Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War M.M. group of three awarded to Corporal F. McGee, Canadian Machine Gun Corps, who was accidentally shot and killed in one of the underground tunnels at Vimy Ridge in April 1917

Military Medal, G.V.R. (147402 A. Cpl. F. McGee, 7/Bde. Can. M.G.C.); British War and Victory Medals (147402 Cpl. F. McGee, C.M.G. Bde.), slight scratches to M.M., good very fine and better (3) £380-420

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

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M.M. London Gazette 9 December 1916. The original recommendation states:

‘For exceptional bravery and devotion to duty during the operations 15-17 September 1916. He assisted greatly in getting the guns into action without loss of time, on the evening of the 15th under a severe bombardment with the result that they were able to successfully support the attack. He was absolutely fearless during a severe shelling on 16 September and succeeded in bringing up ammunition and water to the guns who were under very trying circumstances.’

Francis McGee was born in Dixie, Ontario, on 4 May 1892. A Labourer by occupation, serving with the 100th Winnipeg Grenadiers and having previously served with 34th Fort Garry Horse, he attested for overseas service with the 78th (Winnipeg Grenadiers) Battalion at Winnipeg in July 1915. Arriving in England in October 1915, he transferred to the 7th Company Canadian Machine Gun Corps in France in April 1916 and was awarded the M.M. for the above cited deeds during September 1916.

On 8 April 1917 Corporal McGee was killed - shot through the head when a machine-gun was accidentally fired in an underground fort. He was buried in the La Chaudiere Military Cemetery, Vimy, in the Pas de Calais, France; sold with copied service papers including those of the court of enquiry.