Home Search Subjects Locations History Links About Me Canada's First Victoria Cross Another City of Toronto Plaque Plaque Location The City of Toronto On the SE corner of Spadina Avenue and Clarence Square, 1 block south of King Street West Plaque Photographer Alan L Brown More Information Public Library Posted April 8, 2004 Text from the Canada's First Victoria Cross Plaque 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.