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Lot

№ 530

.

19 September 2013

Hammer Price:
£280

A Great War Passchendaele M.M. awarded to Driver E. Gillard, Canadian Field Artillery

Military Medal, G.V.R. (300460 Dvr. E. Gillard, D. 23/By. Can. F.A.), edge bruising, contact marks, nearly very fine £250-300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of Awards to the Canadian Forces.

View A Fine Collection of Awards to the Canadian Forces

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M.M. London Gazette 23 February 1918. The original recommendation states:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during operations on Passchendaele. This man was acting as a runner from Group H.Q. to batteries on 27 October 1917. He had to pass through extremely heavy shell fire, both H.E. and gas by day and night to battery positions, which were frequently shelled, the round trip taking four hours. This took place daily until Passchendaele was taken on 6 November. That on no occasion were despatches lost or late was entirely due to his courage and devotion to duty.’

Ernest Gillard enlisted in to the 33rd Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, at Peterborough in September 1915, and entered France in January 1916 as a member of 5th Brigade, C.F.A. Awarded the M.M. for his services as a runner in the days leading up to the capture of Passchendaele in October-November 1917, he was discharged in June 1919; sold with copied service papers.