Rev. Lt. Col. John Weir Foote, VC (1904-1988)
The Sash Our Forefathers Wore
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John "Jack" Weir Foote was born on May 4th, 1905 in Madoc, Ontario and was the son of Gordon Benjamin Foote and Margaret Helena Weir.
The family was of Irish, and quite possibly of Ulster extraction. As a young man, Jack played the organ in the local Presbyterian Church, with which his family were closely connected. He married Edith Sheridan of Brockville, Ontario, on August 31st, 1929 and for a while worked in his father-in-law's (Wilson Sheridan) hardware business in Cornwall, Ontario. He later left this employment and went back to full-time education to study for the ministry. After highschool he attended the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and McGill University in Montreal, Quebec before gradutating from the Presbyterian Theological College of Montreal in 1934 at the age of 30. It was also in 1934 that it is recorded that Rev. John Weir Foote joined the Orange Institution, being initiated into Fraserville Loyal Orange Lodge No. 46 in Fraserville, Ontario, and going on to serve the Church in Fort Coulonge, Quebec, and Port Hope in Ontario. The outbreak of World War II in 1939 saw many young men enlist in the Armed Forces of Canada. Just because this man had dedicated himself to a life of ministry didn’t mean he would ignore the call to war. When the United Kingdom declared war on Germany, many of his countrymen volunteered to go into harm’s way and Foote also followed the call to war... Reverend Foote enlisted in the Canadian Chaplain Corps in December 1939. He was appointed to the rank of Honorary Captain and assigned to the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment) in Hamilton, Ontario, as its Regimental Chaplain. When the 1st Battalion, Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (RHLI) was posted to England in July 1940, Captain Foote went with them. On August 19th, 1942, Reverend Foote would have the opportunity to be one of the first men to set foot on the beaches of France in the effort to take back Europe. He was of the opinion that where his men went, he went. His Commanding Officer tried to dissuade him, however Reverend Foote insisted, arguing, "The best you can do is arrest me afterwards, so you might just as well make use of me". Reverend Foote was made a stretcher-bearer. Prior to landing on the beaches at Dieppe, it was reported that Reverend Foote gathered the company on the ship, "the Glengyle", together for the prayer; "The Lord is my light and my salvation". The raid on Dieppe was designed as more of a trial to see if it was possible to capture and hold a major port in France for a period of time. The raid also aimed to destroy coastal defenses, gather intelligence and establishing a Western Front, to divert troops from the Soviet Union. The Raiders were never meant to stay, but they were not expecting what awaited them. Upon landing on the beach, the burly chaplain attached himself to the Regimental Aid Post, assisting the medical officer and wounded soldiers both spiritually and physically. Descriptions of his bravery that day are utterly incredible and inspiring. During the eight hours that the RHLI was on the beach, Foote carried more than 30 wounded soldiers to the aid post while enemy fire rained all around him. He would inject morphine and give immediate first aid. Those who observed him remarked that he seemed almost oblivious to the bullets flying around him and displayed the calm demeanor, of one sure of his faith and who believed that God was shielding him. When the tides changed on the beach, the aid station was forced to be moved to a stranded landing craft. Time and time again, Captain Foote would brave the heavy fire to carry one wounded man after another to the new location. Then, when the ammunition in the landing craft caught fire, he did it all over again braving the blazing inferno to take care of his men. As it became clear it was time for the Allies to leave the beach and head for home, Reverend Foote refused several opportunities to embark. Rather, he continued to return to the beach in order to treat the wounded and evacuate them if possible. It was at this point Foote was given his final opportunity to return home when the last boat was set to leave the shore. Foote refused and intentionally chose to suffer whatever the men left on the beach would endure in order to fulfill his duties as a minister. The raid comprised 5,000 Canadians, 1,000 British and 50 predecessors to the US Army Rangers was considered a total failure. The landing began at 5:00 AM and before 11:00 AM a full retreat was ordered. Nearly 60 percent of the Allied force was killed, wounded, or captured. As a non-combatant, Foote was not allowed to carry a rifle into battle. However, during the evacuation, Foote grabbed a Bren gun and provided covering fire for his comrades as they evacuated the beach, a rather unusual thing for a padre to do. Reverend Foote could not have known what would happen to him as the last ship left. He could not have known that there would be no Allied invasion of France for another two years. His fate was in the hands of the Germans. He was reported missing by the Army on August 19th, 1942. Foote was taken prisoner along with 173 other members of the RHLI, including the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Labatt and were driven on a two-day forced march to a detention camp. Reverend Foote was barefoot, having discarded his heavy, water-logged boots on the beach so he could get to the wounded quicker. By the time his group finally reached the Prisoner of War camp, his feet were worn raw. Foote spent three years in various POW camps, sometimes enduring horrific conditions, including a 30-day forced march. Through it all, Foote never stopped tending to his flock. Regardless of denomination, every man was treated with the same compassion. Defying the German’s orders, Foote ended each service, which he delivered atop stacked Red Cross boxes, with the singing of the Canadian national anthem. On April 25th, 1945, Reverend Foote and his fellow POWs were liberated by British forces at Stalag 10B, near Bremen, Germany. Upon returning to Canada, Foote chose to remain with the Canadian Chaplain Corps and was posted to Camp Borden in September 1945 as the Senior Protestant Chaplain with the rank of Major. He took up residence in Barrie, living at 135 Mulcaster Street. On 28th March 1946, Foote traveled to Buckingham Palace in London, England where he was formally presented his Victoria Cross by King George VI, becoming the only member of the Canadian Chaplains Corps ever to receive such an honour. Speaking to the Montreal Star after receiving the Victoria Cross, Reverend Foote stated, “I simply did my job as I saw it. It was a very ordinary piece of work.” Reverend Foote remained in Barrie and with the Chaplain corps until retiring from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1948. |
(National Defence and the Canadian Forces, cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca)
(The Comprehensive Guide to the Victoria & George Cross, vconline.org.uk)
(Example of the Victoria Cross)
(Clipping from an unknown newspaper)
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Political Career
That same year, Reverend Foote left the pastoral ministry for a career in Provincial politics. He was elected as a Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Durham County, Ontario on June 7th, 1948 as a Progressive Conservative.
23rd Parliament (February 10th, 1949 to October 6th, 1951)
Member, Standing Committee on Mining
February 16, 1949 – April 8, 1949
Member, Standing Committee on Legal Bills
February 16, 1949 – April 8, 1949
Member, Standing Committee on Mining
February 22, 1950 – April 8, 1950
Member, Standing Committee on Legal Bills
February 22, 1950 – April 6, 1950
Member, Standing Committee on Mining
February 7, 1951 – April 5, 1951
Member, Standing Committee on Legal Bills
February 7, 1951 – April 5, 1951
24th Parliament (February 21st, 1952 to May 2nd, 1955)
Minister of Reform Institutions
November 16, 1950 – July 18, 1957
25th Parliament (September 8th, 1955 to May 4th, 1959)
Minister of Reform Institutions
November 16, 1950 – July 18, 1957
Member, Standing Committee on Health
February 7, 1957 – April 3, 1957
Member, Standing Committee on Health
February 7, 1958 – March 27, 1958
Member, Standing Committee on Health
January 30, 1959 – March 26, 1959
Reverend Foote retired from politics in 1959 due to heart problems. He and his wife Edith retired to Cobourg, Ontario where he became a columnist for several local papers while enjoying golf, gardening, fishing and music.
That same year, Reverend Foote left the pastoral ministry for a career in Provincial politics. He was elected as a Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Durham County, Ontario on June 7th, 1948 as a Progressive Conservative.
23rd Parliament (February 10th, 1949 to October 6th, 1951)
Member, Standing Committee on Mining
February 16, 1949 – April 8, 1949
Member, Standing Committee on Legal Bills
February 16, 1949 – April 8, 1949
Member, Standing Committee on Mining
February 22, 1950 – April 8, 1950
Member, Standing Committee on Legal Bills
February 22, 1950 – April 6, 1950
Member, Standing Committee on Mining
February 7, 1951 – April 5, 1951
Member, Standing Committee on Legal Bills
February 7, 1951 – April 5, 1951
24th Parliament (February 21st, 1952 to May 2nd, 1955)
Minister of Reform Institutions
November 16, 1950 – July 18, 1957
25th Parliament (September 8th, 1955 to May 4th, 1959)
Minister of Reform Institutions
November 16, 1950 – July 18, 1957
Member, Standing Committee on Health
February 7, 1957 – April 3, 1957
Member, Standing Committee on Health
February 7, 1958 – March 27, 1958
Member, Standing Committee on Health
January 30, 1959 – March 26, 1959
Reverend Foote retired from politics in 1959 due to heart problems. He and his wife Edith retired to Cobourg, Ontario where he became a columnist for several local papers while enjoying golf, gardening, fishing and music.
Honorary Lieutenant Colonel, the Reverend John Weir Foote VC, CD, inspecting the Guard of Honour at the official opening of the Hamilton Military Museum at Dundurn Castle in 1976, accompanied by LCol James Forsyth, Operations & Training Officer from Hamilton Militia District Headquarters. Photo: The Hamilton Spectator.
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In 1964, Reverend Foote returned to the RHLI as its Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel. He relinquished the appointment in 1973. Among the other honours that Reverend Foote would see in his lifetime was having the Royal Canadian Legion branch in Cobourg named after him in 1982.
Reverend Foote's loving wife, Edith, passed away on April 21st, 1986 in Cobourg, Ontario. Reverend Foote passed away May 2nd, 1988. He was laid to rest in Cobourg’s Union Cemetery with full military honours. The James Street Armoury in Hamilton, Ontario, home of the RHLI was re-named The Lieutenant-Colonel John Weir Foote, VC, CD Armoury in his honour in September 1990. Reverend Foote donated his medals to the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Museum in Hamilton, Ontario where they are on permanent display.
With information from "The Comprehensive Guide to the Victoria & George Cross", "War History Online", "The Canadian Encyclopedia", "McGill Reporter" and "Ancestry.ca".
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(Ancestry.ca)
(The Comprehensive Guide to the Victoria & George Cross, vconline.org.uk)
(Plaque located in Hastings County, Ontario, South side of St. Lawrence Street East, two blocks east of Highway 62. The Comprehensive Guide to the Victoria & George Cross, vconline.org.uk)
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