Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Nine: Major Percival Theodore Stern, Canadian Garrison Artillery, late Imperial Yeomanry

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Rhodesia, Orange Free State, Transvaal (22285 Pte., 83rd Coy.Imp. Yeo.) unofficial connections to Rhodesia clasp; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (22285 Pte., 83rd Coy. Imp. Yeo.) renamed; Natal 1906, 1 clasp, 1906 (Lt., Natal Rangers); 1914-15 Star (Capt., Can. Fd. Art.); British War and Victory Medals (Major); War Medal 1939-45, unnamed; Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ Decoration, G.V.R., reverse inscribed, ‘Capt. & Bvt. Maj. P. T. Stern, 5th (B.C.) Regt. C.G.A.’, hallmarks for Birmingham 1921, with top bar; Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service, G.V.R. (Capt., 5th B.C. Regt. C.G.A.) mounted court style for wear, contact marks, very fine and better (9) £750-850

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

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Percival Theodore Stern was born in Liverpool on 19 September 1880, son of David Stern, a ship-owner. He was educated at Liverpool College and overseas, in Brussels and Aachen, thereby being fluent in French and German. A Surveyor’s assistant by occupation and a member of the 5th Middlesex Rifle Volunteers, he attested for Short Service with the Imperial Yeomanry on 1 February 1901. With the 83rd Company (Sharpshooter), he served in the Boer War, 14 March 1901-9 August 1902, for which he was awarded the Queen’s medal with 5 clasps (C.C., O.F.S., Trans., S.A. 1901, S.A. 1902) (not entitled to the ‘Rhodesia’ clasp or King’s medal). Stern was discharged at Aldershot on 16 August 1902 as a Trooper of the 83rd Company 21st Battalion Imperial Yeomanry. He was next granted a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant (Supernumerary) in the 1st (The Tower Hamlets Rifle Volunteer Brigade) Tower Hamlets Volunteer Rifle Corps, Rifle Brigade, 13 February 1904. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 17 February 1906, the unit having been re-titled the 4th Volunteer Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment). He resigned his commission on 2 November 1907. In the meantime, Stern participated in the suppression of the Natal Rebellion of 1906, being temporarily appointed to the local rank of Lieutenant in the Natal Rangers. Early in 1907 Stern emigrated to British Columbia, Canada. On 12 August 1907 he was appointed a Provisional Lieutenant in the 5th British Columbia Regiment, Canadian Garrison Artillery - the Militia regiment having its H.Q. at Victoria. He was confirmed as a Lieutenant in February 1909 and promoted to Captain in October 1910. On the outbreak of the Great War, Stern was seconded for service with the Expeditionary Force from 22 September 1914 until discharged on 24 September 1919. He served in France and Belgium from 11 February 1915, serving in the Canadian Artillery as a Major. After the war Stern transferred to the Corps Reserve of the 5th British Columbia Regiment as a Captain on 1 February 1921. As such he was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces L.S. Medal, this published in the Canada Gazette of 25 June 1921. The following year he was awarded Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ Decoration, published in the Canada Gazette of 2 December 1922. He served again in the Canadian Army (Militia), January 1926-May 1936; and again in the Canadian Army, July 1940-April 1941. Stern was promoted a Major in the 5th Reserve (British Columbia) Coast Brigade in February 1930. Major Stern, V.D., died in Victoria, British Columbia on 19 January 1945.

Sold with copied research and copied photograph.