Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War ‘Vimy Ridge’ M.C. group of four awarded to Major William Vassie, 2nd Canadian Division Ammunition Column, Canadian Garrison Artillery

Military Cross, G.V.R.; 1914-15 Star (Lieut., 2/Can. A.C.); British War and Victory Medals, (Major) with a comprehensive file of research including copy photographs, nearly extremely fine (4)

M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1918. A news cutting confirms the award as being ‘For distinguished service under a severe shelling from the enemy at the battle of Vimy Ridge 1917.’

William Vassie was born in 1885 in Rothesay, New Brunswick, and attended McGill University. In 1904 he joined the family firm, Vassie & Co. Ltd., of which he eventually became President in 1949, by which time the company had become Vassie, Brock, Manchester Ltd, a wholesale dry goods business in St Johns, New Brunswick. He arrived in France in September 1915 where he served with the Canadian Garrison Artillery, subsequently commanding the 4th Canadian Heavy Battery. After the war he continued to be associated with the Canadian Artillery, and in September 1939 he was appointed a Special Constable in St Johns, New Brunswick, Air Raid Protection. His son served in the R.C.A. and was accidentally killed in Europe in July 1945. Major William Vassie died on 13 February 1954 at the age of 68 years.