• Victoria Cross: 1914-1918

Date of birth:

March 25th, 1887 (Kutkivtsi/Podolia Governorate, Russian Empire )

Date of death:

June 3rd, 1959 (Hull/Quebec, Canada)

Nationality:

Canadian

Born in 1887 in what is now Ukraine, Konowal served in the Imperial Russian Army before emigrating to Canada in 1913. He enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1915 and distinguished himself during the Battle of Hill 70 in 1917. For this, he received the Victoria Cross—the only Ukrainian Canadian to do so—and was promoted to sergeant.

After the war, Konowal’s life took a tragic turn. In 1919, he killed a man while defending a friend during a violent altercation. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity, attributed to brain damage from a wartime head injury, and spent seven years institutionalized. Upon release, he gradually rebuilt his life, eventually working as a custodian in the Canadian Parliament. Prime Minister Mackenzie King later ensured him a permanent position in his personal office.

Konowal’s personal losses were profound: his wife died during the Holodomor famine in the Soviet Union, and he lost contact with his daughter. He remarried in Canada and adopted two sons. In 1956, he joined other Victoria Cross recipients in London for the award’s centennial.

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Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Rank:

Acting Corporal

Unit:

47th (British Columbia) Battalion, 4th Canadian Division, Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), Permanent Active Militia

Awarded on:

November 26th, 1917

"For most conspicuous bravery and leadership when in charge of a section in attack. His section had the difficult task of mopping up cellars, craters and machine-gun emplacements. Under his able direction all resistance was overcome successfully, and heavy casualties inflicted on the enemy. In one cellar he himself bayonetted three enemy and attacked single-handed seven others in a crater, killing them all.

On reaching the objective, a machine-gun was holding up the right flank, causing many casualties. Cpl. Konowal rushed forward and entered the emplacement, killed the crew, and brought the gun back to our lines.

The next day he again attacked single-handed another machine-gun emplacement, killed three of the crew, and destroyed the gun and emplacement with explosives.

This non-commissioned officer alone killed at least sixteen of the enemy, and during the two days' actual fighting carried on continuously his good work until severely wounded."

Awarded on:

1937

Awarded on:

1953

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

• - SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 26 NOVEMBER, 1917
  - Medal Group

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Canadian War Museum - Musée Canadien de la Guerre

Ottawa - Ontario

Victoria Cross: 1914-1918