Milton Fowler Gregg

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Photo by Terry Macdonald
Photo by Terry Macdonald

Milton Fowler Gregg, VC, OC, CBE, MC, ED, PC (April 10, 1892 - March 13, 1978) was a Canadian Member of Parliament, cabinet minister, academic, soldier, diplomat, and 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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[edit] Early life

Born in Mountain Dale, Kings County, New Brunswick, the son of Elizabeth Celia (Myles) and George Lord Gregg, he graduated with an MA from Acadia University in 1916.

[edit] Victoria Cross

Milton Gregg served during the First World War as an officer of The Royal Canadian Regiment. During combat in France in 1917, his action earned him the Military Cross and in 1918 further valour added a bar to the Cross. Near Cambrai, Nord, France on September 28, 1918 his actions earned him the Victoria Cross. The following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC:

During the period 27 September to 1 October 1918 near Cambrai, France, Lieutenant Gregg showed most conspicuous bravery and initiative. Although wounded twice, he led his men against enemy trenches in which he personally killed or wounded 11 Germans, took 25 prisoners and captured 12 machine-guns. In spite of his wounds he stayed with his company and a few days later again led his men in attack until severely wounded for the third time.

He later achieved the rank of Brigadier.

His Victoria Cross was donated to the Royal Canadian Regiment Museum in London, Ontario in 1979. The medal was stolen from the museum in 1980 and has been missing ever since.

From 1934 until 1939 he was the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Commons. Following the outbreak of World War II, Gregg served overseas for two years and then commanded officer training centres at various military facilities in Canada.

In 1944, he was appointed chancellor of the University of New Brunswick, serving in that position until 1947 when he was elected to the Parliament of Canada as a Liberal Party of Canada member of the Canadian House of Commons for the York-Sunbury riding. Gregg served in the cabinets of Prime Ministers William Lyon Mackenzie King and Louis St. Laurent for almost ten years as the Minister of Fisheries, Minister of Veterans Affairs, and Minister of Labour.

Defeated in the 1957 election, Gregg went on to become the United Nations representative in Iraq, the UNICEF administrator in Indonesia, and the Canadian High Commissioner in Georgetown, British Guiana. He retired in 1968.

He is buried at Snider Mountain Baptist Church Cemetery in Snider Mountain, New Brunswick.

[edit] Honours

In 1951 he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of British Columbia.

He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada on December 22, 1967 and accepted the award in a ceremony performed on April 26, 1968.

After his death the Milton Fowler Gregg VC Memorial Trust Fund Bursary was created in his name. It is offered annually to students entering the Royal Military College Division of Graduate Studies and Research.

He was sworn into the Privy Council for Canada on September 2, 1947 by Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King.

The Gregg Centre for the Study of War and Society was created at the University of New Brunswick in 2006, to further Canadians' knowledge about the effects of war upon society. Dr Lee Windor is the first Director. The centre incorporates the UNB History and UNB Military and Strategic Studies Programs.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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