Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War M.C. group of three awarded to Captain J. C. R. de St. Victor, 22nd Battalion, Canadian Infantry, who was severely wounded while leading his company in an attack at Amiens in August 1918

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt. J. C. R. de St. Victor), good very fine (3) £600-700

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the Canadian Expeditonary Force 1914-1918.

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M.C. London Gazette 11 January 1919:

‘For conspicuous gallantry in an attack. He was in command of a company during the whole of the first day of the operations, and led it through an artillery barrage and machine-gun fire with great courage and skill. When his company was held up he at once went to the weak point and by his example inspired his men to push forward through the heavy machine-gun fire. He was severely wounded the next day whilst leading his company to the attack on a village.’

Joseph Charles Raoul de St. Victor, who was born at Beauce, Quebec, in March 1891, was a pre-war member of the the 9th Regiment (Voltageurs de Quebec), Militia, and joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force in July 1916.

Commissioned as a Lieutenant in the 22nd Battalion, Canadian Infantry, he was embarked for France in October 1916, where he was wounded in the knee at Vimy Ridge in April 1917. But it was for his gallantry as C.O. of ‘A’ Company near Amiens on 9 August 1918 that he won his M.C., on which occasion Lieutenant Jean Brilliant of his battalion was awarded the V.C. As cited above, Victor was severely wounded - a bullet wound in his neck - and he was evacuated to the U.K. Also mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 28 May 1918 refers), he was discharged back in Canada in May 1919; sold with copied service record.

Edge bruising to the British War Medal, otherwise as described