A Field-Made First War "Souvenir of the Somme" Fabricated from a Driving Band from a Piece of German Artillery, Attributed to Sergeant Leon Deriemaeker, 2nd, 23rd, 34th, 70th and 91st Infantry Battalions; Canada; Copper disk, fabricated from a driving band from a piece of German artillery, impressed in three areas: "SOVENIER OF THE SOMME" on the obverse, "SGT / L D / 12 10 16 (October 12, 1916) / 603374" on the reverse and "GERMAN / DRIVING BAND" on the rim, incorporating natural creases and gashes from being made in the field, 37.5 mm, extremely fine.
Footnote: Leon Deriemaeker was born on March 8, 1893 in Lichtervelde, Flanders West, Belgium. He was a resident of Chatham, Ontario when he signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (603274) with the 91st Infantry Battalion "Elgin Battalion", on September 14, 1915 in Windsor, Ontario, at the age of 22, naming his next-of-kin as his father, Remi Deriemaeker of Chatham, stating that he had one and a half years' service with the 24th Kent Regiment, that he was not married and that his trade was that of Auto Worker, He is also acknowledged in his records as being a Steel Forger and Chauffeur. It was noted during his medical examination that the top of the third finger on his left hand was missing, as the distal phalanx had been previously amputated. Private Deriemaeker was transferred to the 70th Infantry Battalion, the unit sailing on October 23, 1915 aboard the S.S. California, arriving in England on November 1st. Upon arrival in England, he was transferred to the 34th Infantry Battalion and was with this battalion when he was declared "Absent Without Leave" from 12:01 am on January 6 to 7:00 am on January 7, 1916, and subsequently awarded six days' Confinement to Base, forfeiting two days' pay on January 8th at Bramshott. He was transferred again, this time to the 23rd Infantry Battalion on February 3, 1916. He again ran afoul of the authorities, as he was awarded 168 hours (seven days) detention for using "Profane Language to Military Police", on April 30, 1916. Private Deriemaeker was admitted to Brigade Hospital at Dibgate with a "Cold" on May 17, 1916 and after three days' treatment, was discharged on the 20th. Five days later, he was transferred to the 2nd Infantry Battalion for overseas service in the French theatre, on May 25, 1916, arriving in France the following day and joining his new unit in the field on June 7th. He was promoted to Corporal on October 2, 1916 and ten days later, on the 12th, he would create this unique "Souvenir of the Somme" from a driving band from a piece of German artillery. He saw a second promotion, this time to Sergeant, on November 5, 1916. Sergeant Deriemaeker was admitted to No. 2 Canadian Field Ambulance with a case of "Gastroenteritis" (also known as infectious diarrhea, is an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract that involves the stomach and small intestine; signs and symptoms include some combination of diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain; fever, lack of energy, and dehydration may also occur; this typically lasts less than two weeks) on November 5, 1916 and returned to duty five days later on the 10th. A little over one year later, Sergeant Deriemaeker was at Lens when he suffered a gun shot (shrapnel) wound to the right side of his head above the ear, on November 30, 1917. In his future medical reports, the doctor described the situation he faced that day: "When wounded, he was knocked unconscious. He regained consciousness at the Field Station. (He was) paralyzed on (his) left side and had no control of (his) bowels or bladder. Partially unconscious for four days. He could speak quite well and his eyesight apparently was unaffected. He had complete hemo-anesthesia." He was admitted to No. 3 Canadian Field Ambulance, where he had a field dressing applied to his head. He was transferred to No. 22 Casualty Clearing Station, then immediately evacuated to No. 7 General Hospital at Omer on December 1st. After having had X-rays taken at Omer, it was discovered that he had "several particles of detached bone and metal inside the skull". The doctor noted that the "skull (was) fractured and (the) dura mater and brain tissue (was) damaged". There was "considerable amount of brain tissue lost and pulsation (was) plainly visible over (the) area of (the) wound". An operation was performed at Omer, where the wound was excised, the loose bone and metal fragments removed. The hemo-anesthesia gradually lessened and his motor power began to return, the wound completely healing over in five and half weeks, by January 7, 1918. Sergeant Deriemaeker was invalided to Dover, England from Boulogne, aboard the Hospital Ship St. Patrick, on January 14, 1918. He was posted to the 7th Infantry Battalion at Seaford and admitted to King George Hospital, Stanford Street in London S.E. on the 15th. Two weeks after arriving at King George Hospital, he began to walk. Six weeks after his admission to King George Hospital, he was transferred to No. 16 Ontario General Hospital at Orpington, Kent on February 28, 1918. By March, he was experiencing "partial loss of sensation in (his) left arm and left leg", however, he was re-examined on April 8, 1918, where it was noted that his "general condition (was) excellent. Complains of dizziness, headaches".
He was invalided to Canada for further treatment aboard the Hospital Ship Australia on June 3, 1918, arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia on the 14th, his medical condition noted as "Neuralgia" (pain) upon arrival. He was transferred to No. 1 District Depot in London, Ontario and posted to the Hospital Section, granted furlough with subsistence from June 17 to July 1, 1918. It was during this period that he was admitted to the Canadian Military Convalescent Home on June 24th. He was re-examined on July 30th and August 15th, 1918, where on both occasions, he was declared by the doctors to have "debility, defective vision and hearing". It was during this time between these two examinations, that he was again found to be "Absent Without Leave", this time from 9:30 pm on August 8th to 11:25 am on August 13th and was subsequently admonished on the 13th, forfeiting six days' pay. After returning from this absence, he was posted to the Casualty Company from the Hospital Section on August 14th. A Medical Board met at London on August 15th and designated Sergeant Deriemaeker as Category "E" (unfit for service in Categories A, B, C = General Service, Service Abroad, Home Service), recommending that he be discharged as "Medically Unfit, Due to Wounds, Although Fit for Employment in Civil Life". He was officially discharged at No. 1 District Depot in London, Ontario, on August 26, 1918, his conduct and character noted as "Good", entitled to wear one gold wound stripe. For his First World War service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. After the war, he moved to Belgium and was residing at 74, Moer Straat, in Bruges, and it was while residing here, that he had a War Service Gratuity of 43 pounds, 17 shillings and 5 pence paid to him on December 6, 1919. Leon Deriemaeker died on December 14, 1939, at the age of 46.
A Field-Made First War "Souvenir of the Somme" Fabricated from a Driving Band from a Piece of German Artillery, Attributed to Sergeant Leon Deriemaeker, 2nd, 23rd, 34th, 70th and 91st Infantry Battalions; Canada; Copper disk, fabricated from a driving band from a piece of German artillery, impressed in three areas: "SOVENIER OF THE SOMME" on the obverse, "SGT / L D / 12 10 16 (October 12, 1916) / 603374" on the reverse and "GERMAN / DRIVING BAND" on the rim, incorporating natural creases and gashes from being made in the field, 37.5 mm, extremely fine.
Footnote: Leon Deriemaeker was born on March 8, 1893 in Lichtervelde, Flanders West, Belgium. He was a resident of Chatham, Ontario when he signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (603274) with the 91st Infantry Battalion "Elgin Battalion", on September 14, 1915 in Windsor, Ontario, at the age of 22, naming his next-of-kin as his father, Remi Deriemaeker of Chatham, stating that he had one and a half years' service with the 24th Kent Regiment, that he was not married and that his trade was that of Auto Worker, He is also acknowledged in his records as being a Steel Forger and Chauffeur. It was noted during his medical examination that the top of the third finger on his left hand was missing, as the distal phalanx had been previously amputated. Private Deriemaeker was transferred to the 70th Infantry Battalion, the unit sailing on October 23, 1915 aboard the S.S. California, arriving in England on November 1st. Upon arrival in England, he was transferred to the 34th Infantry Battalion and was with this battalion when he was declared "Absent Without Leave" from 12:01 am on January 6 to 7:00 am on January 7, 1916, and subsequently awarded six days' Confinement to Base, forfeiting two days' pay on January 8th at Bramshott. He was transferred again, this time to the 23rd Infantry Battalion on February 3, 1916. He again ran afoul of the authorities, as he was awarded 168 hours (seven days) detention for using "Profane Language to Military Police", on April 30, 1916. Private Deriemaeker was admitted to Brigade Hospital at Dibgate with a "Cold" on May 17, 1916 and after three days' treatment, was discharged on the 20th. Five days later, he was transferred to the 2nd Infantry Battalion for overseas service in the French theatre, on May 25, 1916, arriving in France the following day and joining his new unit in the field on June 7th. He was promoted to Corporal on October 2, 1916 and ten days later, on the 12th, he would create this unique "Souvenir of the Somme" from a driving band from a piece of German artillery. He saw a second promotion, this time to Sergeant, on November 5, 1916. Sergeant Deriemaeker was admitted to No. 2 Canadian Field Ambulance with a case of "Gastroenteritis" (also known as infectious diarrhea, is an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract that involves the stomach and small intestine; signs and symptoms include some combination of diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain; fever, lack of energy, and dehydration may also occur; this typically lasts less than two weeks) on November 5, 1916 and returned to duty five days later on the 10th. A little over one year later, Sergeant Deriemaeker was at Lens when he suffered a gun shot (shrapnel) wound to the right side of his head above the ear, on November 30, 1917. In his future medical reports, the doctor described the situation he faced that day: "When wounded, he was knocked unconscious. He regained consciousness at the Field Station. (He was) paralyzed on (his) left side and had no control of (his) bowels or bladder. Partially unconscious for four days. He could speak quite well and his eyesight apparently was unaffected. He had complete hemo-anesthesia." He was admitted to No. 3 Canadian Field Ambulance, where he had a field dressing applied to his head. He was transferred to No. 22 Casualty Clearing Station, then immediately evacuated to No. 7 General Hospital at Omer on December 1st. After having had X-rays taken at Omer, it was discovered that he had "several particles of detached bone and metal inside the skull". The doctor noted that the "skull (was) fractured and (the) dura mater and brain tissue (was) damaged". There was "considerable amount of brain tissue lost and pulsation (was) plainly visible over (the) area of (the) wound". An operation was performed at Omer, where the wound was excised, the loose bone and metal fragments removed. The hemo-anesthesia gradually lessened and his motor power began to return, the wound completely healing over in five and half weeks, by January 7, 1918. Sergeant Deriemaeker was invalided to Dover, England from Boulogne, aboard the Hospital Ship St. Patrick, on January 14, 1918. He was posted to the 7th Infantry Battalion at Seaford and admitted to King George Hospital, Stanford Street in London S.E. on the 15th. Two weeks after arriving at King George Hospital, he began to walk. Six weeks after his admission to King George Hospital, he was transferred to No. 16 Ontario General Hospital at Orpington, Kent on February 28, 1918. By March, he was experiencing "partial loss of sensation in (his) left arm and left leg", however, he was re-examined on April 8, 1918, where it was noted that his "general condition (was) excellent. Complains of dizziness, headaches".
He was invalided to Canada for further treatment aboard the Hospital Ship Australia on June 3, 1918, arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia on the 14th, his medical condition noted as "Neuralgia" (pain) upon arrival. He was transferred to No. 1 District Depot in London, Ontario and posted to the Hospital Section, granted furlough with subsistence from June 17 to July 1, 1918. It was during this period that he was admitted to the Canadian Military Convalescent Home on June 24th. He was re-examined on July 30th and August 15th, 1918, where on both occasions, he was declared by the doctors to have "debility, defective vision and hearing". It was during this time between these two examinations, that he was again found to be "Absent Without Leave", this time from 9:30 pm on August 8th to 11:25 am on August 13th and was subsequently admonished on the 13th, forfeiting six days' pay. After returning from this absence, he was posted to the Casualty Company from the Hospital Section on August 14th. A Medical Board met at London on August 15th and designated Sergeant Deriemaeker as Category "E" (unfit for service in Categories A, B, C = General Service, Service Abroad, Home Service), recommending that he be discharged as "Medically Unfit, Due to Wounds, Although Fit for Employment in Civil Life". He was officially discharged at No. 1 District Depot in London, Ontario, on August 26, 1918, his conduct and character noted as "Good", entitled to wear one gold wound stripe. For his First World War service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. After the war, he moved to Belgium and was residing at 74, Moer Straat, in Bruges, and it was while residing here, that he had a War Service Gratuity of 43 pounds, 17 shillings and 5 pence paid to him on December 6, 1919. Leon Deriemaeker died on December 14, 1939, at the age of 46.