Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War Vimy Ridge M.M. group of three awarded to Lance-Corporal W. F. Collings, 28th (North West) Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Military Medal, G.V.R. (199074 Pte. W. F. Collings, 28/Can. Inf.); British War and Victory Medals (199074 L. Cpl. W. F. Collings, 28-Can. Inf.), some contact marks, good very fine (3) £600-800

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

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M.M. London Gazette 9 July 1917. The original recommendation states:

‘For great courage and devotion to duty at Thelus on 9 April 1917. He was employed as a stretcher-bearer and performed his duties in a most devoted manner. Notwithstanding heavy enemy fire he continued to tend the wounded regardless of the danger and was instrumental in saving many lives.’

Walter Frederick Collings was born in London, England, on 4 November 1890. An Auto Body Builder by occupation, he enlisted into the 94th (New Ontario) Battalion at Kenora, Ontario, in March 1916, but transferred to the 28th (North West) Battalion in August 1916. On the first day of the battle of Vimy Ridge, the 28th and 31st Battalions, Canadian Infantry cleared the enemy from the village of Thelus and the heights beyond. Employed as a stretcher-bearer, Collings was awarded the M.M. for his great courage in rescuing the wounded. Ironically, having come through that horrendous battle unscathed, he was injured with a ‘fractured patela left leg’ during a football match on 23 September 1918. Collings was discharged in April 1919; sold with copied service papers.