Paul Triquet

Brigadier-General Paul Triquet VC, CD
File:Paul Triquet.jpg Paul Triquet
Born	2 April 1910 Cabano, Quebec
Died	8 August 1980 (aged 70) Quebec City, Quebec
Buried	Citadelle de Québec
Allegiance	Canada
Service/branch	Canadian Army
Years of service	1927–56
Rank	Brigadier-General
Unit	Royal 22e Régiment
Battles/wars	Second World War Italian Campaign
Awards	Victoria Cross Canadian Forces Decoration Knight of the Venerable Order of St John

Brigadier-General Paul Triquet VC, CD, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (April 2, 1910 – August 8, 1980) was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for valour "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

Major Paul Triquet c.1944

Paul Triquet was 33 years old, and a captain in the Royal 22^e Régiment (Royal 22nd Regiment, which is known colloquially by the anglicized term "the Van Doos"), Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Infantry Corps during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 14 December 1943 during the attack on Casa Berardi, Italy, when all the other officers and half the men of his company had been killed or wounded, Captain Triquet dashed forward and, with the remaining men, broke through the enemy resistance. He then forced his way on with his small force – now reduced to two sergeants and 15 men – into a position on the outskirts of Casa Berardi. They held out against attacks from overwhelming numbers until the remainder of the battalion relieved them, the next day. Throughout the action Captain Triquet's utter disregard for danger and his cheerful encouragement were an inspiration to his men.

Further information

Triquet later achieved the rank of brigadier-general. His memorial is a plaque at Mount Royal Crematorium, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (The ashes are interred in the regimental memorial of the Royal 22^e Régiment, The Citadel, Quebec.) Triquet Island off the coast of British Columbia is named after Paul Triquet. Triquet Island, with a latitude of 51.8 (51°47′60″ N) and a longitude of −128.25 (128°15′0″ W), is located in the province of British Columbia.

Medals

File:Triquet statue.jpg

Statue of Paul Triquet in Ottawa (Ontario)

File:VCPaulTriquetGrave.jpg

Memorial plaque at Mount Royal Crematorium

His medals can be seen at the Citadelle de Québec, but the actual Victoria Cross on display is a copy.

References

• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)

External links

• Drawing and biography of Paul Triquet
• Biography with photo