Military service
Burial/memorial information
Son of George H. and Elizabeth D. Cairns, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Brother of Corporal Albert Cairns, 46th battalion, died of wounds on 10 September 1918.
Mr. and Mrs. Cairns attended a civic ceremony at Valenciennes, France on July 25, 1936 for the naming of a street in the city L'avenue Hugh Cairns. It was in memory of their son who earned the Victoria Cross but gave his life in the capture of the city from the Germans.
<P>An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 31155, dated January 28, 1919, records the following:<P>
For most conspicuous bravery before Valenciennes on 1st November, 1918, when a machine gun opened on his platoon. Without a moment's hesitation Serjt. Cairns seized a Lewis gun and single-handed in the face of direct fire, rushed the post, killed the crew of five, and captured the gun. Later, when the line was held up by machine-gun fire, he again rushed forward, killing 12 enemy and capturing 18 and two guns. Subsequently when the advance was held up by machine-guns and field guns, although wounded, he led a small party to outflank them, killing many, forcing about 50 to surrender, and capturing all the guns. After consolidation he went with a battle patrol to exploit Marly and forced 60 enemy to surrender. Whilst disarming this party he was severely wounded. Nevertheless he opened fire and inflicted heavy losses. Finally he was rushed by about 20 enemy and collapsed from weakness and loss of blood. Throughout the operation he showed the highest degree of valour, and his leadership greatly contributed to the success of the attack. He died on the 2nd November from wounds. Distinguished Conduct Medal
Digital gallery of Sergeant Hugh Cairns
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Digital gallery of
Sergeant Hugh Cairns
Sergeant Hugh Cairns, V.C.
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Hugh Cairns
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Hugh Cairns
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Hugh Cairns
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Hugh Cairns
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Hugh Cairns
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Hugh Cairns
Extracts from 46th Battalion War Diary for November 1918.
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Hugh Cairns
Extracts from 46th Battalion War Diary for November 1918
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Hugh Cairns
Extracts from 46th Battalion War Diary for November 1918
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Hugh Cairns
Extracts from 46th Battalion War Diary for November 1918.
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Hugh Cairns
Casualty Form - Active Service
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Hugh Cairns
Casualty Form - Active Service
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Hugh Cairns
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Hugh Cairns
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Hugh Cairns
Grave Marker for Sgt. Hugh Cairns, V.C., D.C.M.<p>
Photo originally submitted to the Victoria Cross Reference by Terry MacDonald.
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Hugh Cairns
Plaque mounted in 1927 between the houses at 3 and 5 Sergent Cairns Avenue at Valenciennes, in France, to commemorate his death due to wounds.
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Hugh Cairns
Plaque mounted in 1937 between the houses at 3 and 5 Sergent Cairns Avenue at Valenciennes, in France, to commemorate his death due to wounds.
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Hugh Cairns
From the Toronto Star for 1 February 1919, page 28.
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Hugh Cairns
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Hugh Cairns
Gravemarker, April 2007
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Hugh Cairns
Original street name plate in Valenciennes' Sgt Cairns Avenue
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Hugh Cairns
Source: Library and Archives Canada. CIRCUMSTANCES OF DEATH REGISTERS, FIRST WORLD WAR Surnames: Cabana to Campling. Microform Sequence 17; Volume Number 31829_B016726. Reference RG150, 1992-93/314, 161. Page 115 of 1024.
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Hugh Cairns
Barrie Military Park, Victoria Cross Recipients, Cenotaph
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Hugh Cairns
Remembering brothers lost … Brothers In Arms Memorial, Zonnebeke, BE … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens … May 2022
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Hugh Cairns
The decorations and medals awarded to Sergeant H. Cairns, VC, DCM, which are permanently on display at the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa. Left to right: Victoria Cross, Distinguished Conduct Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Chevalier dans l'Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur (France). (Image taken by Gregory J. Barker of Barrie, Ontario, in 2022.)
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Hugh Cairns
Memorial plaque in front of the United Kingdom High Commission in Ottawa to commemorate Canadians who have been awarded the Victoria Cross.
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Hugh Cairns
Hugh Cairns, VC, wss born in Ashington which is is 24 jm North of Newcatle its also my home town
Image gallery
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Sergeant Hugh Cairns, V.C.
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Extracts from 46th Battalion War Diary for November 1918.
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Extracts from 46th Battalion War Diary for November 1918
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Extracts from 46th Battalion War Diary for November 1918
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Extracts from 46th Battalion War Diary for November 1918.
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Casualty Form - Active Service
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Casualty Form - Active Service
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Grave Marker for Sgt. Hugh Cairns, V.C., D.C.M.<p> Photo originally submitted to the Victoria Cross Reference by Terry MacDonald.
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Plaque mounted in 1927 between the houses at 3 and 5 Sergent Cairns Avenue at Valenciennes, in France, to commemorate his death due to wounds.
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Plaque mounted in 1937 between the houses at 3 and 5 Sergent Cairns Avenue at Valenciennes, in France, to commemorate his death due to wounds.
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From the Toronto Star for 1 February 1919, page 28.
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Gravemarker, April 2007
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Original street name plate in Valenciennes' Sgt Cairns Avenue
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Source: Library and Archives Canada. CIRCUMSTANCES OF DEATH REGISTERS, FIRST WORLD WAR Surnames: Cabana to Campling. Microform Sequence 17; Volume Number 31829_B016726. Reference RG150, 1992-93/314, 161. Page 115 of 1024.
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Barrie Military Park, Victoria Cross Recipients, Cenotaph
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Remembering brothers lost … Brothers In Arms Memorial, Zonnebeke, BE … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens … May 2022
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The decorations and medals awarded to Sergeant H. Cairns, VC, DCM, which are permanently on display at the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa. Left to right: Victoria Cross, Distinguished Conduct Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Chevalier dans l'Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur (France). (Image taken by Gregory J. Barker of Barrie, Ontario, in 2022.)
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Memorial plaque in front of the United Kingdom High Commission in Ottawa to commemorate Canadians who have been awarded the Victoria Cross.
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Hugh Cairns, VC, wss born in Ashington which is is 24 jm North of Newcatle its also my home town
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 378 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.
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AUBERCHICOURT BRITISH CEMETERY Nord, France
Auberchicourt is a commune mining village in the Department of the Nord, 11.5 kilometres east of Douai on the road to Valenciennes and AUBERCHICOURT BRITISH CEMETERY is one kilometre west of the village on the northside of the road to Erchin, 300 yards away from the Communal Cemetery.
For more information, visit Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
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