Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Gunner

Unit:

76th Battery, 17th Canadian Field Regiment RCA, 5th Canadian (Armoured) Division, Canadian Army

Awarded on:

October 11th, 1945

Recommendation:
"At Otterloo, during the night 16/17 April 1945 the enemy attacked and over-ran 76 Battery command post, setting the building on fire and knocking out the wireless sets and cutting off line communication with Regimental Headquarters. Gunner Bouchard, a driver mechanic, realizing the serious situation and that word of a full scale attack must reach the infantry as soon as possible, jumped into his unarmoured 15 hundred weight vehicle and headed back for the infantry battalion headquarters, a distance of 1200 yards.

By this time the enemy were dug-in on both sides of a 400 yard stretch of the road. Displaying absolute contempt for the enemy machine-gun and rifle fire, inspired only by the thought that he must get through he continued down the road. Sheets of flame swept both sides of the vehicle as he proceeded on his self-appointed task and soon it was burning fiercely. Disregarding the imminent danger of explosion he continued with his vehicle and on arrival at battalion headquarters presented the first clear picture of the serious situation.

This man, by his own personal initiative, complete devotion to duty and contempt for danger, set an outstanding example to his comrades and transmitted clear and concise information essential to the successful defence of Otterloo (Holland)."