Filip Konowal

Filip Konowal, VC (25 March 1887 – 3 June 1959) was a Ukrainian-born soldier who served with the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War.

Konowal was born in Kutkivtsi, Podolia Governorate, Imperial Russia. He worked as a stonecutter with his father before entering compulsory military service in 1909. He joined the Imperial Russian Guard and spent four years as an instructor in close-quarters bayonet fighting.

After leaving the army in early 1913, Konowal traveled through Vladivostok to Vancouver, British Columbia. He worked in forestry in Western Canada before moving to eastern Ontario. On 12 July 1915, he enlisted in Ottawa with the 77th Canadian Infantry Battalion. His service number was 144039.

Konowal crossed the Atlantic aboard RMS Missanabie in June 1916. He later transferred to the 47th Battalion, British Columbia, part of the 10th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Division. The battalion arrived in France in August 1916.

On 6 April 1917, Konowal was promoted to acting corporal. He fought in the Canadian assault on Vimy Ridge. During the battle, he led a section in the attack on the Pimple, a German defensive position.

Konowal's most notable service came during the Battle of Hill 70 near Lens, France, from 21 to 24 August 1917. German artillery fire killed or wounded all the officers in his company. Konowal took command of his section and led attacks against fortified machine-gun positions and cellars.

His Victoria Cross citation appeared in the London Gazette on 26 November 1917. The citation began: "For most conspicuous bravery and leadership when in charge of a section in attack. His section had the difficult task of mopping up cellars, craters and machine-gun emplacements. Under his able direction all resistance was overcome successfully, and heavy casualties inflicted on the enemy. In one cellar he himself bayonetted three enemy and attacked single-handed seven others in a crater, killing them all. On reaching the objective, a machine-gun was holding up the right flank, causing many casualties. Cpl. Konowal rushed forward and entered the emplacement, killed the crew, and brought the gun back to our lines. The next day he again attacked single-handed another machine-gun emplacement, killed three of the crew, and destroyed the gun and emplacement with explosives. This non-commissioned officer alone killed at least sixteen of the enemy, and during the two days' actual fighting carried on continuously his good work until severely wounded."

On 23 August 1917, gunfire seriously wounded Konowal in the head, face, and arm. He was sent to Beaufort War Hospital in Bristol for treatment. His wounds ended his active combat service in Western Europe.

After recovering, Konowal joined the office of the Russian Military Attaché in London. In October 1918, he joined the Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force as a sergeant with the 259th Battalion. He served in Vladivostok during the Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War. He returned to Canada in 1919.

Konowal faced serious physical, financial, and psychological difficulties after the war. In 1919, he became involved in an altercation. The court acquitted him on grounds of medical unfitness. He later spent periods in institutional care and worked in manual jobs.

His wartime record eventually came to the attention of the Canadian government. Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King arranged a permanent position for Konowal as a custodian at the House of Commons. He held the position for many years.

Konowal died on 3 June 1959 in Hull, Quebec, aged 72. He was buried at Notre Dame Cemetery in Ottawa with full military honours.