July 2024
The highest award for bravery in the face of an enemy that can be awarded to members of British and Commonwealth forces is the Victoria Cross.
The V.C. was first awarded by Queen Victoria in 1856 and since then 1,356 medals have been awarded, with three people being awarded the medal twice. A total of 99 V.C. medals have been awarded to Canadians or to servicemen with close ties to Canada.
On 10 June, over 50 people gathered at Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery in Aldershot, a former farming community on the Burlington-Hamilton border in southern Ontario. The assembled crowd were there on this morning to honour Private John McGovern, a long-deceased and forgotten British soldier who served during both served in both the Second Anglo-Burmese War (1852-1853) and the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
Born in Ireland in 1825, Private McGovern was serving with the 1st Bengal Fusiliers during the Indian Rebellion when he earned the Victoria Cross, one of the first people to earn this new decoration for extreme bravery in the face of the enemy.
During the battle, McGovern carried a wounded soldier to the safety of his camp under heavy fire. He was wounded in the arm during the rescue, an injury which haunted him for the remainder of his life.
McGovern emigrated to Canada after the Indian Mutiny and started a family in Hamilton. He passed away in 1888 at the age of 63 and was interred at Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery, in what was then the unincorporated Village of Aldershot, in East Flamborough Township.
In attendance for this special graveside ceremony were descendants of McGovern, along with veterans and politicians, including former Hamilton Mayor Bob Bratina, who emceed the event. A new plaque was placed beside McGovern’s headstone.
Forgotten to history
Private John McGovern might still be one of the forgotten soldiers of our British military past if not for the work of Aidan Finn, founder of the Burlington Post, who had been researching another soldier also buried at Holy Sepulchre for a book he was writing. After coming across McGovern’s weather-worn headstone, he contacted the Waterdown Legion to ensure the forgotten soldier was properly memorialized and his story told to a new generation.
After searching for several years, Finn was able to connect with some of McGovern’s descendants. Around 40 of them were able to attend the ceremony at Holy Sepulchre, some meeting each other for the first time.
Trish McTavish, great-granddaughter of McGovern, spoke at the ceremony:
“We are here today, with our children and grandchildren, our nieces and nephews and their children,” McTavish said. “We represent descendants all over the world, and those who are no longer with us but we know are here with us in spirit today. We are so proud to honour John McGovern, Victoria Cross and war hero. We are proud of John McGovern, the legend, and we are proud of John McGovern, who made the brave decision to start a new life in the new world and give his descendants a better life.”
A colour party carrying Irish, Canadian, Ontario and British flags was present to give the soldier a proper sendoff, and a piper played both Amazing Grace and The Last Post at the end of the ceremony.
