In 1942, the Canadian army took part in the Dieppe Raid, the first major attempt to take troops across the English Channel. Among the men, stood John Weir Foote, a Canadian military chaplain.
Foote was not intended to take part in the raid, and when his commanding officer told him that he was going to sit this one out, Foote stated that he'd have to be arrested to keep him away from the action, so he was assigned as a stretcher bearer.
During the raid, Foote rescued 30 soldiers, carried them to safety and administered life saving aid all while under heavy enemy fire.
With the raid itself coming to a disastrous end, the assault force began it's retreat off the beach. Foote managed to get himself on one of the rescue crafts, only to voluntarily disembarking back on the beach and surrendering to the Germans. He realized that the soldiers being taken to a pow camp needed religious guidance and knowing full well that he would never see home again or die in captivity.
After 3 years of imprisonment with one serious escape attempt, Foote was released. He was awarded the Victoria Cross; making him the only Canadian Chaplain to receive such an honor.
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