Leo Major was an extraordinary soldier from Montreal, Canada, who became famous for his bravery during World War II. He was a French-Canadian who joined the Royal 22nd Regiment of the Canadian Army when he was just 19 years old. This regiment was known for its fierce fighting spirit, symbolized by its insignia of crossed machine guns and a beaver supporting a fleur-de-lys.
Leo first saw action on D-Day, June 6, 1944, during the Normandy landings in France. He quickly made a name for himself by capturing a German vehicle filled with secret code books. Despite being under fire from his own side, Leo bravely climbed on top of the vehicle to signal them to stop shooting. When asked to hand over the vehicle, he insisted it be given to his regiment, proudly stating that a Quebec man had captured it.
Just days later, Leo had a dangerous encounter with an elite SS unit. In the fight, he managed to kill four enemy soldiers but was injured by a grenade, losing sight in his left eye. Despite this, Leo refused to go home, saying he only needed one good eye to aim his rifle. He returned to the front lines as a scout and sniper, continuing to serve with determination.
In October 1944, during the Battle of the Scheldt in Holland, Leo was tasked with finding 50 missing soldiers. While searching, he stumbled upon a group of German soldiers sleeping in their trenches. With quick thinking, he captured them and marched 93 German soldiers back to the Allied lines. Although they were attacked by an SS unit, Leo’s bravery was recognized, and he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. However, he declined the award, feeling the British commander was not competent.
In February 1945, Leo survived a mine explosion that killed everyone else in his vehicle. Despite severe injuries, he refused to leave the battlefield and soon returned to his unit. On April 13, 1945, Leo volunteered to scout the Dutch town of Zwolle. After his friend was killed, Leo bravely continued alone, creating chaos among the German troops. By morning, he had liberated the town, allowing Allied forces to enter without a fight. This time, he accepted the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his heroism.
After World War II, Leo returned to civilian life but rejoined the army during the Korean War in 1950. He was part of a special scout and sniper team and played a key role in recapturing important positions. Leo Major remains the only Canadian to receive the Distinguished Conduct Medal in two separate wars. He lived a quiet life after his military service, passing away in 2008 at the age of 87, leaving behind a legacy of courage and dedication.
Illustrate a comic strip that depicts one of Leo Major’s heroic actions during World War II. Focus on a specific event, such as the liberation of Zwolle or his encounter with the SS unit. Use your creativity to show the bravery and quick thinking that Leo demonstrated. Share your comic strip with the class and explain the significance of the event you chose.
Imagine you are Leo Major during one of his missions. Write a diary entry describing your thoughts and feelings before, during, and after a key event, such as capturing the German soldiers or scouting the town of Zwolle. Consider the challenges and emotions Leo might have experienced. Share your entry with a partner and discuss how Leo’s actions impacted the outcome of the war.
Create a design for a new Medal of Honor that could be awarded to soldiers like Leo Major. Think about the qualities that make a hero and how these can be represented visually. Present your design to the class and explain why you chose specific symbols or elements to honor Leo’s bravery and dedication.
With a partner, role-play an interview between a journalist and Leo Major. Prepare questions that explore his experiences, motivations, and feelings about his actions during the war. Take turns being the interviewer and Leo, and perform your interview for the class. Discuss what you learned about Leo’s character and the impact of his actions.
Develop a timeline of Leo Major’s life, highlighting key events from his military service and personal life. Use images and brief descriptions to illustrate each event. Display your timeline in the classroom and compare it with your classmates’ timelines to see different perspectives on Leo’s life and legacy.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
—
Leo Major, the one-eyed scout who liberated an entire town by himself during World War II for the Canadian effort, stands out as a remarkable soldier. He was a French-Canadian from Montreal, Canada. In 1940, at the age of 19, he joined the Royal 22nd Regiment of the Canadian Army. Their insignia reflects their fierce fighting reputation, featuring two crossed Vickers machine guns with a beaver above supporting a fleur-de-lys.
Major first saw action on D-Day in France, participating in the Normandy landings on June 6, 1944. He quickly distinguished himself as a scout behind enemy lines by capturing a German communications half-track filled with secret code books. He forced the captured crew to drive the vehicle toward friendly lines, but they came under fire from British and Canadian troops. Leo climbed on top of the vehicle to signal them to stop firing as they approached. When an English officer asked Leo to hand over the half-track, he refused, stating that it was a Quebec man who captured it, and it was subsequently handed over to his regiment.
His war was nearly cut short when, a few days later, he unexpectedly encountered a patrolling elite SS unit while scouting ahead of his unit. In the ensuing firefight, he managed to kill four enemy soldiers, but one fatally wounded him with a phosphorus grenade, severely damaging his left eye. Leo was sent to a field hospital for treatment and had to wear an eye patch while healing. Remarkably, he refused to be sent home, stating that he only needed one good eye to aim a rifle. He quickly returned to the front lines and continued to serve as a scout and sniper.
In October 1944, he was involved in the month-long Battle of the Scheldt in Holland, which involved heavy fighting and several amphibious landings. One day during this battle, Leo’s commanding officer ordered him to find 50 soldiers who had gone missing on patrol. Leo, as always, was carrying out reconnaissance by himself, wearing PT sneakers instead of heavy boots. Deep behind enemy lines in freezing rain, he muttered to himself about his discomfort. While searching, he came across a garrison of German regular troops sleeping in their trenches. Noticing a snoring German officer, Leo woke him up at gunpoint and ordered him to lead his men. When one soldier raised his rifle, Leo shot him dead, followed by three others who joined the firefight. He shouted commands in German, and the garrison quickly decided to surrender.
Leo single-handedly marched 93 German soldiers back to the Allied lines, but they were attacked by an SS unit. The SS managed to kill and injure several of the German prisoners before being driven off by an Allied tank. For his bravery, Leo was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the second-highest award in the British and Commonwealth forces, but he declined it, feeling that the British commander presenting the award was incompetent.
In February 1945, while fighting in the Rhineland, the vehicle Leo was in hit a mine, killing all its occupants except him. He sustained severe injuries, including broken ankles and ribs. Again, he refused to be sent home and returned to his unit after a short hospital stay.
On April 13, 1945, the Allies prepared to attack the Dutch town of Zwolle but were unsure of the German forces’ strength. That evening, Leo and a friend volunteered to scout the area. When his friend was killed by enemy fire, Leo went on a one-man rampage throughout the night, using his submachine gun and grenades to create confusion among the German troops. He captured or killed several defenders and liberated the town by the morning of April 14, allowing Allied forces to enter without a shot being fired.
For his heroism, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal again, which he accepted this time. After the war, Leo returned to civilian life but rejoined the army during the Korean War in 1950. He was recruited for a special scout and sniper team and played a crucial role in recapturing strategic high ground.
Leo Major is the only Canadian to win the Distinguished Conduct Medal in two separate wars. He lived a quiet life after his service and passed away in 2008 at the age of 87, having been married for 57 years and having four children.
—
This version removes any inappropriate language and maintains a respectful tone while summarizing Leo Major’s remarkable story.
Soldier – A person who serves in an army and fights in battles. – During World War II, many soldiers were sent overseas to fight for their countries.
Bravery – The quality of being courageous and willing to face danger or difficulties. – The bravery of the soldiers during the battle was admired by everyone back home.
World War II – A global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world’s nations. – World War II was a significant event in history that changed the course of many countries.
Regiment – A military unit made up of several companies or battalions. – The regiment was deployed to the front lines to support the ongoing battle.
D-Day – The day during World War II when Allied forces invaded northern France by means of beach landings in Normandy. – D-Day marked a turning point in World War II as the Allies began to reclaim occupied territories.
German – Relating to Germany, a country involved in both World War I and World War II. – The German forces were well-prepared, but the Allies managed to break through their defenses.
Allies – The countries that fought together against the Axis powers during World War II, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union. – The Allies worked together to defeat the Axis powers and bring an end to World War II.
Medal – An award given to someone for bravery or achievement, especially in a military context. – The soldier received a medal for his courageous actions during the battle.
Scout – A person sent ahead of a main force to gather information about the enemy or the terrain. – The scout returned with valuable information that helped the army plan their next move.
Liberation – The act of freeing someone or something from oppression or captivity. – The liberation of the occupied towns brought hope and joy to the people who had suffered under enemy control.
