November 06

Born in 1899 in Canada, he joined the Royal Flying Corps during World War I. On March 27, 1918, he and his observer were attacked by multiple enemy aircraft. Despite severe wounds and engine damage, he managed to fly their plane back to Allied lines. For this act of bravery, he was awarded the Victoria Cross at the age of 19. He survived the war only to succumb to the 1918 influenza pandemic later that year.

Born in 1921 in what was then Poland, Sawoniuk joined the forces collaborating with the German SS during the occupation of Belarus. He was implicated in numerous mass shootings of Jewish civilians. After emigrating to Britain, he lived undetected for decades before his arrest in 1994. In 1999, he became the first person tried and convicted under the UK's war crimes legislation for crimes committed abroad. The trial revealed harrowing testimonies from survivors of the Holocaust. Sawoniuk was sentenced to life imprisonment and died in prison in 2005. His case highlighted the pursuit of justice for wartime atrocities long after they occurred.

Robert J. Lipshutz (1921–2010) was an American Army veteran and attorney. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II before earning his law degree. Lipshutz practiced law in Atlanta and became involved in Democratic Party politics. In 1979, he was appointed White House Counsel by President Jimmy Carter, advising on domestic and international legal issues. After his tenure in the White House, he returned to private practice and continued civic engagement. His legal advice played a key role in shaping policy during a pivotal era. He is remembered for his dedication to public service and the rule of law.

Roger Faulques (1924–2011) was a French Army officer who saw action in the First Indochina War and the Algerian War. After retiring from the military, he worked as a mercenary advisor in African conflicts, including the Congo Crisis and the Biafra War. Faulques was respected for his tactical expertise and leadership under fire. He authored memoirs recounting his experiences in colonial and post-colonial warfare. His career spanned both formal military service and private military operations. Faulques is remembered as a soldier who traversed the blurred lines between official duty and soldier of fortune.

Born in Glasgow in 1920, Sir Thomas “Tommy” Macpherson served with distinction in the British Army’s Special Air Service during World War II. He led daring raids behind enemy lines in France, earning the Croix de Guerre and three Distinguished Service Orders. His actions earned him the nickname “The Kilted Killer” by German forces. After the war, Macpherson managed his family estates and founded several successful businesses. He remained active in veterans’ affairs and charitable work throughout his life. He passed away in 2014, remembered as both a brave officer and shrewd entrepreneur.