Harry Garnet Bedford Miner

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Harry Garnet Bedford Miner, VC ( b 24 June 1891 at Cedar Springs, Ontario, d 8 August 1918) (VC, Croix de Guerre (France)) was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

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He was 27 years old, and a corporal in the 58th (Toronto) Battalion,Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 8 August 1918 at Demuin, France, Corporal Miner rushed an enemy machine-gun post single-handed, killed the entire crew and turned the gun on the enemy. Later, with two others, he attacked another machine-gun post and put it out of action. Then again, this NCO rushed an enemy bombing post alone, bayoneting two of the garrison and putting the remainder to flight. He was mortally wounded during this action but refused to withdraw. He died later that day.

Like many other soldiers, little or nothing is known about his life prior to the war, and in fact nothing particularly distinguishes his military service prior to his heroic acts of August 18th.

The South Barracks (building M-209) in LFCA TC Meaford is named the Corporal H.G.B. Miner Barracks in his honour. Branch 185 of the Royal Canadian Legion in Blenheim is the Harry Miner Branch.