Gazette Information: GAZETTE ISSUE 30400, VICTORIA CROSS,: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30400/supplement/12329. His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned:- No. 144039 Acting Corporal Filip Konowal, Canadian Infantry. For most conspicuous bravery and leadership, during the period 22nd/24th August 1917 at Lens, France, 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. Corporal 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 if the enemy, and during the two days ' actual fighting carried on continuously his good work until severely wounded.
Fold3_Team · Oct 31, 2023
Gazette Information: GAZETTE ISSUE 30400, VICTORIA CROSS,: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30400/supplement/12329. His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned:- No. 144039 Acting Corporal Filip Konowal, Canadian Infantry. For most conspicuous bravery and leadership, during the period 22nd/24th August 1917 at Lens, France, 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. Corporal 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 if the enemy, and during the two days ' actual fighting carried on continuously his good work until severely wounded.