Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C., ‘1916 Somme’ M.M. group of ten awarded to Major G. Thomas, 18th Battalion, Canadian Infantry, later Canadian Machine Gun Corps

Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse privately engraved ‘I.W.U.Y. Lieut. G. Thomas. 18th. Canadian Infantry Oct. 1918’; Military Medal, G.V.R. (53164 Cpl. G. Thomas. 18/Can: Inf:); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 copy clasp, Somaliland 1908-10 (Trpr. G. Thomas King’s African Rifles) renamed; 1914-15 Star (53164 Pte. G. Thomas. 18/Can: Inf:); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. G. Thomas.); Canadian Volunteer Service Medal; War Medal 1939-45, Canadian issue in silver, these both privately engraved ‘Major G. Thomas. M.C. M.M. E.D. V.G.C.’; Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal, G.V.R. (Major G. Thomas M.C. M.M. 2nd Bn. C.M.G.C.); Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Canada, unnamed as issued, with integral top riband bar, mounted court-style as worn; together with the related miniature awards, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas clasp, mounted as worn, polished and lacquered, generally very fine (10) £1,600-£2,000

M.C. London Gazette 8 March 1919.

M.M. London Gazette 9 December 1916.

Gerald Thomas was born in Queenstown, Ireland, on 11 April 1889 and having emigrated to Canada attested for the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force at London, Ontario, on 28 October 1914. He served with the 18th Battalion (Western Ontario Regiment), Canadian Infantry during the Great War on the Western Front from 14 September 1915, and was promoted Corporal on 28 July 1916. For his gallantry during the Battle of the Somme he was awarded the Military Medal.

Thomas was commissioned temporary Lieutenant in the 18th Battalion on 10 March 1917, and having attended a Snipers Corpse, qualifying as ‘Distinguished’, he saw further service with the Battalion on the Western Front from 21 June 1918. For his gallantry during the final months of the Great War he was further honoured with the award of the Military Cross. He returned to Canada in May 1919, and was demobilised on 24 May 1919. Reenlisting in the Colonial Auxiliary Forces, he saw further service with the Canadian Machine Gun Corps.

Note: Africa General Service Medal unconfirmed.

Sold with a portrait photograph of the recipient.