Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

North West Canada 1885, 1 clasp, Saskatchewan (William McEwen, Str. Northcote) naming engraved in the correct style, scratch to obverse, otherwise good very fine and rare £2000-2600

Provenance: Buckland Dix & Wood, September 1998.

William McEwen is confirmed on the roll as Cook aboard the Steamer Northcote, the only naval participants in this campaign. The small crew of this Steamer supported the left flank of General Middleton’s column at the battle of Batoche, when Riel’s force was defeated. A few days later Riel himself was captured and Middleton proceeded to Battleford aboard the Northcote where he received the surrender of the Cree Chief, Poundmaker. A remarkably high proportion of the crew were of Scottish extraction. Only 35 medals were issued to the Northcote, all with clasp for Saskatchewan and all engraved in this same particular style. A good number of these were returned to Headquarters, address unknown, their ultimate fate also unknown.