Cyrus Wesley Peck
Lieutenant Colonel, 16th Battalion. Manitoba Regiment. * Canadian Expeditionary Force
- Register No.
- 978 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant Colonel all Lieutenant-Colonels →
- Unit
- 16th Battalion. Manitoba Regiment. * Canadian Expeditionary Force (register: 16th Battalion, CEF) all CEF VCs →
- Date of action
- 2 September 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 15th November 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Born
- 26th April 1871 at Hopewell Hill, New Brunswick, Canada
- Died
- 27th September 1956 at Sydney, Vancouver, British Columbia,
- Memorial / grave
- in New Westminster Cemetery, British Columbia
Digest of citation
For most conspicuous bravery and skill whilst leading his men, under intense enemy fire After quickly capturing the first objective progress, to a further objective, was hampered by enemy machine-gun fire from the right flank. Colonel Peck went forward and made a personal reconnaissance tour, all the time under heavy machine-gun fire and sniping across a stretch of ground which was being heavily swept by enemy fire. Returning to the Battalion, he reorganised, and then, acting on the knowledge he'd gained from his reconnaissance, pushed them forward, arranging to protect his flanks. Making his way out under the most intense artillery and machine-gun fire, he intercepted our tanks and gave them the necessary instructions to where they were to make for, thus making it possible for Canadian Infantry Battalion to push forward. He then gave this Battalion the required support. His magnificent display of courage and leadership allowed the advance to continue and contributed largely to the success of the brigade attacks
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
PECK, Cyrus Wesley. (reg No. 978).
Lieutenant Colonel. 16th Battalion. Manitoba Regiment. * Canadian Expeditionary Force.
London Gazetted on 15th November 1918.
Born on 26th April 1871 at Hopewell Hill, New Brunswick, Canada.
Died on 27th September 1956 at Sydney, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Memorial on grave in New Westminster Cemetery, British Columbia.
Digest of Citation reads: For most conspicuous bravery and skill whilst leading his men, under intense enemy fire After quickly capturing the first objective progress, to a further objective, was hampered by enemy machine-gun fire from the right flank. Colonel Peck went forward and made a personal reconnaissance tour, all the time under heavy machine-gun fire and sniping across a stretch of ground which was being heavily swept by enemy fire. Returning to the Battalion, he reorganised, and then, acting on the knowledge he'd gained from his reconnaissance, pushed them forward, arranging to protect his flanks. Making his way out under the most intense artillery and machine-gun fire, he intercepted our tanks and gave them the necessary instructions to where they were to make for, thus making it possible for Canadian Infantry Battalion to push forward. He then gave this Battalion the required support. His magnificent display of courage and leadership allowed the advance to continue and contributed largely to the success of the brigade attacks.
* Canadian Scottish.
Additional information:. Lieutenant Colonel Peck also held the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and Bar. He was described in a newspaper cutting as, "A comfortably built, middle-aged man, in 1914, living in British Columbia, where he represented Skeena in the Canadian parliament, was Mr Cyrus Wesley Peck. The day the war broke out he enlisted, and he has just received at the hands of the King the VC he won while in command of a Canadian Highland Battalion at Vimy Ridge. Not so bad for a comfortably built, middle aged man."
Additional information
Lieutenant Colonel Peck also held the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and Bar. He was described in a newspaper cutting as, "A comfortably built, middle-aged man, in 1914, living in British Columbia, where he represented Skeena in the Canadian parliament, was Mr Cyrus Wesley Peck. The day the war broke out he enlisted, and he has just received at the hands of the King the VC he won while in command of a Canadian Highland Battalion at Vimy Ridge. Not so bad for a comfortably built, middle aged man."
* Canadian Scottish.
Canada.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: in New Westminster Cemetery, British Columbia
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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