Hugh Cairns: Canada's Relentless Warrior

In the trenches of the First World War, courage wasn’t a choice, it was the price of survival. And for some men, like Hugh Cairns, bravery wasn’t just about staying alive. It was about running straight into hell, knowing your actions could save your brothers in arms.

A Working-Class Beginning

Hugh Cairns was born on December 4, 1896, in Ashington, Northumberland, England. His family made the tough call to move to Canada in 1911, settling in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Hugh was only 15. He spent his teenage years as an apprentice plumber, working hard to help support his family. When he wasn’t working, he was playing football (soccer) with a local team. He had a fighter's spirit even then, relentless, competitive, always pushing himself to be better.

When war broke out in 1914, the call to serve echoed across Canada. For guys like Hugh, it wasn’t just about duty, it was about standing up for something bigger than yourself. By 1915, at just 18 years old, he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, joining the 46th Battalion, South Saskatchewan Regiment.

The 46th would come to be known as the "Suicide Battalion." And Hugh Cairns was about to become one of its legends.

Baptism by Fire: The Western Front

Cairns was shipped to France in 1916, and like every soldier, he learned fast that the Western Front was a meat grinder. Death and destruction were everywhere, and survival often came down to luck. But luck had little to do with Hugh’s rise through the ranks.

During the Battle of Vimy Ridge in April 1917, Cairns distinguished himself in combat. While Canada’s victory at Vimy was a turning point in the war, it came at a staggering cost. The 46th Battalion alone lost hundreds of men. But Cairns wasn’t just surviving, he was fighting like a man possessed.

His actions under fire earned him the Distinguished Conduct Medal, one of the highest honors for non-commissioned officers.

But Hugh Cairns was far from done.

Valenciennes: The Last Stand

By late 1918, the war was grinding to an end. Germany was on its heels, but they weren’t going down without a fight. In the final days of October, the Canadians pushed towards the French city of Valenciennes. The Germans had turned the area into a fortress, and the only way through was head-on.

On November 1, 1918, Cairns and his unit were ordered to clear out German machine-gun nests blocking the advance. It was the kind of job no one came back from, unless you were Hugh Cairns.

As his unit pressed forward, they came under relentless machine-gun fire. Cairns took command. He charged the first gun, taking it out in brutal close-quarters combat. Then he grabbed the captured machine gun, turned it on the enemy, and kept pushing forward.

He stormed a second machine-gun nest, killing or capturing the crew. Bleeding and battered, he didn’t stop. He led his men to take out more positions, capturing over 100 German soldiers. But the human body can only take so much. Cairns was shot multiple times during the assault. Even as he collapsed, he refused to let go of his gun.

He died the next day, November 2, 1918, just nine days before the war ended.

The Victoria Cross and Beyond

For his insane bravery and selflessness, Hugh Cairns was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest military honor in the British Empire. He was the last Canadian to receive the VC in the First World War.

Cairns was buried in Auberchicourt British Cemetery, but his legacy never faded. Saskatoon honored him with a statue and named a school after him.

In France, Avenue du Caporal-Chef Cairns still stands in Valenciennes, a tribute to the man who helped free the city.

The Relentless Spirit of a Warrior

Hugh Cairns wasn’t a superhero. He was a working-class kid who decided that when everything was on the line, he wouldn’t back down. His story is a reminder that the greatest acts of heroism come from ordinary people who refuse to let fear win.

Men like Cairns are why Canada’s military history is filled with stories of grit and sacrifice. They didn’t fight for glory, they fought for the men next to them. And sometimes, like Hugh Cairns, they gave everything they had to make sure their brothers made it home.

Because for warriors like him, courage was never optional.

It was the only way to live.