Commonwealth Medals - Second World War

Vimy Militaria
P.O. Box 17018
Portobello RO
1937 Portobello Rd
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
K4A 4W9

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Second World War Medals

Eight. 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas clasp, War Medal 1939-45, Efficiency Medal (GVI) with CANADA bar, and Fire and Rescue Service Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (EIIR). EM named GNR. J.L. CORMIER RCA, and Fire and Rescue Service LSGC named FIREMAN JAMES L. CORMIER. James Lester Cormier was born on 3 March 1921 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He joined the 53rd Battery Royal Canadian Artillery at Halifax, Nova Scotia on 12 May 1936, and was assigned service number 644. He was still serving with the battery at the outbreak of the Second World War, and joined the Canadian Active Service Force on 1 September 1939. His service included time with 'Q' Battery (later absorbed into 103rd Battery) RCA in Newfoundland from 30 April 1941 to 7 April 1943, before deployment to the United Kingdom. He served in the UK with 5th Anti-Tank Regiment, RCA, before deploying to Italy as a reinforcement in February 1944, where he served with 4th Anti-Tank Regiment RCA. He was redeployed with his unit to France in February 1945, serving there until April, before returning to the UK for training, and ending the war there. Cormier was married in England, to Caroline Pates Irvine, in September 1945, and stayed in England after the war. His obituary notes that he served in the London Fire Brigade, and despite briefly returning to Canada in 1969 to work at Eatons in Toronto, he returned to the UK, working for the BBC and later being self-employed before retiring and returning to Canada in 1998. James Cormier died on 20 November 2010. Group is accompanied by an electronic copy of Cormier's service file, as well as some associated research. Medals are court-mounted on clean modern ribbon, and have apparently been removed from a frame. They are accompanied by four photographs of the recipient, and a name plate indicating his service number was F.16218. An unusual combination of awards to a Canadian Army veteran of the Second World War.

Good VF Condition $600

Five. 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas clasp, War Medal 1939-45 and Birks' Memorial Bar. Medals un-named, bar named L/CPL. H.I. MACPHERSON LINC. & WELLD. R. DIED IN HIS COUNTRY'S SERVICE 26 JAN.1945. B/18191 L/Cpl Harry Ian MacPherson was 24 years old and unmarried when he was killed in action on 26 January 1945 in the Battle for the Kapelsche Veer, known as Operation Elephant, which took place between 26–31 January 1945. It was fought between the German Wehrmacht and allied troops at the Kapelsche Veer – a ferry crossing of the River Meuse near the village of Capelle in the North Brabant province of the Netherlands. He is buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, Nijmegan, Netherlands. With electronic copy of service record; medals swing mounted, and Memorial Bar in case of issue with associated transmittal slip. Accompanied by a Lincoln and Welland Regiment cap badge.

VF Condition $850

One. Efficiency Decoration (GVI) with Canada suspension. Reverse inscribed A/MAJOR A. BONIN. With electronic copy of service record revealing that Armand Bonin was born on 12 August 1895. He served with the Fusiliers Mont-Royal as a commissioned officer from 2 June 1925 to 1 January 1935, when he was a Major, before transferring to the 4th Division Royal Canadian Army Service Corps as a Captain on 10 November 1937, as a result of a move to Quebec City, where he was working as a clerk in the Legislative Assembly. When war broke out in 1939, he was a Major again, serving with No. 5 District Depot in Canada, before joining the Active Force, returning to the Fusiliers Mont-Royal, and reverting in rank to Lieutenant, serving as an acting Captain and acting Major in instructional roles in Canada, before deploying to England in August 1943 for an observation tour as a Canadian Infantry Training Centre instructor, returning in late October the same year. Bonin returned to reserve status at war's end. He earned the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas bar, and the war Medal 1939-45, which are not present with his decoration; the latter is complete with brooch bar on clean original ribbon, and has not been remounted. A well-earned Efficiency Decoration to an FMR officer with extensive peacetime and instructional service.

EF Condition $425

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. Memorial Cross (EIIR). Named to D-127288 CPL. M.L.P.A.M. BELLE-ISLE. In original case of issue, with cardboard shipping box and card. Un-researched, but likely awarded to the next of kin of a soldier who died after the Second World War of a cause attributed to service.

Good VF Condition $250

One. Memorial Cross (GVI). Named to F.S. PILOT J.P. RICHARDSON R-58721. James Patrick Richardson was a Flight Sergeant Pilot, originally from Vancouver, BC, who served with 142 Squadron RAF. He was killed when the Welington Bomber he was piloting crashed during a forced landing as a result of losing engine power during bad weather. His aircraft crashed at Scole Road, Diss, Norfolk, on 14 July 1942, with only the rear gunner surviving. Richardson is buried in the CWGC's Brockwood Military Cemetery, Surrey, United Kingdom. Cross has been modified with pinback for wear. Cross is accompanied by an electronic research file, including a copy of Richardson's service file, as well as some images and press clippings found online.

Good VF Condition $500

Seven. 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas clasp, War Medal 1939-45, and Canadian Forces Decoration. CD named to MAJ J.J.R. GAGNON. Gagnon was a Major in the Royal Canadian Artillery with service number TD-50267. He received his Canadian Forces Decoration in Army Order 785 of 9 November 1964. Group is otherwise unresearched.

Good VF Condition $350

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

Five. 1939-45 Star, Defence Medal (cupro-nickel), War Medal 1939-45 (cupro-nickel), 1937 Coronation Medal, and Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (GV). LSGC named 7717037 S. SJT. W. JONES M.P.S.C. SSjt W. Jones served in the Military Provost Staff Corps. This medal group was previously sold in Dix Noonan Webb Auction Sale of 14 September 2012 as lot #977. Jones' service is unresearched. Medals are court-mounted and lacquered in style typical of Don Tresham, Invicta International (Ottawa), a well-known collector of medals to military police.

Good VF Condition $250

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

Eight. 1939/45 Star, Italy Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas clasp, War Medal 1939-45, Canadian Korea Medal, and UN Korea Medal with bar KOREA. SWW medals are un-named as issued, and Korea pair is named to D-801026 D.G. MAC DONALD With copy of service file indicating that David Gilchrist MacDonald enrolled in the Royal Canadian Artillery at Montreal, Quebec on 10 January 1941, with service number D-118085. He arrived in England on 19 April 1941, and served in Italy as a member of 5 Medium Regiment RCA from 8 November 1943 until 11 March 1945, when he deployed to France, finishing the war there. Gilchrist volunteered again during the Korean War, enlisting in the Canadian Army Special Force at Montreal on 16 August 1950 with service number D-801026. He served overseas in Korea with the 2nd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment from 22 April 1941 until 4 May 1952. Medals are plated and court-mounted for wear on original soiled ribbons.

Good VF Condition $500

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