Frederick Albert Tilston
Major, Essex-Scottish Regiment. Canadian Infantry Corps
- Register No.
- 1215 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Major (register: Acting Major) all Majors →
- Unit
- Essex-Scottish Regiment. Canadian Infantry Corps (register: Essex Scottish Regiment) all Essex Scottish Regiment VCs →
- Date of action
- 1 March 1945 on this day → all of 1945 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 22nd May 1945 on this day → all of 1945 →
- Born
- 11th June 1906 at Toronto, Canada
- Died
- 23rd September 1992 at Toronto, Canada
- Memorial / grave
- at Mount Hope Cemetery, Toronto, Canada
- Medal held by
- The Royal Canadian Military Institute,
Digest of citation
At the Hochwald Forest, Germany, on the 1st March 1945, Major Tilston led his company in the attack, even though he was wounded, through a tangle of 10 ft of barbed-wire, towards the enemy trenches. He personally silenced a machine-gun and was the first to reach the enemy position. While pressing on to the second objective, he received a severe wound in the hip but carried on regardless. His unshakeable confidence and his own enthusiasm gave such inspiration, to the men of his company, that they determinedly held on against greater odds. Wounded for a third time, and hardly conscious, he refused any medical attention until he given complete instructions to his men for the holding of the position
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
TILSTON, Frederick Albert. (reg No. 1215).
Major. Essex-Scottish Regiment. Canadian Infantry Corps.
London Gazetted on 22nd May 1945.
VC Medal's Custodian is The Royal Canadian Military Institute, Toronto, Canada.
Born on 11th June 1906 at Toronto, Canada.
Died on 23rd September 1992 at Toronto, Canada.
Memorial on grave at Mount Hope Cemetery, Toronto, Canada.
Digest of Citation reads: At the Hochwald Forest, Germany, on the 1st March 1945, Major Tilston led his company in the attack, even though he was wounded, through a tangle of 10 ft of barbed-wire, towards the enemy trenches. He personally silenced a machine-gun and was the first to reach the enemy position. While pressing on to the second objective, he received a severe wound in the hip but carried on regardless. His unshakeable confidence and his own enthusiasm gave such inspiration, to the men of his company, that they determinedly held on against greater odds. Wounded for a third time, and hardly conscious, he refused any medical attention until he given complete instructions to his men for the holding of the position.
Toronto, Canada.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Mount Hope Cemetery, Toronto, 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.
Research this recipient further
Would you like to honour Frederick Albert Tilston by sponsoring this page from £1 a month — in memory of someone, in your own name or for your company? Sponsor this page.