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Post Info TOPIC: Canadian anti tank action 1918
Centurion


Legend

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Canadian anti tank action 1918
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Can any one shed further light on the following? I found the following mini biography of a Canadian VC winner.


"Cy Peck has a history that includes the military and politics. In the military, Cy Peck was a Victoria Cross winner for action at the battle of Arras in 1918, in which he fought through extensive firing to eliminate a tank. He was a much-decorated member of the Canadian Scottish Regiment and he served overall with distinction.


In politics he also stands out as he ran for office in 1917 while a soldier overseas, and won to become the Member of Parliament for Skeena. He is noted as the only member of the British Empire Forces to earn a VC in World War I while a Member of Parliament. He also served as a Provincial MLA for the Islands.


He died at Sidney on Vancouver Island and the heritage Post Office building there has a plaque of dedication to him. There was also a ferry in the BC Ferries fleet named after him."


The interesting point is here is an allied infantry man attacking and knocking out a German tank (beute panzer?). Does anyone know any more details (like what did he use to knock it out?



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Rhomboid


Field Marshal

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Lt.-Col. Peck was awarded his VC for an action during the 1st Cdn. Division's assault on the Drocourt-Queant support line on Sept. 2, 1918. I have not found any record of the involvement of German tanks in this engagement. The Canadian official history describes his actions as follows: "Later, after the battalion had broken through the main D-Q position, only to be halted in front of the support line, the Commanding Officer, Lt.-Col. Cyrus W. Peck, went forward through bursting shells and withering machine gun fire to make a personal reconnaissance, and to compel roaming tanks to protect his open flank. He then reorganized his battalion and led them on to their objective." The action is described at greater length in an attached excerpt from D.G. Dancocks "Spearhead to Victory".


I believe Canadian troops only faced German tanks on one occasion during the Great War, near Iwuy on Oct. 11, 1918, during the 2nd Cdn. Division's advance from Cambrai. The 21st and 22nd battalions were counter-attacked by the A7V's of ATD 1 and MkIV's of ATD 13. When the A7V's first came into view, one of the Canadian infantrymen is said to have remarked "My God, look at them houses moving!". The tanks were engaged by field guns on that occasion, but German tank losses in this engagement were reported to be the result of mechanical problems.


I've seen Col. Peck's memorial many times (I live on an small island not far from Sidney, and sail over there frequently to shop). The town has a good museum, and I'll ask the curator if he has any more info about Peck's Great War career. 



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Peck1.pdf (6.9 kb)
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Rhomboid


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Here are a few photos from a recent display at the Sidney Museum. The portrait shows Col. Peck in his later years. His son, Edward, has written a biography.

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farrochie

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I have in my possession a silver handled walking stick, with the words "Lt Col Peck Bisley 1921" engraved on it, with London, England silver hallmark for 1920. Is there any information on whether Cy Peck participated at the shooting contests in Bisley, England.
I was given the stick my uncle, now deceased, who obtained it in Vancouver.

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