A North Russia 1919 operations D.S.O., Great War M.C. group of nine attributed to Major W. O. “Snapper” White, Royal Canadian Regiment, late 2nd (Eastern Ontario Regiment) Battalion, Canadian Infantry, and Staff

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (8592 R.S. Mjr. W. O. White, 2/Can. Inf.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Maj. W. O. White), re-impressed naming in large capitals; Coronation 1911; Russia, Order of St. Anne, 2nd Class neck badge, with swords, silver-gilt and enamel; Russia, Order of St. Anne, 3rd Class breast badge, with swords, silver-gilt and enamel; Russia, Order of St. Stanislaus, 2nd Class neck badge, with swords, silver-gilt and enamel, together with 5th Canadian Division, Aldershot Command, football award, and Overseas Military Forces of Canada, Witley Area award, in silver, and his embroidered Staff cap badge on red band, the first with slightly recessed obverse centre, and the Russian pieces with slightly chipped enamel work in places, otherwise good very fine (12) £1200-1500

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

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D.S.O. London Gazette 3 February 1920:

‘For distinguished service in connection with military operations in Archangel, North Russia, dated 11 November 1919.’

M.C. London Gazette 14 November 1916:

‘For conspicuous gallantry during operations. He set a fine example throughout a very heavy bombardment, dressed the wounds of several men, and dug-out others who had been buried by shell fire. As Adjutant, he has always been of the greatest assistance to his C.O. and has displayed great coolness and courage.’

Wilfred Ormonde White was born in Milton, Ontario, on 13 December 1887, and enlisted in the Royal Canadian Regiment July 1905, in which capacity, as a Sergeant, he accompanied the regiment’s Coronation Contingent to England in 1911.

Mobilised on the outbreak of hostilities, he enlisted in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force at Valcartier in September 1914 and was appointed the first Regimental Sergeant-Major in the 2nd Battalion, Canadian Infantry.

Embarked for France in February 1915, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant that September, and was advanced to Captain and appointed Adjutant of the Battalion in June 1916, shortly after which, on 29 July, he was slightly wounded in the left leg and won the M.C.

Having then served back in England, he returned to France as a Staff Officer in 5th Canadian Division in early 1917, and was appointed Brigade Major to the 14th Canadian Infantry Brigade that March. Once more, however, he returned to England, in order to attend a Staff College Course at Cambridge, following which he went back to France as a Staff Captain in the 10th Infantry Brigade in September 1918 and was similarly employed at the War’s end.

But further active service beckoned, for in March 1919 he was seconded to the North Russian Expeditionary Force, in which capacity he added the D.S.O. to his accolades, in addition to the 2nd Class of the Russian Orders of St. Anne and and St. Stanislaus (Russian Army (Northern Region) Command Orders of September 1919 refer), these following his award of the 3rd Class of the St. Anne; copied verification included.

Latterly appointed to the Royal Canadian Regiment, White was finally discharged from the C.E.F. in May 1920, and later settled in South Africa, though he was able to attend the Fourth United Russian Dinner in London in June 1936; sold with an extensive file of research.