Vimy Militaria - What's New

Vimy Militaria
P.O. Box 17018
Portobello RO
1937 Portobello Rd
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
K4A 4W8

What's New!

Welcome to our first Vimy Militaria update of 2026! This list includes some attractive Second World War Memorial Crosses awarded to the families of infantry soldiers from the Royal Canadian Regiment, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, and the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, as well as a variety of Canadian First World War and Second World War groups and singles. Some cloth and metal insignia has been added as well, including a very attractive early 48th Highlanders sweetheart pin. As always, I encourage you to contact me directly with your wants, as I am happy to keep these on file and to contact you if something in your area of interest arrives; my active servicing of client want lists results in a large quantity of incoming material never making it to the website, and is the reason that my updates are less frequent, so if you have not sent me your wants, please consider taking advantage of this service.

Please keep visiting regularly!

Best wishes,

Jim Godefroy

New Arrivals

Two. Queen's South Africa Medal 1899-1902 with clasps CAPE COLONY, ORANGE FREE STATE, TRANSVAAL, and King's South Africa Medal 1901-1902 with clasps SOUTH AFRICA 1901, SOUTH AFRICA 1902. QSA named in slanted engraved capitals to 4417 Pvte. W.H. SWAN 7/Dn Gds, and KSA named in impressed capitals to 4417 PTE. W.H.SWANN. 7TH DRGN: GDS: William Henry Swann was born in St. Andrews, London, Middlesex in October 1870. He joined the 7th Dragoon Guards on a short service engagement on 9 September 1893. He was a shop assistant at the time of his enlistment, according to his two page engagement form, which confirms his surname was spelled SWANN, vice SWAN, suggesting an error in the naming of his QSA. Both medals and associated clasps are confirmed on the medal rolls. Otherwise unresearched.

Good VF Condition $400

One. Memorial Plaque. Named to ARTHUR WILMOT. There are two casualties with this name in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's database, one (7297, 1st Bn Gloucestershire Regt) died 29 October 1914 and is commemorated on the Menin Gate in Ypres; the second, (65350, 60th Coy MGC), died 14 August 1917 and is buried in the CWGC's Bard Cottage Cemetery, Belgium.

Good VF Condition $225

Three. 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20 and Victory Medal. Star named to L-7718. L-CPL. H.W. ETHELSTON. 9TH. LRS.; BWM/Victory same number, name but rank CPL, unit 9-LRS. Medal index card confirms awards, and indicates Harold W. Ethelston served in France from 1 June 1915. Medals are loose on clean modern ribbons.

Good VF Condition $300

One. Memorial Cross (GVI). Named to C. 78083 Pte. C.R. HAIGHT. Clifford Ray Haight was born on 3 June 1915 in Lindsay, Ontario. He enrolled in the Prince of Wales Rangers (AF) in the Canadian Active Service Force at Peterborough, Ontario on 28 March 1942. Deploying overseas to England in February 1943, he joined Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry on 13 May. He was deployed to Italy in late June 1943, disembarking in early July, and joining his unit on 28 September 1943. Haight fought with the PPCLI until he was killed in action on 23 May 1944 during the fighting to break through the Hitler Line near Monte Cassino. He is buried in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Cassino War Cemetery, Cassino, Italy. Cross is loose with no ribbon or case present; Haight is entitled to the 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas clasp, and the War Medal 1939-45.

VF Condition $850

One. Memorial Cross (GVI). Named to C.121699 Pte. G.L. MILLER. Gilbert Lawrence Miller was born on 25 December 1921 in Prescott, Ontario. He enrolled in the Canadian Active Service Force at Kingston, Ontario on 11 July 1943 in the No 3 District Depot Officer Training Centre, with his attestation form noting that he had served with The Brockville Rifles A&T Staff OTC as a Private since April 1941. He embarked for the United Kingdom in February 1944, joining 1 Canadian Infantry Replacement Unit on 14 March. Miller was deployed to Italy as a reinforcement on 27 March 1944, joining the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada on 25 May. He died of wounds received in action on 1 June 1944. Miller is buried in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Cassino War Cemetery, Cassino, Italy. Cross is suspended on original slightly distressed ribbon; Miller is also entitled to the 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas clasp, and the War Medal 1939-45.

Good VF Condition $800

One. Memorial Cross (GVI). Named to H.9555 Pte. W. STACK. Walter Stack was born on 9 February 1915 in Lorette, Manitoba. He enrolled in the Canadian Active Service Force at No. 10 District Depot in Winnipeg, Manitoba on 28 April 1943. Stack's enrollment paperwork notes that he was married, and his wife, Ada, gave birth to their daughter, Judy, just a few days before he enrolled. He was working as a tractor operator when he joined the Canadian Army, and his file notes that he spoke English, French and Ukrainian. Stack was deployed to the UK in April 1944, arriving in England on 12 April, before being quickly embarked for service in Italy in May 1944 as a reinforcement for the Royal Canadian Regiment, which he joined in the field on 25 June. Stack was wounded in action on 4 September 1944, receiving a shrapnel wound (slight) to his left leg. After returning to action on 10 September, he fought with the RCR until he was wounded again, receiving a pentrating wound to the abdomen on 17 September 1944. Stack died of wounds on 18 September 1944. Originally interred south-east of Rimini, near Ravenna, his remains were later moved and reinterred in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Gradara War Cemetery, Gradara, Italy. Cross is suspended on original purple ribbon in case of issue with cardboard transmittal box (this slightly damaged, with one side torn) and trasmittal card addressed to Mrs. A.O. Stack, W Stack's widow.

EF Condition $1000

One. 1914-15 Star. Named to 1472 PTE. N. BOW. 8/CAN: INF: Norman Bow was killed in action on 27 September 1918 while serving as a Sergeant with the 2nd Light Trench Mortar Battery, Canadian Expeditionary Force, being hit by an enemy shell while resting in the entrance to a dugout during an advance. He was Mentioned in Dispatches in London Gazette 30448 of 28 December 1917. He is buried in the CWGC's Haynecourt British Cemetery, Nord, France. Medal is loose on faded original ribbon.

VF Condition $150

One. 1914-15 Star. Named to 649 PTE. W. CURLEY. 8/CAN: INF: William Curley was killed in action on 15 April 1915 in the trenches in the vicinity of St. Julien, Belgium, while serving with the 8th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. He is commemorated on the CWGC's Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium. Medal is loose on clean original ribbons.

VF Condition $125

Two. British War Medal 1914-20 and Victory Medal. Named to 339364 BMBR. W.S.P. THORMAN. C.G.A. William Spencer Pelham Thorman was born on 17 January 1886 in Sussex, England. He was working as a teacher in Prince Rupert, British Columbia when he joined the 68th Overseas Depot Field Battery, Canadian Expeditionary Force, at Prince Rupert, British Columbia on 13 October 1916. Deployed overseas to England in March 1917, he was sent to France to join the 1st Canadian Siege Battery in October 1917. He served with the latter unit, which was renamed 1st Brigade Canadian Garrison Artillery (Heavy) in March 1918, until the end of the war. Medals are loose on newer ribbon. A scarcer Canadian Artillery unit.

Good VF Condition $150

Two. British War Medal 1914-20 and Victory Medal. Named to 1010064 PTE. G.H. ANDERSON 102-CAN.INF. George Henry Anderson was born on 16 December 1891 in Prestonkirk, Scotland. He was working as a farmer in Manor, Saskatchewan when he joined the 195th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force on 26 April 1916. Deploying to England in November 1916, he was taken on strength of the 32nd Battalion there before being sent to France as a reinforcement for the 102nd Battalion CEF, joining the unit on 4 December 1916. Anderson was killed in action on the morning of 11 May 1917 near Lens, France, at about 10:00AM, when a shell exploded close to him, killing him outright. George Henry Anderson is buried in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's La Chaudiere Military Cemetery, France. Medals are loose on clean older ribbons glued to a small piece of black card backing as seen in the images accompanying this listing.

Good VF Condition $275

One. British War Medal 1914-20. Named to 445699 PTE. W. HENRY. 21-CAN.INF. Walter Henry was born on 16 January 1896 in St. George, New Brunswick. He was working as a labourer when he enlisted in the 55th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force at Sussex, New Brunswick on 21 September 1915. He landed in England in October 1915, and was sent to France as a reinforcement, joining the 21st Battalion on 15 May 1916. Henry was wounded in action at Vimy Ridge on 9 April 1917, receiving a bullet wound that fractured his right tibia. This injury led to him being repatriated to Canada in late July 1917, due to an incomplete union of the bone in his right leg during recovery, which left him unfit for further miltary service. Medal suspension appears to have been repinned; loose on distressed original ribbon.

Good VF Condition $125

One. 1914-15 Star. Named to 21824 PTE. A.B. DICKSON. 5/CAN:INF: Alexander Bruce Dickson was born on 1 June 1885 in Dumfries, Scotland. He attested into the 11th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force at Valcartier, Quebec on 23 September 1914. Travelling to the UK with the 1st Canadian Division that fall. he spent the winter training on Salisbury Plain. Transferred to the 5th Battalion, CEF on 7 February 1915, he deployed to France the following week. Dickson was wounded in action on 16 May 1915, receiving a gunshot wound to his ankle. He was commissioned into the British Army in early March 1917, serving with the 5th Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers and being awarded the Military Cross, according to his Medal Index Card, which notes that his British War Medal 1914-20 and Victory Medal were issued in the UK. His pension ledger index card notes that he also received a gun shot wound to the chest while serving with the British Army, and indicates his place of residence after his release was Armbrae, Kilsyth, Stirlingshire. His citation for the Military Cross, which was gazetted in London Gazette 30466 of 9 January 1918, states:

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when battalion intelligence officer. During the night before the attack he personally patrolled No Man's Land while the leading companies were getting into poistion, and afterwards went forward with the attack and did most valuable work in reporting the positions of enemy guns from an exposed position, where he was under continuous heavy shell and machine gun fire. Whilst engaged in this gallant work he was wounded, first by machine-gun fire and later severely by a shell.

Medal is loose on short length of clean older ribbon.

Good VF Condition $250

One. Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with CANADA bar (GVI). Named to S.M. (W.O.CL. 1) J.S.G. PRATT R.C.A. Pratt's service number was P-4326; he received his LSGC in Canadian Army GO 509 of November 1944. James Standen Glover Pratt was born in Liverpool, England on 6 October 1906. He attested into the Royal Canadian Artillery at Halifax, Nova Scotia on 5 May 1930, aged 23 years old. He had previously served in the RCA from 24 January 1925 to 7 August 1929. He was posted overseas to the United Kingdom from July 1940 to June 1944, serving in senior roles aas a clerk at Canadian Miliary Headquarters in London and at other formations. He retired from the Permanent Force in October 1946. Pratt was also entitled to the Defence Medal, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas clasp, and the War Medal 1939-45. His place of residence after retirement was 32 Chestnut Street, Pictou, Nova Scotia; his CVSM was sent to his widow there in 1952, suggesting he passed away sometime before then. With electronic copy of service record that includes paperwork from his earlier enlistments in the Permanent Force in the 1920s. Medal is loose on clean older ribbon.

EF Condition $350

One. 48th Highlanders of Canada gold and enamel sweetheart pin. Pin is unmarked but appears to be made of gold, decorated with red enamel, featuring crossed rifles surmounted by an eagles head with 48 HIGHLANDERS in the banner below. Reverse with a vertical pin. Measures 29.5 mm (w) x 36.0 mm (h), weighs 5.28 grams.

Good VF Condition $500

One. Naval General Service Medal (GV) with clasp PERSIAN GULF 1909-1914. Named to 222912 W. BOYS A.B. H.M.S. ODIN. Boys was born on 9 June 1887 in Portsmouth, England. He joined the Royal Navy in 1905, with his service including time aboard HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Excellent, HMS Odin, HMS Dido, and HMS Dreadnaught. He served on he latter ship for much of the First World War. With electronic copy of service record; medal is loose on soiled period ribbon.

Good VF Condition $275

Nine. 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal (Canadian issue), Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, War Medal 1939-45, UN Korea Medal with KOREA suspender, UN Emergency Force (UNEF) Medal, Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal, Efficiency Medal (GVI) with CANADA suspension with bar. UN Korea named SC 29716 A LINDEN; EM named CPL. A. LINDEN RCIC. Medals are loose on lengths of mostly clean older ribbons, with the CPSM retaining its original issue brooch. UN Korea, UNEF and Efficiency Medal are plated. This group of medals was purchased together, but it is unclear whether they all belonged to the same soldier, and the lot is unresearched.

VF Condition $700

One. 14th Bn Canadian Expeditionary Force First World War unit sleeve insignia in cloth, sewn to a piece of original uniform. Ex Victor Taboika Collection, purchased from the latter June 2018.

EF Condition $175

Three. British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal and second Victory Medal. Named to 59416 PTE. S. HAMILTON. 21-CAN. INF. Sidney Hamilton was born on 8 July 1894 in Birmingham, England. Employed as a metal polisher in civilian life, he joined the 21st Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force at Kingston, Ontario on 6 November 1914. He deployed with his unit to France in November 1915, and was killed in action on 14 June 1916 in trenches near Ypres at a feature known as the Bluff. His service record gives no explanation for the apparent duplicate issue of his Victory Medal. He was also entitled to the 1914-15 Star, and a Memorial Plaque and Memorial Cross was issued to his wife, Ruby, with another Memorial Cross issued to his mother. Hamilton is buried in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Bedford House Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium. Medals are swing mounted on clean original ribbons. A very unusual double issue of correctly named Victory Medals to a CEF soldier.

VF Condition $300

One. Victory Medal. Named to 806297 PTE. W.J. COLLINS 38-CAN.INF. With hard copy of extracts from Wood's CEF service file. William James Collins was born in Seattle, Washington, USA, and was living in Millbrook, Ontario, where he worked as a bank clerk, before joining the 136th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force on 29 January 1916. Collins served with the 38th Bn, Canadian Expeditionary Force in France from 5 June 1917. Medal is loose on clean length of older ribbon.

Good VF Condition $80

Two. British War Medal 1914-20 and Victory Medal. Named to 424723 SJT. A.W. DAINTON. 1-C.M.R. Accompanied by Dainton's aluminum identity disk and his Class A War Service Badge numbered 72840. Alfred William Dainton was born on 29 December 1893 in Southborough, Kent, England. He was working as a gardener when he joined the 45th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force at Melville, Saskatchewan on 6 January 1915. He embarked for England in late March 1916, and joined the 1st Canadian Mounted Ridles as a reinforcement in France on 26 May 1916. He was wounded in action (gun shot wound to the face) between 28 September - 2 October 1916, while fighting with his battalion on the Somme. Promoted to Corporal in mid-April 1917 after the battle of Vimy Ridge, and appointed Lance Sergeant in June the following year, Dainton was made a substantive Sergeant on 11 August 1918, while his unit was fighting in the battle of Amiens. Medals are loose on lengths of clean older ribbon.

VF Condition $300

One. Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (EVII). Named to 4611 PTE. W.T. PEARL DURHAM L.I. One large edge knock to unit name; medal is loose on older original ribbon. Unresearched.

VF Condition $200

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