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Auction: 19003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 240

The Great War Pair and Memorial Plaque awarded to Private F. Defoe, 87th, late 60th Canadian Infantry, Canadian Expeditionary Force, who was shot through the head by a sniper and instantly killed whilst in the trenches on the Western Front. He had only just returned to active service having recovered from a shrapnel wound

British War and Victory Medals (457783 Pte. F. Defoe. 87-Can. Inf.), together with his Great War Bronze Memorial Plaque (Fred Defoe), in its card transmission envelope, nearly extremely fine (3)

Fred Defoe was born on 10 September 1881 at London, England, the husband of Lily Defoe of 260A St. Martin Street, Montreal, Canada. A janitor and painter by trade, he attested at Montreal for the 60th Canadian Infantry on 7 July 1915 and embarked for overseas service aboard the S.S. Scandinavian on 6 November 1915. After a period of training in England, he landed at Le Havre on 22 February 1916.

On 9 October 1916, Defoe was admitted to the 1st Canadian General Hospital at Etaples suffering from a shrapnel wound to the left thigh and hips. According to his medical notes it was 'a large wound about 3 inches across', which necessitated evacuation to the Military Hospital at Shorncliffe to recover. Discharged from hospital on 1 December 1916, Defoe spent a further 4 weeks at Monks Horton Convalescent Home having his wound dressed before returning to the Western Front. On 20 April 1917 Defoe transferred to the 87th Canadian Infantry, and it was whilst serving with this Regiment that he was killed on 15 May 1917, being buried by the Regimental Chaplain, Captain Wayman, near Givenchy. His body was later exhumed in June 1920 from its original resting place and reburied at Canadian Cemetery No. 2, Neuville St. Vaast, a few miles south-west of Lens; sold with contemporary paperwork describing the circumstances of his death, together with a copy of his will which bequeathed all property to his wife in Canada.


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Sold for
£230

Starting price
£120