Canada, CEF. A First War Pair to Lieutenant Irving Charles Whitcomb, 2nd Reinforcements Siege

British War Medal (LIEUT. I.C. WHITCOMB.); and Victory Medal (LIEUT. I.C. WHITCOMB.). Naming is officially impressed. Un-mounted, dark patina on the BWM, very light contact, original ribbons, near extremely fine. Accompanied by his original Canadian Expeditionary Force Certificate of Service, his original Certificate Issued with War Service Badge (Class "A", No. 292611), along with three Photographs. 

Footnote: Irving Charles Whitcomb was born on March 18, 1886 in Hatley, Quebec, the son of Zerah Whitcomb (1845-1922) and Mary A. (nee Leavitt) Whitcomb (1844-1934). Irving Charles Whitcomb signed his Attestation Paper (841103) with the 2nd Reinforcements Siege and Heavy Artillery, on April 8, 1916, in Montreal, Quebec, at the age of 30, naming his next-of-kin as his father, Zerah, stating that he belonged to an active militia, five months with the 148th Battalion, that he was not married,that his religion was Methodist and his trade was that of a Salesman. He sailed for England on May 14, 1916, arriving in Liverpool on the 29th. In England, he was taken on strength at the Canadian Depot Siege Artillery at Horsham on June 2, 1916, then transferred to the 165th Siege Battalion on June 7, 1916. Whitcomb embarked for France from Bristol on September 21, 1916. In France, the 165th Siege Battalion was re-named the 5th Siege Battalion on January 11, 1917. On April 24, 1917, he suffered an explosive shell wound that penetrated his right thigh at just above the junction of the lower and middle one-third of the right tibia on the internal surface. He was initially treated for his wound at No. 12 Canadian Field Ambulance, then transferred to No, 23 Canadian Casualty Station, before being admitted to No. 9 British Red Cross Hospital at Calais on April 26, 1917. He was invalided to England, where he was admitted to Bradford War Hospital on May 8, 1917. After four months at Bradford, he was admitted to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Woodcote Park, Epsom, Surrey on September 6, 1917, transferred one month later to the Manor, County of London on October 5th, returning to Woodcote Park on October 24th. He was discharged from hospitalization on November 30, 1917. Whitcomb was to be Temporary Lieutenant in the Canadian Artillery on August 6, 1918, proceeding on conducting duty to France on September 10, 1918. Whitcomb was struck off strength on proceeding overseas as a reinforcement to the Siege Artillery on October 9, 1918, then posted to the 2nd Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery. Upon the cessation of hostilities, he proceeded to England on March 30, 1919, after fifteen months' service in France. In a Medical Board held in the Buxton Area on April 21, 1919, in regards to the wound to his right thigh, the doctors noted that Whitcomb had slight limitation of movement of his right knee and determined that he was "fit for garrison duty" but "unfit for general service for six months". He was transferred to the Canadian Expeditionary Force in Canada upon attachment to the Canadian Concentration Camp at Kinmel Park for return to Canada. He sailed for Canada aboard the H.M.T. Mauretania on May 3, 1919, arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia on the 9th. Lieutenant Irving Charles Whitcomb is credited with having served in Canada, England and France with the 2nd Reinforcements Siege and Heavy Artillery, the Canadian Depot Siege Artillery, the 165th Canadian Siege Battery, the Canadian Artillery Pool in France and the 2nd Brigade, Canadian Garrison Artillery. Irving Charles Whitcomb died in 1946, at the age of 59-60 and is buried in United Church Cemetery, in Hatley, Estrie Region, Quebec.