Home Search Subjects Locations History Comments Links About Me Corporal Frederick George Topham, V.C. 1917-1974 Another City of Toronto Plaque Location The City of Toronto At the rear of the former Etobicoke City Hall, on the SE corner of The West Mall and Burnhamthorpe Road Plaque Photographer Alan L Brown More Information Public Library Posted March 27, 2004 Text from the Corporal Frederick George Topham Plaque Born in Toronto, Topham was educated here before working in the mines at Kirkland Lake. He enlisted on August 3, 1942, and served at home and abroad as a medical orderly. On March 24, 1945, while serving with the first Canadian Parachute Battalion, he defied heavy enemy fire to treat casualties sustained in a parachute drop east of the Rhine, near Wesel. Rejecting treatment for his own severe face wound, he continued to rescue the injured for six hours. While returning to his company, he saved three occupants of a burning carrier which was in danger of exploding. For these exceptional deeds, Topham was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for valour in the British Commonwealth.