Filip Konowal
Corporal, 47th Battalion. British Columbia Regiment. Canadian Expeditionary Force
- Register No.
- 707 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Corporal (register: Acting Corporal) all Corporals →
- Unit
- 47th Battalion. British Columbia Regiment. Canadian Expeditionary Force (register: 47th Battalion, CEF) all CEF VCs →
- Date of action
- 22–24 August 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 26th November 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 15th September 1888 at Podolsky, Ukraine, Russia
- Died
- 3rd June 1959 at Ottawa, Canada
- Memorial / grave
- at Notre Dame Cemetery, Ottawa, Canada
Digest of citation
In the period 22nd to 24th August 1917 at Lens, France, Corporal Konowal was in command of a section that had the difficult task of mopping up cellars, craters and machine-gun emplacements. Under his competent direction any resistance was overcome successfully and heavy casualties were inflicted on the enemy. In one cellar ,he personally bayoneted three enemy and single-handed attacked seven others in a crater, killing them all. On reaching the objective, a machine gun was holding up the right flank causing heavy casualties. He rushed forward and entered the emplacement, killing all the crew, then bringing back the gun to our lines. The following day, single-handed, he again attacked a machine gun post, killed three of the crew, destroying the gun and emplacement with explosives. He killed at least 16 of the enemy and during the two days of fighting managed to keep up the excellent work until he was wounded
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
KONOWAL, Filip. (reg No. 707).
Corporal. 47th Battalion. British Columbia Regiment. Canadian Expeditionary Force.
London Gazetted on 26th November 1917.
Born on 15th September 1888 at Podolsky, Ukraine, Russia.
Died on 3rd June 1959 at Ottawa, Canada.
Memorial on grave at Notre Dame Cemetery, Ottawa, Canada.
Digest of Citation reads:. In the period 22nd to 24th August 1917 at Lens, France, Corporal Konowal was in command of a section that had the difficult task of mopping up cellars, craters and machine-gun emplacements. Under his competent direction any resistance was overcome successfully and heavy casualties were inflicted on the enemy. In one cellar ,he personally bayoneted three enemy and single-handed attacked seven others in a crater, killing them all. On reaching the objective, a machine gun was holding up the right flank causing heavy casualties. He rushed forward and entered the emplacement, killing all the crew, then bringing back the gun to our lines. The following day, single-handed, he again attacked a machine gun post, killed three of the crew, destroying the gun and emplacement with explosives. He killed at least 16 of the enemy and during the two days of fighting managed to keep up the excellent work until he was wounded.
Additional information:. He was the son of Russian farmer Miron Konowal and his wife Eudkice. He married Anna Stanka on the 25th of July 1909 and had a daughter, May. On the 12th July, 1915 he joined the Canadian Military Forces and fought in the European War (WW I).. More to add.
Additional information
He was the son of Russian farmer Miron Konowal and his wife Eudkice. He married Anna Stanka on the 25th of July 1909 and had a daughter, May. On the 12th July, 1915 he joined the Canadian Military Forces and fought in the European War (WW I).. More to add.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Notre Dame Cemetery, Ottawa, Canada
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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