Canada. A Sir John Craig Eaton Gold Service Medal, C.1919

Canada; 14K Gold, weighing 13 grams, marked "14 K" and hallmarked with an "E" inside a diamond on the reverse, obverse illustrating the Eaton coat-of-arms bearing two beavers above a band with three maple leaves and a harp below, surmounted by a beaver and framed by a ribbon banner inscribed "VINCIT OMNIA VERIT" (Truth Conquers All), sprigs of laurel leaves on either side with the cypher of John Craig Eaton (interlocking "JCE") at the top, reverse inscribed "PRESENTED TO A.E. LIVOCK BY SIR JOHN. C. EATON AS A MARK OF APPRECIATION OF SERVICES IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918", the name engraved in a ribbon banner and the remaining type in raised lettering, 21.5 mm (w) x 33.3.mm inclusive of its integral ring suspension, very light contact, extremely fine.

Footnote: Sir John Craig Eaton (April 28, 1876 - March 30, 1922) was a Canadian businessman and member of the prominent Eaton family. He was made a Knight Bachelor in 1915 in recognition of his participation in the war effort, and so became Sir John Craig Eaton, and his wife Flora, Lady Eaton. Sir John greatly influenced the Eaton Department Store Company and expanded the stores nationally. In regards to the engraved name on the reverse of the medal, there are two members of the CEF named Alfred Edward Livock, a father and son, listed on the Library and Archives Canada website, the medal likely awarded to the father for his extended service. Sergeant Alfred Edward Livock Sr. was born on January 20, 1877 in London, England. He was a resident of Toronto, Ontario when he signed his Attestation Paper with No. 2 Field Ambulance, Canadian Army Medical Corps (33095) on September 23, 1914 at Valcartier Camp, at the age of 37, naming his next-of-kin as his wife, Emma Livock of Toronto, stating that he previous service with the Field Ambulance, that he Married and that his trade was that of Stationary Engineer. He soon went overseas and after orientation and training in England, he arrived in Boulogne, France on April 12, 1915. He was hospitalized at No. 1 Canadian Stationary Hospital at Wimereux on June 6, 1915 with a bout of Influenza and after five days' treatment, he was discharged to duty on the 11th. After serving three and a half months in France, he returned to England on July 29, 1915 and proceeded to the Dardanelles on August 1st. Early in the new year, he was hospitalized once again, this time at No. 19 General Hospital in Alexandria, Egypt on February 22, 1916 with an abscess on his chest and after six days' treatment, he was discharged to duty on the 28th. Livock Sr. left Alexandria the day he was discharged from hospital, destined for Salonika, Greece aboard the S.S. Lanfranc. In the period between May and June of 1916, while in Salonika, he contracted Malaria, which would later develop into Pulmonary Tuberculosis. He was appointed Lance Corporal on February 2, 1917, promoted to Corporal on March 16, 1917, promoted to Sergeant on June 11, 1917 and was attached from the 5th General Hospital in Liverpool on September 27, 1917. He was struck off strength on posting to the Canadian Army Medical Corps Depot at Shorncliffe on January 26, 1918. He returned to Canada, where he was examined and treated for his Malaria symptoms, and subsequent Pulmonary Tuberculosis, at No. 1 Canadian Stationary Hospital in Toronto from April 2 to 22, 1918. As of his examination at the Base Hospital in Toronto in June 1918, he had had sixteen attacks. His eyes were examined in July 1918, the doctor noting he had Hypermetropia and Astigmatism, neither of which were aggravated by service. Sergeant Alfred Edward Livock Sr. was discharged as "Physically Unfit" on August 28, 1918 in Toronto and received follow-up in-patient treatment at facilities in Gravenhurst in 1918 and in Hamilton in 1918-1919. He died on October 19, 1947, at the age of 70. His son, Alfred Edward Livock Jr. was born on January 8, 1898 in London, England. He was a resident of Toronto, Ontario when he signed his Attestation Paper with the 134th Infantry Battalion "48th Highlanders" (799280) on January 17, 1916 at the Toronto Recruiting Depot, at the age of 18, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Emma Livock of Toronto, stating that he had no previous military service, that he was not married and that his trade was that of Clerk. His unit sailed on October 17, 1916 aboard the S.S. Corsica, arriving in England on November 5th. He was transferred to the 116th Infantry Battalion on January 8, 1917, entered the French theatre on March 8, 1917 and was awarded one Good Conduct Badge on February 3, 1918. Upon the ceasing of hostilities, he proceeded to Canada on March 17, 1919. Alfred Edward Livock Jr. was discharged upon demobilization at No. 2 District Depot in Toronto, on March 28, 1919. (C:204)