For Valour Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Located near Chip Kerr Park in Port Moody in a small wooded area to
the south. Some of the trails in here are quite steep so please be
careful.
The Victoria Cross is the British realm's highest award for
gallantry in the face of the enemy. It has precedence over any
other of our Sovereign's awards or Commonwealth decorations.
The Victoria Cross was founded by Royal Warrant January 29, 1856 to
recognize the bravery of those who were fighting in the Crimean
War. It was available to all soldiers and "neither rank, nor long
service, nor wounds, nor any other circumstance or condition
whatsoever, save the merit of conspicuous bravery" could make one
eligible.
The Cross itself is cast from the bronze of cannons captured at
Sevastopol during the Crimean War. The design, chosen by Queen
Victoria, consists of a cross with the Royal Crest resting upon a
scroll bearing the words "For Valour." The reverse of the suspender
bar is engraved with the recipients' name, rank and unit while the
reverse of the cross is engraved with the date of the deed for
which the recipient was honoured.
The Victoria Cross has been awarded 1,350 times. The youngest
recipient was 15 years old and the eldest was 69 years old. Three
cases exist where both father and son have won the Victoria Cross;
four pairs of brothers have also been recipients.
The Victoria Cross has been awarded to 94 brave Canadians one of
whom was Port Moody resident John Chipman Kerr (born January 11,
1887, Fox River, Nova Scotia; died February 19, 1963, Port Moody,
B.C.). At the age of 29, Chip Kerr was a private in the 49th
(Edmonton) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, when his unit
came under attack during the First World War.
On 16 September 1916 at Courcelette, France, Kerr advanced into
enemy territory, found himself under attack and opened fire. The
enemy, thinking that they were surrounded, surrendered. Kerr
captured 62 prisoners and 230 meters of enemy trench. Earlier in
the battle, Private Kerr’s fingers had been blown off, but he
did not have his wound dressed until he and two other men had
escorted the prisoners back under fire and reported for duty.
This cache is a 6.5’ x 5’ cammo’d
lock’n’lock hidden near Chip Kerr Park in Port Moody.
Along the south end of the park, a trail leads into a small wooded
area. Cache is hidden at the base of a mossy maple about 7 ft off
the trail. It contains some Canada Veterans Affairs pins, some
other little fun toys and a special little piece of history for the
FTF! Please be sure to reseal the container and rehide
well.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
I sbe ivpgbel.