A Formidable Hero

by Stuart E. Soward

The true Canadian story of an unassuming young man who enlists and elects to become a navy pilot. In the space of 5 years he matures and develops into an intrepid leader whom other follow loyally. He is killed in the closing days of the war and is awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious medal for valour.

210 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

Reviews

[S.D. Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

When one considers the stature of a Victoria Cross winner like Robert Hampton Gray, it often seems larger than life. Gray especially, both for his deed of pressing home a level bombing attack against an alerted Japanese surface vessel, and for when it happened--mere days before the end of the war.

What Stuart Soward provides us in A Formidable Hero is the down-to-earth story of a young man from Canada who felt it was his duty to take up arms against fascism, and ensured he did his duty to the end--not hesitating, or shying away just because the end of the war was in sight.

Soward also weaves in the stories of other young men from that war--Canadian and British--many of whom didn't win awards for their gallantry, but all of whom deserved recognition. Soward notes that, in a way, Gray's VC was awarded to those men as well. It was a fitting tribute.

As was this book.