Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

"B" Company, The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, Canadian Army

Recommendation:
Major Charles Osborne Dalton commanded "B" Company, Queen's Own Rifles of Canada which was an assault company when his battalion landed at Berniere-sur-Mer on 6 June 1944 at 0800 hours.
The company was met by severe machine gun fire from an enemy strong point immediately to its front. Despite the fact that heavy casualties were being suffered in the landing craft from mines and obstacles, and that in the first few minutes after landing there were 65 casualties, Major Dalton led his men forward across the beach to assault the position. Although severely wounded in the head on first landing, he continued to lead his men and personally was instrumental in knocking out one of the pill boxes. By this officer's example of leadership and bravery and his coolness in the face of stiff opposition, the enemy fortified position was quickly overrun, and the company which followed in the landing on this beach suffered no casualties from the beach defences.