Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: December 16, 2004
• Invested on: June 24, 2005

Leslie Virginia Bennewith, M.B.
Donald James Miller, M.B.
Noreen Alison Smith, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

On August 9, 2004, Leslie Bennewith, Alison Smith and Donald Miller assisted in the rescue of a woman who was being abducted at gunpoint by her estranged common-law husband, in Port Moody, British Columbia. Mrs. Bennewith and Mrs. Smith were walking by when they saw the woman jump out of a parked truck, escape the grip of her attacker, and race toward them. Acting as human shields, the two rescuers placed themselves between the aggressor and the woman, allowing her to flee under a hail of bullets. The victim was shot in the back as she ran across a busy four-lane highway, but managed to keep going. Meanwhile, Mr. Miller had stopped his car and opened the passenger door to let the terrified runaway jump inside with the violent man in pursuit. A window exploded and the woman suffered another bullet wound as Mr. Miller sped away toward a nearby ambulance station. Although severely injured, the woman later recovered.