A Canadian soldier has not received the Victoria Cross, the country’s highest military honor, since World War II. A petition presented to the House of Commons, with over 16,000 signatures, aims to address this. Nipissing-Timiskaming Liberal MP Pauline Rochefort is championing the petition, particularly advocating for Afghanistan veteran Pte. Jess Larochelle from her constituency, believed by many to be a top contender for the Victoria Cross.
Larochelle, hailing from Restoule in northern Ontario, demonstrated exceptional bravery on October 14, 2006, during an intense Taliban assault in Pashmul, west of Kandahar City. Despite sustaining severe injuries, including a broken back and detached retina, Larochelle valiantly defended his company. Despite losing consciousness briefly, he effectively countered the enemy using a machine gun and a rocket launcher, thwarting an insurgent force of 20 to 40 fighters.
Although Larochelle was posthumously honored with the Star of Military Valour, Canada’s second-highest bravery commendation, he was never bestowed with the Victoria Cross. To rectify this, a group called Valour in the Presence of the Enemy, led by retired Royal Canadian Air Force captain Mike Harrison, has been advocating for Larochelle and other deserving candidates to receive the prestigious award. Despite Canada creating its own version of the Victoria Cross in 1993, it has yet to be awarded.
Besides Larochelle, other nations recognized their soldiers’ valor in Afghanistan, with Britain, Australia, and New Zealand awarding Victoria Crosses and the U.S. bestowing the Medal of Honor. Harrison emphasized the disparity in recognition, highlighting the sacrifices made by Canadian troops in Afghanistan compared to their American counterparts.
The petition urges the government to establish an independent committee to review cases of Afghanistan veterans meeting Victoria Cross criteria. Rochefort confirmed that the petition has met the required threshold for a government response within 45 days. This initiative marks the third recent effort to reform the Victoria Cross award process, showcasing bipartisan support across political parties.