Buried at Citadelle de Quebec Years of service 1927–56 Unit Royal 22 Regiment Role Armed force officer Awards Victoria Cross | Allegiance Canada Rank Brigadier-General Name Paul Triquet Service/branch Canadian Army | |
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Battles/wars Second World War
Italian Campaign Died August 8, 1980, Quebec City, Canada Place of burial Citadelle of Quebec, Quebec City, Canada Battles and wars Italian Campaign, World War II Similar People Joseph Kaeble, Jean Brillant, Dwight D Eisenhower, Albert Kesselring, Benito Mussolini | ||
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.
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Details
Paul Triquet was 33 years old, and a captain in the Royal 22e Regiment (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 22e Regiment, 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
His medals can be seen at the Citadelle de Quebec, but the actual Victoria Cross on display is a copy.