Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War M.M. awarded to Private G. N. Wilson, 28th (North West) Battalion, Canadian Infantry, who was twice wounded in action

Military Medal, G.V.R. (888268 Pte. G. N. Wilson, 28/Can. Inf.), edge bruise, very fine £400-450

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 18 July 1917. The original recommendation states:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty near Fresnoy on 4 May 1917, and subsequent days his company took over a line from a battalion which had been engaged in heavy fighting with the enemy, and many wounded were lying in No Man’s Land, close to the enemy wire. He volunteered to go out and bring in these men, which he did at great personal risk both from the enemy M.G. and rifle fire which was very heavy, and from our own artillery which were keeping up a persistent fire on the enemy’s front line. By his bravery and devotion to duty he undoubtedly saved many lives.’

Gordon Noble Wilson was born in Pickford, Michigan, U.S.A., on 9 May 1889. An Engineer by occupation, he enlisted into the 188th (Saskatchewan) Battalion at Melfort in April 1916. Arriving in England in the S.S. Olympic in October 1916, he was taken on to the strength of the 28th (North West) Battalion in France in January 1917, where he won his M.M. at Fresnoy that May, when he was wounded by shrapnel in the shoulder. Returning to active service, he was again wounded in August 1917 - suffering a severe wound to his right thigh. Discharged at Winnipeg in May 1919, Wilson died at Arborfield, Saskatchewan, in October 1962; sold with copied service papers.