Canada, Cef. A Medal Pair To Lieut. Wattam, 4Th Battalion, Wounded In Action During The Battle Of Amiens

British War Medal (LIEUT. C.E. WATTAM.); and Victory Medal (LIEUT. C.E. WATTAM.). Naming is officially impressed. Dark patina on the BWM, spotting and gilt wear on the VM, edge nicks, contact marks, paper residue on the reverse of the original ribbon from previous board mounting, fine.

 

Footnote: Clare Elson Wattam was born on March 18, 1892 in London, Ontario. He had documented as having an appendicitis operation in 1910, at the age of 18. Wattam was a resident of R.R. # 1 Beamsville, Ontario when he signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (690557) with the 173rd Infantry Battalion, on March 20, 1916 in Hamilton, Ontario, at the age of 24, naming his next-of-kin as his father, William John Wattam of Beamsville (c/o W.E. Sanford Manufacturing Company Limited of Hamilton), stating that he was not with an Active Militia, that he had two years previous service with the 13th A.M.C. (Army Medical Corps), that he was not married, that his religion was Methodist and that his trade was that of Lumberman. Six weeks later, Lieutenant Wattam signed his Officers' Declaration Paper with the 173rd Infantry Battalion, on June 1, 1916 in Hamilton, Ontario, at the age of 24, naming his next-of-kin as his father, William John Wattam of Beamsville (c/o W.E. Sanford Manufacturing Company Limited of Hamilton), stating that he was with an Active Militia, the 91st Regiment, Canadian Highlanders, that he had two years previous service with the 13th A.M.C. (Army Medical Corps), that his religion was Methodist and that his trade was that of Lumberman. His Medical Examination was performed at Niagara Camp on June 1st. The Battalion was raised and mobilized in Hamilton, Ontario, under the authority of G.O.69, July 15, 1916. The Battalion sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia aboard the S.S. Olympic, on November 14, 1916 under the authority of Lieutenant-Colonel W.H. Bruce with a strength of 32 officers and 930 other ranks, arriving in England on the 21st. He qualified as a Brigade Instructor at the Eastern Command Bombing School in Godstone, Surrey, on December 6, 1916. Lieutenant Wattam was transferred to the 2nd Reserve Battalion on January 19, 1917, then transferred to the 134th Infantry Battalion on March 1st. In the Fall of 1917, he qualified as an Instructor at "C" Wing, 12 Course on October 18th and married on December 6th. Lieutenant Wattam was struck off strength of the 134th Infantry Battalion, on proceeding overseas for service in the French theatre with the 4th Infantry Battalion, on February 26, 1918, arriving at the Canadian Infantry Base Depot in France on the 28th. He left for the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp on March 2nd, arriving at the camp the same day, then left for the 4th Infantry Battalion, joining them in the field on March 9th. Ten weeks later, he was admitted to No. 1 Field Ambulance on May 18, 1918 with a "Nasal Obstruction", followed by a transfer to No. 11 Field Ambulance, then to No. 1 Camp Reception Station (CRS) for a brief stay. Lieutenant Wattam was Wounded in Action during the Battle of Amiens, on August 9, 1918, suffering gun shot wounds (machine gun bullet) to his right arm and right side, sustaining multiple fractures to his humerus (upper arm). He was admitted to No. 6 Field Ambulance on August 10th, then transferred to the Casualty Clearing Station the same day. Two days later, he was transferred and admitted to No. 3 General Hospital at Le Treport on August 12th, where his condition was documented as "dangerously ill" and that he "may be visited". He was invalided to England aboard a Hospital Ship, and upon arrival in England, was posted to 1st Central Ontario Regimental Depot and admitted to 3rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth on October 2, 1918. After one week at 3rd London General, he was transferred and admitted to Grove Military Hospital at Tooting Grove on October 8th and declared to be "seriously ill" on the 9th. He had developed "Erysipelas" (an acute infection typically with a skin rash, usually on any of the legs and toes, face, arms, and fingers; it is an infection of the upper dermis and superficial lymphatics, usually caused by beta-hemolytic group A Streptococcus bacteria on scratches or otherwise infected areas; Erysipelas is more superficial than cellulitis, and is typically more raised and demarcated), with redness of the elbow and forearm. He returned to 3rd London General Hospital on October 15th, where he would be treated for the next nine weeks, before being transferred and admitted to the Canadian Red Cross Officers Hospital in London (Petrograd) on December 18, 1918. Treatment at the Canadian Red Cross Officers Hospital consisted of dressings and massage, one of the physicians noting that "all wounds (had) healed except the wound at the elbow joint which is fairly clean, but will require treatment for months etc.. Slight movement at the elbow joint. Radius and median nerves injured". As there was "considerable discharge from the wound", the physician recommended that he be invalided to Canada in a Hospital Ship, where he would require indoor hospital treatment in an officers' military or auxiliary convalescent hospital.

 

Lieutenant Wattam, 4th Infantry Battalion was examined by a Medical Board at the London Area on December 31st, where he was declared to be "Unfit for light duty (for) 6 months; Permanently unfit for Home Service, Garrison Depot, General Service". He was admitted to the Granville Special Hospital at Buxton, Derbyshire on January 9, 1919, discharged on the 12th and stuck off strength on being invalided to Canada. He was transferred to the CEF in Canada, sailing from Liverpool, England on January 13, 1919. It was noted in his medical records, that between January 13th and 25th, the Erysipelas had gone "unchanged". Upon arrival at Military District No. 2 in Toronto, he was admitted to St. Andrew's Military Hospital in Toronto on January 30, 1919, where it was noted that he had "partial loss of function of (his) right arm" and that his hand had become swollen and purplish in colour. He was recommended for an operation, then transferred and admitted six weeks later to Brant Military Hospital in Burlington, Ontario on March 12, 1919. He had an X-Ray done at Hamilton General Hospital on March 13th, with massage performed daily until April 15th, then had an operation for the removal of dead bone. After seven months at Brant Military Hospital, he returned to St. Andrew's Military Hospital on October 16th. Lieutenant Wattam is documented as having been at the Dominion Military Orthopaedic Hospital in Toronto as of March 18, 1920, where he would continue to receive additional treatment and therapy, before being struck off strength of No. 2 Military District on transfer to No. 2 Detachment General List on June 30, 1920 and taken on strength on July 1st. It was reported on October 22, 1920, that Wattam had had several operations in England and Canada. He had the arm fully amputated and was waiting for an artificial arm to be fitted. He had free movement at the shoulder joint. The stump had healed but there was constant pain in it, along with being very sensitive to the touch, as the amputation had been recent. He had a deviated septum, with constant discharge coming from the nose, along with a "fullness" in the head and had sinusitis before enlisting. In his Medical History of an Invalid, dated October 22, 1920 at No. 2 District Depot in Toronto, Wattam now age 28, the attending physician noted that he had shortness of breath on exertion and that he had been diagnosed in 1919 with "DAH" (Disordered Action of the Heart, otherwise known as Soldier's Heart or Effort Syndrome, and was thought to result from a combination of over exertion, mental stress and fatigue), with partial loss of function of the cardio-vascular system, possibly related to constant discharge from his nose. Wattam also had issues with his sight, as he was diagnosed with Hypermetropic Astigmatism, which was declared to be "not due to or aggravated by his service", the doctor noting that he had "headaches unless he was wearing glasses". Lieutenant Clare Elson Wattam, 173rd Infantry Battalion, 4th Infantry Battalion was struck off strength as being "Medically Unfit for Military Service" to the Department of Soldiers' Civil Re-establishment as an Ontario Outpatient, for the fitting of an artificial arm and treatment for his sinusitis on October 29, 1920. However, in his official discharge certificate, issued at Ottawa on February 7, 1921, it states that he was discharged "on General Demobilization". He is credited with having served in Canada, England and France with the 173 Infantry Battalion, the 2nd Reserve Battalion, the 134th Infantry Battalion, the 4th Infantry Battalion, the 1st Central Ontario Regimental Depot, District Depot No. 2 and No. 2 General List. For his First World War service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. For his First World War service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.