Canada, Commonwealth. A Second War & Korea Medal Group To Captain Mcdiarmid

A Second War & Korea Medal Group to Captain McDiarmid - 1939-1945 Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp; War Medal 1939-1945 with MID Oak Leaf; Korea Medal (ZA511 R.E. McDIARMID); and United Nations Korea Medal (ZA511 R.E. McDIARMID). Naming is officially impressed on the KM and impressed on the UNKM, the others are un-named. Un-mounted, lacquered, light contact and surface wear, better than very fine. Accompanied by copies of his Birth Certificate, Attestation Paper, Officer's Declaration Paper, Service Records, Discharge Certificate, Photo Identification File Card, War Service Medals 1939-1945 Verification Form and Department of Veterans Affairs Death Acknowledgement.   Footnote: Ralph Edwin McDiarmid was born on October 17, 1911 in Alvinston, Lambton County, Ontario, the son of Ralph Edward McDiarmid and Eva Eliza McDiarmid (nee Coghill). His formal education consisted of Senior Matriculation. McDiarmid signed his Attestation Paper with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps as a Private (A-34921), as part of the Canadian Active Service Force, at No. 1 District Depot in London, Ontario, on February 1, 1941, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Eva, stating that he had five months' previous service with 2/11th Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers, from August 15, 1940 to January 1941, that he was Single and that his trade was that of Clerk. He soon rose to the rank of Corporal during his tenure in London, as well as being classified as a Tradesman Class "C" Clerk on May 22, 1941, being promoted to Acting Sergeant on January 19, 1942 and then, promoted to Sergeant and posted to A-19 RCASC Training Centre in Brockville, Ontario as a Reinforcement on February 14, 1942. It was here that he took an Officers Training Course until May 9th, qualifying as a 2nd Lieutenant, before being posted to Camp Borden, Ontario on May 28th, then promoted to Lieutenant on August 1, 1942 and qualified as a Motorcyclist on August 3rd. As a member of No. 1 Reinforcement Unit, McDiarmid was now prepared for overseas service, leaving for the United Kingdom on September 26, 1942, disembarking on October 7th. While in the United Kingdom, he qualified as a Driver on November 7th, then was posted to 11 Infantry Brigade Company RCASC on January 25, 1943, preparing for European service. He embarked England on October 26, 1943 for service in the Italian Theatre, which would come to total sixteen months. Upon the ceasing of hostilities in Italy, he left for Northwest Europe on February 25, 1945, to fight the Germans in that theatre for the next four months, until June 21st. It was during this time that he was named Acting Captain on May 6th. As hostilities had ceased, McDiarmid volunteered for service in the Pacific Theatre on May 17, 1945, then disembarked Northwest Europe on June 22nd, arriving in the United Kingdom, where he remain for the next four weeks before returning to Canada on July 17th. Upon arrival in Canada, he was placed on the X-4 List, as part of the Canadian Army Pacific Force until September 1945. For his Second World War service, he was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, the Italy Star, the France and Germany Star, the Defence Medal, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp and the War Medal 1939-1945 with MID Oak Leaf. He was posted to A-19 RCASC Training Centre from September 1945 to January 1946 and confirmed in the rank of Captain on January 30, 1946. He was posted to 15 District Company RCASC in January 1946, accepted for service with the Interim Force on February 27th and would serve with 15 District Company until his discharge in the rank of Captain from the Canadian Army (Active) on September 30, 1946. The following day, he enlisted with the Canadian Army (Regular), signing his Officer's Declaration Paper with No. 2 District Company, Royal Canadian Army Service Corps, at Camp Borden, on October 1, 1946, in the rank of Lieutenant (ZA-511), naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Eva, stating that he had five months' previous service with 2/11th Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers, from August 15, 1940 to January 1941, that he served during the Second World War with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps from February 1, 1941 to September 30, 1946, with the period from September 26, 1942 to July 18, 1945 being overseas, that he was Single and that his trade was that of Clerk (Bank Accountant). He was posted to 2 District Company RCASC from September 1946 to October 1948, stationed part of that time at Fort Churchill, Manitoba, where he completed an Arctic Instructors Qualification Course on February 19, 1948. He was posted to the Canadian Joint Air Training Centre at Rivers, Manitoba, on October 16, 1948, where he was promoted to Captain, then transferred to Camp Borden on December 15, 1949 and posted to 23 Transport Company RCASC, which included a stop at Fort Churchill from October 22, 1950 to March 31, 1951, before returning to Camp Borden, where he would serve until March 19, 1952. With hostilities raging in Korea, 23 Transport Company RCASC left for the Far East, with Captain McDiarmid as part of the unit. They arrived in Japan on April 10, 1952 and soon left for Korea, where they would serve until their departure eleven months later, on March 29, 1953, arriving in Japan the next day. Nine days later, they left Japan on April 9th, arriving in the United States on April 23rd. For his Korean War service, he was awarded the Korea Medal and the United Nations Korea Medal. Upon arrival in Canada, Diarmid was posted to No. 7 Personnel Depot in London, Ontario, then posted to Camp Borden on July 4, 1953. In March 1954, he was posted to Army Headquarters Br of Quartermaster General, Director(ate) of Supplies and Transport in Ottawa, Ontario, in the rank of Captain, then posted to Camp Gagetown in New Brunswick, from July 10 to 26, 1954, before returning to Ottawa, where he would remain until June 20, 1955, when he answered the call again for European service. McDiarmid returned to Northwest Europe in the rank of Captain on June 21, 1955, posted to 4 Movement Control Group. He embarked the United Kingdom on June 24th, arriving in Germany the following day and after three weeks, was sent to Antwerp, Belgium as part of the Antwerp Detachment on July 16th. It was at Antwerp three months later, that McDiarmid ran afoul of the authorities. In a letter addressed to Army Headquarters, Department of National Defence, Ottawa, Ontario, from Colonel (Commander) G.H. Spencer, Headquarters, Canadian Base Units Europe, the Colonel summarized the situation: "This officer was tried summarily by the Commander, Canadian Base Units Europe, on the two charges set out in the charge sheet. He was found guilty on both charges and awarded a reprimand and a seventy-five dollar fine. Captain McDiarmid did not make a statement." The Charge Sheet stated: "The accused, No. ZA 511 Captain Ralph Edwin McDIARMID, 4 Movement Control Group (Antwerp Detachment) RCASC, Canadian Army (Regular) is charged with having committed the following offences: First Charge Sec. 74 N.D.A. DISOBEYED A LAWFUL COMMAND OF A SUPERIOR OFFICER - Particulars: In that he, at Rotterdam, Holland, when personally ordered by Major DTP Palmer, Commanding Officer, 4 Movement Control Group, on 8 October, 1955, to report to the 4 Movement Control Group Embarkation Staff Office, Rotterdam, at 0600 hours, 9 October, 1955, did not do so. Second Charge Sec. 81 N.D.A. ABSENTED HIMSELF WITHOUT LEAVE - Particulars: In that he, at 0600 hours, 9 October, 1955, without authority, was absent from the 4 Movement Control Group Embarkation Staff Office, Rotterdam, Holland, and remained absent until approximately 1430 hours, 9 October, 1955." Twice during the first half of 1956, McDiarmid was admitted to hospital: the first time to the British Military Hospital at Hostert, Germany, from March 16th to March 24th; and the second time to the British Military Hospital at Iserlohn, Germany, from May 23rd to June 7th. That Fall, McDiarmid returned to Canada on October 4, 1956 and was posted to 3 Transport Company RCASC in the rank of Captain. He also assumed the roll of Acting Company Commander and was recommended for a promotion dependent upon his qualification in June 1957, one that would never come. As his career in the Army was winding down, he was transferred for the next six months to No. 6 Personnel Depot in Toronto, Ontario on October 19, 1958, before being discharged on April 15, 1959 at Wolseley Barracks, No. 7 Personnel Depot, Canadian Army in London, Ontario, at the age of 47. McDiarmid was credited with having served in Canada, the Far East and Continental Europe. In addition to his eight war medals, he was also awarded the Canadian Forces' Decoration, which is not present with this group of eight. He died on October 30, 1966 in Westminster, London, Ontario, at the age of 55