hugh Dury, 21, of Toronto, was killed by bullets or shrapnel to the chest, as was his comrade Private Leonard Francis MacDougall, 22, of Halifax. They were both serving in Number 6 Platoon, commanded by Lieutenant W. D. Smallman. Serving in the same attack as radio operator for the Forward Artillery Observer was Gunner Jack Fraser Riddle, 21, of Vancouver. Gunner Riddle was wounded in the left leg. He died of wounds the next day at 25 Canadian Field Hospital.
Not told in the article below that is reprinted from the Calgary Herald is the bravery of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corporal, Ernest W. Poole, who risked his life over and over again on October 4, 1951, to save wounded soldiers of B Company, the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment. The soldiers were shot down when their platoons attacked enemy positions in Operation Commando.
Number 4 platoon of the RCR’s B Company had led the first phase of the attack and reached its objective. Then Number 6 Platoon, under command of Lieutenant W.D. Smallman followed through in the second phase and came under heavy machinegun, mortar and shell fire on thickly wooded steep slopes. Casualties were incurred immediately. Two who fell were Private Leonard MacDougall of Halifax and Private Gerald Hugh of Toronto. Both soldiers had been fatally wounded in the chest.
Gunner Jack Riddle of the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, the radio operator for the Forward Artillery Observer, was severely wounded. The observer, Lieutenant O’Brennan was also wounded. Also wounded was the platoon commander, Lieutenant Smallwood.
Corporal Poole rushed forward into the fire, searching for and treating wounded soldiers. The fire was heavy all around him and others implored him to stay back, but he refused. While treating one soldier, bullets came in and the wounded man was struck a second time. Several times he carried wounded soldiers on his back down the treacherous slope, though machinegun bullets and mortar bombs were raining in. Others tried to keep him back but he kept going back into the fire, searching for every wounded soldier who could be saved. When Number 5 Platoon passed through the position to continue the attack, two of its soldiers were wounded. Corporal Poole urged the platoon commander to continue forward, saying he would find and care for his wounded soldiers.
Later that night, Corporal Poole rigged stretchers from tree branches and used other devices to help transport the wounded men. A corporal had been detached from Number 4 Platoon to guide them back to the Regimental Aid Post, through the open land in which enemy patrols were very active. The procession had just started out when the corporal himself was wounded. Corporal Poole, an unarmed medic, took command and moved the train of wounded soldiers back three quarters of a mile under fire and in danger of being ambushed by the enemy.
When he reached the regimental aid post he continued to treat and care for all of the wounded. Captain H. C. Stevenson, the Regiment’s medical officer stated in a citation that Corporal Poole had saved the lives of Lt. W. D. Smallman, Lance Corporal E. R. Soulier, Lance Corporal R. P. Turgeon and Private A. J. Davies.
Corporal Ernest Poole was recommended for the Victoria Cross, the highest award for Gallantry in the Commonwealth, by the commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Keane. The recommendation for the Victoria Cross was seconded by Brigadier John Rockingham, the commander of the 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade, the highest ranking Canadian officer in Korea.
The award was downgraded to the next highest decoration for bravery in the face of the enemy, a Distinguished Conduct Medal, by Major General A. J. H. Cassels, a British officer, who commanded the Commonwealth Division.
The wrong was never righted, even though Canada’s highest ranking commander in Korea, directly in charge of the entire Canadian force on the ground, had approved by endorsement the recommendation of Corporal Ernest Poole for the Victoria Cross.
One would hope that with the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War fast approaching, the war in which the three soldiers cited above died to save the People of the Republic of Korea, that Canada could right this and award to Ernest Poole, the Victoria Cross, still the highest ranking medal for bravery in Canada, in true appreciation for that unarmed medical soldier’s unquestionable gallantry in the field, under extremely heavy fire and for saving the lives of several of his comrades.
Three soldiers killed in same attack by B Company of the 2nd Battalion of The Royal Canadian Regiment, in Operation Commando, on October 4, 1951. Private Gerald Hugh Dury, 21, of Toronto, was killed by bullets or shrapnel to the chest, as was his comrade Private Leonard Francis MacDougall, 22, of Halifax. They were both serving in Number 6 Platoon, commanded by Lieutenant W. D. Smallman. Serving in the same attack as radio operator for the Forward Artillery Observer was Gunner Jack Fraser Riddle, 21, of Vancouver. Gunner Riddle was wounded in the left leg. He died of wounds the next day at 25 Canadian Field Hospital.
Not told in the article below that is reprinted from the Calgary Herald is the bravery of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corporal, Ernest W. Poole, who risked his life over and over again on October 4, 1951, to save wounded soldiers of B Company, the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment. The soldiers were shot down when their platoons attacked enemy positions in Operation Commando.
Number 4 platoon of the RCR’s B Company had led the first phase of the attack and reached its objective. Then Number 6 Platoon, under command of Lieutenant W.D. Smallman followed through in the second phase and came under heavy machinegun, mortar and shell fire on thickly wooded steep slopes. Casualties were incurred immediately. Two who fell were Private Leonard MacDougall of Halifax and Private Gerald Hugh of Toronto. Both soldiers had been fatally wounded in the chest.
Gunner Jack Riddle of the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, the radio operator for the Forward Artillery Observer, was severely wounded. The observer, Lieutenant O’Brennan was also wounded. Also wounded was the platoon commander, Lieutenant Smallwood.
Corporal Poole rushed forward into the fire, searching for and treating wounded soldiers. The fire was heavy all around him and others implored him to stay back, but he refused. While treating one soldier, bullets came in and the wounded man was struck a second time. Several times he carried wounded soldiers on his back down the treacherous slope, though machinegun bullets and mortar bombs were raining in. Others tried to keep him back but he kept going back into the fire, searching for every wounded soldier who could be saved. When Number 5 Platoon passed through the position to continue the attack, two of its soldiers were wounded. Corporal Poole urged the platoon commander to continue forward, saying he would find and care for his wounded soldiers.
Later that night, Corporal Poole rigged stretchers from tree branches and used other devices to help transport the wounded men. A corporal had been detached from Number 4 Platoon to guide them back to the Regimental Aid Post, through the open land in which enemy patrols were very active. The procession had just started out when the corporal himself was wounded. Corporal Poole, an unarmed medic, took command and moved the train of wounded soldiers back three quarters of a mile under fire and in danger of being ambushed by the enemy.
When he reached the regimental aid post he continued to treat and care for all of the wounded. Captain H. C. Stevenson, the Regiment’s medical officer stated in a citation that Corporal Poole had saved the lives of Lt. W. D. Smallman, Lance Corporal E. R. Soulier, Lance Corporal R. P. Turgeon and Private A. J. Davies.
Corporal Ernest Poole was recommended for the Victoria Cross, the highest award for Gallantry in the Commonwealth, by the commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Keane. The recommendation for the Victoria Cross was seconded by Brigadier John Rockingham, the commander of the 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade, the highest ranking Canadian officer in Korea.
The award was downgraded to the next highest decoration for bravery in the face of the enemy, a Distinguished Conduct Medal, by Major General A. J. H. Cassels, a British officer, who commanded the Commonwealth Division.
The wrong was never righted, even though Canada’s highest ranking commander in Korea, directly in charge of the entire Canadian force on the ground, had approved by endorsement the recommendation of Corporal Ernest Poole for the Victoria Cross.
One would hope that with the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War fast approaching, the war in which the three soldiers cited above died to save the People of the Republic of Korea, that Canada could right this and award to Ernest Poole, the Victoria Cross, still the highest ranking medal for bravery in Canada, in true appreciation for that unarmed medical soldier’s unquestionable gallantry in the field, under extremely heavy fire and for saving the lives of several of his comrades.