Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: March 14, 1983
• Invested on: June 24, 1983

Marcel Le Siège, M.B.
Chief of Police William Paterson, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

On 4 June 1981, Marcel Le Siège and Chief of Police William Paterson, of the Mascouche Police and Fire Department, combined efforts to save a man from fiery death, on Highway 25, near Montreal. After the man lost control of his vehicle during the early afternoon's downpour, it collided with two other vehicles and on impact burst into flames. On arrival at the scene of the accident, Chief of Police Paterson saw the unconscious driver on the floor of the wrecked automobile, with fire just behind the front seat. Although bystanders offered no help, he seized a carpenter's plane which had been thrown to the road, smashed the window and opened the door on the passenger's side. By this time Mr. Le Siège, another motorist, had joined the crowd of onlookers. He realized at once the seriousness of the situation and, in spite of the imminent danger, ran to assist Chief of Police Paterson. Through smoke and searing flames the two rescuers pulled the driver to safety just before the vehicle was consumed.