Charles Henry Byce

Charles Henry Byce, DCM, MM

Born: 9 March 1916, Chapleau, Ontario Died: 30 November 1994 Rank: Sergeant Unit: The Lake Superior Regiment (Motor)

Charles Henry Byce was a Canadian soldier of Moose Cree ancestry and the most highly decorated Indigenous Canadian soldier of the Second World War. He received both the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Military Medal for separate acts of gallantry in 1945. (veterans.gc.ca)

Byce was born in Chapleau, Ontario. His mother, Louisa Saylors, was Cree from Moose Factory. His father, Henry Byce, was a decorated First World War veteran who received the Distinguished Conduct Medal and France’s Médaille militaire. (veterans.gc.ca)

Byce joined The Lake Superior Regiment and served overseas in northwest Europe. During the night of 20–21 January 1945, he led a covering party across the Maas River in the Netherlands. Under fire, he attacked and silenced German positions with grenades and helped ensure the patrol returned safely. For this action, he was awarded the Military Medal. (veterans.gc.ca)

On 2 March 1945, during fighting near the Hochwald Forest in Germany, Byce’s company came under intense artillery, mortar and armoured attack. Every officer was killed or wounded, and command of the surviving soldiers fell to Acting Sergeant Byce.

He rallied the men, organized the defence and held the position against overwhelming odds. When withdrawal became unavoidable, Byce remained behind with a sniper’s rifle and covered his men until they reached safety. For his leadership and courage, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, which ranked immediately below the Victoria Cross for other ranks. (canada.ca)

Byce returned to Canada after the war, married Frances DeGrasse and raised seven children. He worked for many years in northern Ontario and died in 1994.

His confirmed medal group consists of:

1. Distinguished Conduct Medal 2. Military Medal 3. 1939–1945 Star 4. France and Germany Star 5. Defence Medal 6. Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp 7. War Medal 1939–1945

His medals, together with those of his father, are preserved by the Canadian War Museum. A monument honouring him was unveiled in Chapleau in 2016. (veterans.gc.ca)

Charles Byce’s actions at the Maas and the Hochwald remain an outstanding example of courage, leadership and devotion to his fellow soldiers.