Personal info
- Name: Filip KONOWAL
- D.O.B: 15th Sep, 1888
- D.O.A: 24th Aug, 1917
- D.O.D: 3rd Jun, 1959
- Award: Victoria Cross
- Occupation at time of action: Acting Corporal, 47th Battalion (The British Columbia), 4th Division, Canadian Expeditionary Force
- Book: The Complete History - Volume 2
Hill 70, near Lens, France 21, 22-24 August 1917
21, 22-24 August 1917
The First World War 1917
In the continuing fighting at Hill 70 near Lens, taken by Canadian troops on 15 August 1917 (see above), two further Canadian soldiers, Company Sergeant Major R H Hanna and Acting Corporal F Konowal, distinguished themselves by their gallantry during the period 21-24 August.
Citation
For most conspicuous bravery and leadership when in charge of a section in attack. His section had the difficult task of mopping up cellars, craters and machine-gun emplacements. Under his able direction all resistance was overcome successfully, and heavy casualties inflicted on the enemy. In one cellar he himself bayonetted three enemy and attacked single-handed seven others in a crater, killing them all. On reaching the objective, a machine-gun was holding up the right flank, causing many casualties. Cpl. Konowal rushed forward and entered the emplacement, killed the crew, and brought the gun back to our lines. The next day he again attacked single-handed another machine-gun emplacement, killed three of the crew, and destroyed the gun and emplacement with explosives. This non-commissioned officer alone killed at least sixteen of the enemy, and during the two days’ actual fighting carried on continuously his good work until severely wounded.