There has been much written about Private Ken Barwise of the PPCLI / RCASC. He passed away earlier this year. His sole surving family member his step daughter Jose has now been stuck with a huge funeral bill. The last post fund and the Veterans Affairs should have taken care of this hero's funeral 100%.
But as usual bureaucracy stepped in and the sole survivor received a bill from the funeral company. I am hoping to meet with Col. Stogran the new DVA Ombudsman in Charlottetown to see what can be done, Meanwhile please read Peter Worthingtons news column in the Toronto Sun
http://www.torontosun.com/Columnists/home.html
His article Hero dishonoured in death says it all.
This is an exerpt from another article on Ken, ( Who by the way I had the honour of serving with in 1 Tpt Coy RCASC in 1963 Soest Germany.)
December 2005As the Year of the Veteran, closes and a new year begins, Canadians would do well to reflect on one of their unassuming heroes. He was Canada's last chance in the twentieth century for a Victoria Cross.
Corporal Ken Barwise, a New Westminster orphan, now resides in Penticton BC. He saw action in the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricias during the Korean War.
Ken and his fellow Canadians stopped a Chinese assault dead in its tracks. Canadian casualties were heavy; the outlook was grim; they were nearly out of ammunition. The line held because Barwise volunteered and single-handedly, despite great odds breached enemy lines, securing needed ammunition for troops facing annihilation.
Barwise is a huge man. Korean soldiers shot his rifle out of his hands as he plowed through their lines. In hand-to hand combat, outnumbered six to one, he took a rifle out a Korean soldiers hands and used it as a club as he barreled his way through.
Despite great odds against success, his strength, endurance and wonderful courage under fire saved many Canadian lives that day.
Barwise returned to his company with the needed ammunition. Without his courage under fire, this unit was destined to be overrun and wiped out. The PPCLI were credited with saving the city of Seoul from falling to enemy action.
A few miles away, the Gloster Regiment had found themselves in a similar situation. Most of the unit was killed or captured. One member of the Gloster's was awarded the Victoria Cross for heroically saving what was left of his unit.
The Aussie and the Brits pulled back unable to endure the unrelenting fire. The soldiers in his company during that fateful battle at Kapyong, thought Barwise deserved the Victoria Cross. Back on leave in Canada, Ken was awarded the lower classed, Military Medal (MM).
With luck, training, a caliber of courage that overcame heavy odds, Barwise survived. That was the only difference between the two actions. The British Gloster soldier won the Victoria Cross; the Canadian the Military Medal.
Canadian servicemen were awarded 13 Victoria Crosses during the Second World War. One never knows, in the heat of battle from whence the hero will come. Only then, do the hidden reserves of courage, surface in men.
In the 50s with the inexorable rising tide of Quebec separatism, it was no longer politically correct to award a medal named after a British queen to a Canadian soldier.
So much for heroism! Only in Canada eh?
On this day as well we pray for a speedy recovery for our four soldiers wounded today by a suicide bomber in Kandahar.
Please remeber the Troops and try to attend the Red Rally in Charlottetown 29 May 2008 at 1830. Across from the DVA Building.
Nil Sine Labore
Robby
