Sergeant Major

Colin Fraser Barron

VC
Colin Fraser Barron as a sergeant.
Born(1893-09-20)20 September 1893
Baldavie, Boyndie, Banffshire, Scotland
Died15 August 1958(1958-08-15) (aged 64)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Buried
Prospect Cemetery, Toronto (Sec 7 Lot 3562)
AllegianceCanada
Service/branchCanadian Militia Canadian Army
RankSergeant-Major
Unit1st Canadian Division Royal Regiment of Canada
Battles/warsWorld War I World War II
AwardsVictoria Cross

Colin Fraser Barron VC (20 September 1893 – 15 August 1958) was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He was born at Boyndie, Banffshire, Scotland,[1] a son of Margaret Walker Barron, a domestic servant. He was raised in a large household by his grandparents Joseph Barron & Mary (née Reid) Barron along with his brother Alexander Barron and many other half-siblings and aunts and uncles. He emigrated to Canada in 1910, and enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1914.

Barron was 24 years old, and a Corporal in the 3rd (Toronto) Battalion, CEF during the First World War when he was awarded the Victoria Cross. On 6 November 1917 at the Second Battle of Passchendaele, Belgium, when his unit was held up by three machine-guns, Corporal Barron opened fire on them at point-blank range, rushed the guns, killed four of the crew and captured the remainder. He then turned one of the captured guns on the retiring enemy, causing severe casualties. This action produced far-reaching results and enabled the advance to continue.[2]

He later achieved the rank of sergeant-major, and during the Second World War he served with the Royal Regiment of Canada.

References

  1. ↑ "Victoria Cross Bios - Colin Fraser Barron". 14 April 2009. Archived from the original on 22 May 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  2. ↑ "No. 30471". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 January 1918. p. 723.

Further reading

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