A Fine Collection of Awards to the Canadian Forces

A Great War M.M. group of three awarded to Warrant Officer Class 2 J. A. McDonald, Canadian Engineers, who was accidentally shot and wounded in December 1918

Military Medal, G.V.R. (167068 Sjt. J. A. McDonald, Can. E.); British War and Victory Medals (167068 W.O. Cl. 2 J. A. McDonald, Can. Pnr. Bn.), extremely fine (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 24 January 1919.

John Alfred McDonald was born in Springhill, Nova Scotia, on 5 December 1894. A Mechanic by occupation, he enlisted in the Canadian Engineers at Sydney Mine, N.S. in November 1915 and was embarked for England in the following month. Entering France in March 1916, he was appointed a Sergeant in November 1917 and Company Sergeant-Major in September 1918, adn was awarded the M.M.

On 12 December 1918, McDonald, a member of the 5th Battalion, Canadian Engineers, was accidentally shot in the shoulder by a revolver being handled by a Sergeant Harvey of the same unit. In the court of enquiry that followed, Harvey was found to have been negligent in handling the revolver and was reduced to the rank of Corporal. McDonald, who recovered from his wound, returned to Canada in May 1919 and was discharged at Halifax, N.S., that June 1919; sold with copied service papers, including those covering the Court of Enquiry.