Robert Shankland Robert Shankland VC , DCM ( 10 October 1887 – 20 January 1968 ) 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 . Early life . Born in Ayr , Scotland , on 10 October 1887 , Robert Shankland was the son of a railroad guard , and his first job was that of a clerk in the stationmaster ’ s office . He moved to Canada in 1910 where he worked as assistant cashier for the Crescent Creamery Company in Winnipeg . When World War I broke out he joined the 43rd Battalion ( Cameron Highlanders of Canada ) Canadian Expeditionary Force as a private . Victoria Cross . Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions at Sanctuary Wood in 1916 as a Sergeant ( in charge of a stretcher bearer party ) , Shankland received a battlefield commission later that year and continued to serve with the 43rd Bn as an officer . On the morning of October 26 , he led his platoon of 40 men from D Company ( D Company commanded by Capt . Galt ) to the crest of the hill at the Bellevue Spur , the main trench line defending the approach to Passchendaele . Overrunning it and holding the position was critical to capturing the town . Early in the advance , B Company captured and held the Spur . On the right , the 58th Bn , which was under heavy fire from Snipe Hill , was forced to retire after failing to reach its objective . Some of the men joined Shankland ’ s platoon , but this still left his right flank open . For four hours they withstood incessant artillery shelling and German counterattacks , sustaining frightful casualties . By this time the 8th Brigade on the left was forced to withdraw leaving both of Shankland ’ s flanks exposed . He and his men were in danger of being cut off and losing the vital position gained at such fearful cost . The only solution was to bring up reinforcements and counterattack . Shankland turned over his command to another officer and then weaved his way through heavy mud and German shelling to battalion headquarters where he gave a first - hand report of the situation . He also offered a detailed plan on how a counterattack with reinforcements could best be achieved . He then returned to his men to lead the forthcoming attack supported by reinforcements from the 52nd and 58th battalions . For his actions that day Robert Shankland was awarded the Victoria Cross . His citation reads : Later life . Following the war , Shankland stayed in the Militia with the Camerons and in his civilian work served as secretary - manager for several Winnipeg firms . He eventually moved to Victoria and joined the Canadian Scottish Regiment . When the Second World War started , he returned to Winnipeg and rejoined the Camerons . Now a Major , he went overseas with the battalion as Officer Commanding Headquarters Company . Due to his age ( 53 ) he was too old for combat duty . Promoted to lieutenant colonel , Shankland was appointed camp commandant of the Canadian Army Headquarters in England in December 1940 . According to the May / June 2005 issue of the Legion Magazine , " in 1946 , Shankland took his discharge and became secretary of a leading securities firm in Vancouver . He died 20 January 1968 , at Shaughnessy , Vancouver , and his body was cremated and his ashes scattered in the grounds of Vancouver ' s Mountain View Cemetery . " Valour Road . Frederick William Hall , Leo Clarke , and Robert Shankland all lived on Pine Street in Winnipeg , Manitoba , Canada . It is believed to be the only street in the world to have three Victoria Cross winners who lived there . The city later renamed it " Valour Road " in their honour . A bronze plaque is mounted on a street lamp at the corner of Portage Ave and Valour Road to tell this story . The medal . The medal is currently on public display at The Manitoba Museum in Winnipeg , Manitoba , on loan from the Canadian War Museum as part of a display celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Queen ' s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada . Shankland ' s battledress blouse with ribbons and his miniatures are on display in The Queen ' s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada Museum museum at Minto Armoury in Winnipeg . The medal was placed on auction on May 25 , 2009 . Despite public outrage of its sale from an anonymous seller , controversy was averted when the Canadian War Museum purchased the medal at auction for $ 240 , 000 in order to keep it in Canadian public hands forever .