Commonwealth Medals - Second World War

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

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Second World War Medals

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 here. Gibbs is buried in the Commonwealth War Graves Commissions' Hotton War Cemetery, east of Namur, Belgium. Cross is loose on a short piece of ribbon in case.

Good VF Condition $650

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

Six. 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Burma Star, Italy Star, War Medal 1939-45 with Mention in Dispatches, and Naval General Service Medal 1909-62 with clasp 'MINESWEEPING 1945-51'. NGS named to P/SSX 790099 J. BALDOCK A.B. R.N. With notes indicating group was purchased from Bob Drummond, LaSalle, Quebec, after it appeared in the latter's May 1981 Medals and Militaria sales list as item #90. Mounted for display on faded original ribbons, with NGS attached to mount with a staple.

Good VF Condition $500

Family group. Five. 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal (cupro-nickle), War Medal 1939-45 (cupro-nickle),and Efficiency Medal (GVI) with bar Territorial. EM named to S. 69994 S.SJT. W.H.C. KENNARD. R.A.S.C.. Accompanied by a General Service Medal 1918-62 with clasp MALAYA. Named to Q/1002262 PTE. M.E. BALL. QARANC. Kennard's group is accompanied by a 21st Army Group certificate named to S/69994 S/Serjeant Warwick Henry Kennard, dated 8 February 1946 and signed by Field Marshall B.L. Montgomery. The medal to Pte Ball, whose relationship to Kennard has not been researched, is in its original box of issue labelled to Ball. An interesting grouping worthy of further research.

VF Condition $350

Six. British War Medal 1914-20, 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal (Canadian Issue), Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas clasp, and War Medal 1939-45 (Canadian issue). BWM named to 639683 PTE. F.E.G. CAIGER 156-CAN. INF. Frank Edward Caiger was underage (16 years old) when he enlisted in the CEF in 1916, and he only served in England, earning the BWM. He later served in the 2nd Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery during the Second World War (service # D-13641). Medals swing-mounted as worn. With hard copy research file documenting First and Second World war service. Medals swing-mounted on clean older ribbons as worn.

VF Condition $400

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

One. Indian War Service Medal. Un-named as issued. Loose on original ribbon.

Good VF Condn $40

One. Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (GVI) with "Canada" clasp. Named in impressed capital letters to A/SUB-CONDR. (W.O. CL. 1.) E.E. WRIGHT R.C.O.C.. Medal is loose mounted on clean older ribbon.

EF Condn $325

A selection of un-named Second World War medals

1939-45 War Medal in silver. Canadian Issue.

VF $45

1939-45 War Medal (British Issue). Cupro-nickel.

VF $30

Defence Medal. Canadian issue in silver.

VF $50

Canadian Volunteer Service Medal without clasp.

VF $50

Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with clasp.

VF $75

1939-45 Star. Unnamed as issued.

VF $35

Italy Star. Unnamed as issued.

VF $35

Atlantic Star. Unnamed as issued.

VF $75

Africa Star. Unnamed as issued.

VF $50

France and Germany Star. Unnamed as issued.

VF $45

Burma Star. Unnamed as issued.

VF $75