Clifford Chadderton
Encyclopedia
Hugh Clifford "Cliff" Chadderton, (born 9 May 1919) is a Canadian World War II
veteran
and Chief Executive Officer of The War Amps
.
Born in Fort William, Ontario
, he worked as a news editor for Canadian Press
and a reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press
and he attended the University of Manitoba
. Chadderton played for the Winnipeg Rangers
hockey team, the farm team for the New York Rangers
.
He enlisted on 15 October 1939, serving with The Royal Winnipeg Rifles of the Non-Permanent Active Militia. Chadderton rose from non-commissioned rank to officer commanding an infantry company with the acting rank of Major. He was stationed in Britain
, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. He was wounded twice, once by a bullet at the Abbaye d'Ardenne in Normandy
and once by a grenade
near the Leopold Canal, losing his right leg below the knee.
In 1965, Chadderton became the Chief Executive Officer of The War Amps.
He is Chairman of the National Council of Veteran Associations in Canada, an umbrella organization for a variety of veterans' groups. Chadderton played a leading role in the campaign against the controversial NFB
documentary, The Kid Who Couldn't Miss
and in pressuring the Canadian War Museum
to rewrite its Bomber Command exhibit.
Chadderton is married to Nina, and has two children, three grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.
completed an oil painting of Chadderton in 2005.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
veteran
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
and Chief Executive Officer of The War Amps
The War Amps
The War Amps is a Canadian nation-wide registered charitable organization founded in 1918 and operated under the direction of war amputees. Since its inception, The War Amps has had as its hallmark the unique philosophy of “amputees helping amputees.” The War Amps is able to operate its many...
.
Born in Fort William, Ontario
Fort William, Ontario
Fort William was a city in Northern Ontario, located on the Kaministiquia River, at its entrance to Lake Superior. It amalgamated with Port Arthur and the townships of Neebing and McIntyre to form the city of Thunder Bay in January 1970. Ever since then it has been the largest city in Northwestern...
, he worked as a news editor for Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Canadian Press Enterprises Inc. is the entity which "will take over the operations of the Canadian Press" according to a November 26, 2010 article in the Toronto Star...
and a reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg Free Press
The Winnipeg Free Press is a daily broadsheet newspaper in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Founded in 1872, as the Manitoba Free Press, it is the oldest newspaper in western Canada. It is the newspaper with the largest readership in the province....
and he attended the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
. Chadderton played for the Winnipeg Rangers
Winnipeg Rangers
The Winnipeg Rangers were a Canadian junior hockey team in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. The Rangers won 4 Turnbull Cup Championships as Manitoba Junior Champions, 1941, 1943, 1961, and 1966....
hockey team, the farm team for the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
.
He enlisted on 15 October 1939, serving with The Royal Winnipeg Rifles of the Non-Permanent Active Militia. Chadderton rose from non-commissioned rank to officer commanding an infantry company with the acting rank of Major. He was stationed in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. He was wounded twice, once by a bullet at the Abbaye d'Ardenne in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
and once by a grenade
Grenade
A grenade is a small explosive device that is projected a safe distance away by its user. Soldiers called grenadiers specialize in the use of grenades. The term hand grenade refers any grenade designed to be hand thrown. Grenade Launchers are firearms designed to fire explosive projectile grenades...
near the Leopold Canal, losing his right leg below the knee.
In 1965, Chadderton became the Chief Executive Officer of The War Amps.
He is Chairman of the National Council of Veteran Associations in Canada, an umbrella organization for a variety of veterans' groups. Chadderton played a leading role in the campaign against the controversial NFB
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
documentary, The Kid Who Couldn't Miss
The Kid Who Couldn't Miss
The Kid Who Couldn't Miss is a 1982 docudrama directed by Paul Cowan. Produced by the National Film Board of Canada, it combines fact and fiction to question fighter pilot Billy Bishop's accomplishments during World War I, featuring excerpts from John MacLachlan Gray's play Billy Bishop Goes to...
and in pressuring the Canadian War Museum
Canadian War Museum
The Canadian War Museum is Canada’s national museum of military history. Located in Ottawa, Ontario, the museum covers all facets of Canada’s military past, from the first recorded instances of death by armed violence in Canadian history several thousand years ago to the country’s most recent...
to rewrite its Bomber Command exhibit.
Chadderton is married to Nina, and has two children, three grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.
Honors
- In 1977, he was made a Member of the Order of CanadaOrder of CanadaThe Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. - In 1986, he was promoted to an Officer of the Order of Canada.
- In 1987, he was named a Serving Brother of The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, more commonly known as the Order of St. JohnVenerable Order of Saint JohnThe Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
. - In 1990, he was raised to the rank of Officer Brother of the Order of St. John (OStJ).
- In 1990, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Civil Law (DCL) from Acadia UniversityAcadia UniversityAcadia University is a predominantly undergraduate university located in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada with some graduate programs at the master's level and one at the doctoral level...
. - In 1991, he was awarded the Order of OntarioOrder of OntarioThe Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
. - In 1992, he received a Doctor of Laws, Honoris causa, from the University of WinnipegUniversity of WinnipegThe University of Winnipeg is a public university in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada that offers undergraduate faculties of art, business and economics, education, science and theology as well as graduate programs. The U of W's founding colleges were Manitoba College and Wesley College, which merged...
. - In 1998, he was promoted to a Companion of the Order of Canada (CC).
- In 1999, he was granted an Honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of VictoriaUniversity of VictoriaThe University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students...
and inducted into the Terry Fox Hall of FameTerry Fox Hall of FameThe Terry Fox Hall of Fame recognizes "outstanding Canadians who have made extraordinary contributions to enriching the quality of life for people with physical disabilities". It is run by the Canadian Paraplegic Association. The Hall is named after Terry Fox, a cancer research activist who...
. - In 2001, he was admitted to the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint LazarusOrder of Saint LazarusThis article concerns the order of knighthood named after Saint Lazarus. For other uses of the name Lazarus, see Lazarus .The Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem is an order of chivalry which originated in a leper hospital founded by the Knights Hospitaller in 1098 by the...
of Jerusalem in the rank of Commander (CLJ). - In 2004, he was named a Knight in the Order of the Legion of HonourLégion d'honneurThe Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
of France.
Portrait
Canadian artist Christian Cardell CorbetChristian Cardell Corbet
Christian Cardell Corbet is a Canadian sculptor, painter and designer. He co-founded and was first President of the Canadian Portrait Academy.- Quotes :...
completed an oil painting of Chadderton in 2005.