Lt. Col. Lockhart (Lockie) Fulton, DSO, Royal Winnipeg Rifles

Discussion in 'Canadian' started by canuck, Jun 18, 2020.

  1. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    I have long been fascinated by an under appreciated officer from the Royal Winnipeg Rifles who performed brilliantly on June 6-8, 1944.

    To my surprise, a long time friend who was born in Manitoba, told me today that Lockie Fulton was a close family friend and frequent visitor to their home in rural Manitoba. Both his father and Lockie were heavily engaged in doing work for decades after the war in assisting war veterans obtain work and benefits. His father was no slouch either, having flown over 40 sorties with the 405 RCAF Pathfinder Squadron and earning the DFC. A highly respected man, Lockie maintained his trademark moustache well into his 60's. He was reputed to be physically tough as nails, one of those rare warriors and deeply humble.

    The dashing Major Fulton, commanded D Company of the Winnipeg Rifles at Courseulles sur Mer. Major Fulton led his Company in the first wave of attack at Juno Beach on D-Day. During the first hour of fighting, the Canadian soldiers faced only a 50% chance of survival. Fighting past enemy fire and the German defenders, he and his men took control of the French town of Graye-sur-mer. Lockie's men fought their way several kilometres inland to the town of Cruelly, where the battalion encamped for the night. The following day, the Battalion pushed on to the village of Putot-en-Bessin, abutting the crucial Caen-Bayeux Railway, becoming one of the first Allied units to reach its final D-Day objective. On June 8, significantly larger and more heavily armed German forces, overran 3 companies of the Battalion. Many of those taken prisoner were later murdered by the infamous 12 SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend. The assault on Major Fulton's company, however, was decisively thwarted, preserving a key portion of the objective until a counter-attack by the Canadian Scottish Regiment fully restored the situation. Because of his achievements on D-Day and on June 8th, Fulton was awarded the Distinguished Service Order.

    Later, at age 27 he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and led the Winnipegs until the end of the war. He described the landing of D-Day and the defence of Putot-en-Bessin as the “worst days of the entire war.”

    After the war, Fulton returned to his wife and family to enjoy his life as a grain farmer in his home town of Birtle. He raised six children and contributed to the civic life of the community for which contribution he was awarded the Order of Canada. He later retired to Victoria, British Columbia. In his latter years, he put his military knowledge to historical use, giving numerous speeches and talks as well as continuing research with Battlefield Study Groups. He returned several times to his old battlefields, including the 60th Anniversaries of D-Day and VE Day.

    He died at Birtle, Manitoba on 21 October 2005.

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    Last edited: Jun 30, 2020
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  2. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

  3. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

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    JJ Wall New Member

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    Chris C Canadian

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