Charles Henry Byce

Charles Henry Byce (March 9, 1916 – November 20, 1994) was a Cree-Canadian soldier and one of the most highly decorated Canadian World War II veterans.

Biography Byce was born on March 9, 1916, in Chapleau, Ontario, to Louisa Saylors, of Cree descent from Moose Factory, Ontario, and Henry Charles Byce of Westmeath, Ontario. When he was a teenager, Byce moved to Port Arthur, Ontario. Despite his relatively small frame, Byce, who was 5 foot 6 and 125 pounds, joined the Canadian Army in the early 1940s, becoming a member of the Lake Superior Regiment, now known as the Lake Superior Scottish Regiment. He was later awarded a Military Medal in recognition of the achievement.

In the early morning of March 2, 1945, the Lake Superior Regiment departed with directions to take over a set of buildings located south of Hochwald Forest. The buildings were quickly secured, but their location was discovered as the sun rose. The discovery of their location resulted in an enemy bombardment of shells and mortar. The attack destroyed all available tanks and yielded numerous casualties, including the death of every officer and the company commander, at which time Acting Sergeant Byce took command. With enemy Tiger tanks approaching, he destroyed one with an anti-tank gun and focused on sniping approaching enemy infantry in order to allow for the gathering and retreat of surviving servicemen. In addition to the two Decorations, he received five service medals for his service in the North West Europe theatre of war, The 1939-1945 Star, The France and Germany Star, The Defence Medal, The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp, and The War Medal 1939-1945.

Following the war, Byce moved to Espanola, Ontario, with his wife Frances, where he worked at a pulp-and-paper mill until his retirement in 1975. He and Frances raised seven children. Sculpted by Sudbury artist Tyler Fauvelle, the bronze-and-granite statue features Byce in military uniform accompanied by moose antlers as an acknowledgement of his Cree ancestry.

Honours and awards +DescriptionNotesDistinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)Military Medal (MM)1939-1945 StarFrance and Germany StarDefence MedalCanadian Volunteer Service MedalWith Overseas ClaspWar Medal 1939-1945