A Fine Collection of Awards to the Canadian Forces

A Great War M.M. group of three awarded to Bombardier R. A. Mann, Canadian Field Artillery, who sustained serious burns while displaying ‘exceptional gallantry’

Military Medal, G.V.R. (301027 Bmbr. R. A. Mann, 22/By. 6/Bde. Can. A.); British War and Victory Medals (301027 A. Cpl. R. A. Mann, C.G.A.), good very fine and better (3) £350-400

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 6 January 1917. The original recommendation states:

‘For exceptional gallantry and devotion to duty on 22 October 1916. When an explosion occurred in a gun pit, while the Battery was firing, setting fire to the ammunition and the gun pit, this N.C.O. entered the gun pit in spite of the intense heat and withdrew the dial sight and dial sight carrier from the gun carriage. In doing so he was very severely burned, necessitating his evacuation.’

Randolphe Amos Mann was born in Sydney, N.S.W., Australia, on 8 December 1884. A Carpenter by occupation, he enlisted into the Canadian Field Artillery in Vancouver in July 1915. Serving with the 6th Howitzer Brigade, C.F.A., he entered France in January 1916, but was with 22nd Battery, 6th Brigade, C.F.A., at the time of winning his M.M. at Courcellette on 22 October 1916. Badly burned in the process - suffering 2nd degree burns to the head, face and hands - he was treated at No. 13 Stationary Hospital, Boulogne, and then at the Military Hospital, Chatham, and the Canadian Convalescent Hopital at Woodcote Park, Epsom, being discharged from the latter on 28 February 1917. Later employed at the Canadian School of Gunnery in England, he was demobilised in February 1919; sold with copied service papers.