Canadian Recipients
of the
U.S. Distinguished Service Cross
World War II
12 Awards
Compiled and Edited
By
C. Douglas Sterner
AWARDS OF THE U.S. DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS
TO
MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES OF
CANADA
Compiled & Edited
By
C. Douglas Sterner
Made Available By
HomeOfHeroes.com
P.O. Box 122
Pueblo, CO 81005
INDEX OF RECIPIENTS
ATTO, FREDERICK BLAKE .............................. 1
BARLOW, JACK T. ......................................... 1
*FINES, EDGAR S. ......................................... 1
GAMACHE, GILLES ........................................ 2
*HARVEY, FRANK A. ...................................... 2
*MACKENZIE, DONALD A. .............................. 3
*MARTIN, IVAN H. .......................................... 3
MCINNIS, JOHN H.......................................... 3
ORR, ROSS W. ............................................. 4
PETERS, FREDERICK THORNTON.................... 4
*SECORD, ROBERT V. ................................... 4
WRIGHT, ALLEN L. ........................................ 5
DSC - World War II
ATTO, FREDERICK BLAKE
First Lieutenant, Canadian Army
Date of Action: December 1943
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Frederick Blake Atto, First Lieutenant, Royal Canadian Army, for
extraordinary heroism in action on Mount ***, Italy, on *** December 1943. First Lieutenant Atto led a patrol of three men
with the mission of destroying several isolated enemy machine guns, mortar emplacements, and snipers whose fire was
causing heavy casualties in his unit. The patrol penetrated deep into enemy territory and neutralized several enemy positions,
killing nine of the enemy and taking two prisoners. On the return trip First Lieutenant Atto and the two prisoners became
separated from the remainder of the patrol. While proceeding alone with the prisoners, he was fired upon from an enemy
position. Armed only with a pistol, he returned fire and caused five more Germans to surrender to him. He was forced to fire
his remaining bullet to keep the prisoners in line. He brought the seven prisoners to his own lines although his only weapon
was an empty pistol. First Lieutenant Atto's courage and presence of mind in the face of overwhelming odds reflect highest
credit upon himself and the two armies which he serves.
 Headquarters, Fifth U.S. Army, General Orders No. 8 (January 17, 1944)
Home Town: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
BARLOW, JACK T.
Sergeant, Canadian Army
Date of Action: June 4, 1944
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Jack T. Barlow, Sergeant, Royal Canadian Army, for extraordinary heroism
in action, on 4 June 1944, in Rome, Italy. The assault section commanded by Sergeant Barlow encountered fierce resistance
from an enemy force in strongly prepared emplacements along a railroad embankment. The street along which Sergeant
Barlow and his men advanced was swept by close range from enemy machine guns, machine pistols, rifles and tank guns.
Noticing that intense and accurate sniper fire from Germans behind a stone wall was causing casualties among his men,
Sergeant Barlow ran to the wall, jumped to the top and fired his submachine gun at the snipers, killing four of them. As he
fired from this exposed position, a bullet struck his weapon, destroying it and wounding him painfully in the hand. Refusing
treatment for his wound, he secured a rifle and returned to the action. Shouting encouragement to his men, Sergeant Barlow
fired his rifle with deadly effect into the enemy positions. He was struck in the neck by a bullet, but undaunted, he continued
to fire until his supply of ammunition was exhausted. Seeing that the ammunition of the entire section was depleted, and not
wishing to sacrifice his men, he directed the withdrawal of his group. Without ammunition and suffering from his wounds, he
remained in a forward, exposed position until the last of his men had withdrawn to safety. Still refusing treatment for his
wounds, Sergeant Barlow led his men over another route of approach and remained in front of them through several more
encounters until the objective was taken. Sergeant Barlow's courageous fighting spirit inspired his entire regiment to
aggressive and determined action in its drive on the city of Rome.
 Headquarters, Fifth U.S. Army, General Orders No. 129 (July 30, 1944)
Home Town: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
*FINES, EDGAR S.
Sergeant, Canadian Army
Date of Action: January 7 & 8, 1944
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Edgar S. Fines, Sergeant, Royal Canadian Army, for extraordinary heroism
in action, on 7 and 8 January 1944, near Ceppagna, Italy. Sergeant Fines and a small group of men were sent forward to
augment the defense of a critical hill crest which had been won from the enemy. Carrying his machine gun up the hill,
Sergeant Fines found the crest defended by one machine gun and two riflemen. Three enemy machine guns, one on each
flank and one to the front, opposed the defenders; grazing small arms fire swept over the hill, and intermittent mortar fire
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crashed along the crest. Sergeant Fines edged his way to a nearby enemy machine gun pit, removed the body of the dead
gunner, and set up his gun. Ignoring sniper fire, he quickly silenced the enemy machine gun on his right flank. His fire,
coordinated with that of the other defenders, silenced the enemy weapon to the front. Confined to a cramped and exposed
position, in sub-freezing temperature, he maintained a vigilant defense of his position through the succeeding thirty-six hours.
When his own ammunition was exhausted, he emplaced a discarded enemy machine gun and continued to fire. On one
occasion he crawled to a position to his front and secured more of the enemy's ammunition to use in his weapon. He repulsed
seven counter attacks on his own position and in addition denied the enemy an important approach to Mount Majo. When he
was finally relieved, the bodies of eleven Germans lay in front of his position. Sergeant FINES provided the hub of the entire
defense of the sector, and his courageous performance under fire reflects credit upon himself and the Allied Forces.
 Headquarters, Fifth U.S. Army, General Orders No. 94 (June 4, 1944) as amended by GO 103 (June 19, 1944)
Home Town: South Wellington, British Columbia, Canada
GAMACHE, GILLES
Major, Canadian Army
Les Fusiliers Mont Royal,
Date of Action: July 20, 1944
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Gilles Gamache, Major, Royal Canadian Army, for extraordinary heroism in
action on 20 July 1944 near Ifs, France. During the attack of Les Fusiliers Mont Royal on the strongly held Beauvoir Farm,
the full weight of the enemy defensive artillery and mortar fire was brought to bear on the troops under Major Gamache.
Refusing to be evacuated although badly wounded, Major Gamache remained at the head of his troops and with superior
leadership and an exemplary display of courage insured the reduction of the enemy stronghold. His personal example was
reflected in the actions of each member of the unit, and the inspiration which he lent courageously reflected high credit upon
himself and the armed forces of the Allied armies.
 Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 271 (September 27, 1945)
Home Town: Canada
*HARVEY, FRANK A.
Staff Sergeant, Canadian Army
1st Company, 3d Regiment, 1st Special Service Force
Date of Action: January 4, 1944
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Frank A. Harvey, Staff Sergeant, Royal Canadian Army, for extraordinary
heroism in action against the enemy of the United States and the Allied Nations on 4 January 1944, near Radicosa, Italy.
When his company's assault against an enemy held mountain crest was pinned down by grazing fire of the enemy machine
guns and rifle fire, Staff Sergeant Harvey, commanding a leading assault platoon, quickly realized that if the assaulting
elements remained pinned down they would be wiped out. Unhesitatingly he rose and charged up the open slope through
withering fire toward the nearest enemy machine gun, firing his Thompson submachine gun into the position as he ran.
Approaching to within five yards of the position, he tossed grenades into the emplacement, destroying the weapon and killing
or wounding all of the crew. Summoning his men to follow him, he led them toward a second machine gun 100 yards away.
Forty yards from the second enemy gun position, he ordered his men to cover his advance as he alone rushed the position.
Fifteen yards from his objective he was struck by a burst from a machine pistol and fell mortally wounded. Inspired by the
unselfish determination which cost their leader his life, Staff Sergeant Harvey's men charged the enemy machine gun, killing
two of the crew while the remainder of the company quickly overran the entire enemy defensive position. Staff Sergeant
Harvey's intrepidity, leadership, and outstanding courage, exemplify the highest traditions of the Allied Military Forces.
 Headquarters, Mediterranean Theater of Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 144 (December 9, 1944)
Home Town: Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
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*MACKENZIE, DONALD A.
Lieutenant Colonel, Canadian Army
48th Highlanders of Canada,
Date of Action: April 12, 1945
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Donald A. MacKenzie, Lieutenant Colonel, Royal Canadian Army, for
extraordinary heroism in action on 12 April 1945. When the 48th Highlanders of Canada had crossed the Ijssel River and
gained their initial objectives on the Wilp-Deventer Road, Lieutenant Colonel MacKenzie, realizing that this was the turning
point of the battle, went forward fearlessly in the face of heavy enemy fire to make a personal reconnaissance in preparation
for the second phase of the attack. His plan of attack, based on the information he gained, was eminently successful, and his
unsurpassed leadership and daring resulted in the complete rout of the enemy.
 Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 271 (September 27, 1945)
Home Town: Canada
*MARTIN, IVAN H.
Major, Canadian Army
Company B, Argyll and Southern Highlanders,
Date of Action: August 18 - 21, 1944
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Ivan H. Martin, Major, Royal Canadian Army, for extraordinary heroism in
action from 18 to 21 August 1944. In the course of operations in the fanatically defended town of St. Lambert, Major Martin
displayed the highest degree of personal heroism. Both during the initial attack on the city and later during defensive
operations when his command was continuously harassed by vicious and bitter counterattacks by the enemy, he constantly
appeared at the scene of the thickest fighting. He offered his men a magnificent example which inspired them to hold their
positions against the strongest efforts of a numerically superior enemy, and his conduct was consistent with the finest military
traditions.
 Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 271 (September 27, 1945)
Home Town: Canada
MCINNIS, JOHN H.
Sergeant, Canadian Army
Date of Action: February 9 - 10, 1944
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John H. McInnis, Sergeant, Royal Canadian Army, for extraordinary heroism
in action, on the night of 9 - 10 February 1944, near Borgo Podgora, Italy. The advance of Sergeant McInnis' company on a
strongly defended town was held up by a well concealed enemy machine gun. Sergeant McInnis, a leading scout, rushed back
to the leading elements of his company and secured an automatic rifle. Accompanied by another soldier, he crawled across
flat, open ground to a point within a few yards of the position. Unable to stop the two soldiers by fire, the enemy gunner
threw a hand grenade, wounding Sergeant McInnis' companion. Sergeant McInnis leaped to his feet, charged the machine
gun nest, firing as he ran, and killed all three German crew members. During this same action Sergeant McInnis aided in the
evacuation of a wounded officer by litter. The litter party suddenly was subjected to a heavy enemy artillery barrage.
Sergeant McInnis remained with the wounded officer in an exposed position throughout the barrage, shielding the officer
with his own body. The intrepidity and unselfish devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant McInnis reflect highest credit upon
himself and the Allied Forces.
 Headquarters, Fifth U.S. Army, General Orders No. 114 (July 9, 1944)
Home Town: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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ORR, ROSS W.
Staff Sergeant, Canadian Army
Fifth Company, Second Regiment, Special Service Force
Date of Action: August 26, 1944
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Ross W. Orr, Staff Sergeant, Royal Canadian Army, for extraordinary
heroism in action near Villeneuve-Loubet, France on 26 August 1944. When the only route for urgently needed supplies was
cut off by three enemy machine guns emplaced along the road, Staff Sergeant Orr, without orders, elected to remove this
obstacle. After selecting three men to provide covering fire, he approached alone to within seventy-five yards of the first gun.
Armed with a submachine gun, he jumped into the middle of the road and demanded surrender. The enemy gunner
immediately opened fire on him, but Staff Sergeant Orr stood his ground and seriously wounded both of the crew with
effective fire. Under continued assault by this four-man team, the other two machine gun crews finally surrendered and the
road was opened to desperately needed supplies. Soon afterward the Fifth Company occupied a castle on a hilltop to protect
this supply route and Sergeant Orr immediately organized the area against counterattack. The enemy, two hundred strong,
strove continuously and fiercely to dislodge his group from this stronghold. In the face of death-defying circumstances,
Sergeant Orr with his sub-machine gun put an enemy machine gun which was covering an approaching enemy demolition
party out of action. The demolition party was dispersed with severe losses by rifle fire and hand grenades effectively used
under Sergeant Orr's direction. In another similar counter-attack, Sergeant Orr fired his sub-machine gun from a blazing barn
into an attacking enemy formation. This attack was broken up and resulted in heavy losses to the enemy. Approximately one
hundred and fifty enemy losses were sustained during the day. A great many of these casualties were inflicted by Sergeant
Orr and his platoon. His superb leadership and inspiring personal example throughout the battle were a major contributory
factor in the destruction of an enemy defense line that seriously threatened to delay the advance of the entire regiment.
 Headquarters, Seventh U.S. Army, General Orders No. 83 (September 27, 1944)
Home Town: Huntington, Quebec, Canada
PETERS, FREDERICK THORNTON
Captain, Royal British Royal Navy
Date of Action: November 8, 1942
Citation
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Frederick Thornton Peters, Captain, Royal British Navy, for extraordinary
heroism in action while in command of the ship carrying Landing Forces of the United States Army into the harbor of Oran,
Morocco, in the early morning of 8 November 1942. Captain Peters distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism against
an armed enemy during the attack on that post. He remained on the bridge in command of his ship in spite of the fact that the
protective armor thereon had been blown away by enemy shell fire and was thereby exposed personally to the withering cross
fire from shore defenses. He accomplished the berthing of his ship, then went to the forward deck and assisted by one officer
secured the forward mooring lines. He then with utter disregard of his own personal safety went to the quarter-deck and
assisted in securing the aft mooring lines so that the troops on board could disembark. At that time the engine room was in
flames and very shortly thereafter exploded and the ship turned on its side and sank.
 Allied Force Headquarters, General Orders No. 19 (November 23, 1942)
Other Award: Victoria Cross (WWII)
Birth: 9/17/1889 - Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Home Town: Canada
*SECORD, ROBERT V.
Private, Canadian Army
1st Battalion, Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (MG),
Date of Action: August 14, 1944
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Robert V. Secord, Private, Royal Canadian Army, for extraordinary heroism
in action on 14 August 1944, near Estreos-la-Champaigne, France. As his platoon of the 1st Battalion, Cameron Highlanders
of Ottawa (MG) was advancing under a heavy and sustained artillery and mortar barrage, Private Secord carried out his
duties as medical orderly coolly and skillfully. Caught in a shellburst while dressing the wounds of a sergeant, he threw
himself across his body to shield him from further injury, thereby sacrificing his life.
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 Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 263 (September 25, 1945)
Home Town: Canada
WRIGHT, ALLEN L.
Lieutenant, Canadian Army
Second Company, First Regiment, Special Service Force
Date of Action: January 7, 1944
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Allen L. Wright, Lieutenant, Royal Canadian Army, for extraordinary
heroism in action near Radicosa, Italy on 7 January 1944. When a night attack by his company on an enemy-held mountain
crest was halted by the deadly cross-fire of sixteen machine guns, Lieutenant (then Staff Sergeant) Wright, commanding an
assault platoon proceeded forward alone to attack the machine gun position nearest him. After crawling one hundred yards up
the exposed, snow covered slope to within a few yards of the enemy position, he leaped to his feet and charged the gun
emplacement firing his Thompson submachine gun, destroying one and capturing two of the enemy crew. After assembling a
section of his platoon, he personally led them in a charge against a second and then a third machine gun, putting them out of
action and destroying three and capturing two more of the enemy. During an order to withdraw at this point because adjacent
units were unable to press their attack, Lieutenant Wright was informed that one of his men had been seriously wounded and
lay in a position which could not be reached because of the intense fire of enemy machine guns and machine pistols.
Unmindful of almost certain death, Lieutenant Wright rushed twenty-five yards up the fire-swept slope, bodily lifted the man
to his shoulders and carried him one hundred and fifty yards to a litter team. He then directed his platoon in a successful
withdrawal without further casualties. By his single-handed assault, his daring and courageous leadership toward an ultimate
winning objective to save the life of a soldier at the risk of his own, Lieutenant Wright won the respect and admiration of his
fellow soldiers and superior officers. He proved himself a real leader in the overcoming of a military obstacle of no small
magnitude.
 Headquarters, Seventh U.S. Army, General Orders No. 77 (September 15, 1944)
Home Town: Grand Prairie, Alberta, Canada
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