We Remember - Major Charles Ferguson Hoey V.C. M.C.

 We always try to do a post on one of the local soldiers for Remembrance Day. 

 

 We were in Duncan the other week and the local museum had a display for the Day of the Dead. And we came across this... 

 It's a memorial for a local soldier - Major Charles Ferguson Hoey.

 We found a plaque outside for him as well - he apparently received the Victoria Cross and the Military Cross. We were intrigued...

 

This is a better picture of him. Charles was born in Duncan BC on 29 March 1914 to Ferguson and Mary Rudyerd Hoey. His maternal grandfather was Major General Charles Rudyerd Simpson CB from the Lincolnshire Regiment. Charles went to school in Duncan and graduated from the local high school.

In 1933, Charlest went to England to pursue a military career. He first enlisted with the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment as a private but won a cadetship to the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He attended Sandurst in September 1935, and graduated in December 1936. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Lincolnshire Regiment in January 1937. He sailed to India in September 1937 to join the 1st Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment that was stationed there. In 1942, his regiment went to Burma. A year later, he was awarded the Military Cross for his actions during a raid on a Japanese position at Maungdaw.

On 16 February 1944, his company formed part of a force that was ordered to capture an enemy position at all costs. Although wounded in the head and at least twice in the leg, Charles led his men to the enemy strong post, killing all the occupants before being mortally wounded. He was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously for his leadership and determination in capturing this vital position. 

 
He is buried at the Taukkyan War Cemetery in Burma. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Galleries of the Royal Lincolnshire Regiment at the Museum of Lincolnshire Life in Lincoln, England.

 

But the story does not end there. Charles had a younger brother, Lt. Trevor Ferguson Hoey who, at the time of his brother's death, was serving overseas with the Canadian Scottish Regiment. A few months later, Trevor was wounded in action, and died the following day (21 July 1944) from his wounds. He left behind a wife and young daughter.

 

Charles and Trevor's sister, Priscilla had married James Wilcox Connor, who was also serving overseas with the Royal Canadian Air Force as a Pilot Officer. He managed to come home alive and passed away in 2002.

We Remember.