Location
The City of Toronto
At the rear of the former Etobicoke City Hall, on the SE corner of The West Mall and Burnhamthorpe Road
|
Photographer
Alan L Brown
|
More Information
|
Posted
March 27, 2004
|
Text from the Plaque
Born in Toronto, Topham was educated here before working in the mines at Kirkland Lake. He enlisted on August 3, 1942, and served at home and abroad as a medical orderly. On March 24, 1945, while serving with the first Canadian Parachute Battalion, he defied heavy enemy fire to treat casualties sustained in a parachute drop east of the Rhine, near Wesel. Rejecting treatment for his own severe face wound, he continued to rescue the injured for six hours. While returning to his company, he saved three occupants of a burning carrier which was in danger of exploding. For these exceptional deeds, Topham was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for valour in the British Commonwealth.
|
|