Canada, Dominion. A Victory Medal, 259Th Infantry Battalion, Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force

(3085691 PTE. W.E. O'LOGHLIN. C.S.E.F.). Naming is officially impressed. Light contact, spotting, traces of gilt remains, replacement ribbon, very fine. Accompanied by copies of his Index Cards, Particulars of Recruit Drafted Under Military Service Act 1917 Paper, Service Records, Medical Records and Discharge Certificates.

Footnote: William Ernest O'Loghlin was born on September 2, 1892 in Montreal, Quebec. He was a resident of Montreal when he was conscripted, signing his Particulars of Recruit Drafted Under Military Service Act 1917 Paper as a Private (3085691), Military Service Act (numbered 101110 DC), with the 1st Depot Battalion, 1st Quebec Regiment, on July 2, 1918, at the Military District No. 4 Mobilization Centre in Montreal, at the age of 25, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Sarah O'Loghlin of Montreal, stating that he had one and half year's previous service with the Merchants' Service, that he was Single, that his religion was Roman Catholic and that his trade was that of Chauffeur/Mechanic. He was appointed Lance Corporal on August 19, 1918 and three days later, was promoted to Corporal on the 22nd. Corporal O'Loghlin was transferred to the Canadian Expeditionary Force, Siberia on October 8, 1918 and was taken on strength of the 259th Infantry Battalion on November 1, 1918. Corporal O'Loghlin and the 259th Infantry Battalion had been readied for Siberian service, however a trouble spot soon emerged.

Before dawn on the morning of December 21, 1918, the shortest day of the year, 3167375 Rifleman Onil Boisvert and other French-Canadian conscripts in the 259th Infantry Battalion were rousted out of their tents and ordered to march from the Willows Camp to Victoria's outer wharf, a distance of about six kilometres. When they reached downtown Victoria, and took a routine break at the corner of Fort and Quadra Streets, Boisvert and his platoon refused to resume the march. The commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Albert "Dolly" Swift, ordered the conscripts to march. Boisvert refused, as a comrade struck the battalion's Catholic chaplain with his fist. Swift then fired his revolver at Boisvert's feet. Boisvert shouted "On y vas pas à Siberia!" (We're not going to Siberia!). To suppress the mutiny, Swift ordered the obedient troops, volunteers from Toronto and Kingston who belonged to "A" and "B" companies of the 259th Infantry Battalion, to remove their canvas belts and whip Boisvert and the mutinous back into line. It took twenty-three hours to herd the 259th Infantry Battalion aboard the waiting troopship S.S. Teesta, where Boisvert was handcuffed along with a dozen ringleaders in the ship's hold. They were not allowed to shower or change clothes for thirty-eight days, at which time Boisvert was court-martialled and sentenced to two-years hard labour for the crime of "joining in mutiny while on active duty in His Majesty's armed forces." Early on the morning of December 22, 1918, Onil Boisvert, along with Corporal O'Loghlin and the rest of the 259th Infantry Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, Siberia, sailed from Victoria, British Columbia aboard the S.S. Teesta, arriving in Vladivostok, Siberia on January 12, 1919. O'Loghlin had been confirmed in the rank of Sergeant on January 1st during the voyage and was placed on command to the General Auditor from April 2nd to May 6th, 1919. After four months service in Siberia, he returned to Canada, sailing from Vladivostok aboard the Empress of Russia, on May 19, 1919, arriving in Vancouver on the 29th and was posted to the Casualty Company in Montreal on June 8th. Sergeant William Ernest O'Loghlin, 259th Infantry Battalion was discharged upon demobilization at Military District No. 4 in Montreal, Quebec, on June 10, 1919, at the age of 26, credited with having served in Canada and Siberia, entitled to wear the War Service Badge, Class "A", number 275869. For his First World War service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.