August 22, 2017
On Tuesday, 22 August 2017, hundreds of people from France and a sizeable delegation of Ukrainians from the Diaspora attended the public unveiling of the Battle of Hill 70 Memorial, at Loos-en-Gohelle, France. Included in the ceremony was an official opening of the Konowal Walk. Corporal Konowal’s valour at the Battle of Hill 70 one hundred years ago (22 August 1917) was recognized with the highest medal of the British Empire, the Victoria Cross, the only Ukrainian ever so distinguished. The naming of the central pathway at the Hill 70 memorial after Konowal was made possible through the generosity of the Temerty Family Foundation, the Ihnatowycz Family Foundation, the Petro Jacyk Education Foundation, the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Foundation, Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund, Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Foundation, Ukrainian Canadian Veterans Fund, Shevchenko Foundation and other Ukrainian Canadian organizations and individuals, with the support of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain. Shown from left to right are Paul Grod (president, Ukrainian Canadian Congress), Professor Lubomyr Luciuk (chairman, UCCLF) and the presiding officer, Lieutenant-General Paul Wynnyk (Commander, Canadian Army). Commenting, Dr Luciuk said: “This is a very fitting tribute to a Canadian hero, 100 years to the day on which his valour in a fierce battle won him the Victoria Cross. Almost two decades ago the chairman of Branch #360 of The Royal Canadian Legion, the late John B Gregorovich, initiated our community’s efforts to honour Cpl Konowal, the honourary patron of that branch. Being here today to see John’s vision finally realized, on the site where Konowal fought so bravely, is a privilege. This Ukrainian Canadian hero will now always be remembered.”