A Fine Collection of Awards to the Canadian Forces

A Great War Vimy Ridge M.M. awarded to Private A. McRobb, 44th (Manitoba) Battalion, Canadian Infantry, who was wounded in June 1917

Military Medal, G.V.R. (829306 Pte. A. McRobb, 44/Can. Inf.), minor edge bruising, very fine £450-550

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 9 July 1917. The original recommendation states:

‘On 12 April 1917, East of Souchez, during attack on the Pimple, this man, while exposed to heavy shell fire and sniping, dug out two of his comrades who had been buried.’

Andrew McRobb was born in Hawick, Scotland. Living at Drinkwater, Saskatchewan, and a Farmer by occupation, he enlisted into the 144th (Winnipeg Rifles) Battalion at Winnipeg in November 1915. Arriving in England in September 1916, he was taken on to the strength of the 44th (Manitoba) Battalion, Canadian Infantry, in France in March 1917, and was soon in action, winning his M.M. during an attack on the Pimple, a German stronghold, during the Battle of Vimy Ridge on 12 April 1917.

During the operations in the Souchez-Avion Sector-Lens Area, the 44th Battalion attacked La Coulotte at midnight, 2-3 June 1917. The 3rd and 44th Battalions encountered heavy fighting and having achieved their objectives, could not hold them and were forced back to their start line. McRobb was seriously wounded in the action, being struck by shrapnel and suffering a compound fracture to the right ulna and left femur. The intensity of the shell explosion also resulted in ‘obstructive deafness left ear due to destroyed membrane’ and nasal structure injury. He subsequently spent 15 months in various hospitals receiving treatment and was discharged as medically unfit in December 1918. McRobb died in September 1951 and was buried in Brookside Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.