Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Seven: Captain G. G. Armour, Argyl land Sutherland Highlanders of Canada, later Toronto Scottish Regiment

1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal, Canadian issue in silver; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, with overseas clasp; War Medal 1939-45, Canadian issue in silver, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Canada (Cpt. G. G. Armour Tor Scot R (MG)); France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre, bronze, reverse dated 1939, mounted court-style for display, extremely fine (7) £240-£280

M.I.D. London Gazette 22 March 1945

French Croix de Guerre London Gazette 28 April 1945.

Gilbert Gordon Armour was born in Toronto, Ontario, on 15 December 1916, and attested there for the Canadian Active Service Force on 8 September 1939. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant on 13 February 1943, and was promoted Lieutenant on 19 March 1943, serving during the Second World War overseas with the Argyll ad Sutherland Highlanders of Canada. Wounded in north-west Europe on 26 August 1944, for his services during the Second World War he was both Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the French Croix de Guerre, the latter for an ‘exciting incident’ as recorded in the history of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada:

‘The force set off and reached Trun, which was occupied by the Lincoln and Welland about 1700 hours on the 18th, and pushed on to a wood about a mile or so beyond, where it was decided to harbour for the night. Burning fiercely, Trun was still being cleared of snipers. At first light, led by Lieutenant G. Armour's platoon of "B" Company, the infantry led the way along the road flanked by the tanks and entered St. Lambert about 0630. There were Germans in the town, and the Argyll's killed a few at this time, but no organised resistance being offered, the lead platoon pushed on to the far end of the town where there was a crossroads. At this point an exciting incident took place. A few yards on the other side of the crossroads, concealed by a house, was a Panther tank. Having vacated this vehicle, Lieutenant Armour called for volunteers to go and get the tank. Corporal Hannivan, Private La Forrest and Private Code immediately volunteered. To reach the tank, the party had to clear the intervening houses, which was done silently. Finally there, Lieutenant Armour climbed on top of the tank with a 36 grenade in his hand.
Just as he was about to drop the grenade in the open turret, a German officer thrust his head out. Recovering first from the common shock, Lieutenant Armour forced the German to come out of the tank, but the latter, armed with an automatic pistol, closed with the Canadian. Lieutenant Armour eventually pushed his opponent off the tank, but in so doing lost his own balance and fell off too. Private La Forrest promptly shot and seriously wounded the German. The tank meanwhile closed its turret and started. It backed about 25 feet, evidently preparing to employ its machine gun. The small turret to the left of the gun opened and a head unwisely emerged. Corporal Hannivan, observing, took aim with his Sten and shot the German through the forehead. Lieutenant Armour immediately seized this opportunity, running up and dropping his grenade into the open turret, where it exploded. The party kept watch over the tank until a PIAT was brought up and finished the kill. Lieutenant Armour was subsequently awarded the Croix de Guerre for this exploit.’

Armour was discharged on 15 February 1946, and subsequently enlisted in the Toronto Scottish Regiment (Territorial Force) as a Lieutenant on 21 January 1947, being promoted Captain on 4 March 1947. He was awarded the Canadian Efficiency Medal on 19 January 1948, and was discharged on 18 November of that year. He was mortally injured the following year in a motor race at Angelica Raceway at Wellsville, New York, United States of America, on 30 May 1949, when he lost control of his car and crashed into the inner guard rail, and died later that day at Jones Memorial Hospital, Wellsville.

Sold with copied service papers and other research.