Patterson, Welby Lloyd

Cpl. Welby Lloyd Patterson, M.M., son of Mr. Thomas Patterson, Ohsweken, lost his life on April 14, 1945, in Friesoythe, Germany, serving with the R.C.A.M.C., after a distinguished and gallant career as a soldier. He had been awarded the Military Medal for heroism and the citation in connection with it read: "On the night of September 9, 1944, an infantry company was among other sub-units of a Canadian infantry brigade which had successfully set a small bridgehead over the canal at Moerbrugge, Belgium. The enemy counter-attacked in great strength, and, acting on his own initiative, Cpl. Patterson worked his way through the intense mortar and machine gun fire to a position behind two stumps, where, for three hours, he fired with such coolness and devastating accuracy that the enemy was unable to effectively counter-attack the main position. The courage, initiative and complete disregard for personal safety shown by Cpl. Patterson was undoubtedly responsible for the defeat of repeated enemy thrusts at his unit's position". Born in 1922 on the Six Nations Reservation, Welby was educated at the Mohawk Institute. He is believed to have been the first from the Reserve to win the Military Medal in the Second Great War.

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