A Fine Collection of Awards to the Canadian Forces

A Great War battle of Thiepval Ridge M.M. group of four awarded to Private J. D. Straker, 5th (Western Cavalry) Battalion, Canadian Infantry, who was wounded in action in September 1918

Military Medal, G.V.R. (424213 Pte. J. D. Straker, 5-Can. Inf.); 1914-15 Star (424213 Pte. J. D. Straker, 5-Can. Inf.); British War and Victory Medals (424213 Pte. J. D. Straker, 5-Can. Inf.), contact marks, nearly very fine (4) £500-600

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 11 October 1916. The original recommendation states:

‘For repeated gallant conduct while serving with this Battalion in France, especially during the attack on the Hessian Trench on the 26 September 1916. This man accompanied the attack to the most advanced position where he remained attending to the wounded remaining at his work after the Battalion had been relieved.’

John Dixon Straker was born in South Shields, Co. Durham. A Farmer by occupation, he enlisted into the 45th (Manitoba) Battalion in January 1915 and, proceeding to England, was posted to the 9th Reserve Battalion and thence, in September 1915, to the 5th (Western Cavalry) Battalion in France. Awarded the M.M. for his services during the attack on the Hessian Trench during the Battle of Thiepval Ridge on 26-28 September 1916, Straker was wounded on 4 September 1918 - taking shrapnel wounds to his left arm. Also entitled to wear four Blue Service Chevrons and one Gold Casualty Chevron, he was discharged at Regina in February 1919; sold with copied service papers.