Dollard Ménard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dollard Ménard
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Colonel Dollard Ménard c.1940s
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| Born | 7 March 1913 Quebec, Canada |
| Died | 14 January 1997 (aged 83) |
| Allegiance |  Canada |
| Service/ |
Canadian Army |
| Years of service | 1932–1965 |
| Rank | Brigadier |
| Commands held | East Sector of Quebec Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal Royal 22e Régiment Le Régiment de Hull |
| Battles/wars | Waziristan campaign Second World War |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Order Grand Officer of the National Order of Quebec Canadian Forces' Decoration Legion of Honour (France) Croix de guerre (France) |
Dollard Ménard (born March 7, 1913 – died January 14, 1997) was a very brave and important officer in the Canadian Army. He is best known for his incredible courage during the Dieppe Raid in 1942. Even though he was wounded five times, he kept leading his soldiers, the Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal.
His amazing story inspired a famous Canadian poster during World War II called Ce qu’il faut pour vaincre (which means "What it takes to win"). He was also awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his bravery. What makes his story even more remarkable is that he was the only commanding officer who landed at Dieppe to return to Britain after the raid. All the other leaders were either killed or captured.
A Young Soldier's Journey
Dollard Ménard started his military career after graduating from the Royal Military College of Canada in 1932. By 1936, he became a lieutenant in the Royal 22e Régiment, also known as "the Van Doos."
From 1938 to 1940, he served in India. There, he gained experience in different parts of the army, including infantry (foot soldiers), cavalry (soldiers on horseback), and tanks. He even took part in the Waziristan campaign, which was a series of military operations.
In March 1940, he was promoted to captain. He then joined the staff of the Inspector General for Eastern Canada, helping to organize and oversee military operations.
Leading the Way
From 1958 to 1962, Dollard Ménard was in charge of the East Sector of Quebec. This area included important military bases like Camp Valcartier. He strongly believed that French-speaking soldiers should be able to use their language in military commands. He made sure that all units under his command that had mostly French-speaking soldiers used French for their drill and parade orders.
He continued his service at Army Headquarters in Ottawa until he retired in 1965.
A Hero's Legacy
In 1994, Dollard Ménard was given a very high honor: he was made a Grand Officer of the National Order of Quebec. His bravery during the Dieppe Raid was highlighted in his award citation.
The citation explained that during the Dieppe operation on August 19, 1942, he showed incredible courage. He was wounded right at the start of the raid, as he landed with the first group of soldiers. But even with his injuries, he kept leading his unit using a radio. He did this while under heavy fire from machine guns, mortars, and artillery.
To get a better view, he bravely crawled to a higher spot, but he was wounded again. Even after being taken onto a landing boat, and despite being wounded a fifth time, he kept trying to organize defenses against enemy planes and look after his men. His actions were a true example of military tradition and inspired everyone in his battalion.
Dollard Ménard passed away on January 14, 1997, at the age of 83.
Protecting a Hero's Medals
In 2005, Dollard Ménard's family decided to sell his medals at an auction. This caused a lot of discussion in the news. People were worried that the medals might be bought by someone outside of Canada.
To make sure these important pieces of Canadian history stayed in the country, a kind person from Quebec named Ivonis Mazzarolo stepped in. He paid $40,000 to buy the medals. Thanks to him, Dollard Ménard's medals are now kept safely in Canada, honoring his memory and his service.
