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Auction: 23112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 680

(x) An unusual 1919 M.B.E. group of five awarded to Captain J. W. Langmuir, Royal Flying Corps, who went onto become Colonel of the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, 1st Type, Military Division, Member's (M.B.E.) breast Badge, silver; British War and Victory Medals (Capt. J. W. Langmuir. R.A.F.); Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937, mounted as worn, very fine (6)

M.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

John William Langmuir was born in Toronto on 15 September 1891. He enlisted in 'E' Company, 2nd Battalion, Queen's Own Rifles of Canada on 14 October 1914, having previously served in the Trinity College School Cadet Corps. He was appointed a provisional Lieutenant on 21 October 1914 and joined the Eaton's Motor Machine Gun Battery as a Lieutenant on 2 February 1915. Deploying to England with the latter unit from Montreal in June 1915, a spinal injury from a vehicle accident during his training in Canada, sustained in May just before he departed, appears to have interfered with his service with the motors.

On 8 February 1916, Langmuir took Aero Certificate No. 2440 on a Maurice Farman Biplane at the Military School, Birmingham. He was attached to the Royal Flying Corps from 1 April 1916. Between 12 May-2 September 1916, he served on attachment to No. 4 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps in France, flying the Be2c. He was struck off strength of the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 26 March 1917, on being seconded to the Royal Flying Corps and appears to have remained on attachment to the latter Corps until 4 July 1919, although some notations in his service file suggest this attachment ended 8 December 1916, after a Medical Board determined his spinal injury would not allow him to continue his service. Regardless, he does appear to have continued to serve, being promoted Captain on 23 August 1917. Transferred to the Canadian Reserve of Officers on 31 May 1919, his M.B.E. came just a few days later.

Langmuir was transferred to the Active List on 1 October 1920, on the reorganization of the Canadian Militia, and appointed to command 'A' Company, Queen's Own Rifles with the rank of Major. He was appointed Regimental Adjutant the following year, on 1 June 1921, and became Second-in-Command on 1 April 1925. On 28 September 1928, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and appointed to command the unit on 14 April 1930. He became the fifteenth commanding officer of the Queen's Own Rifles, serving in command of the unit from 1930-1935. Promoted to Colonel on 8 November 1933, he was extended in command at this rank. Langmuir died in 1956 and is buried in Oakland Cemetery, Brockville, Ontario. Further entitled to the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration, which riband is seen mounted with these Medals.

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

Sold for
£320

Starting price
£210