Caledon woman remembers famous uncle 'Toppy' Topham

Caledon's Marion Mason and her granddaughter Jessica, were on hand for the unveiling of the plaque honoring Cpl. Fred "Toppy" Topham.

Memories of one of Canada's bravest war heroes were rekindled recently by his Caledon niece.

Corporal Fred "Toppy" Topham was honoured with a plaque at Etobicoke's Sanctuary Park Cemetery March 25 with all the pomp and pageantry reserved for royalty. The monument, located near his grave, tells the story of his heroic acts of March 24, 1945.

While many years have passed, his bravery was never forgotten, especially by the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion.

Marion and Bill Mason, Chris and Melodie Mason and Jessica Mason - three generations of nieces and nephews, stood proudly and watched the unveiling of the plaque.

There have only been 69 Canadian Victoria Cross recipients in all the wars and it was the highest award for valour.

On March 24, 1945, Corporal Topham, a medical orderly, parachuted with the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion into a strongly defended area of the Rhine River. At roughly 11 a.m., while treating casualties sustained in the drop, a cry for help came from a wounded man in the open. Two medical orderlies responded but both were killed.

Cpl. Fred Topham

Without hesitation and on his own initiative, Corporal Topham went forward through intense fire. As he worked on the wounded man, he was shot through the nose, bleeding profusely. Upon completing first aid, he carried the wounded man steadily and slowly back through continuous fire to the shelter of nearby woods.

During the next two hours, Corporal Topham refused all offers of medical help for his own wound. He worked devotedly to bring in the wounded, showing disregard for heavy enemy fire. It was only when all casualties were cleared that he consented to his own wound being treated.

On his way back to his company, he came across a damaged Bren gun carrier, burning with its own ammunition exploding. Topham immediately went out alone in spite of the blasting ammunition and enemy fire and rescued the three occupants of the carrier. He brought these men back across the open. One died and he arranged for the evacuation of the other two.

He showed sustained gallantry of the highest order. For six hours, most of the time in great pain, he performed a series of outstanding acts of bravery and his magnificent and selfless courage inspired all who witnessed it.

(From the London Gazette, Aug. 3, 1945.)

Mason said, as a young child, she remembers the ticker tape parade up Yonge Street in Toronto, with people lined up three deep on both sides, cheering. The presentation of the Victoria Cross was held in front of old city hall by mayor Saunders. The event was staged using another veteran's Cross and Fred's arrived in the mail, in a brown paper bag, a few weeks later. The Toronto Telegram sent Topham and his wife to London for a presentation of his Victoria Cross by the Queen Mother.

She said the scar on his nose grew fainter over the years and Topham went to work with Toronto Hydro. He was a favourite uncle to all.

Topham died in 1974 at age 57.

His Victoria Cross became the centre of some controversy in 2006 when the family tried to send it to the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. Mason said it was a complicated matter, when it was put up for auction. Eventually, several fund-raisers were held to keep it in Canada and it was sent to the museum. Mason said they made provisions for the Cross to be part of a traveling exhibit.