Vimy Militaria - Second World War Medals

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

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Second World War Medals

Family Group: Brother 1 - 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal (Canadian issue), Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas clasp, War Medal 1939-45, and Birk's Memorial Bar. Bar is named SGT P.F. LATHAM RCA DIED IN HIS COUNTRY'S SERVICE 30 MAY 1944. Accompanied by five original portrait photos of Percy Latham in uniform (one smaller image in a photo studio folder, a larger 8" x 11" colourized version of the latter, a loose small image taken when he was a Lance Bombardier, another portrait photo the same size without headdress, and two wallet sized images), a press clipping with details of his death, condolence slip from Buckingham Palace, condolence slip from Canadian Minister of National Defence, Memorial Scroll from the city of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, an image of his original grave marker, transmittal slip for his medals, a silk handkerchief with UK and US flags and a personalized dedication, and a silk Royal Artillery themed embrodiered handkerchief. Brother 2 - Birk's Memorial Bar. Bar is named SGT H.R. LATHAM RCAF DIED IN HIS COUNTRY'S SERVICE 10 OCT 1944. Accompanied by two original portait photos of him in uniform, once with cap in a photo studio folder, the other a larger 8" x 11" colourized photo in civilian clothes, condolence slip from Buckingham Palace, condolence slip from Canadian Minister of National Defence, and a RCAF Bible inscribed to him. L.7 Sgt Percy Franklin Latham joined the Canadian Active Service Force in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan on 4 September 1939. He was 19 years old, and had been serving in the 77th Battery, RCA in Moose Jaw since 1937. He was transferred to 3rd Field Regiment RCA in December 1939 in Aldershot, Nova Scotia, before embarking for overseas service. Arriving in Glasgow, Scotland in mid-December, he was promoted to Bombardier in June 1940. Recerting to the rank of Gunner at his own request in June 1941, he continued training in England, qualifying as an Assistant Surveyor in March 1943, before deploying with his unit to Italy in June. Landing on 10 July 1943, he received a series of promotions, being made an acting Lance Bombardier on landing, and an Acting Bombardier on 20 July, being confirmed in the rank of Bombardier in October, and made an Acting Sergeant in December. He was comfirmed in this rank in March 1944, just a couple of months before he died of wounds received in action in Frosinoni, Italy, during his unit's approach to Rome, on 30 May 1944. Just weeks before, on 12 May, the 3rd Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery provided fire support for the fourth and final Allied assault on Monte Cassino. The war diarist recorded that this was “the biggest barrage we or anyone else here has ever taken part in…”. Percy Latham is buried in the Commonwealth War Graves' Cassino War Cemetery, Italy. Latham's younger brother, Horace Roger Latham, joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in Vancouver, British Columbia on 17 August 1943, being assigned service number K.268113. He was 18 years old at the time, with previous service experience in 59 Air Cadet Squadron. After training in Canada, he qualified as an Air Gunner on 12 March 1944, before embarking for England in May, and being appointed to the rank of T/Sergeant. Latham was serving with 1667 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF, based at RAF Sandtoft when he was pronounced missing, presumed dead, on 10 October 1944. He was a member of the crew of Halifax LL-501, which was returning from a night cross-country exercise when the crew mistook a bombing range for an airfield. The aircraft went out of control at a low altitude, hit a river bank at a narrow angle and sank at the mouth of the River Trent, England, where it joins the Humber Estuary. Latham's body was not recovered. He is commemorated on the Runnymede Air Forces Memorial, Surrey, England.

Good VF Condition $1300

One. Member of the Order of the British Empire (GVI), Civil Division, in monogrammed case of issue. On original ribbon. The case contained in what appears to be its original shipping box.

EF Condition $350

One. Memorial Cross (GVI). Named to R. McKENZIE. LDG.STOKER R.C.N.R. Roderick McKenzie was born 20 February 1917 in North Sydney, Nova Scotia. Prior to enlisting, he worked as a Fireman on the SS Aspy. The Aspy was a coastal steamer based in North Sydney, serving coastal communities along the Cabot Trail on Cape Breton Island. Given the remoteness and road conditions in the area (main roads were not paved until 1961!), the Aspy served as virtual shipping lifeline. McKenzie enlisted with the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve (RCNR) on 21 October 1942, being assigned service number A. 5720. He had shore postings until 18 January 1943, when he joined HMCS Dundas (a Flower Class Corvette) until 12 May 1943. After a brief shore posting, McKenzie joined HMCS St. Croix ( Destroyer # 181 ) on 27 June 1943. HMCS St. Croix (formerly USS McCook) was built in 1919 for the United States Navy and had been held in reserve since 1922. The ship was transferred to the RCN on 24 September 1940, and tasked to convoy escort duties. HMCS St. Croix was torpedoed and sunk south of Iceland by U-305 on 20 September 1943. Of the total crew of 147, five officers and 76 ratings survived the sinking, and after a harrowing night in life rafts and Carley Floats, they were picked up the next day by HMS Itchen. Unfortunately on 23 September 1943, HMS Itchen was torpedoed, going down in less than a minute. Only one crew member from those previously rescued from HMCS St. Croix survived. McKenzie's official date of death was 20 September 1943, and he is commemorated on the Halifax Memorial in Point Pleasant Park, Halifax, Nova Scotia. His service file indicates he was entitled to the 1939 - 45 Star, the Atlantic Star, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas clasp, and the War Medal 1939-45 (these medals, issued unnamed, do not accompany the cross). Cross is accompanied by a hard copy of McKenzies service records, and two images of McKenzie in uniform sourced from the Veterans Affairs Canada Canadian Virtual War Memorial website.

Good VF Condition $850

One. Memorial Cross (GVI). Cross is maker marked R STERLING (this mark is associated with Roden Brothers, Toronto). It has sadly had the name erased. Of potential use to replace a lost cross or for display.

VF Condition $175

One. Efficiency Medal (GVI) with CANADA suspender. Named to SGT. H. WILSON R.C.A.. Un-researched. Loose on original ribbon.

Good VF Condition $200

Three. Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, War Medal 1939-45, and Canadian Forces Decoration (EIIR). CD named to MAJ. A.H. MacKINNON. Alexander Huntley MacKinnon was an engineer with service ranging from COTC in the 1930s to time spent in the Militia in the 1960s. A graduate of St. Francis Xavier University and Nova Scotia Technical College, he served during the Second World War inside Canada with the Signal Communications Branch of the R.C.A.F. on the West Coast. Between 1949 and 1964, MacKinnon was a militia officer with the East Coast Signal Regiment, commanding the latter unit as a Lieutenant Colonel between 31 August 1957 and 22 June 1960, and later serving as a staff officer (G.S.O. (1)) at Eastern Command HQ , 4th Military Group HQ between 1960 and 1964. In civilian life, MacKinnon spent 40 years with Martime Tel and Tels, retiring as Vice President (Planning) in Halifax, Nova Scotia. A hard copy reserach file, which includes his service record as well as an obituary, accompanies his group, which is swing mounted as worn.

Good VF Condition $250

Six. 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal (Canadian issue), Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas bar, War Medal 1939-45, and Memorial Cross (GVI). Memorial Cross named to A.11453 Pte. R.B. LANG. Electronic copy of Lang's service file which accompanies the group indicates that Ronald Bell Lang died of wounds received in action on 22 January 1944, while serving with the 48th Highlanders in Italy. Lang was born in Owen Sound, Ontario in 1913, and he joined the Perth Regiment (MG) at Stratford, Ontario on 26 September 1939, indicating that he was employed as a knitter at the time of his enrollment, and that he had 2 years of previous military service with the "Owen Sound Grey's" back in 1935. Lang was single, listing his mother, who lived in Owen Sound, as his next of kin. served overseas with the Perth Regiment and the 3rd Canadian Infantry Replacement Unit in England from November 1941-October 1943, when he embarked for the Mediterranean Theatre, joining the 48th Highlanders on 9 November 1943. Lang was wounded on 21 January 1944, dying of his wounds the following day. He is buried in the Commmonwealth War Graves Commission's Moro River Canadian War Cemetery, Italy. Lang's medals and the Memorial Cross issued in his memory, which were sent to his mother, are accompanied by his identity disk and a War Service Badge numbered 1252593 (likely not Lang's, but possibly a relatives).

Good VF Condition $1100

One. Birks Memorial Bar. Named S/SGT. R.W. LAMB R.C.A.S.C. DIED IN HIS COUNTRY'S SERVICE 24 AUG 1944. With issue card holder for bar, and a CWGC folder that holds photos of Lamb's grave as well as a press clipping with an image of him, noting he had died of wounds. Reuben William Lamb was born on 14 October 1942 at Regina, Saskatchewan. He moved to Victoria, British Columbia in 1929, and was working as a chauffeur there and serving in the 5th British Columbia Coast Bde (NPAM) when he enlisted for active service in the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps on 13 September 1939. He qualified as a Clerk Group B, and was posted to 3rd Canadian Division Petrol Company, RCASC on 19 June 1940. He was quickly promoted through the ranks of A/Corporal, A/Sergeant, and A/Staff Sergeant, before being confirmed in the rank of Staff Sergeant on 1 September 1940. Embarking for overseas at Halifax on 31 July 1941, he arrived at Liverpool on 19 August. He was transferred to 3rd Division Troops Coy, RCASC and later to 9th Cdn Inf Bde Coy, RCASC, landing in France with his unit on 12 July 1944. Lamb was wounded by shrapnel from enemy aircraft bombardment of elements of the 9th Cdn Infantry Bde Coy RCASC on 21 August 1944 at Ouilly-le-Tesson, and died three days later. He is buried at the CWGC's Bretteville-sur-Laize Cemetery, Calvados, France. The 9th Cdn Inf Bde Coy RCASC War Diary of 25 August has an entry that notes "Advice received that S/Sgt Lamb died of wounds received on 21 Aug., he was one of the 3 Div Pet Coy originals, as star athlete, very popular, and will be greatly missed." In addition to the documents described above and illustrated in the accompanying photos, the bar is also accompanied by hard copy service record and war diary extracts An unusual grouping to a casualty of an air attack on rear-echelon support elements.

Good VF Condition $450

Two. Australian War Service Medal and War Medal 1939-45. Named to 146492 L.M. KAY. Un-researched. Court-mounted on card with plaque indicating Kay served in the R.A.A.F.

Good VF Condition $150

One. Efficiency Medal with TERRITORIAL suspender. Named to 2058389 GNR. R.J. CANNONS R.A. Unresearched. Loose on clean older ribbon.

Good VF Condition $160

Five. British War Medal 1914-20, Defence Medal (Canadian issue), Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas clasp, War Medal 1939-45, and Memorial Cross (GVI). BWM named to 722137 PTE. H.R. ALLAN. 108-CAN. INF., Second World War medals un-named as issued, and Memorial Cross (GVI) named to M. 26927 Tpr. H.R. ALLAN. Allan was underaged when he joined the CEF during the First World War, and only served in England, receiving the British War Medal with rare naming to the 108th Battalion, which was broken up to provide reinforcements to other battalions at the front. Allan later re-enlisted at the outset of the Second World War, serving in the Calgary Regiment as a Trooper. He was killed on active service in England during training on 7 January 1942, dying of injuries sustained during the roll over of a bren gun carrier. He is buried in the CWGC's Brockwood Military Cemetery in Surrey, England. Details of his death, as well as some photos of him, can be found on VAC's Canadian Virtual War Memorial website. Medals are loose on original ribbons. A tragic group to a soldier of the Calgary Regiment with service in two conflicts.

Good VF Condition $800

One. Memorial Cross (GVI) Named to B.43613 PTE. A.J. PATTERSON. Alvin John Patterson was born in Tecumseh, Ontario on 7 March 1908. He was living in Hamilton when he enrolled in 6th LAA Regt RCA on 24 August 1942. His next of kin was indicated to be his mother, Mary Jane Patterson, who lived at 63 Hess Street North in Hamilton. He left Canada for England on 29 March 1943, arriving 5 April. He served with 3rd LAA Regt RCA from 27 April 1943, and was embarked for France as an artillery reinforcement on 17 July 1944, landing on the 18th. He joined 6 LAA Regt, RCA, and appears to have returned to the UK in October, returning to France as an infantry reinforcement in late December 1944, and joining the South Saskatchewan Regiment on 25 December. Patterson died in an accident, falling from the balcony of his hotel room at a leave centre in Brussels, Belgium on 11 May 1945, and fracturing his skull. A Court of Inquiry determined that his death was accidental. Patterson is buried in Evere Civilian Cemetery, Brussels, Belgium. A tragic Canadian Army casualty of the South Saskatchewan Regiment, who perished shortly after VE Day.

EF Condition $500