Commonwealth Medals

Vimy Militaria
P.O. Box 17018
Portobello RO
1937 Portobello Rd
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
K4A 4W8

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Victorian Campaign Medals, Decorations and Long Service Medals

One. Canada General Service Medal 1866-70 with clasp 'Fenian Raid 1866'. Named to Pte. J. Morley, 13th Bn. John Morley was a member of No. 5 Company of the Hamilton, Ontario based 13th Battalion of the Canadian Militia. He was called out for active duty in response to the threat of invasion by Irish American "Fenians" in the spring of 1866, and was on active service fron early March to 23 June. He fought against the Fenians in the battle of Ridgeway on 2 June 1866. A scarce medal to a soldier who engaged the Fenians in battle.

Good VF Condition $1500

One. Khedives Sudan Medal 1897 with clasp 'Khartoum'. Named to 3705 S.S. KNIGHT. J. 21ST E.OF I. LANCERS. James Alfred Knight was 20 years old when he joined the 21st Hussars on 18 November 1893. He was granted good conduct pay on 25 January 1896, and appointed as a shoeing smith on 4 November 1898. Knight charged with C Squadron of the 21st Lancers at the battle of Omdurman on 2 September 1898. The Royal Lancers website notes that "An Anglo-Egyptian force was sent to reconquer the Sudan in order to end Dervish rule, which threatened British interests in Egypt. The 21st Lancers was the only regular cavalry to serve with this army. On 2nd September, 1898, the army reached Omdurman, the Mahdi’s capital, where the infantry formed defensive squares on the banks of the Nile. The Dervishes made several mass attacks, which were beaten back by a continuous and accurate fire from the British infantry. After two hours fighting, the ferocity of the Dervish attack slackened and they appeared to be retreating back towards Omdurman. The 21st Lancers was then ordered to cut the Dervish line of retreat into the city. As the regiment advanced, it came under rifle fire from what appeared to be a few hundred skirmishers, and the order was given to charge. Too late, it was discovered that this frail line of Dervishes stood in front of a dry riverbed packed with several thousand of the enemy. The Regiment fought its way through the packed enemy and moved away, dismounted and opened a withering fire using carbines, forcing the Dervishes to withdraw. During this action the 21st Lancers lost 21 men killed and 50 wounded. Three Victoria Crosses were awarded, each of them for rescuing a wounded comrade from the midst of the enemy. Lieutenant Winston Churchill, attached to the Regiment from the 4th Hussars, commanded a troop in the charge. As a result of the charge at Omdurman, the 21st Lancers was awarded the title ‘Empress of India’s’ by Queen Victoria, became the only Regiment entitled to wear her Royal Cypher, and was allowed to return its french-grey facings, which had previously been replaced by scarlet." Knight continued his service after the battle, re-enlisting and extending his service on 11 May 1899 in order to complete 12 years with the colours. On 25 January 1900 he was granted additional good conduct pay, and on 1 April 1900, he was promoted to Shoeing Smith Corporal, only to be reduced to the ranks for conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline after a regimental court martial in June 1903. Knight re-engaged to complete 21 years of service on 23 October 1905, but his disciplinary problems continued, and he was discharged for misconduct on 30 November 1907, having completed a total of 14 years and 13 days service. Knight's medal is loose on a length of older original ribbon. Medal is accompanied by an electronic copy of his service record, and medal roll entries for his Sudan and Khedives Sudan Medals. Much more research possible. A scarce medal to a participant in an iconic cavalry charge.

Good VF Condition $1500

Seven. Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902 with clasps TRANSVAAL, SOUTH AFRICA 1901, SOUTH AFRICA 1902, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal, Defence Medal (Canadian issue), Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas clasp, and War Medal 1939-45 (Canadian issue). QSA named to 5854 PTE. J. SUSSEX DEVON REGT, Star named 74233 PTE. J. SUSSEX 28/CAN: INF:, and pair same number, rank, name but 28-CAN. INF. James Sussex was born in St.Giles, Devon, England on 2 March 1882. He joined the Devonshire Regiment of the British Army at the age of 18 on 16 February 1900, and served for 12 years with the colours, deploying to South Africa during the Boer War on 17 October the same year, serving there until 18 January 1902. Posted to the East Indies, he served overseas until 24 January 1908, when he returned to England for a further four years service at home. Emigrating to Canada sometime after leaving the British Army in early 1912, Sussex was living in Winnipeg, Manitoba and working as a labourer when he volunteered to join the 28th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force on 24 February 1915. Sussex deployed to France with the 28th Battalion in September 1915, and he was wounded in action on the Somme on 17 September 1916, suffering shell shock and a contusion to his right groin. He recovered in England until early January 1918, when he returned to the 28th Battalion in France, serving with the unit in action until war's end. Sussex was discharged from the CEF on 13 May 1919, taking his release in the United Kingdom, where he elected to stay. Group is accompanied by electronic copies of Sussex's Short Service service records documenting his time in the British Army, as well as his CEF service file. Sussex's entitlement to medals for Second World War service has not been confirmed; group court mounted for display.

Good VF Condition $600

One. Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902 with clasps CAPE COLONY, ORANGE FREE STATE, TRANSVAAL. Named to 6832 PTE. F.G. HALLIDAY. 2ND RL: BERKS: REGT. Un-researched. Medal is loose and unmounted on short length of older ribbon.

Good VF Condition $250

One. Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902 with clasps TRANSVAAL, SOUTH AFRICA 1901. Named to 6439 PTE. T. KAY D. OF C. L.I. Court-mounted on original ribbon stiffened by card. With copy of medal roll confirmation of award, and a researcher's letter indicating that a 6437 Pte T. Kay, likely the same man, died of disease at Middleburg on 12 November 1901.

Good VF Condition $250

Four. Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902 with clasps CAPE COLONY, ORANGE FREE STATE, TRANSVAAL, SOUTH AFRICA 1901, SOUTH AFRICA 1902, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20, and Victory Medal. QSA named 378 TPR. G.J.W. MCTURK. S.A.C., and trio named RFM. G.J.W. MCTURK 4TH S.A.M.R. With electronic copy of medal roll entries for QSA and clasps, but otherwise un-researched. Previously sold in Jeffrey Hoare Sale #58, 21 Februsry 1998, as lot# 2187. Medals are loose on modern ribbons.

Good VF Condition $550

One. Egypt Medal 1882-89 (undated reverse) without clasp. Named in impressed capitals to J. TOWNSEND, LDG SEAMn, H.M.S. BRITON. John Townshend was born on 18 September 1859 in Pill Newport, Monmouth, Wales. He joined the Royal Navy on 18 September 1877, serving with HMS Impregnable, Impacable, Resistance, Royal Adelaide, Sirius, Bellerophon, Tover, Valiant, Hector, Britomart, Briton and Duncan. Copy service record with medal indicates Townsend was discharged 'dead' 3 January 1886 while serving on H.M.S. Duncan; copy medal roll indicates that his medal was sent to his widow on 12 January 1888.

Good VF Condition $250

One. King’s South Africa Medal with clasps SOUTH AFRICA 1901 and SOUTH AFRICA 1902. Named to 1813 SDLR. H. HARRIS. NESBITT’S H. Un-researched. Loose on short length of slightly soiled original ribbon.

Good VF Condition $225

One. Northwest Canada Medal 1885 clasp SASKATCHEWAN. Named to No 1680 GUNNER J. WILCOX "B" BATTERY R.C.A. The Regiment of Canadian Artillery was the first Canadian Permanent Force element, raised by the Canadian Government on 20 October 1871. Two batteries of garrison artillery were formed, 'B' Battery at Kingston, Ontario, and 'A' Battery at Quebec City, Quebec. These batteries, which also served as gunnery schools, were re-designated Royal Schools of Gunnery on 6 February 1880, and Royal Schools of Artillery in 1883. 'B' Battery was called out for active service on 27 March 1885, and left Kingston on 29 March 1885. The strength of the unit was 112 men, under the command of Major Charles John Short. Some 87 members of the battery participated in the battle of Cut Knife Hill on 2 May 1885, earning the Saskatchewan clasp to the North West Canada Medal. Three men from the battery were wounded in the battle. At the end of the campaign,'B' Battery remained in the North West on garrison duty until the following year. John Wilcox was injured while on active service in Prince Albert on 2 September 1885, breaking his left leg after falling into a cellar hole in the dark. He received a pension of 30 cents per day as compensation for his injury. Medal is accompanied by an electronic copy of Wilcox's medal roll entry, medical board reports, and some period newspaper clippings mentioning his injury and convalescence. Wilcox's medal was previously sold in Jeffrey Hoare Sale #122 (29 January 2017) as lot #220. His medal is named in small impressed capitals, as is typical for members of 'B' Battery R.C.A. Loose on original ribbon.

Good VF Condition $3300

Family group. Father. India Mutiny Medal 1857-59, Crimea Medal 1854-56 with clasp Sebastopol, and Turkish Crimea Medal. India Mutiny is renamed in engraved capitals J. MOLAND; Crimea is named in engraved capitals PTE JAMES MOLAND 1377 1ST ROYAL DRAGOONS (the letters AGOON in DRAGOONS are heavily rubbed and indistinct), and Turkish Crimea is named PR JAMES MOLAND 1377 1ST ROYAL DRAGOONS (the letters AGOON in DRAGOONS are heavily rubbed and instinct). Unresearched. Son: Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902 with clasps CAPE COLONY, TUGELA HIGHTS, RELIEF OF LADYSMITH, TRANSVAAL and LAING'S NEK, King's South Africa Medal 1901-1902 with clasps SOUTH AFRICA 1901, SOUTH AFRICA 1902; British War Medal 1914-20, Meritorious Service Medal (GV) with CANADA reverse, and Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. QSA named 18263 GNR. P.H. MOLAND. R.G.A., KSA same number, inits, name, unit but rank BOMB, BWM named 222779 A.SJT. P.H. MOLAND, 85-CAN. INF., MSM named S/SGT. P.H. MOLAND. R.C.A.P.C., and PFEBS LSGC named PRIVATE H. MOLAND. C.O.C. Philip Henry Moland served in the British Army and the Canadian Permanent Force for 27 years, with 6 years in the British Army including his service in South Africa. A clerk in civilian life, he served as a clerk in the Royal Canadian Army Pay Corps and the Canadian Ordnance Corps. KSA has some EKs at 6 o'clock, and all medals are well polished and show signs of wear, to be expected for a Permanent Force senior NCO who would have worn his medals frequently. Moland's MSM award was published in General Order 113 of 1938, and his medal is one of one of only approximately 90 issued with GV effigy, out of approximately 165 issued with the 'CANADA' reverse. A very scarce 'CANADA' reverse MSM group to a long serving Permanent Force NCO.

VF Condition $2800

One. King's South Africa Medal 1899-1902 with clasps SOUTH AFRICA 1901, SOUTH AFRICA 1902. Named to 10967 DVR. G. STUART. A.S.C.. Un-researched. Medal is unmounted with older original quality ribbon. Some edge knocks but otherwise...

VF Condition $140

One. Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902 with clasps 'CAPE COLONY', 'ORANGE FREE STATE'. 'TRANSVAAL'. Named to 12914 PTE W. THOMPSON R.A.M.C.. Un-researched. Loose on piece of modern ribbon.

Good VF Condition $225

One. Canada General Service Medal with bar "Fenian Raid 1866". Named to Cpl. G.H. Cutlip 1st Halifax. V.A. George Henry Cutlip served in the 1st Halifax Volunteer Artillery which was called up for service from 6 June to 31 July 1866. The medal roll indicates that Cutlip performed guard duty at Ordnance and participated in nightly harbour patrols by steamer with 1 gun, 1 Sgt. and 7 men of the battery on board. He received his medal in August 1900. The rolls for the CGS held at Library and Archives Canada show that Cutlip was one of 54 men in his unit who received the medal. A copy of Cutlip's obituary that accompanies the hard copy research file with the medal shows that he was a painter by profession, and notes that he passed away on 22 October 1909. Medal is toned black on short length of original ribbon.

EF Condition $750

One. Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902 with clasps 'CAPE COLONY', 'ORANGE FREE STATE', 'TRANSVAAL'. Named to 71913 GNR: C. MACKIE. 14:S.D, R.G.A. Un-researched. Loose on clean older ribbon.

EF Condition $225

One. Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902 with clasp 'ORANGE FREE STATE'. Named to 5380 PTE. J. WHITE. RL: LANC: REGT. Copy medal roll with the medal indicates that White served with the 3rd Bn Rl Lanc Regt and was also entitled to the clasp 'CAPE COLONY'. Otherwise un-researched. Loose on modern ribbon with tape residue on reverse, one large EK near name of unit.

VF Condition $200

One. India General Service Medal 1854-95 with clasp 'PEGU'. Un-named. Loose on older faded original ribbon. Un-researched.

Good VF Condition $250

One. Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal(VR). Named to E.T.J. TURNER H.M.S. COAST GUARD. On short length of worn original ribbon.

Good VF Condition $240

One. North West Canada Medal 1885. Unnamed as issued. Loose on modern slightly stained ribbon.

EF Condition $900

One. Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902 with clasp 'CAPE COLONY'. Named to 3327 PTE. J. DAVIS. DERBY: REGT. Un-researched. Loose on short piece of modern ribbon.

Good VF Condition $200

One. Royal Canadian Humane Association Medal. Engraved on reverse "Awarded to Gilbert Gilmour for conspicuous courage in saving a man from drowning in the River St Lawrence in September 1903". Accompanied by copies of some period newspaper clippings from the Montreal Gazette of 3 September and 24 December 1903, which describe the circumstances of Gilmour's act of bravery. The rescue for which he received this award took place on 2 September 1903 near Longue Pointe in Montreal's East End. Gilmour was in a rowing skiff at the time of the incident, and spent about 15 minutes rescuing the man, who had suffered from cramps while bathing nearer to shore and had been swept downstream. The drowning man resisted Gilmour's attempts to save him, striking the latter in the face at one point with his elbow and almost knocking him unconscious. Gilmour apparently saved another man from drowning sometime in the previous month, and the rescue for which this medal was awarded was his fifth. Medal suspender is loose and moves freely around the circumference of the medal, and could benefit from being crimped. The medal is missing its ribbon, and has some verdegris on the obverse, but is otherwise in ...

F Condition $875

One. Royal Navy Long Service and Conduct Medal (VR). Named to HENRY JOHNS LG. SHIPWt. H.M.S. WILDFIRE. Un-researched, other than a short note indicating that Henry Johns was Welsh, and originally from Vars Market, Pembrokeshire. Loose on clean older ribbon.

Good VF Condition $250

One. King's South Africa Medal 1899-1902 with clasps 'SOUTH AFRICA 1901', 'SOUTH AFRICA 1902'. Named in impressed capitals to 3635 PTE. J. KAY. SCOT: RIFLES. Un-researched. Court-mounted on card on clean newer ribbon.

Good VF Condition $150

One. India General Service Medal 1854-1895 with clasp "BURMA 1885-87". Named to 770 Pte. J. Davies 1st Bn R.W. Fus. in engraved running script. Un-researched. Loose on older silk ribbon.

Good VF Condition $250

One. Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902 with clasps "CAPE COLONY", "ORANGE FREE STATE", "SOUTH AFRICA 1901", "SOUTH AFRICA 1902". Named to 5439 PTE. S. HAIR. HIGHLAND. L.I. in impressed capitals. Unresearched. Medal is loose on clean new ribbon.

Good VF Condition $250

One. Egypt Medal 1882-89 (undated reverse). Named to C. BONNING, PTE. R.M.L.I. Chaarles Bonning was born on 23 January 1846 at Ilminster, Somerset, and was working as a flax dresser before he enlisted in the Royal Marines on 20 February 1864. He was appointed Private in 27 Company and served at Plymouth Headquarters until 8 February 1866 when he embarked on HMS INDUS. He returned to Plymouth Division on 1 October 1868 and embraked on HMS LIFFEY for the Flying Squadron-World Cruise from 1869-1870. His other ships included WARRIOR, CALEDONIA, and AGINCOURT. He served in the Royal Marine Battalion Egypt from 9 February 1884 until 20 November 1884, when he was invalided at Suakin, and he was in hospital before being returned to England on 26 December 1884. He completed 21 years of service and was discharged 27 February 1885. With copy of medal roll confirming Egypt Medal, service record, and summary of service. Medal is suspended on older slightly stained ribbon.

VF Condition $300

One. Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902 with clasps 'CAPE COLONY', 'ORANGE FREE STATE', 'TRANSVAAL'. Named to 79616 GNR. A.H. WOOD. 6TH E.D., R.G.A. in impressed capitals. Service number officially corrected. Unresearched. Medal is loose on clean new ribbon.

Good VF Condition $175

Two. Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902 with clasps "CAPE COLONY","ORANGE FREE STATE", "TRANSVAAL", "SOUTH AFRICA 1901" and "SOUTH AFRICA 1902" and British War Medal 1914-20. Named to 4799 PTE. W. NIGHTINGALE. 7TH HUSSARS on QSA, and to 228862 A. SJT. W. NIGHTINGALE 92-CAN. INF. on BWM. William Nightingale was born 1 March 1881 in Middlesex, England. He was married and working as a coachman in Montreal when he joined the 1st Reinforcing Company, 5th Royal Highlanders of Canada at Montreal on 21 August 1916. He noted on enrollment that he had served 8 years with the 7th Hussars, and an additional 4 years in the Reserves. Nightingale served in the 92nd Battalion CEF in England only, and the BWM represents his full medal entitlement for his First World War service. His service with the 7th Hussars is unresearched. Medals are loose and unmounted on older ribbons.

Good VF Condition $475

Two. Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902 with clasps "TRANSVAAL", "SOUTH AFRICA 1902", and British War Medal 1914-20. Named to 171 PTE. A. BERRY. CANADIAN M.R. on QSA, and to 190174 PTE. A.E. BERRY 91-CAN. INF. on BWM. Albert Edward Berry as born in St. Thomas, Ontario on 31 October 1880. He stated on attestation to the Canadian Expeditionary Force that he had previously served in the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment for a year, and the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles, serving in South Africa for one year. He earned the Queen's South Africa Medal for the latter service. On his enrollment in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, Berry gave his civilian trade as 'woodturner', and also noted that he had served in the 25th Elgin Regiment for 10 years, holding the rank of Sergeant. He was married, and his wife, Mrs. Eulia Berta Berry, was living at 53 West Avenue in St. Thomas, with their three children, when he attested in the 91st Battalion on 24 March 1916. Berry arrived in England in July 1916, but medical issues (rheumatoid arthritis in his right hip and knee) led to him being medically discharged and returned to Canada in October 1916, with the BWM his full medal entitlement for his service. Medals are loose and unmounted on relatively clean older ribbons; the QSA has been plated, and the BWM silvered.

Good VF Condition $1050