A Fine Collection of Awards to the Canadian Forces

A Canadian Memorial Cross awarded in remembrance of Private H. N. Bills, 28th (North West) Battalion, who was killed in action at the battle of Passchendaele on 9 November 1917

Canadian Memorial Cross, G.V.R., the reverse officially inscribed, ‘1051391 Pte. H. N. Bills’, extremely fine £120-160

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of Awards to the Canadian Forces.

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Herbert Newton Bills was born in Cork, Ireland, on 4 November 1882. A Farmer by occupation, he enlisted into the 243rd Battalion at Yorkton, Saskatchewan, in October 1916, having previously served for eight years in the Imperial Army, and four years on the Reserve. Serving in the 28th (Northwest) Battalion, he was killed in action on 9 November 1917 during the battle of Passchendaele. The official casualty report states:

‘While Private Bills was attached to the 5th Canadian Machine Gun Company as a carrier during the Passchendaele operations on the morning of 9.11.17, and was resting in a “bivy” at Tyne Cot, an enemy shell penetrated and burst there, literally blowing Private Bills to atoms’.

Bills remains were buried in the Tyne Cot Cemetery, Zonnebeke, Belgium; sold with copied service papers.