Jean Swedberg CV of Merritt, British Columbia, was posthumously awarded the Cross of Valour, Canada's highest decoration for civilian bravery on May 17, 1976. Mrs. Swedberg lost her life while trying to alert guests that a fire had broken out in the hotel she worked at in Merritt, British Columbia. [1] [2]
The official citation reads:
"On 4 September 1974, with complete disregard for her own safety, Jean Swedberg, switchboard operator at the Valnicola Hotel in Merritt, British Columbia, left her post to alert the guests during a fire which razed the building and which claimed her own life. The fire began on the ground floor of the frame structure and quickly spread out of control. Racing through the heat and smoke, Mrs. Swedberg spread the alarm to the occupants of the dining room and then proceeded up the stairs to the second storey. By then the smoke had filled the corridor and created havoc amongst the guests. Though fully aware of the holocaust around her, Mrs. Swedberg went from door to door to ensure that everyone had been warned, and it was when reaching the last few rooms that fire shot up the stairwell, completely sealing off all means of escape. Within minutes the hotel was a mass of flames and there was no hope of saving the rescuer. Faced with the most perilous conditions, Mrs. Swedberg displayed the finest example of selfless courage and was instrumental in the rescue of all but one of the guests." [1]
The Cross of Valour was established in 1975 as the highest Australian Bravery Award. The awards were established as part of the institution of the Australian Honours System. The Cross of Valour has been awarded to five Australian civilians and, although there has been no Australian military recipient, they would be eligible in situations where normal honours to the military do not apply.
The orders, decorations, and medals of Canada comprise a complex system by which Canadians are honoured by the country's sovereign for actions or deeds that benefit their community or the country at large. Modelled on its British predecessor, the structure originated in the 1930s, but began to come to full fruition at the time of Canada's centennial in 1967, with the establishment of the Order of Canada, and has since grown in both size and scope to include dynastic and national orders, state, civil, and military decorations; and various campaign medals. The monarch in right of each Canadian province also issues distinct orders and medals to honour residents for work performed in just their province. The provincial honours, as with some of their national counterparts, grant the use of post-nominal letters and or supporters and other devices to be used on personal coats of arms.
Robert Gordon Teather CV (1947–2004) was a 28-year veteran of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (R.C.M.P.) who was awarded the Cross of Valour, Canada's highest award for bravery, for a rescue he performed in 1981.
David Gordon Cheverie CV, SC is a Canadian recipient of the Cross of Valour, the highest Canadian award for bravery. It is the highest honour available for Canadian civilians. He demonstrated unwavering courage of the highest order by repeatedly risking his life to save three children from a house fire on the night of May 16, 1987, while a member of the Charlottetown Police Department. The award was presented on August 19, 1988.
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Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Vaino Olavi Partanen CV was a member of the Canadian Forces and a recipient of the Cross of Valour for his actions during an engine room explosion aboard HMCS Kootenay on 23 October 1969. The Cross of Valour is Canada's highest decoration for bravery in non-combat circumstances. He was born in Antrea, Finland.
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The Cross of Valour is a decoration that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the second-highest award, the highest honour available for Canadian civilians, and the highest of the three Canadian Bravery Decorations. Created in 1972, it is presented to individuals, both Canadian and foreign, living and deceased, who have performed acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril. Recipients are allowed to use the post-nominal letters CV.
The Winecoff Hotel fire, of December 7, 1946, was the deadliest hotel fire in American history, killing 119 hotel occupants, including the hotel's original owners. Located at 176 Peachtree Street in Atlanta, Georgia, the Winecoff Hotel was advertised as "absolutely fireproof". While the hotel's steel structure was indeed protected against the effects of fire, its interior finishes were combustible and the building's exit arrangements consisted of a single stairway serving all fifteen floors. All of the hotel's occupants above the fire's origin on the third floor were trapped, and the fire's survivors either were rescued from upper-story windows or jumped into nets held by firemen.
Timothy Ian Britten is a senior sergeant in the Western Australia Police. He is one of the five recipients of the Cross of Valour, Australia's highest civilian bravery decoration. He was awarded the Cross of Valour for his actions in the immediate aftermath of the 2002 Bali bombings.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Lewis John Stringer CV (1930–1969) was one of nine sailors who died aboard HMCS Kootenay in an incident for which he was posthumously awarded the Cross of Valour, Canada's second highest bravery decoration. He is commemorated on a plaque at Admiralty Garden, CFB Halifax.
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Lester Robert Fudge CV of Burin, Newfoundland and Labrador, was awarded the Cross of Valour, Canada's highest decoration for civilian bravery on April 6, 1981. Mr. Fudge was involved in the rescue of twelve crewmen trapped aboard a Danish trawler caught in strong seas.
Harold Gilbert Miller CV MB of Trinity Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, was awarded the Cross of Valour, Canada's highest civilian decoration for bravery on April 6, 1981, for his actions involving the rescue of 12 crewman aboard a Danish trawler in rough seas. Mr. Miller was also awarded a Medal of Bravery, Canada's third highest decoration for civilian bravery in a separate incident on June 26, 1989 for the water rescue of a crewman who was about to drown after falling overboard while at sea.
Martin Sceviour CV of Burgoyne's Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador, was awarded Canada's highest decoration for bravery on April 6, 1981 for his efforts in the rescue of twelve crewman aboard the Danish trawler Remoy while caught out in rough seas.
John Wendell MacLean CV from Inverness, Nova Scotia, was posthumously awarded the Cross of Valour, Canada's highest civilian decoration for bravery on October 30, 1992 while attempting to rescue family members from a burning house trailer in Inverness County, Nova Scotia.
First Officer Leslie Arthur Palmer CV of Prince Rupert, British Columbia was awarded the Cross of Valour, Canada's highest civilian decoration for bravery on May 4, 2006, for his efforts in rescuing two fishermen stranded on the shores of the Grenville Channel during a severe storm, near Prince Rupert, British Columbia.