Vimy Militaria - What's New

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

What's New!

I have managed to find some time to do a small update, and hope that I will be able to do this periodically over the next year. This batch consists mainly of medals awarded to Commonwealth soliders for service in the First World War, and includes several groups and singles to men who were killed or wounded. I hope you find something of interest!

Best wishes,

Jim Godefroy

New Arrivals

Three. British War Medal, Victory Medal, and Memorial Cross (GV). Named to 847424 PTE. A. MENARD. C.A.M.C. on pair, and to 847424 Pte. A. MENARD on Memorial Cross. Albert Menard joined the 150th Bn CEF, attesting in Montreal on 12 February 1916. He was originally from Granby, Quebec, and was a laborer before enlistment. He transfered to the Canadian Army Medical Corps on 20 August 1916, and arrived in France on 1 September 1916. He was killed during an aerial bombardment by German Gotha bombers during an attack on the Etaples military complex in France on 19 May 1918, which was targeting a bridge on the River Canche but also struck No. 1 and No. 7 Canadian General Hospital. Group is loose on original ribbons; medals could use some cleaning but are in good VF Condition otherwise. Comes with paper copy of portions of service record, details of his burial location at Etaples Military Cemetery in France, photographs of his headstone there, and some information on the 19 May 1918 German air raid which hit the Etaples hospital. There were 66 Canadians killed and 73 wounded in the raid; medals to First World War servicemen killed in air raids are very scarce.

Good VF Condn $850

Three. 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20 and Victory Medal. Named to 49501 PTE. R. SIFORD. CAN: A.S.C, on Star, and to same number, name but C.A.V.C. on pair. Reginald Siford was born in Northleach, England on 18 February 1890, and was a painter in civilian life. He attested for the CEF at Winnipeg in April 1915, and served with 5 Stationary Hospital, 1 Canadian Veterinary Hospital, and 1 Canadian Forestry Corps. Electronic copy of service record available online at LAC website. Medals mounted as worn, a little grubby and on original soiled ribbons.

VF Condition $400

Two. 1914-15 Star and Victory Medal. Named to L-15505. PTE. A.H. OAKES. MIDDX. R.on Star, and to same number, name but MIDD'X R. on Victory. L/15505 Private Arthur Herbert OAKIS died 1 July 1916 on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, while serving with the 2nd Battalion Middlesex Regiment. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Medals are loose on original soiled ribbons.

VF Condition $275

One. Memorial Cross (GV). Named to H.63618 Pte. E.J. PRYGROSKI. Emil John Prygroski enlisted as a Craftsman in the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers at Winnipeg, Manitoba on 5 May 1941. His parents were farmers living in Stuartburn, Manitoba, and he was married during his service. He served with #1 CBW RCEME in the UK, earning the British War Medal and the Canadian Volunteer Service medal with clasp (these are not with the cross). Service record indicates issue of Memorial Crosses to his mother and widow in 1950, but his file contains no indication of the cause of his death. Online research indicates that his mother, Anna Zuk, was chosen as the 1998 National Memorial Silver Cross Mother, and laid a wreath on Remembrance Day on behalf of all mothers who had lost a child to military service. The Veterans Affairs Canada website suggests that Emil Prygroski died in 1950 at the Montreal Military Hospital of injuries sustained during the 19 August 1942 raid on Dieppe, but his service record suggests that he was in Canada at the time of the raid. Paper copy of service record from LAC included. Cross on original ribbon in box of issue

VF Condition $350

Two. British War Medal 1914-20 and Victory Medal. Named to 3310563 PTE. C. L. YOUNG. C.M.M.G. BDE.. Charles Lafayette Young was born in London, Ontario, and was working as a glycerine maker when he was drafted under the Military Service Act in January 1918. He served in France with the Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade. Medals named to the CMMG Bde are relatively scarce, and this unit saw a great deal of fighting during the last 100 days of the war in the lead-up to the Armistice. Medals unmounted, on clean original ribbons.

EF Condition $275

One. 1914-15 Star. Named to 10283 PTE. G.A. BAKER. HAMPS: R.. George Albert Baker died on 21 August 1915 while serving with the 10th Battalion Hampshire Regiment at Gallipoli. He is commemorated on the Helles Memorial in Turkey. Medal unmounted, on clean original ribbon.

EF Condition $125

medals@vimy.ca