Itinerary for Helen Peters Dewdney and other Canadians at the Victoria Cross Centenary in England in 1956

April 20, 2012

thebravestcanadian Uncategorized 1956, Frederic Thornton Peters, Helen Dewdney, Victoria Cross 5 Comments

itinerary page 4

itinerary page 6

itinerary page 5

by Sam McBride

My posting in this blog dated Dec. 22, 2011 features scans of tickets, invitations, theatre programs and other memorabilia my grandmother Helen kept as souvenirs from the Victoria Cross Centenary events in June 1956 marking the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Victoria Cross as the ultimate award for valour in the British Empire.

Helen was invited to England for the centenary as next-of-kin to her brother, Capt. Frederic Thornton Peters, VC, DSO, DSC and bar, DSC (U.S.), RN, who received the Victoria Cross and the U.S. Distinguished Service Cross for heroism in the attack on the harbour of Oran, Algeria on Nov. 8, 1942 in the Allied invasion of North Africa. He miraculously survived the Oran action, but died five days later when the flying boat transporting him back to England to report to Prime Minister Churchill on the Oran action crashed in Plymouth Sound.

Going through family papers recently I discovered the seven-page itinerary that Helen and other Canadian participants received for the centenary events.

5 Comments (+add yours?)

Nath
Dec 19, 2022 @ 17:06:09

Hiya,

I’m currently researching the Victoria Cross 1856-1956 centenary and the related events and just wondered if I’d be able to have a chat 🙂

I’ve read both articles so far and they are great reads 🙂

Reply
- thebravestcanadian
  Jan 19, 2023 @ 23:36:59
  
  I have not been on the blog site lately so have missed your request. What do you want to know about the 100th VC anniversary that my grandmother and uncle attended.?
  
  Reply
  - Nath
    Feb 02, 2023 @ 13:28:52
    
    Hello Sir;
    
    Thank you for getting back to me, I really appreciate it. I just wondered if it would be possible to get high quality scans of the items and photos you have of the event and your family, I’m trying to put a book (for charity) together and I’d love to have pictures of your family at the event in there if possible :). I have the Centenary Exhibition booklets and the Hyde Park review booklet, it’s things like tickets or the Westminster Abbey programme that I’m struggling with. Any help or assistance would be massively appreciated.
    
    Kind regards
    Nath
  - thebravestcanadian
    Mar 06, 2023 @ 19:00:30
    
    If you give me an email address I could send you some things which may be of interest.
  - Nath
    Mar 06, 2023 @ 20:27:48
    
    Thank you i really appreciate it 🙂 it’s na.houghton89@gmail.com
    
    I look forward to it

thebravestcanadian