Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Private J. Sharman, 15th Battalion Canadian Infantry, killed in action at the Battle of Hill 70, 15 August 1917

British War and Victory Medals (887393 Pte., 15-Can. Inf.) nearly extremely fine (2) £100-140

James Sharman was born in Stonebroom, Derbyshire on 3 September 1887. Living in Canada and a Farmer by occupation, he enlisted into the 188th Battalion C.E.F. at Margo, Saskatchewan on 10 January 1916. Crossing the Atlantic on S.S. Laconia, he arrived in Liverpool on 6 October 1916. He was posted to the 92nd Battalion and then the 5th Reserve Battalion. On 21 April he joined the 15th Battalion Canadian Infantry (Central Ontarion Regiment) in France. Sharman was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of Hill 70, 15 August 1917, during the Canadian assault on the Hill and the initial German counter-attacks. The first reports gave out that he was ‘wounded and missing’ - this was later corrected to ‘killed in action’. Having no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial. He was the husband of Ethel Sharman of 59 Duchess Street, Creswell, Mansfield, England. A memorial plaque, scroll and cross (not with lot) were sent to his widow in 1921. With copied service papers.