A Great War D.S.O., M.C. group of nine awarded to Major T. B. J. Mahar, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, whose military service encompassed three wars; he later joined the Canadian Army and commanded Lord Strathcona’s Horse for five years

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, suspension bar inscribed, ‘T. B. J. Mahar, 60th Rifles 1918’, complete with top bar; Military Cross, G.V.R., reverse inscribed, ‘Lieut. T. B. J. Mahar, 60th Rifles, 1915’; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State (2282 3rd Cl. Tpr., S.A.C.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (2282 3rd Cl. Tpr., S.A.C.) renamed; 1914-15 Star (R-5748 Pte., K.R. Rif. C.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt.); Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, no clasp; War Medal 1939-45, Canadian issue in silver, unnamed, mounted together for display, minor contact marks, very fine and better (9) £2200-2600

D.S.O. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

M.C. London Gazette 23 June 1915.

M.I.D. London Gazette 22 June 1915; 5 July 1919.

Thomas Bertram Joseph Mahar was born in Nova Scotia in 1882. During the Boer War he volunteered for service in the South African Constabulary. On the outbreak of the Great War in 1914 he travelled to Britain and joined the Army as a Private in the King’s Royal Rifle Corps. Entering France, he was appointed a Temporary 2nd Lieutenant on 27 January 1915, being advanced to Temporary Lieutenant in August 1916, Temporary Captain in October 1916 and Temporary Major in April 1918. He served in France and Flanders, November 1914-February 1916; October 1916-May 1917, and August 1917-November 1918. During the war he was wounded in action. For his services during the war he was twice mentioned in despatches and awarded the D.S.O and M.C. Major Mahar was demobilised in September 1919. Post war he conducted a geological survey and performed other work for the Imperial Government in Central Africa and was later employed in East Africa. Mahar returned to Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1926. There he owned and operated the Halifax Tyre and Rubber Goods Company for a number of years. During the inter-war years he commanded the Strathcona Horse in Calgary for five years and held several staff appointments. In July 1940, then living at 9 College Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Major Mahar of the Royal Army Reserve, rejoined the Army, becoming a Captain in the Royal Canadian Army. He was employed as Officer in Charge, Detention Buildings, Halifax, and was later District Intelligence Officer. In October 1943 he was promoted to Major and appointed Security Officer, Atlantic Command H.Q. Later he was appointed Administration and Training Officer to the No. 6 Reserve Fortress Signals. By 1947 he had become Staff Officer, No. 36 Brigade Group, Halifax. Post-W.W.2 he served as Security Officer attached to H.M.C.S. Dockyard, Halifax, under naval authorities from 1947 until his retirement in 1951. Major Mahar, D.S.O., M.C., whose military service encompassed three wars, died in 1964 and was buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

With copied research.