Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War D.C.M., M.M. group of four awarded to Corporal J. H. Stead, King’s Royal Rifle Corps and Machine Gun Corps, together with the pair to his brother, Private G. Stead, 16th Canadian Infantry, who died of wounds in 1918

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (143780 Cpl., 41/M.G.C.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (C-12393 L.Cpl., 21/K.R.R.C.); British War and Victory Medals (12393 Sjt., K.R.R.C.) together with a silver cigarette case ‘Presented to L.Corpl. J. Stead, K.R.R., by the Members of the South W. Lib. Club, Halifax, on being awarded the Military Medal 1917’, and a Post Card photograph of the recipient with his four sisters; also sold with British War and Victory Medals and Canadian Memorial Cross (719148 Pte. G. Stead, 16-Can. Inf.) with photograph of his grave, the cigarette case rather dented, otherwise good very fine (8) £700-900

D.C.M. London Gazette 2 December 1919: ‘on 29th September, 1918, near Comines, he was in charge of a sub-section of machine guns which was ordered to advance and engage an enemy’s machine gun which was holding up the infantry advance. In order to direct the fire of the two guns, the Section Officer went out ahead, and was killed. He at once rushed out to the same point and successfully directed the fire of his guns and silenced the enemy gun. By his marked gallantry and initiative he enabled the infantry to continue their advance at a critical moment.’

M.M. London Gazette 25 September 1917.

Private Gilbert Stead, 16th Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment), died of wounds on 20 May 1918. He is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery.