Canada, Dominion. Seven Manuals & Photo Album Of Military Cross Recipient

Canada; First manual is entitled "Field Service Pocket Book" with Twelve Sections, with text and graphics, the sections entitled: Pamphlet No. 1, 1940, Glossary of Military Terms and Organization in the Field, Pamphlet No. 2, 1939, Orders and Intercommunications, Pamphlet No. 3, 1939, Intelligence - Information and Security, Pamphlet No. 4, 1939, Field Engineering, Pamphlet No. 6, 1939, Mechanized Movement by Road, Pamphlet No. 8, 1939, Protection Against Gas, Pamphlet No. 9, 1939, Supply and Replenishment of Material in the Field, Pamphlet No. 9a, 1940, Ammunition Abbreviations, Pamphlet No. 10, 1939, Medical Services, Pamphlet No. 11, 1939. Discipline, Office Work and Burial Parties, Pamphlet No. 12, 1939, Miscellaneous Tables and Data, Pamphlet No. 13, 1940, Notes for Staff Officers. Each front cover is marked "Crown Copyright Reserved / (Reprinted in Canada (various dates), by permission of the Controller, His Majesty's Stationery Office", the front cover of Pamphlet No. 1 named in blue pencil "Capt. V.R. Davies M.C.", with text and graphics, some of the pamphlets with fold out panels, collectively they contain 520 pages printed in black ink on a white paper stock, each pamphlet dual-staple bound and three-hole drilled on the spine, the pamphlets two ring bound, measuring 110 mm x 165 mm x 25 mm. Second manual is entitled "FIELD SERVICE REGULATIONS / VOL. II / OPERATIONS - GENERAL / 1935", marked "Notified in Army Orders for November, 1935 / (Reprinted in Canada (with Amendments 1, 2 and 3) November, 1939, by Permission of the Controller, His Majesty's Stationery Office) / Crown Copyright Reserved / OTTAWA EDMOND CLOUTIER PRINTER TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY 1940", named to "Capt. V.R. Davies, M.C." in black ink on page (i) and "Maj. Gosling. - 5037" in pencil on the back cover, with text and graphics, one fold out panel, softcover, designed with rounded corners, brown cloth tape bound, the cover in a thin light brown card stock, containing 280 pages on a white paper stock, the manual printed in black ink, measuring 107 mm x 165 mm x 13.5 mm. Third manual is entitled "MANUAL OF CEREMONIAL / 1935", marked "Notified in Army Orders for March, 1935 / Crown Copyright Reserved / (Reprinted in Canada (with amendments 1, 2, 3 and 4), November, 1939, by Permission of The Controller, His Majesty's Stationery Office) / OTTAWA J.O. PATENAUDE, I.S.O. PRINTER TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY 1940", named to "Capt. V.R. Davies, M.C." in black ink on the front cover, with text, graphics and photos, one fold out panel, softcover, designed with rounded corners, brown cloth tape bound, the cover in a thin light brown card stock, containing 212 pages on a white paper stock, the manual printed in black ink, 107 mm x 165 mm x 9.5 mm. Fourth manual is entitled "TANK TRAINING / VOL. I / TRAINING / 1930", marked "Notified in Army Orders for November, 1930 / Crown Copyright Reserved / Reprinted in Canada (with Amendments Nos 1 to 3), September 1940, by permission of the Controller, His Majesty's Stationery Office.", named to "Capt. V.R. Davies, M.C." in black ink on the first page, coded "1003 15-1-41" in red pencil on the front cover, with text, graphics and photos, two colour flag signals plates, hardcover, designed with rounded corners, black cloth tape bound, the cover in a very thick card stock, containing 232 pages on a white paper stock, the manual printed in black ink, measuring 107 mm x 132 mm x 14.5 mm. Fifth manual is entitled "Gun Drill for Q.F. 4.5-inch Howitzer, Marks I. and II. / Carriages, Marks I. and IA. / 1928", marked "Notified in Army Orders for April, 1935 / Crown Copyright Reserved / (WAR OFFICE). / LONDON: PUBLISHED BY HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE / 1928 / Price 6d. Net.", named to "Capt. V.R. Davies, M.C." in black ink on the front cover, with text and graphics, softcover, designed with rounded corners, large dual-staple bound, the cover in a thin light brown card stock, containing 176 pages, 146 on a white paper stock, 30 on a pink paper stock, the manual printed in black ink, measuring 110 mm x 136 mm x 9.5 mm. Sixth manual is entitled "INFANTRY TRAINING SECTION LEADING 1938", marked "Notified in Army Orders for December 1938 / lONDON HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE / Price 4d. net", named to "Vernon R. Davies" in black ink and inscribed "Fieldcraft M.T.P. #33" on the first page, notes in pencil on the last page, with text and graphics, softcover, designed with rounded corners, dual-staple bound, the cover in a thick brown card stock, containing 128 pages on a white paper stock, the manual printed in black ink, measuring 100 mm x 165 mm x 7 mm. Seventh manual is entitled "ARMOURED CAR TRAINING / VOL. II / WAR / 1931", marked "Notified in Army Orders for October, 1931. / Crown Copyright Reserved. / LONDON. PUBLISHED BY HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE 1931 / Price 6d. net.", named to "Vernon R. Davies" in black ink on the first page, with text, hardcover, designed with rounded corners, glue-bound, the cover in a thick card stock with a black cloth exterior, containing 76 pages on a white paper stock, the manual printed in black ink, measuring 107 mm x 132 mm x 6 mm. The seven manuals accompanied by a Photo Album (containing forty-four black and white photographs, either with a gloss or matte finish, illustrating soldiers, at work or leisure, with women and families, descending the steps of a train, in front of houses, along with nurses, a woman sitting beside a canoe, street scenes and a bridge, ranging in size from 40 mm x 62 mm to 63 mm x 108 mm, pasted in place on black photo pages, the album measuring 120 mm x 160 mm x 15 mm). Very fine.

 

Footnote: Vernon Russell Davies was born on February 27, 1890 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, the son of John Thomas Davies and Harriet Davies of Franklin, Manitoba. He was a resident of Franklin when he signed his Attestation Paper (910094) with the 196th Infantry Battalion "Western Universities C.E.F. Battalion", on March 10, 1916 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, at the age of 26, naming his next-of-kin as his father, stating that he was with an active militia, the Canadian Officer Training Corps, that he was not married and that his trade was that of Student. His religion was also documented as Methodist. The Battalion was raised from Western Universities with mobilization headquarters at Winnipeg, Manitoba under the authority of G.O. 69, July 15, 1916. The Battalion sailed November 1, 1916 from Halifax, Nova Scotia, aboard the S.S. Southland, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel D.S. MacKay with a strength of 32 officers and 974 other ranks, arriving in Liverpool, England on November 11th. In England, the 196th Infantry Battalion was absorbed into the 19th Reserve Battalion on January 1, 1917. Seven weeks after arriving in England, Davies was taken on strength at the Machine Gun Depot at Crowborough, on February 20, 1917. He was to be Temporary Lieutenant, pending appointment in the London Gazette, on June 26, 1917 and would later be promoted to Lieutenant. Davies was posted to the Canadian Machine Gun Corps on July 25, 1917 and after three and a half months, proceeded overseas on November 9, 1917, taken on strength as a reinforcement at the Canadian Machine Gun Pool at Camiers on the 10th. Ten days later, he was transferred to the 3rd Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps on November 20th. Five months after his transfer, the 3rd Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps was absorbed by the 1st Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps, on April 12, 1918. He was posted to the 1st Army Rest Camp on September 22, 1918, a stay that would last five and a half weeks, until October 30, 1918. A week and a half later, he was posted for the next five and a half weeks to General Headquarters School at Camiers, from November 9 to December 12, 1918. Upon the ceasing of hostilities, and having served sixteen months in the French theatre, Davies returned to England, where he was posted to the Canadian Machine Gun Corps Depot at Crowborough, on February 20, 1919. He was granted indefinite leave while attending university in London, effective February 26th. Temporary Lieutenant Vernon Russell Davies, 1st Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps was awarded the Military Cross on the occasion of His Majesty's Birthday, with no citation, the announcement appearing in the Fifth Supplement to the London Gazette 31370 of Friday, May 30, 1919, on Tuesday, June 3, 1919, page 6836 and in the Canada Gazette of Saturday, July 5, 1919, page 5 Supplement. While stationed at Witley Area, a medical examination was performed upon Davies on July 9, 1919. He was diagnosed with a varicocele (a varicocele is an abnormal enlargement of the pampiniform venous plexus in the scrotum. This plexus of veins drains the testicles.

 

The testicular blood vessels originate in the abdomen and course down through the inguinal canal as part of the spermatic cord on their way to the testis. Upward flow of blood in the veins is ensured by small one-way valves that prevent backflow. Defective valves, or compression of the vein by a nearby structure, can cause dilatation of the testicular veins near the testis, leading to the formation of a varicocele. Varicocele is known as one of the main causes for male infertility and can be treated by a surgery or non-surgical treatments). It was determined by the attending physician that Davies was "Fit for Service". He was transferred to "M" Wing at the Canadian Concentration Camp at Witley on July 26, 1919 for return to Canada, then struck off strength and sailed for Canada on August 13, 1919. Upon arrival in Canada, he was posted to No. 3 Military District in Kingston, Ontario. Now age 29, he was admitted to Queen's Military Hospital (Kingston General Hospital) in Kingston on August 28, 1919, where he was reassessed for his varicocele. The attending physician at Kingston noted that Davies "had a slight varicocele previous to enlistment and (that) it gradually became larger & troublesome. On admission, (this) officer had a moderate sized varicocele which at times caused trouble". An operation to correct the issue was ordered, the operation performed on August 30th and after two and a half weeks recuperation, he was discharged from hospital on September 17th. Lieutenant Vernon RussellDavies, 1st Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps was struck off strength upon General Demobilization, at No. 3 Military District in Kingston, Ontario, on September 18, 1919, credited with having served in Canada, England and France, entitled to wear the War Service Badge, Class "A". For his First World War service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He stated that his proposed residence was one again to be Franklin, Manitoba. Captain Vernon Russell Davies later served during the Second World War, as evidenced by the manuals presented here.