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Auction: 24111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 654

(x) A superb campaign group of five awarded Rifleman G. Ewoniuk, Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, who was killed in action on 10 April 1945 and became the subject of a newspaper article which recounted his oath of vengeance for a slain comrade

1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45, Canadian issue; Canadian Voluntary Service Medal 1939-45, with overseas clasp; Canadian Memorial Cross (B.163666 Rfmn. G. Ewoniuk), with adapted silver bow suspension, all awards in their boxes of issue good very fine (5)

George Ewoniuk was born on 10 October 1925 at Garson Mine, Ontario, the son of George Joseph Ewoniuk of 123 Church Street, Mimico, Ontario. His father was a Ukrainian national who moved to Canada having previously worked as a miner in his homeland. The younger Ewoniuk did not excel in school and fell in with a bad crowd, only enlisting on 1944 because he had previously been in prison for theft. His initial screening even went so far as to suggest he may be a psychopath however a follow up interview cleared him of this suspicion.

Joining the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada on 28 July 1944, he reported for duty with the 2nd Battalion on 1 January 1945. Going into action almost immediately Ewoniuk was incensed by the loss of a close friend during the fighting, a newspaper article quoted on the Canadian Veteran's website goes into further detail, stating:

'Mimico Soldier Dies After Avenging Chum
Scarcely a month after he had avenged the death of his best friend, Rfmn. George Eqonuik, 19, Queen's Own Rifles, only son of Mr. and Mrs. George Eqonuik, 123 Church St., Mimico, was killed in action on the Western front last month. [He] had seen action in Belgium, Holland and Germany. After seeing his chum killed, he hunted down and killed five Germans.
"You could almost say I didn't even see the Germans when I shot them." Rfmn. Ewoniuk wrote in [his] last letter to his parents, "all I could see was my pal whom they had got. Keep the letters coming. Believe me, I won't grouse about everything when I get back. There's no place like Canada and home sweet home."
Rfmn. Ewoniuk enlisted in July, 1944, and went overseas last December. He also leaves a sister, Helen, at home.'

Euwoniuk was buried at Holten Canadian War Cemetery; sold together with copied research including service papers, a newspaper entry and Commonwealth War Graves certificate.

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

Sold for
£650

Starting price
£170