Frederick Albert Tilston

Frederick Albert Tilston, VC (June 11, 1906 – September 23, 1992) was a Canadian 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.

Early life
Tilston attended De La Salle College "Oaklands", an all-boys military prep school in Toronto, Ontario and was a graduate of the University Of Toronto and the Ontario College of Pharmacy.

Military service
Tilston served in The Essex Scottish Regiment in an administrative role. By early 1945, he held the rank of acting Major. During the Battle of the Rhineland, he volunteered to go forward and lead an infantry company in an attack on German positions in the Hochwald Forest just west of the Rhine River.

On 1 March 1945, near Uedem, Germany, he led "C" Company in a 500 yard attack across muddy terrain soaked by recent rain and snow, through barbed wire and enemy automatic weapons fire. After being slightly wounded by shell fragments in the head, he personally destroyed one enemy machine gun position with a hand grenade, and led the men of C company on to a second German line of resistance when he was wounded for the second time in the hip. He struggled to his feet and led his men forward where the Essex Scottish overran the enemy positions with rifle butts, bayonets and knives in close hand to hand combat. While consolidating the Canadian position against German counterattacks and on his 6th trip from a neighbouring unit bringing ammunition and grenades to his company, which had been depleted to about 25% of its usual strength or 40 men, Tilston was wounded for the 3rd time in the leg. He was found almost unconscious in a shell hole and refused medical attention while he organized his men for defence against German counter-attacks, emphasized the necessity of holding the position at all cost, and ordered his one remaining officer to take command. For conspicuous gallantry and steadfast determination in the face of battle, Tilston was awarded the Victoria Cross.

In 1945 Tilson who joined The War Amps Association (a non-profit organization of "amputees helping amputees" (War Amps) in 1945. He also returned to his former place of business as vice-president in charge of pharmaceutical sales.

He resided in Toronto, Ontario until his death on the 23rd of September 1992.

Further information
Grave/memorial at Buried at Mount Hope Cemetery, Erskine Avenue, Toronto, Canada. R.C. Section. Plot 23 - NW Corner. Headstone.

Medal
Tiltson's Victoria Cross is currently held by the Royal Canadian Military Institute in Toronto.

Honours
Even into retirement Tilston was active throughout York County where a number of honours and memorials bear his name:
 * The Aurora Canadian Legion Branch 385 is named Colonel Fred Tilston VC Legion in his honour.
 * The Cenotaph in Sharon, Ontario was unveiled by Tilston and bears his name.
 * St. Andrew's College (Aurora, Ontario) gives out Tilston Awards each year, one in every grade, to students who have "shown courage in the face of adversity".
 * The De La Salle Cadet Corps (De La Salle Cadet Corps website) at De La Salle College 'Oaklands' in Toronto, Ontario has named its primary body of cadets the 'Tilston Platoon'.
 * The Fitness and Sports Instructor 2011 senior cadet course in Cold Lake, Alberta has A1 Platoon named 'Tilston Platoon'.

A joint training facility for the Essex Kent Scottish Regiment and the Windsor Police Service at 4007 Sandwich Street, Windsor, Ontario, is a first-of-its-kind in Canada partnership with the federal government Department of National Defense (DND). In recognition of his service to the Essex Kent Scottish Regiment, the training centre is named the Major F Tilston Armoury and Police Training Centre.