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Corporal Filip Konowal, Victoria Cross recipient

Filip Konowal VC was a highly decorated Ukrainian Canadian soldier. He is the only ethnic Eastern European recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy given to British and Commonwealth forces.

EDUCATIONAL DOCUMENTS

War Hero Filip Konowal Dies, June 3, 2022, The Globe and Mail

Globe and Mail, Moment in Time Article

Corporal Filip Konowal (VC) by Gord Yakimow, New Pathway - Ukrainian News, November 10, 2020

In Northern France, the Hill 70 Memorial ensures ‘Canada’s forgotten battle’ will be remembered always, Globe and Mail, September 30, 2019

Display of Hill 70 Victoria Cross medals unveiled at war museum, March 26, 2019, Ottawa Citizen

From war hero to accussed killer: The sad take of an Ottawa recipient of the Victoria Cross, The Ottawa Citizen, September 10, 2018

Almost three decades after the end of the First World War, Filip Konowal, an Ottawa and Hull resident who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his valour during the Battle of Hill 70, joked that he had very nearly been shot for cowardice.

Українець, якому англійські королі віддавали честь першими, Про Львів 2019

У Великобританії найвища військова нагорода – Хрест Вікторії. Згідно з правилами, при зустрічі з кавалерами цього ордену британські королі повинні вітатися і віддавати їм честь першими.

Remembering Corporal Filip Konowal, VC, in Ukraine, New Pathway - Ukrainian News, August 29, 2017

Corporal Filip Konowal, VC - A Centenary Action. The Vimy Foundation

Historic medal awarded to Filip Konowal is found, The Ukrainian Weekly, May 16, 2004

No. 144039 A./Cpl. Filip Konowal, The London Gazette, Supplement 30400, November 26, 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 [sic] 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 [sic] 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."

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