August Herchenratter

August “Augie” Herchenratter is a veteran who served with distinction in the Second World War. He is a recipient of the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) – Commonwealth’s second highest award for gallantry in action.

Prior to his military service, Herchenratter, a lifelong resident of Waterloo Region, excelled in hockey and baseball. During the 1930s, he caddied at Kitchener’s Westmount Golf and Country Club and although having never golfed, within a year he achieved a zero handicap and was hired by the club as an assistant professional.

He was recruited by the Eastern Amateur Hockey League in 1939 and played three seasons professionally with the American Hockey League.

In 1942 Herchenratter was called up for active military service with the Kitchener-based Scots Fusiliers of Canada. He qualified as a commando and was promoted to corporal and trained recruits at Camp Ipperwash, Ontario.

Herchenratter shipped overseas in 1943 as a sergeant. He was a platoon leader with the 1st Battalion of the Cambridge (Galt) based, Highland Light Infantry of Canada which took part in the D-Day amphibious landings on Juno Beach, Normandy on June 6, 1944. On July 8, he led his 28-member platoon in a fierce and successful frontal assault against a larger enemy force defending the French village of Buron. He organized the attack each time a machine gun nest was encountered, one of which he alone destroyed. When the battle ended, 23 members of his platoon had been either killed or wounded.

King George VI presented the DCM to Sgt. Herchenratter in March 1945 during an awards ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

Following the War, Herchenratter worked at Seagram’s in Waterloo until his retirement in 1985. His interest in sports continued and he was coach of the Waterloo Siskins in 1954 when they won the Ontario Junior ‘B’ hockey championship. He also played right field for the Waterloo Tigers baseball team.

In 2014, to mark the 70th anniversary of D-Day, Herchenratter was among a select group of Canadian veterans who received the Légion d’Honneur from the Government of France – that country’s highest honour – in gratitude for his service in helping to liberate France.