Brigadier-General Paul Triquet (April 2, 1910 – August 8, 1980) was a Canadian recipient of the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious decoration of the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British decorations system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British ...

(VC), the highest and most prestigious award for valour in the presence of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Triquet held the rank of

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

at the time of his VC award and went on to achieve the rank of brigadier-general. Triquet was the only Quebecer to be awarded the VC during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

Details

Paul Triquet was a 33-year-old captain in the Royal 22^e Régiment (R22^eR), Royal Canadian Infantry Corps, during the Second World War when the following deed took place as part of the Moro River Campaign in

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

. His VC citation reads: ''On 14 December 1943 during the attack on Casa Berardi, Italy, when all the other officers and half the men of his company had been killed or wounded, Captain Triquet dashed forward and, with the remaining men, broke through the enemy resistance. He then forced his way on with his small force – now reduced to two sergeants and 15 men – into a position on the outskirts of Casa Berardi. They held out against attacks from overwhelming numbers until the remainder of the battalion relieved them, the next day. Throughout the action Captain Triquet's utter disregard for danger and his cheerful encouragement were an inspiration to his men.''

Memorials

A memorial plaque was placed at Mount Royal Crematorium,

Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...

, Quebec, Canada. His ashes are interred in the regimental memorial of the R22^eR,

Citadelle of Quebec The Citadelle of Quebec (), also known as , is an active military installation and the secondary official residence of the governor general of Canada. It is atop Cap Diamant, adjoining the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City, Quebec. The citadel ...

. Triquet Island, off the west coast of

British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...

, is named in his honour. A statue of Triquet is one of 14 that comprise the

Valiants Memorial The Valiants Memorial () is a military monument located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It commemorates fourteen key figures from the military history of Canada. Dedicated by Governor General Michaëlle Jean on 5 November 2006, the work consists of ni ...

in Confederation Square in Ottawa. Mont Triquet is one of the peaks in the training area of

CFB Valcartier 2nd Canadian Division Support Base Valcartier (2 CDSB Valcartier), formerly known as and commonly referred to as Canadian Forces Base Valcartier (CFB Valcartier), is a Canadian Forces base located in the municipality of Saint-Gabriel-de-Valc ...

Medals

His medals can be seen at the Citadelle, but the displayed VC is actually a replica of Triquet's.

References

*''

Monuments to Courage David Charles Harvey (29 July 1946 – 4 March 2004) was a British historian and author. He is notable for his seminal work, ''Monuments To Courage'', which documents the graves of almost all recipients of the Victoria Cross, a task that took ...

'' (David Harvey, 1999) *''

The Register of the Victoria Cross ''The Register of the Victoria Cross'' is a reference work that provides brief information on every Victoria Cross awarded until the publication date. Each entry provides a summary of the deed, along with a photograph of the recipient and the f ...

'' (This England, 1997)

External links

Drawing and biography of Paul Triquet

Biography with photo
{{DEFAULTSORT:Triquet, Paul Canadian World War II recipients of the Victoria Cross 1910 births 1980 deaths People from Bas-Saint-Laurent Knights of the Legion of Honour Canadian generals Knights of the Order of St John Canadian Army personnel of World War II Royal 22nd Regiment officers Canadian military personnel from Quebec