A Fine Collection of Awards to the Canadian Forces

A Great War M.M. awarded to Private R. Whitehead, 43rd (Cameron Highlanders of Canada) Battalion, Canadian Infantry, who was wounded in September 1916

Military Medal, G.V.R. (421039 Pte. R. Whitehead, 43/Can. Inf. Bn.), edge bruising, good very fine £400-450

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 conspicuous gallantry after a successful attack, he, with two others, was in command of parties holding the captured trench and by his splendid example and devotion to duty assisted materially in the consolidation of the position and in holding it against repeated counter attacks.’

Robert Whitehead was born in Tillicoultry, Clackmananshire, Scotland, on 22 December 1886. A Cook by occupation, he attested for the 43rd (Cameron Highlanders of Canada) Battalion at Winnipeg in March 1915 and arrived in England that June.

Entering the French theatre of war in February 1916, he was buried by a shell explosion and suffered a shrapnel wound to the left heel on 20 September of the same year. Awarded the M.M., he was employed in England for the rest of the war, and was discharged at St. John, New Brunswick, in April 1919; sold with copied service papers.