Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command of The Royal Canadian Legion www.ns.legion.ca 143 continued ... getting back to Britain and risked recapture to return to Marseilles. There he obtained forged papers and made his way to Spain where he was imprisoned once again. Luckily, his release was secured by the British Consul at Madrid and he was escorted to Gibraltar, the then back to England. Sapper Hutchinson was a plasterer before the war and served in the Non-Permanent Active Militia from 1933 to 1939 in the 88th Battery, RCA. He enlisted in the Active Force at Halifax, 17 November 1939 and was assigned to the Royal Canadian Engineers. His wife was living in Port Wallace, NS at the time. After returning to the 1st Field Company, he went on to participate in the invasion of Sicily where he apparently became the first Canadian to capture an Italian prisoner. Although he returned home in 1943, he continued to serve in the Canadian Army until 1951. He died in Vancouver in 1988. His medals are now on display in the Citadel Army Museum in Halifax. Citation Interestingly, there are no details in Sapper Hutchinson’s citation other than, “in recognition of distinguished services in the field.” This may be because any knowledge of his exploits after being captured were hidden for security reasons to protect the French Resistance operatives who assisted in his escapes and helped him in and out of France more than once. His family was also not made aware of the details. His award was Gazetted on 12 February 1942 and on 2 September 1943. His medal was presented by King George VI.
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