Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The historically important North West Canada medal awarded to Mr E. S. Andrews, a prominent citizen of Saskatoon, who was appointed transport officer aboard the steamer Northcote, and was present at the battles of Fish Creek and Batoche

North West Canada 1885, no clasp (E. S. Andrews. For services on Steamer Northcote.) engraved naming, lightly toned, good very fine and very rare £2,000-£2,600

E. Shelton Andrews was born in New Brunswick and served 14 years in merchant naval service before heading west. In 1884 he was hired by the Temperance Colony Pioneer Society to sail the May Queen from Medicine Hat to Saskatoon. He subsequently decided to homestead at Saskatoon and married Mary Ellen Thompson in 1885. At the start of the rebellion Andrews was appointed Captain of the Saskatoon home guard. Owing to his naval experience he was ordered to command the ferry at Clarke’s Crossing, where he was charged with transporting men and equipment across the South Saskatchewan River. He also served as a river pilot for both Lord Melgund and the reporter George Ham. After his ferry service he was appointed transport officer on the steamship Northcote which was ordered to make a diversionary attack at Batoche. As the ship sailed past Batoche it was riddled with bullets from the shore. Andrews volunteered to reinforce the wheelhouse and was hit by a bullet through his cap and another that dented a metal case in his shirt pocket. Despite the Northcote’s lack of success as a fighting ship, the army commander on board ordered the ship’s captain to make another pass by Batoche but the captain refused owing to a lack of wood. Andrews was then offered command of the ship but refused for the same reason. After the capture of Riel, Andrews hitched a ride back on the Northcote and was placed in the cabin next to Riel.

The medal is accompanied by some research including a Saskatoon Star Phoenix article from 1966 that includes a photograph and description of Andrews’ medal, and partial transcript of the ‘Proceedings of Fifth Meeting, Saskatoon Historical Association, April 5th, 1922’ in which Captain Andrews gives his experiences in the Riel Rebellion. The family always referred to his N.W. Canada medal as an award for bravery. To some extent this seems to be true. Transport Officers were non-combatants and as such did not receive the ‘Saskatchewan’ clasp. However, Andrews was clearly under fire but as he was not a member of the Northcote's crew, his medal is engraved ‘for services’, acknowledging his important role on the Northcote. Andrews is confirmed on the roll as a Captain in the Transport Service.