Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Eight: Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant John Rofe Bales, Victoria Rifles of Canada, late Canadian Infantry

1914-15 Star (65042 Cpl., 24/Can. Inf.); British War and Victory Medals (65042 S. Sjt., 24-Can. Inf.); Canadian Volunteer Service Medal; War Medal 1939-45, Canadian issue in silver; Jubilee 1935, these unnamed; Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service, G.V.R. (R.Q.M.S. (W.O. Cl. 2), Vic. Rif of C.); Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Canada (R.Q.M.S. (W.O. Cl. 2), V.R. of C.) mounted as worn, nearly very fine and better (8) £250-300

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

View
Collection

John Rofe Bales was born in West Derby, Liverpool on 18 December 1887. Later living in Montreal, he completed High School and gained Junior Matriculation to McGill University in 1911. An Engineer by occupation, he attested for the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force on 31 October 1914. With the 24th Battalion Canadian Infantry he arrived in England on 20 May 1915 and landed at Boulogne on 16 September 1915. After briefly being transferred to the 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade, Machine Gun Company, he was transferred to the Canadian Ordnance Corps, attached to the 26th Canadian Battalion, as Armourer Sergeant on 1 October 1916; being attached to the 24th Battalion on 24 May 1917. Bales was promoted to Armourer Staff Sergeant on 1 January 1918 and was discharged in Montreal on 19 May 1919. After the war, Bales served with the Canadian Militia, serving with the Victoria Rifles of Canada from 20 November 1920. With them he was promoted to C.S.M. in June 1926 and R.Q.M.S. in December 1928. He was discharged in November 1939 in Montreal in consequence of his returning to the Non Permanent Active Militia but saw further service in the Second World War, being finally discharged on 15 January 1944. Awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces L.S. Medal, published in the Canada Gazette of 10 January 1931, and the Efficiency Medal (Canada), published in the Canada Gazette of 3 April 1953. Sold with copied research.