A paving slab commemorates Watford First World War hero Major General George Pearkes on the 100th anniversary of him receiving the Victoria Cross...
First World War
Major General Pearkes was born in 1888, where he lived over the draper’s shop run by his family in Watford town centre. After emigrating to Canada, where he joined the Royal Mounted Police, Major General Pearkes enlisted as a private in the Canadian Mounted Rifles in 1915. He came to Europe to fight in the First World War and by 1917 he was leading a Canadian unit in the Battle of Passchendaele.
It was here that he was awarded the Victoria Cross, Britain’s highest service award for gallantry, for leading attacks on the German lines on 30-31 October. He won plaudits for his conspicuous bravery and skilful handling of the troops under his command, despite having been wounded.
In October 2017 a paving stone was unveiled on the High Street to remember his act of bravery which resulted in him being awarded the Victoria Cross.
Second World War
After the war, Major General Pearkes returned to Canada where he continued his military career. With the outbreak of the Second World War, he returned to Europe as a Brigadier in command of a Canadian Infantry Brigade. Returning to Canada in 1942, he was made responsible for Canada’s west coast defences.
He retired from the army in 1945 and went into federal politics. He served in the Canadian federal parliament from 1945 to 1960, representing constituencies in British Colombia. In 1958, while serving as Minister of National Defence in the federal government, he visited Watford and a civic lunch at the Town Hall was held in his honour. While here, he presented to the town a soapstone carving of an Inuit and a polar bear which now takes pride of place in Watford Museum.
In 1960 Major General Pearkes was made Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia, a position which he held until 1968. He died in 1984, aged 96, in Victoria, British Colombia, and was buried there with full military honours.
George Pearkes' VC Citation
"For most conspicuous bravery and skilful handling of the troops under his command during the capture and consolidation of considerably more than the objectives allotted to him, in an attack. Just prior to the advance Major Pearkes was wounded in the thigh. Regardless of his wound, he continued to lead his men with the utmost gallantry, despite many obstacles.
At a particular stage of the attack his further advance was threatened by a strong point which was an objective of the battalion on his left, but which they had not succeeded in capturing. Quickly appreciating the situation, he captured and held this point, thus enabling his further advance to be successfully pushed forward.
It was entirely due to his determination and fearless personality that he was able to maintain his objective with the small number of men at this command against repeated enemy counter-attacks, both his flanks being unprotected for a considerable depth meanwhile.
His appreciation of the situation throughout and the reports rendered by him were invaluable to his commanding officer in making dispositions of troops to hold the position captured.
He showed throughout a supreme contempt of danger and wonderful powers of control and leading."
