Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War C.M.G., 1916 ‘Western Front’ D.S.O. group of ten awarded to Brigadier-General J. A. Gunn, Canadian Infantry, who commanded the 24th Battalion (Victoria Rifles) in West Flanders 1915-16, and recorded his time with them for posterity

The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with neck riband, in Spink, London, case of issue; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, obverse central medallion loose, with integral top riband bar; 1914-15 Star (Lt: Col: J. A. Gunn. 24/Can: Inf:); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Col. J. A. Gunn.); Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Coronation 1953; Colonial Auxiliary Forces Decoration, G.V.R., silver and silver-gilt (Lt-Col J. A. Gunn. (D.S.O.) 3rd Regt) with integral top riband bar; Colonial Auxiliary Forces L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (Col & Hon. Brig. Gen. J. A. Gunn C.M.G. D.S.O. 6th Inf. Bde.) mounted court-style as worn, polished and lacquered, very fine and better (10) £1,600-£2,000

C.M.G. London Gazette 3 June 1918.

D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1917.

John Alexander Gunn was born in Toronto, Ontario, on 5 August 1873, and joined the Canadian Militia in 1897. He was appointed to the command of the 24th Battalion (Victoria Rifles), Canadian Expeditionary Force, on 22 October 1914, and served with them during the Great War in West Flanders from 15 September 1915, before proceeding to the Somme on 4 September 1916. He recorded his time with them for posterity in a diary, which he subsequently published. For his services on the Western Front in 1916 he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 4 January 1917), and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order. He was appointed a General Staff Officer, 1st Grade, at Headquarters in Brighton on 31 October 1916, and spent the rest of the War in England. He was appointed to Command the 5th Canadian Reserve Brigade at Bramshott, Hampshire, with the rank of Colonel, on 2 January 1917, and commanded them overseas on the Western Front from 14 September of that year. For his services during the Great War he was created a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George in the 1918 Birthday Honours’ List.

Returning to Canada following the cessation of hostilities, he was demobilised from the active list on 1 October 1919, and was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Decoration in 1928; and the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1932, whilst holding the rank of honorary Brigadier-General.

Sold with a photocopy of ‘The West Flanders Diary of Lieutenant-Colonel John A. Gunn, 15 September 1915 to 30 August 1916’, being a day-by-day account of the recipient’s first year in action; and other copied research, including a group photographic image featuring the recipient.