Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: May 9, 1983
• Invested on: September 09, 1983

Robert Joseph Chaput, M.B.
Joseph Matwichuk, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

Fifteen-year-old Robert Chaput, awakened by smoke in the early hours of 28 November 1981, rose to find a fire burning in the kitchen. He exited through a window and alerted a neighbour, Joseph Matwichuk; both arrived at the front door as flames spread to the living-room. Inside, the other two Chaput children and three overnight guests had awakened but were unable to escape in the dense smoke and rapidly spreading flames. Robert helped one guest break a window and climb out, then, with Mr. Matwichuk, entered the burning house, found one of the youths and took her out. They re-entered and found another, also carrying her to safety. By this time they were suffering from smoke inhalation, and unable to enter a third time. Robert's younger brother escaped on his own through a basement window; unfortunately one life was lost.