Orders, Decorations and Medals

Six: Regimental Sergeant-Major J. C. Bithell, Canadian Grenadier Guards, late Northumberland Hussars Imperial Yeomanry and Lord Strathcona’s Horse

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (33091 S. Sjt. Mjr., 110th Coy. Imp. Yeo.); 1914-15 Star (2756 Tpr., Ld. S’cona’s H.); British War and Victory Medals (2756 Pte., L.S.H.-RC-); Imperial Yeomanry L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (236 R.S. Maj., North’d. Hsrs. I.Y.); Efficiency Medal, G.V.R., Canada (Sgt., C.G.G.) mounted for wear, very fine and better (6) £650-750

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Long Service Medals from the Collection formed by John Tamplin.

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John Charles Bithell was born in Wrexham, Wales (or Montreal, Canada!). An Engineer by occupation and a member of the Northumberland Hussars Imperial Yeomanry, he attested for service with the Imperial Yeomanry at Newcastle-upon-Tyne on 5 March 1901, aged 27 years. With the 110th Company Imperial Yeomanry he served as Squadron Sergeant-Major in South Africa, March 1901-November 1902. Bithel returned to Canada in 1910. With the onset of war, on 21 September 1914 he enlisted at Valcaitier, Province of Quebec into Lord Strathcona’s Horse. As a Private he served with them in France. Later serving with the Canadian Army Medical Corps, he was discharged as medically unfit on 7 August 1917. On 14 August 1918 Bithell joined the Royal North West Mounted Police and served in a R.N.W.M.P. Cavalry Draft in Siberia. He was discharged from the service on 9 July 1919 at Regina, Saskatchewan, in consequence of demobilization. Bithell joined the Canadian Militia after the Great War and was awarded the Efficiency Medal (Canada) (Canada Gazette 1 February 1936) when serving as a Sergeant in the Canadian Grenadier Guards. During the Second World War he worked in an aircraft factory in Montreal. He died aged 77 years in about 1944-45.

Sold with original Camp Pass, Conference Camp, Vereeniging, 13 May 1902; note of commendation, dated Elandsfontein, 20 July 1902; Certificate of Discharge, 1917; Character Certificate, 1914-17; Certificate of Service 1914-17, dated 1935; Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Forces Discharge Certificate, 1919; War Office letter dated 1 August 1935; together with several original photographs and copied research including attestation papers, 1901. In addition is an obituary in which the recipient’s military career is given - in it he is credited with serving at Omdurman with the 21st Lancers, serving in the Somaliland Expedition with the Cape Mounted Police, serving with the Royal Horse Guards in England and being in possession of 10 military awards. Research would seem to indicate that these claims are unlikely.