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Auction: 23001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 146

(x) Pair: Major G. D. Oulster, 11th Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force, late 100th (Winnipeg Grenadiers) Regiment, Non-Permanent Active Militia of Canada, who was awarded the Russian Order of St. Anne in 1918

British War Medal 1914-20 (Major G. D. Oulster.); Russia, Empire, Order of St Anne, 3rd Class breast badge by Keibel, St Petersburg, gold (56 zolotnik) and enamel, court stamp and maker’s mark to reverse, gold mark to suspension ring, with later loop suspension, cracks to the enamel centre of the second otherwise good very fine (2)

Order of St. Anne, London Gazette 14 January 1918:

'For distinguished service rendered during the course of the campaign.'

Gordon Dixon Oulster was born in Toronto, Ontario on 12 September 1889 the son of Mrs. S. Martin of Hawkestone, Ontario. He joined 'A' Company, 52nd Regiment of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of Canada at Prince Albert, Saskatchewan on 8 May 1913. Having been commissioned Lieutenant he requested a transfer to the 100th (Winnipeg Grenadiers) Regiment, Canadian Infantry on 4 August 1914, having spent much of his time in that city. Mobilised for active service only a few days later on 12 August 1914, Oulster joined the 11th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force at Valcartier on 23 September 1914 and embarked for England early the following month.

His first posting was to the Sub-Record Office at Shorncliffe where he was promoted Captain on 1 May 1915; a letter written in 1935 refers to Oulster as 'a Staff Captain to Brigadier General J. W. Carson' from this date. Carson had commanded the first C.E.F. advanced party and had remained in Britain as a Special Representative. Despite his advancement Oulster's health had begun to suffer and he had repeated spells in hospital suffering with broncho-pneumonia, ptomaine poisoning, and hypertrophy tonsilitis.

Posted back to Canada for his health on 12 May 1917, being labelled as permanently unfit he was seconded to the Military Service Branch on 12 July 1917 for service with the Imperial Munitions Board. Despite his ill-health Oulster's services had been invaluable to the war effort and his name came to the attention of the Secretary of State for War along with the award of the Russian Order of St. Anne. He was demobilised in June 1919 but his ill health continued and he died at Toronto on 30 September 1935 at the young age of 46; sold together with copied research comprising correspondence, service papers and Army Lists as well as photographs and an obituary for Major G. D. Oulster, M.C.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£1,300

Starting price
£420