A Fine Collection of Awards to the Canadian Forces

A Great War M.M. group of three awarded to Corporal J. R. Duncan, 73rd (Royal Highlanders of Canada) Battalion, Canadian Infantry, who was killed in action on 28 March 1917

Military Medal, G.V.R. (145457 Pte. J. R. Duncan, 73/Can. Inf. Bn.); British War and Victory Medals (145457 Cpl. J. R. Duncan, 73-Can. Inf.), together with his Canadian Memorial Cross, G.V.R., the reverse officially inscribed, ‘145457 Cpl. J. R. Duncan M.M.’, good 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 12 March 1917. The original recommendation states:

‘For conspicuous gallantry on the 19 November 1916, near Petit Miraumont, whilst with a party of stretchers, which were clearing out the battlefield, after a successful attack by us, Lance-Corporal Cowing and Private Duncan saw some men lying out in front of the Battalion on their left. They were informed that the Commanding Officer of that Battalion Lieutenant-Colonel Irwin, D.S.O., was lying out there wounded and several attempts had been made to bring him in, without success, several men having been hit by snipers in the attempts. Lance-Corporal Cowing and Private Duncan volunteered to go out and succeeded in bringing in Lieutenant-Colonel Irwin safely back to our lines in spite of very active sniper fire.’

John Robert Duncan was killed in action on 28 March 1917 and was buried in the Villers Station Cemetery, Villers-au-Bois, Pas de Calais.