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Auction: 23113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 579

(x) An outstanding M.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant W. Westwater, 16th Battalion, Tank Corps & Machine Gun Corps (Heavy Branch), late Royal Scots, who having been wounded whilst with the 'Heavies' during the Great War, went on to be a famous Canadian footballer

Military Medal, G.V.R. (76742 Sjt. W. Westwater. 16/Tank. C.); 1914-15 Star (2395. Pte. W. Westwater. R. Scots.); British War and Victory Medals (2395. Pte. W. Westwater. R. Scots.), mounted as worn, good very fine (4)

M.M. London Gazette 13 May 1919.

William Westwater - or Willie to his friends and comrades - was born at Edinburgh and during the Great War served initially with the 6th Battalion, Royal Scots in Egypt from 15 September 1915. He soonafter transferred to the pioneering Machine Gun Corps (Heavy Branch) and would have been inducted into the brave new world of the 'landships'. He was with the tanks when they went into action in June 1917 and was admitted to hospital as a result of shell concussion, probably in their action around Messines Ridge. Joining the 16th Battalion, Tank Corps, Westwater would be promoted to Sergeant and add the M.M. to his laurels.

Even before the Great War intervened, Westwater was a first-rate footballer. He played for the Tank Corps and upon his return home he was signed by Hearts and remained with them from 1918-22. After this he made a move across the Atlantic to follow a career in Canada firstly settling in Toronto before moving to Montreal. In Toronto, he played for the All-Scots and in Montreal for Carsteel. He would also show his skills against internationals, notably when the English FA toured Canada in 1926, the Scottish FA in 1927 and the Welsh FA in 1929. Like many others, he moved to the American Soccer League to play for New Bedford Whalers in 1929. During his time in Canada, he took a Runners-Up Championship Medal with Carsteel in 1928 and another in 1930. He died at Burlington, Ontario in March 1987.

Sold together with the following sporting Medals:

(i)
Silver Tank Corps & Rotary International Football Medals.

(ii)
English FA 1926 Tour & Welsh FA 1929 Tour Badges, both by R. Lewis, Winnipeg.

(iii)
Provincial Championship 1928 silver Medal, by Birks, the reverse engraved 'Carsteel FC Runners Up W. Westwater' & Canadian Recreational League Medal, by J. R. Gaunt, the reverse engraved 'Montreal Soccer Team N.L. Dominion Runners Up Winnipeg 1930 W. Westwater.'

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

Sold for
£1,900

Starting price
£700