Canada, Cef. Two First War Casualty British War Medals

Includes:

1. Private Nelson Gregory, 2nd Infantry Battalion (633829 PTE. N. GREGORY. 2-CAN. INF.). Naming is officially impressed, in silver, original ribbon, exhibiting edge nicks, contact marks and surface wear.

2. Sapper Alfred James, 5th Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops (2204125 SPR. A. JAMES. C.R.T.). Naming is officially impressed, in silver, original ribbon, polished and exhibiting contact marks. Fine and very fine, respectively.

Footnotes:

1. Nelson Gregory was born on February 20, 1896 in Embrun, Ontario. He was a resident of Morewood, Ontario when he signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (633829) with the 154th Infantry Battalion "Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders", on March 18, 1916 in Winchester, Ontario, at the age of 20, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Mrs. Luke (Madomloue) Gregory of Morewood, stating that he had no previous military service, that he was Single, that his religion was Church of England and that his trade was that of Labourer. He departed Halifax, Nova Scotia aboard the S.S. Mauretania on October 25, 1916, arriving in England on the 31st. Private Gregory entered the French theatre on April 18, 1917. He was admitted to No. 8 British Red Cross Hospital at Le Touquet on May 4, 1917, as he had suffered multiple severe gunshot (shrapnel) wounds to his face and arms. He was subsequently invalided to England and admitted to St. Luke War Hospital at Halifax, West Yorkshire on May 17th, then transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Woodcote Park, Epsom, Surrey on June 22, 1917, where he would remain for one month before being discharged on July 24th. He would require additional treatment for his shoulder at the Canadian Military Hospital at Eastbourne, Sussex and was admitted on July 31st, a stay that would entail two months, before being discharged to duty on September 29th. He entered the French theatre for a second time, on November 16, 1917, where he was posted to the 2nd Infantry Battalion "Eastern Ontario Regiment". Private Nelson Gregory was Killed in Action on March 29, 1918 and is buried in Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery in Arras, Plot: VII. C. 18. In his Will, dated October 10, 1016, he left his personal estate to his mother, Madomloue, now of Plantagenet Springs, Ontario, who would ultimately be designated to receive his British War Medal and Victory Medal, Memorial Plaque and Scroll, along with his Memorial Cross.

2. Alfred James was born on December 2, 1876 in London, England, the son of George William James and Annie James. He was already a veteran of two wars, having served in the Greco-Turkish War in 1897 and the South African War of 1899-1902. After immigrating to Canada, he eventually settled on the west coast. He was living at the Hampton Hotel in Vancouver, British Columbia, when he signed his Attestation Paper as a Sapper (2204125) at the Forestry Depot in Vancouver, on June 25, 1917, at the age of 40, naming his next-of-kin as his brother, Ernest James of Winnipeg, Manitoba, stating that he had previous military service with the English Militia in 1895-1896 (with no mention made of his Greco-Turkish War and South African War service), that he was not married, that his religion was Church of England and that his trade was that of Logger. He departed Halifax, Nova Scotia aboard the S.S. Missanabie on August 11, 1917, arriving in England on the 23rd. Sapper James was posted to the 4th Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops at Purfleet on October 31, 1917, then taken on strength in France on November 2nd. Nine months later, he was Killed in Action in France on August 1, 1918 and is buried in Longuenesse (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, Plot: II. D. 10. In his Will, dated June 29, 1917, he left his personal estate to his brother, Ernest, who would ultimately be designated to receive his British War Medal and Victory Medal, along with his Memorial Plaque and Scroll. No Memorial Cross was issued, the records stating "Nil".