Dominic "Dick" Patrick was a Canadian war hero and prominent activist for Indian civil rights. A

Carrier Carrier may refer to: Entertainment * ''Carrier'' (album), a 2013 album by The Dodos * ''Carrier'' (board game), a South Pacific World War II board game * ''Carrier'' (TV series), a ten-part documentary miniseries that aired on PBS in April 20 ...

Indian, he was born in 1920 in Saik'uz village in

British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...

and lived most of his life there. In early 1942 he enlisted in the Canadian army. He served in the

Canadian 4th Armoured Division The 4th Canadian Division is a formation of the Canadian Army. The division was first created as a formation of the Canadian Corps during the First World War. During the Second World War the division was reactivated as the 4th Canadian Infant ...

with the rank of Gunner as a member of the crew of an

M10 tank destroyer The M10 tank destroyer was an American tank destroyer of World War II. After US entry into World War II and the formation of the Tank Destroyer Force, a suitable vehicle was needed to equip the new battalions. By November 1941, the Army requeste ...

. On September 10, 1944 during the

Battle of Moerbrugge The Battle of Moerbrugge was a three-day battle during the Liberation of Belgium. The 10th Canadian Infantry Brigade was tasked to cross the Ghent Canal about five kilometers south of Bruges at the small village of Oostkamp in early Septemb ...

near

Moerbrugge Moerbrugge is a village in the Belgian province of West Flanders, in the municipality of Oostkamp. It was the site of a bridgehead that the Canadian 4th Armoured Division used to cross the Ghent-Bruges Canal during the Battle of the Scheldt ...

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

, his unit was having difficulty locating enemy positions. Patrick went ahead alone to reconnoiter, encountered an enemy machine gun nest, attacked it, and singlehandedly captured 55 German soldiers. For this action he received the

Military Medal The Military Medal (MM) was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other arms of the armed forces, and to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land. The award ...

from

King George VI George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death in 1952. He was also the last Emperor of Ind ...

on October 23, 1945 at

Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace () is a London royal residence and the administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and royal hospitality. It ...

. The citation reads: He used the opportunity to tell the King of the discrimination that he and his people experienced. While in the Army, Patrick was treated as an equal, with little discrimination, but after his discharge in March 1946 he faced the same discrimination as before. In Vanderhoof, the town nearest to his village, Indians were refused service by many businesses and required to use separate entrances and facilities by others. Shortly after his return, he entered the Silver Grill Café, took a seat, and attempted to order a meal. When he was denied service, he refused to leave. For this he was arrested, charged with disturbing the peace, and sentenced to six months in prison. He served his time in Oakalla Prison, which was notorious for its brutal and inhumane conditions. When he was released and returned to Vanderhoof, he immediately went back to the Silver Grill Café and again demanded service. He was again arrested and sent to prison. Over the course of a year he demanded to be served 11 times and was imprisoned 11 times. He spent 11 months of the year in prison. Dick Patrick died in 1980 and was buried, with full military honors, in Saik'uz village. SaikuzVeteransMemorial01

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Patrick, Dominic Canadian recipients of the Military Medal Dakelh people 1920 births 1980 deaths Indigenous leaders in British Columbia 20th-century First Nations people Canadian military personnel of World War II