A ‘Replacement’ Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of four awarded to Private T. Knowles, Fort Gary Horse and Canadian Light Horse

Military Medal, G.V.R. (15390 Pte T Knowles Canadian Light Horse) additionally stamped ‘R’ for Replacement, in Royal Mint case of issue; 1914-15 Star; British War and Victory Medals, these all erased; about extremely fine (4) £180-220

M.M. London Gazette 3 July 1919.

Tobie Knowles was born in Minden, Manitoba, Canada, on 1 January 1895 and attested for the 6th Battalion (Fort Gary Horse) at Valcartier, Quebec, on 24 September 1914. He served during the Great War with the Canadian Light Horse on the Western Front from 21 June 1915, was awarded the Military Medal, and was discharged at Toronto, Ontario, on 28 April 1919.

Knowles’ medals were lost in a great fire which destroyed the old Time Building and several surrounding properties, including Knowles’ house, in Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, on 8 June 1954. His widow applied for replacement medals in 1971; whilst the re-issued M.M. is an official named replacement, a note in the file states ‘1914-15 Star, BWM, VM issued unengraved, 3 March 1971’- it seems likely that the replacement campaign medals actually issued were erased medals, probably taken from the Canadian Medal Office’s stock of returns.

Sold with copied service medals and other research.