Four. British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and War Medal 1939-45. BWM/VM named to 931066 A. CPL. S.FLOOD. C.O.R.C.C.
Sydney Flood was born on 30 March 1896 in Georgetown, British Guiana. He was working as a labourer in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia when he enlisted in No. 2 Construction Battalion on 28 July 1916. His next of kin on enrollment was listed as his mother, Maggie Flood, who still resided in
Georgetown. Flood embarked for overseas in Halifax, Nova Scotia on 25 March 1917, disembarking at Liverpool on 7 April 1917. He was appointed Acting Corporal shortly afer his arrival, but relinquished his rank before his battalion moved to France on 17 May 1917. Flood was
admonished for disobeying an order and insolence to a Warrant Officer on 27 July 1917. He was attached to 1st District Canadian Forestry Corps on 30 December 1917, and appears to have served with 42nd and 43rd Company CFC through most of 1918. He received 14 days of Field Punishment
No. 3 on 24 June 1918 for being absent without leave for a day and a half, and forfeited 2 days pay. He received 14 days leave in the United Kingdom on 25 October 1918, and remained there at the Nova Scotia Regiment Depot until his return to Canada. On his release from the CEF in
May 1919, Flood's place of residence was 530a St. Antoine Street in Montreal, Quebec. Flood re-enrolled in the Veterans Guards of Canada during the Second World War, enlisting at Montreal on 5 August 1940, and serving until 11 October 1945. His service included time at internment camps in Farnham, Quebec and Grand Ligne, where he was employed on guard and escort duties,
as well as instructional duties in Ottawa, and also spent time in Port Arthur, Ontario and Nanaimo, BC, where he served as a weapon training instructor. On discharge, Flood was 49 years of age. His Second World War service record, which accompanies his group, sheds a good deal of light on his life outside the military. It reveals that he completed Grade 10 at Glace Bay High School in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and studied music at
McGill College (sic) for 3 years. He was a driver and miner at Cape Breton Coal Mines from 1910-1915, and a sleeping car porter for the Canadian Pacific Railway from 1919-1921, before becoming a station porter for the CPR at Windsor Station in Montreal between 1921-1940, being granted occasional leaves of absence to pursue his
studies in music. He was married, and had two children. After the war, Flood, who was described as a well-built, well-spoken, mature and youthful looking man, indicated that he intended to return to his employment with the CPR. Group includes hard copies of First World War and Second World War service records.
Medals are swing mounted for wear on clean original ribbon. A rare and iconic group of medals to a member of No.2 Construction Battalion.
Good VF Condition $6000
One. Memorial Cross (GVI). Named F.O. J.A. GIBBS J17248. Flying Officer Jack Arthur Gibbs was from Penticton, British Columbia. He served with 419 Squadron and was 29 years old when he was killed in action on 5 February 1945. He was serving at the time as Mid Upper Gunner in the crew of Lancaster KB787, and had participated in over 50 operations. At the time of his death, he was on the 19th operation of his second tour, part of a raid on Bonn, Germany by 238 aircraft, of which only 20 were Lancasters. His plane was involved in an air collision on the way to the target over Belgium during what were described as poor weather conditions. More details about Gibbs' crew and their fate can be found 
