Canada, Cef. A First War Group Of Five, To Gunner Frank Charles Scriven, Canadian Field Artillery

Group of Five: 1914-15 Star (40252 GNR: F.C. SCRIVEN. CAN: FD: ART:); British War Medal (40252 GNR. F.C. SCRIVEN. C.F.A.); Victory Medal (40252 GNR. F.C. SCRIVEN. C.F.A.); Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal, George V (TPR. F.C. SCRIVENS P.L.D.G.); and Efficiency Medal with Canada Scroll, George VI (un-named). Court-mounted, edge nicks, surface wear, contact marks, the First War medals with replacement ribbons, the CAFLSM and the EM with original ribbons, better than fine. Accompanied by assorted paperwork containing copies of his Canadian First World War records and a note stating his Boer War service.

Footnote: Frank Charles Scriven was born on February 22, 1889 in Bristol, England. As a young man, he is alleged to have previously served during the Boer War with the 4th (Militia) Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment, charged with guarding Boer prisoners of war on the island of St. Helena and for his service, he would receive a Queen's South Africa Medal with no clasp. He later immigrated to Canada, signing his Attestation Paper as a Gunner (40252) with the 1st Battery, 1st Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery on September 22, 1914 at Valcartier Camp, at the age of 25, naming his next-of-kin as Miss B. Lewis of Belleville, Ontario (the relationship unstated), stating that he had five years' previous service with the Royal Horse Artillery, that he was not married, that his religion was Church of England and that his trade was that of Shoeing Smith.

During his medical examination, it was noted that he had a shell scar on his right eyebrow. While at Valcartier Camp, he injured his thigh on September 9, 1914, however, he was declared well enough for service, embarking Canada for service overseas on September 27, 1914, arriving in England shortly thereafter. After four months in England, Gunner Scriven embarked from Avonmouth for service in the French theatre on February 8, 1915. Three and half months later, he would begin a series of hospitalizations while serving in the First World War, as he was admitted to No. 2 Canadian General Hospital at Le Treport on May 26, 1915, diagnosed with a "Polypus" (any mass of tissue that bulges or projects outward or upward from the normal surface level, thereby being macroscopically visible as a hemispheroid, spheroid, or irregular moundlike structure growing from a relatively broad base or a slender stalk). He would remain hospitalized for seven weeks before being discharged to duty on July 15th at Le Havre.

He was hospitalized again, this time at No. 6 Stationary Hospital at Le Havre on August 10, 1915, diagnosed with "N.Y.D." (Not Yet Determined), which was later changed to "Varix" (varicose vein). His records indicate that he returned to England and was admitted to the Central Hospital at Lichfield on January 1, 1916 with a case of "Gonorrhea" (a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by infection with the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacterium). After six and half weeks' treatment, he was discharged to duty at Shorncliffe on February 14th. He would eventually embark for France a second time, for service with the 1st Divisional Ammunition Column on July 5, 1916. On another occasion, he sought hospitalization again a month later, on August 3rd, where he was admitted to No. 3 Canadian Field Ambulance with "Dental Caries" (AKA tooth decay: damage to a tooth that can happen when decay-causing bacteria in the mouth make acids that attack the tooth's surface or enamel).

He was subsequently transferred to No. 10 Canadian Field Ambulance on the 4th. After three weeks' treatment, he was discharged to duty on the 22nd. That fall, Gunner Scriven was awarded the Good Conduct Badge on September 22, 1916. His hospitalizations would continue, as he was admitted to No. 1 Canadian Field Ambulance on December 5, 1917 with a case of "Orchitis Traumatic" (an inflammation of one or both testicles). Two days later, he was transferred to No. 12 Canadian Field Ambulance on the 7th and after two weeks' hospitalization, he was discharged to duty on the 20th.

He is documented as having been wounded at duty on September 30, 1918. Upon the ceasing of hostilities, he returned to England and was admitted to No. 4 Canadian General Hospital at Basingstoke from January 15 to March 24, 1919, followed by a stint at the Military Hospital at Epsom from April 6 to 17, 1919, in both cases with a bout of "Influenza". On May 1, 1919, he was sentenced to 60 days' detention for being Absent Without Leave and having goods valued at (indecipherable), with a stoppage of pay to be instituted until remuneration occured. Gunner Scriven was posted to "N" Wing at Witley Camp on June 20, 1919, where he was discharged from active service on June 28th in England at No. 2 Canadian Discharge Depot.

For his First World War service, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War and the Victory Medal. Scriven would later serve with the Princess Louise Dragoon Guards in the rank of Trooper and was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal under the provisions of the Royal Warrant dated January 16, 1923 and General Order 21 of 1924. He was also a recipient of the George VI Efficiency Medal with Canada Scroll. Frank Charles Scriven died on March 14, 1959 at the age of 69.