Topham Bridge

This bridge is dedicated, June 6, 2007, to Corporal Frederick George Topham, a medical orderly with the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his heroic actions in a military operation March 24, 1945. The following is an excerpt from the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion Association newsletter - Joanne de Vries At 1200 hours with a blanket of cloud and a slight drizzle persisting, 1st Can Para Bn Association Patron MGen Herb Pitts conducted the ceremony at the suspension bridge over the North Saskatchewan River which is approximately one kilometre from the staging area. The bridge was to be dedicated in honour of Cpl. Topham VC. Herb gave a short address followed by a prayer by Battalion veteran Rev. Sam Voth-Doan. Jan de Vries unveiled the plaque assisted by Cpl Dave Bradley and Pte John Wong of 1 Field Ambulance, both qualified Paras and medical technicians. The following is an excerpt from the National Defence - Directorate of History and Heritage - Victoria Cross Biography Victoria Cross - Second World War, 1939-1945 Frederick George Topham Frederick George Topham was born in Toronto, Ontario, on 10 August 1917. In March 1945, Corporal Topham was serving as a medical orderly in the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion. At that time, the battalion was part of the 3rd Parachute Brigade of the British Army’s 6th Airborne Division. On the morning of 24 March 1945, parachute and glider-borne troops of the 6th Airborne Division landed on the east bank of the Rhine River, not far from the city of Wesel in Germany. These landings were carried out in support of assault operations begun the night before by the 1st Canadian and 2nd British Armies to cross to the East bank of the river. After the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion landed just north of Diersfordt Wood, Corporal Topham heard a cry for help from a wounded man who was in the open. Two medical orderlies who went out in succession to treat the wounded man were killed. Immediately afterward and on his own initiative, Topham went forward through intense German fire to assist the casualty. As he treated the wounded man, Topham was himself shot through the nose, but continued to give first aid despite the severe bleeding and pain of his own injury. He was then able to carry the wounded man to shelter through continuous fire. Refusing treatment for his wound, Corporal Topham continued to assist the wounded for two more hours, by which time all casualties had been evacuated to safety. Although he finally consented to have his nose dressed, he refused to be evacuated with the other wounded. Later, alone and again under enemy fire, Topham rescued three soldiers from a burning machine gun carrier that threatened to explode, brought them to safety, and arranged for the evacuation of the two men who survived. For his courageous and selfless devotion to his comrades, Corporal Topham was awarded the Victoria Cross. He died in Toronto on 3 May 1974.