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Auction: 19003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 370

The Great War M.M. group of three awarded to Sapper W. H. Balsdon, 1st Divisional Signal Company, Canadian Engineers, late Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Expeditionary Force

Military Medal, G.V.R. (158209 Sapr: W. H. Balsdon. Can: E.); British War and Victory Medals (158209 Gnr. W. H. Balsdon. C.F.A.), good very fine (3)

M.M. London Gazette 11 February 1919.

William Henry Balsdon was born on 8 March 1893 in the Parish of St. Giles, Devon, England, the sister of Ivy Benoy of Toronto, Canada. A caretaker by occupation, he attested at Toronto for the 81st Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force on 7 September 1915, his papers noting 14 months of previous military service with the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. Arriving in England aboard the S.S. Olympic on 6 May 1916, Balsdon was posted to Shorncliffe for training before being sent to France on 10 June 1916, attached to the 1st Divisional Trench Mortar Battery.

Transferred to the 1st Divisional Signal Company, Canadian Engineers, in September 1917, Balsdon received one of 9 M.M.'s to the unit in September 1918 (The Battalion War Diary, 1st Divisional Signal Company, Canadian Engineers, 30 September 1918, refers). He returned to Bramshott in March 1919 and was discharged on 14 May 1919, his proposed future residence noted as 'Underwood', St. Stephens, Launceston, Cornwall; sold with copied service record and extensive War Diary entries.


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Sold for
£420

Starting price
£140