Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Canada, Order of Canada, Member’s (C.M.) breast badge, silver and enamel, hallmarks for Birmingham 1977, reverse officially numbered, ‘485’, in Garrard, London case of issue, extremely fine £800-1000

Sold with a baton case, approx. 48 x 6 x 2.3cm., bearing label, ‘ Lt. Col. John Avison C.D.’, containing three batons.

The Order of Canada was awarded to John Henry Patrick Avison who was born in Vancouver on 25.4.1915. A child prodigy as a pianist, he went to study at the University of British Columbia, the University of Washington and the Juilliard School. In 1938, at the age of 23 he was hired to lead the then newly formed C.B.C. Vancouver Orchestra, a position Avison held for the next 42 years until his retirement in 1980. He was awarded the Order of Canada in 1978. He died in Vancouver on 30.11.1983.