Charles Smith Rutherford
Lieutenant, 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles.* Canadian Expeditionary Force
- Register No.
- 1089 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles.* Canadian Expeditionary Force (register: 5th Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles) all Canadian Mounted Rifles VCs →
- Date of action
- 26 August 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 15th November 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Born
- the 9th January 1892 at Haldimand Township, Ontario, Canada
- Died
- 11th June 1989 at Ottawa, Ontario
- Memorial / grave
- at Union Cemetery, Colbourne, Ontario
Digest of citation
Whilst in command of an assault party on 26th August 1918, at Monchy, France, Lieutenant Rutherford found that he was a considerable distance ahead of his men. Almost at the same moment, ahead of him, he sighted a fully armed strong enemy party outside a pillbox. With his revolver he beckoned them to come towards him. They, in turn, indicated that they wanted him to go to them. This he did and informed them that they were now his prisoners. The German officer disputed this and invited the lieutenant into the pillbox. Lieutenant Rutherford declined the offer. He managed, by bluffing, to convince the officer that they were surrounded and the whole party of the enemy, 45 in all, including two officers and three machine-guns, surrendered to him. He also convinced the enemy officer to halt the fire of an enemy machine gun close by, taking advantage of the situation to move his men up in support. The Lieutenant then noticed that the right assaulting party was being held up by fire from another pillbox. He attacked the pillbox with a Lewis gun, taking another 35 prisoners, along with their machine guns, enabling the assault party to continue their advance. He was an inspiration to all those who saw him
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
RUTHERFORD, Charles Smith. (reg No. 1089).
Lieutenant. 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles.* Canadian Expeditionary Force.
London Gazetted on 15th November 1918.
VC Medal has private owner.
Born on the 9th January 1892 at Haldimand Township, Ontario, Canada.
Died on 11th June 1989 at Ottawa, Ontario.
Memorial on grave at Union Cemetery, Colbourne, Ontario.
Digest of Citation reads: Whilst in command of an assault party on 26th August 1918, at Monchy, France, Lieutenant Rutherford found that he was a considerable distance ahead of his men. Almost at the same moment, ahead of him, he sighted a fully armed strong enemy party outside a pillbox. With his revolver he beckoned them to come towards him. They, in turn, indicated that they wanted him to go to them. This he did and informed them that they were now his prisoners. The German officer disputed this and invited the lieutenant into the pillbox. Lieutenant Rutherford declined the offer. He managed, by bluffing, to convince the officer that they were surrounded and the whole party of the enemy, 45 in all, including two officers and three machine-guns, surrendered to him. He also convinced the enemy officer to halt the fire of an enemy machine gun close by, taking advantage of the situation to move his men up in support. The Lieutenant then noticed that the right assaulting party was being held up by fire from another pillbox. He attacked the pillbox with a Lewis gun, taking another 35 prisoners, along with their machine guns, enabling the assault party to continue their advance. He was an inspiration to all those who saw him.
*Quebec Regiment.
Additional information:. Captain Rutherford also held the Military Cross (MC) and the Military Medal (MM). He was the son of Mrs Mabella Rutherford, of the Post Office in Colbourne, Ontario. He joined the Canadian Forces in March 1916 as a Private.
Additional information
Captain Rutherford also held the Military Cross (MC) and the Military Medal (MM). He was the son of Mrs Mabella Rutherford, of the Post Office in Colbourne, Ontario. He joined the Canadian Forces in March 1916 as a Private.
*Quebec Regiment.
VC Medal has private owner.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Union Cemetery, Colbourne, Ontario
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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