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According to Soles, however, the events that led to his receiving his DCM happened quite a bit differently than what was gazetted about:
Front of the
Distinguished
Conduct Medal
It was during the Hundred Days Offensive of the Allies that George Soles earned the second bar to his DCM, becoming the only Canadian in history
to do so in the process. According to the citation placed in The Edinburgh Gazette, Soles received his second bar to his DCM for several actions that
occurred on 29 September 1918 in the area near Cambrai, France: firstly, and all alone, Sole rushed an enemy position and single-handedly captured
three German machine guns; secondly, while navigating a railway cutting (a man-made trough or valley through a hill, carrying at its base a railway)
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he personally shot and killed eight enemy soldiers; lastly, Soles was responsible for the organization of a friendly strong point that successfully
repelled a German counter-attack. What the below entry from The Edinburgh Gazette doesnt note is something that appeared in a British Columbia
Provincial Police (BCPP) magazine before that forces dissolution in 1950. In that magazine it was noted that George Soles was also awarded his
second bar to his DCM for leading a Canadian counter-attack, consisting of 120 men, against the Germans. Even though the counter-attack was
successful, the BCPP magazine goes on to state that only seventeen men, and Soles himself, were left to speak of the event. It should be noted that
this counter-attack and subsequent casualties are not noted, at least as described by the BCPP magazine, in the History of the 72nd Battalion Seaforth
Highlanders of Canada (link). It is, however, stated that, on 29 September 1918, the battalion was engaged with the enemy in a railway cutting (pg.
147), that a strong-point was established by elements of the battalion shortly thereafter (also on pg. 147), and that it was during this advance that
Soles performed the actions that would lead to his second DCM bar. Soless second bar to his DCM was gazetted on 12 January 1920 (link).
In the years following the end of hostilities in Europe, George Hilton Soles became one of the most decorated soldiers of the Commonwealth, the
only Canadian (before or after) to be awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal with two bars, and only one of a very exclusive group in the British
Empire to also hold the DCM with two bars.
By the end of June 1919 the 72nd Battalion (Seaforth Highlanders of Canada) CEF had returned home to Canada and was demobilized. A year later
in June of 1920, a son was born to Soles, and he was named Frederick George Soles (1920-1938). George Soles eventually became a constable with
the British Columbia Provincial Police (BCPP) and served as a member of the BCPP for twenty years. In the 1944 winter issue of the publication
Shoulder Strap, it was reported that Soles had retired that previous October due to excessive concentration to the pursuit of duty. As read in
the Shoulder Strap, Soles was chasing a suspected criminal over several miles of rough terrain and later suffered a heart attack, something which
Soles chose not to ignore, thus leading to the decision to retire. According to Soles, he just couldnt do what he once could anymore. On 26 July
1945 George Soles passed away in Vancouver, British Columbia and was buried at Mountain View Cemetery and Crematorium.
Now you can say to yourself that you know of the man named George Hilton Soles and the gallant acts that made him one of the highest decorated
Canadians in our history. Hopefully, youll tell others about him and his deeds, and those will tell even more people. Maybe, eventually, the name of
George Hilton Soles will then be spoken about with more frequency when the topic of Canadas military history comes up. Lest We Forget.
Cuidichn Righ
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Aaron
Aaron founded Duty & Valour initially as a blog in 2002, and has continuously expanded it over the years to include many new features. A long-time
Canadian Forces soldier, he enjoys all aspects of military history, especially researching the little-known facts from Canada's military past. Follow
him on Twitter @dutyandvalour.
Visit Authors Website
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it.
Tagged with: 48th (British Columbia) Battalion CEF 72nd Battalion (Seaforth Highlanders of Canada) CEF Battle of Cambrai (1918)
Aaron says:
July 26, 2012 at 17:47
Youre welcome, and thank you again for the information you provided me regarding George Soles.
Reply
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