Canada. A First War Pair, To Private John Wallace, 124Th Infantry (Pioneer) Battalion, Wounded 1917

British War Medal (769663 PTE. J. WALLACE. 124-CAN.INF.); and Victory Medal (769663 PTE. J. WALLACE. 124-CAN.INF.). Naming is officially impressed. Un-mounted, gilt wear on the VM, very light contact, better than very fine.

Footnote: John Wallace was born on November 8, 1882 in Aberdeen Scotland. He was a resident of Toronto, Ontario when he signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (769663) with the 124th Infantry Battalion "Governor General's Body Guard", on January 4, 1916 in Toronto, at the age of 33, naming his next-of-kin as his wife, Lily Wallace of Toronto, stating that he had no previous military service, that he was Married, that his religion was Presbyterian and that his trade was that of Painter. The couple had three children, as of July 1916: John (age 8), Harold (age 6) and Edna (age 4). His mother, Annie Wallace was still alive, but his father was deceased. The Battalion was raised and mobilized in Toronto, Ontario under the authority of G.O. 151, December 22, 1915. The Battalion sailed August 7, 1916 aboard the S.S. Cameronian under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel W.C.V. Chadwick with a strength of 32 officers and 1,004 other ranks, arriving in Liverpool, England on the 15th. In England, the Battalion was re-designated the 124th Pioneer Battalion. Private Wallace embarked for service in the French theatre on March 9, 1917, arriving in Boulogne, France on the 11th. He suffered a gun shot (shrapnel) wound to his left thigh on August 23, 1917 and was initially treated at No. 23 Casualty Clearing Station, before being transferred and admitted to No. 11 General Hospital Dannes at Camiers the same day. After one week at Camiers and once he was stabilized, he was invalided to England, where he was posted to the 1st Central Ontario Regimental Depot at Shorncliffe and admitted to 3rd Southern General Hospital at Oxford on August 31st. After three and a half weeks at Oxford, he was transferred and admitted to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Woodcote Park, Epsom on September 25th. The day he arrived at Woodcote Park, the attending physician noted that the wound had "not healed" and designated him for "duty only". By November 12th, the wound had healed. He was subsequently discharged from hospitalization at Woodcote Park after eight weeks, on November 21st. Private Wallace was posted to the 12th Reserve Battalion at East Sandling on January 22, 1918, then transferred to the 3rd Reserve Battalion at West Sandling on February 15th, followed by a posting to the Canadian Infantry Brigade Depot and a transfer to the 124th Infantry Battalion on April 11th. The following week, he was transferred to the Canadian Engineers Reinforcements Pool on April 16th, joining the 11th Battalion, Canadian Engineers as a Sapper on June 1, 1918. He then returned to the French theatre, where he would serve with this unit for the remainder of the war. Upon the ceasing of hostilities, he was attached to the Canadian Corps Headquarters on January 6, 1919. Private Wallace proceeded to England on May 9, 1919 and was posted to "M" Wing at the Canadian Concentration Camp, pending return to Canada. He sailed for home aboard the HMT Olympia from Southampton, England on June 6, 1919, arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia on the 12th. Private John Wallace, 124th Infantry (Pioneer) Battalion, 11th Battalion Canadian Engineers was discharged upon demobilization at No. 2 District Depot in Toronto, on June 16, 1919, credited with having served in Canada, England and France. For his First World War service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.