D'Artois, Lionel Guy

Date of birth:: April 9th, 1917 (RIchmond/Québec, Canada)
Date of death:: March 15th, 1999 (Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue/Québec, Canada)
Service number:: ZD.2247
Nationality:: Canadian

Biography

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George Medal

Rank:: Captain
Unit:: Royale 22e Regiment du Canada, Canadian Army
Awarded on:: July 31st, 1948

ZD-2247 Captain Lionel
Guy D'Artois, DSO, Royal Canadian Infantry Corps:
"In late September, 1947, an Anglican missionary, Canon J.H. Turner, was reported wounded following a hunting accident at his isolated station at Moffet Inlet on Baffin Island, approximately 450 miles within the Arctic Circle. Captain D'Artois commanded a party of four paratroopers who were dropped from a Royal Canadian Air Force Dakota on 4 October 1947, to effect a rescue.
Due to the distance from its base, the aircraft could only remain a short time over the area and the dropping zone had to be most hurriedly chosen by observation from the aircraft. After a quick reconnaissance, Captain D'Artois decided that the ground around the mission was most unsuitable. The dropping zone finally chosen was at some distance away in unknown country. It was an area of some 250 by 100 yards, strewn with boulders and surrounded by rocky hills. The jump therefore was most hazardous and any injury or worse to a member of the party might well have meant disaster. Despite the fact that each man of the team well knew the hazards the jump was carried out successfully. Following the drop, Captain D'Artois was responsible for making contact with the mission, and moving his party and supplies there; for establishing communication with the aircraft and his base; for the reconnaissance and selection of a landing strip for the Royal Canadian Air Force rescue aircraft; for the collection and reporting of meteorological data; for guiding the aircraft to the selected landing strip and for the movement of the patient and party by dog sleigh to the waiting aircraft.
This required seven weeks of unremitting effort. Although he had no previous experience in the arctic, Captain D'Artois carried out his duties under primitive conditions, severe weather and limited daylight, with the greatest determination, energy and complete disregard of his personal safety. He travelled hundreds of miles on foot over rugged country and treacherous shifting ice in search of a suitable landing strip for the rescue aircraft. On one of these trips, he fell through thin ice and might well have lost his life.
Regardless of the danger, he pressed on with the search, selecting a strip 23 miles from the mission. Here he camped for eleven days collecting meteorological data which was vital to ensure a safe landing for the returning aircraft. He then returned to the mission, arranged for the landing of the aircraft, and carried out the difficult movement of the party by dog team. Canon Turner, his family and the rescue party were then flown to Winnipeg. As a result of the strenuous and courageous efforts of the rescue team led by Captain D'Artois, Canon Turner received all possible medical care and attention although he subsequently passed away in hospital.
This combined effort has opened a new field of rescue operations which should be of great help in the development of the North.
Throughout the whole operation, Captain D'Artois displayed outstanding qualities of leadership. His bravery, ability and powers of decision were of the highest order and were in a large measure responsible for the success of the land operation. Captain D'Artois' brilliant and daring execution of this operation provides an inspiration to all ranks of the Canadian Army."