Madoc in Centre Hastings in Hastings County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

John Weir Foote, V.C. 1904-1988

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 12, 2025

1. John Weir Foote, V.C. 1904-1988 Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

The only chaplain in World War II to receive the Victoria Cross, Foote was born and raised in Madoc. He entered the Presbyterian ministry in 1934 and enlisted in the Canadian Chaplain Service five years later. Assigned to the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, Foote distinguished himself during the ill-fated Dieppe Raid on August 19, 1942. Acting "with utter disregard for his personal safety", he ministered to the wounded and carried injured personnel from exposed positions on the beach to first aid posts and landing craft, all while under heavy enemy fire. Ultimately, he was taken prisoner because he refused to abandon those who could not be evacuated. For his courageous actions Foote was awarded the Victoria Cross, the British Commonwealth's highest military decoration for valour.

Seul aumônier de la Seconde Guerre mondiale à recevoir la Croix de Victoria, J.W. Foote naît et grandit à Madoc. Devenu ministre presbytérien en 1934, il s'enrôle dans le Service d’aumônerie canadien cinq ans plus tard. Affecté à la Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, Foote se distingue durant le malheureux raid de Dieppe, le 19 août 1942. Agissant "sans aucun égard à sa sécurité personnelle", il soigne les blessés et les transporte de la plage aux de premiers soins et aux engins de débarquement sous le feu nourri de l'ennemi. Il est fait prisonnier pour avoir refusé d'abandonner ceux qui ne pouvaient être évacués. Sa bravoure lui a valu de recevoir la Croix de Victoria, la plus haute décoration militaire du Commonwealth britannique.

Erected by Ontario

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Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • Religion & Religious Structures • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust, and the Victoria Cross and George Cross Recipients series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is August 19, 1942.

Location. 44° 30.351′ N, 77° 28.143′ W. Memorial is in Centre Hastings, Ontario, in Hastings County. It is in Madoc. It is at the intersection of St. Lawrence Street East (County Highway 23) and Nelson Street on St. Lawrence Street East. Marker is in Thomas Thompson Memorial Park, AKA Cenotaph Park. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 155 St Lawrence Street East, Centre Hastings ON K0K 2K0, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in Eastern Ontario

and specifically in Southeastern Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was

John Weir Foote, V.C. 1904-1988 Marker [<lang=fr>Français</lang=fr>] image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 12, 2025

2. John Weir Foote, V.C. 1904-1988 Marker [Français]

once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 13 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Battle of Vimy Ridge 100th Anniversary / 385th Army Cadet Corps (a few steps from this marker); War Memorial Cenotaph (a few steps from this marker); The Founding of Madoc (a few steps from this marker); Thomas Thompson Memorial Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Historical Gauen Cemetery (approx. 11.8 kilometers away); Stewart Kerby (approx. 12.3 kilometers away); Thomas Emo Fleming (approx. 12.3 kilometers away); War Memorial (approx. 12.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Centre Hastings.

Also see . . . John Weir Foote (VC/GC Association). (Submitted on May 22, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

John Weir Foote, V.C. image. Click for full size.

via VCCG Association, unknown

3. John Weir Foote, V.C.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., May 12, 2025

4. John Weir Foote, V.C. 1904-1988 Marker

At far right of photo

Credits. This page was last revised on July 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 22, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 136 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 22, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 3. submitted on July 19, 2026, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 4. submitted on May 22, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.