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Falloon, Hugh Philip

Date of birth:
November 7th, 1913 (Mapinka, Canada)
Date of death:
May 5th, 1945 (No. 4 Canadian Military Hospital)
Buried on:
Commonwealth War Graves All Saints Churchyard
Nationality:
Canadian (1931-present, Constitutional Monarchy)

Biography

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Major
Unit:
Canadian Infantry Corps
Awarded on:
December 22nd, 1945
"On the night of 19/20 December 1944, the South Saskatchewan Regiment launched a company attack against an enemy position at Groesbeek. The start line was the defensive position held by "A" Company of the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada. This attack was repelled with heavy casualties and "A" Company of the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada under command of Major Falloon became subjected to intense artillery and machine gun fire.
Both wireless and line communications back to "A" Company Headquarters failed as a result of this enemy fire. Major Falloon, fearing that his forward troops might be in difficulty and with complete disregard for his own safety, went forward through intense shell fire and reached the forward positions.
Just as he arrived at 9 Platoon Headquarters, the barn in which several wounded men of the South Saskatchewan Regiment had been placed, caught fire. Mortar bombs were falling nearby and machine gun fire was sweeping the area. Heedless of the danger involved this Officer led a group of men to extinguish the fire, and himself climbed to the roof of the barn to beat out the flames, even though under observation from the nearby enemy positions. Inspired by his cool, daring leadership, the men succeeded in extinguishing the fire.
Assuring himself that the situation was well-in-hand, Major Falloon was about to return to his headquarters, when he learned that the few available stretcher bearers were having difficulty evacuating the numerous casualties. Once more this Officer won the admiration of all those present by personally assisting in carrying back a badly wounded soldier whose life was at stake and who required immediate medical attention. During the journey back to Company Headquarters, the stretcher bearer himself became wounded. Major Falloon quickly and deftly administered first aid to him and they resumed the journey, returning to his headquarters from where he rendered a complete report of the situation at the front.
This is but one of the examples of Major Falloon's superb courage, devotion to duty, and exemplary spirit of leadership which gained for him the admiration of all ranks in his Battalion. As a result of wounds incurred on a similar occasion, this Officer died later, when he was again carrying out self-sacrificing tasks, which were typical of his conduct throughout the many hard-fought battles during the liberation of the Netherlands."

Royal decree no.2 Posthume
Canadian Gazette of 22 dec.1945
Ridder vierde klasse der Militaire Willems Orde (MWO.4)

Sources

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