A Fine Collection of Awards to the Canadian Forces

Six: Lance-Corporal A. Olson, Regina Rifle Regiment, who was killed in action in Normandy on 9 June 1944

1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal 1939-45, silver; Canadian Voluntary Service Medal 1939-45, with overseas clasp; War Medal 1939-45, silver, in card their boxes of issue (some damaged), together with his Canadian Memorial Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially inscribed, ‘H. 46271 L/Cpl. A. Olson’, ring suspension but fitted with an ornate brooch bar, in case of issue, and his Birks Memorial Bar, officially inscribed, ‘L./Cpl. A. Olson, Regina Rif., Died in His Country’s Service, 9 June 1944’, in original card folder, extremely fine (7) £220-260

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

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Arthur Olson was born in Port Arthur, Ontario, on 10 January 1917. A Miner by occupation, he enlisted in the Lake Superior Regiment in July 1940. Promoted to Lance-Corporal in May 1942, he was embarked for England in August 1942, attached to the H.Q. Squadron, 4th Canadian Armoured Division, but transferred to the Regina Rifle Regiment, part of the 7th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division, in October 1943. Landing with his regiment on D-Day 6 June 1944, he was killed in action during the advance on Caen on 9 June 1944. Buried in the Beny-sue-Mer Canadian War Cemetery - one of 2,048 allied servicemen interred there, the majority of them Canadian - he was the husband of Blanche Marie Olson, of Kitchener, Ontario; sold with copied service papers.