Harry Garnet Bedford Miner
Encyclopedia
Harry Garnet Bedford Miner, VC
( b 24 June 1891, d 8 August 1918) (VC, Croix de Guerre (France)) was a Canadian
recipient of the Victoria Cross
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
and Commonwealth
forces.
, Ontario
, on 24 June 1891. He was a student at Highgate School in Oxford Township, then went into farming.
In November 1915, after the outbreak of the First World War, he enlisted with the 142nd Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force
, then transferred to the 161st Battalion upon arriving in England
. Once in France
, he was taken on strength by the 58th Battalion (2nd Central Ontario Regiment) in the field in December 1916.
He was a 27-year-old corporal
, and in action on 8 August 1918 at Demuin
, France, on the opening day of the Battle of Amiens, the first day of the Hundred Days Offensive
.
The London Gazette, 26 October 1918
He was mortally wounded by a German
stick grenade during this action, but refused to withdraw. He died later in the day and lies buried in the Crouy Military Cemetery just oustide of the village Crouy-Saint-Pierre, about 15 km northwest of Amiens and about 25 km northwest of the battlefield on which he fell.http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=71377
His burial place would seem to indicate that despite his protests he was eventually evacuated from the battlefield to a casualty clearing station at Crouy-Saint-Pierre but died en route, or at the station.http://www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_details.aspx?cemetery=6900&mode=1
by the French government in August 1918. His medals, including the Victoria Cross and the Croix de Guerre, are on display at the Huron County Museum in Goderich
, Ontario.
The South Barracks (building M-209) in Land Force Central Area Training Centre Meaford (LFCATC Meaford
) is named the Corporal H.G.B. Miner Barracks in his honour. Branch 185 of the Royal Canadian Legion
in Blenheim, Ontario, is named the Harry Miner Branch.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
( b 24 June 1891, d 8 August 1918) (VC, Croix de Guerre (France)) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces.
Details
Harry (Henry) Garnet Bedford Miner was born in Raleigh County, near Cedar SpringsCedar Springs
Cedar Springs is the name of three cities in North America:*Cedar Springs, Michigan, United States*Cedar Springs, Chatham-Kent, Ontario, Canada*Cedar Springs, Halton Regional Municipality, Ontario, Canada...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, on 24 June 1891. He was a student at Highgate School in Oxford Township, then went into farming.
In November 1915, after the outbreak of the First World War, he enlisted with the 142nd Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force
Canadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War. Units of the C.E.F. were divided into field formation in France, where they were organized first into separate divisions and later joined together into a single...
, then transferred to the 161st Battalion upon arriving in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Once in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, he was taken on strength by the 58th Battalion (2nd Central Ontario Regiment) in the field in December 1916.
He was a 27-year-old corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
, and in action on 8 August 1918 at Demuin
Démuin
Démuin is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:The commune is situated on the D23 road, some southeast of Amiens.-Population:-External links:* *...
, France, on the opening day of the Battle of Amiens, the first day of the Hundred Days Offensive
Hundred Days Offensive
The Hundred Days Offensive was the final period of the First World War, during which the Allies launched a series of offensives against the Central Powers on the Western Front from 8 August to 11 November 1918, beginning with the Battle of Amiens. The offensive forced the German armies to retreat...
.
Victoria Cross citation
For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in attack, when despite severe wounds he refused to withdraw. He rushed an enemy machine-gun post single-handed, killed the entire crew and turned the gun on the enemy.
Later, with two others, he attacked another enemy machine-gun post, and succeeded in putting the gun out of action.
Cpl. Miner then rushed single-handed an enemy bombing post, bayoneting two of the garrison and putting the remainder to flight. He was mortally wounded in the performance of this gallant deed.
The London Gazette, 26 October 1918
He was mortally wounded by a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
stick grenade during this action, but refused to withdraw. He died later in the day and lies buried in the Crouy Military Cemetery just oustide of the village Crouy-Saint-Pierre, about 15 km northwest of Amiens and about 25 km northwest of the battlefield on which he fell.http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=71377
His burial place would seem to indicate that despite his protests he was eventually evacuated from the battlefield to a casualty clearing station at Crouy-Saint-Pierre but died en route, or at the station.http://www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_details.aspx?cemetery=6900&mode=1
Awards and honours
Aside from the Victoria Cross, Cpl. Miner was also awarded the Croix de GuerreCroix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
by the French government in August 1918. His medals, including the Victoria Cross and the Croix de Guerre, are on display at the Huron County Museum in Goderich
Goderich, Ontario
Goderich is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario and is the county seat of Huron County. The town was founded by William "Tiger" Dunlop in 1827. First laid out in 1828, the town is named after Frederick John Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich, who was British prime minister at the time. The town...
, Ontario.
The South Barracks (building M-209) in Land Force Central Area Training Centre Meaford (LFCATC Meaford
LFCATC Meaford
Land Force Central Area Training Centre Meaford is a Canadian Forces training facility operated by Land Force Central Area of Land Force Command ....
) is named the Corporal H.G.B. Miner Barracks in his honour. Branch 185 of the Royal Canadian Legion
Royal Canadian Legion
The Royal Canadian Legion is a non-profit Canadian ex-service organization founded in 1925, with more than 400,000 members worldwide. Membership includes people who have served as current and former military, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, provincial and municipal police, direct relatives of...
in Blenheim, Ontario, is named the Harry Miner Branch.
Resources
- Canada's V.C.'s (George C. Machum, 1956)
External links
- Legion Magazine article
- The London Gazette # 30848, regarding the awarding of the Croix de Guerre
- The London Gazette # 30975 regarding the awarding of the Victoria Cross