Complex sentence: Coulson Norman Mitchell VC MC (11 December 1889--17 November 1978) was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Split into simpler sentences: Coulson Norman Mitchell VC MC (11 December 1889--17 November 1978) was a Canadian soldier. Mitchell was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.