Canada's First Victoria Cross

Ontario's Historical Plaques

Here's where you can learn a little Ontario history.

Photo by Alan L Brown - April 8, 2004

Plaque Location

The City of Toronto
On the SE corner of Spadina Avenue and Clarence Square, 1 block south of King Street West

Plaque Text

Born in 1833 a short distance north of this site, Alexander Dunn was educated at Upper Canada College and at Harrow, England. In 1853 he was commissioned Lieutenant in the 11th Hussars. A participant in the charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava on October 25th, 1854, he saved the lives of two of his regiment by cutting down their Russian attackers, and thus became Canada's first winner of the newly-created Victoria Cross. In 1858 Dunn helped to raise the 100th Royal Canadian Regiment, which he later commanded. In 1864 he transferred to the 33rd (Duke of Wellington's) Regiment, and four years later was accidentally killed while hunting in Abyssinia.

Here's More
Information

Related pages:
Sergeant John Pearson V.C. 1825-1892
Harry G.B. Miner V.C. 1891-1918
Sergeant Aubrey Cosens V.C. 1921-1945
Ellis Wellwood Sifton V.C. 1891-1917
William Avery Bishop V.C. 1894-1956
David Vivian Currie V.C. 1912-1986
Thomas William Holmes V.C. 1898-1950
Lionel Beaumaurice (Leo) Clarke V.C. 1892-1916
Captain George Fraser Kerr 1895-1929
John Weir Foote V.C. 1904-1988
Herbert Taylor Reade V.C. 1828-1897
Lieutenant-Colonel Thain Wendell MacDowell V.C. D.S.O. 1890-1960
George Richardson V.C. 1831-1923
Lance Corporal Fred Fisher V.C. 1894-1915
Colonel Graham Thomson Lyall V.C. 1892-1941
Claude J.P. Nunney V.C. 1892-1918
Corporal Frederick George Topham V.C. 1917-1974
Flight Lieutenant David Ernest Hornell V.C. 1910-1944
Sergeant Frederick Hobson VC 1873 - 1917
Lieutenant S. Lewis Honey V.C. D.C.M. M.M. 1894-1918
Captain Frederick W. Campbell V.C. 1867-1915

Here are the comments for this page.

(none yet)

Write a comment for this page.
(Note: If you wish to ask me a question, please use the email link in the menu.)

Note: Comments are moderated. Yours will appear on this page within 24 hours (usually much sooner).