arrivals
One. Distinguished Conduct Medal (GV). Named to 13149 LCPL. J. SHARPLES. 2/COY CAN: M.G.C. John Sharples was born in Blackburn, England on 26 April 1896. He indicated his profession on enlistment as 'locomotive fireman'. After enlisting in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, he attested into the 5th Battalion CEF on 21 September 1914 at Valcartier. His service record indicates that he had previously served in the 29th Light Horse, which was based in Saskatchewan; he had also served for 2 years in the British Army, as a member of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment. Sharples joined the 5th Bn in France on 14 May 1915, and served with the latter unit until he was transferred to the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade Machine Gun Company on 20 June 1916. Accidentally wounded on 11 September 1916, when he tripped in a trench near Pozieres after cleaning his machine gun, and impaled himself with a cleaning rod that went through the side of his face, he rejoined his unit on 18 November. Sharples was promoted to Lance Corporal on 11 May 1917. Wounded by a gas shell in mid-August 1917 (likely at the battle of Hill 70), Sharples was hospitalized with shrapnel wounds to his hand and the effects of gassing. He rejoined his unit again by 3 October 1917, and was back in action during the battle of Passchendaele, where his gallantry resulted in the award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal, which was published in London Gazette on 28 March 1918. His citation states:
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in action. Early in the day he was left alone with his gun, the remainder of his crew becoming casualties. He mounted it in a commanding position, and kept it in action throughout two whole days, and until he himself became a casualty, and was removed suffering from a concussion.
Sharples service file indicates that he received his concussion wound, as well as a wound to his right thigh, in action on 11 November 1917, which suggests that his DCM was earned during the battle of Passchendaele between 9-11 November 1917. Sharples indicated his intent after discharge was to settle in Sutherland, Saskatchewan. He was discharged from the CEF on 8 May 1919 in Toronto. Medal is on clean original ribbon, and is unmounted. An excellent gallantry award for the Battle of Passchendaele to a twice-wounded soldier from Saskatchewan, one of only 1984 awards of the DCM to the CEF during the First World War.
Good VF Condition $2100
Three. 1914 Star, British War Medal 1914-20 and Victory Medal. Star named to 9615 PTE. L. EVANS 2/WORC: R., and pair same number, rank, name but WORC. R.
Leonard Evans was born in Tenbury, Worcestershire, England in 1887, and was working as a labourer when he joined the Worcestershire Regiment on 11 November 1905. At the time of his
enlistment, he was aged 18 years, 10 months, weighed 135 pounds, and was 5' 9" tall. Evans embarked for France with the 2nd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment on 12 August 1914. He was
wounded in action on 24 September 1914, receiving a gun shot wound to his left leg, and was invalided back to England on the 30th. He returned to France as part of the 17th Reinforcement
Draft on 31 August 1915, arriving in Rouen on 1 September 1915, and joining his battalion on the 3rd. Appointed an unpaid LCpl on 20 February 1916, he was hospitalized with myalgia a
few weeks later, returning to England for medical treatment on 14 March. Evans was fit enough by early November to return to France, and he disembarked at Rouen on 7 November 1916.
He joined his battalion again on the 18th, and was attached to the 23rd Labour Battalion a short time later. He was wounded in action, with a gunshot wound to the abdomen, on 27 December
1916, and he succumbed to this wound on 29 December. He is buried in the CWGC's Grove Town Cemetery, in Meaulte, France. His medals were sent to his wife, Fanny; she received his 1914 Star on
11 July 1919, and his Victory Medal on 21 September 1921; there is no receipt for the BWM in his service file, but it was likely received around the same time. Evans MIC and medal roll entry
show no indication that he was awarded the bar to the 1914 Star, although the early date of his wounding would indicate that he was in action early enough to qualify for it. With electronic copy of service
record and medal index card/medal roll entry. An attractive group to a soldier who saw action very early in the conflict. Medals are swing mounted on original ribbons.
