A Fine Collection of Awards to the Canadian Forces

Five: Major G. L. Bodwell, Royal Canadian Engineers

1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal 1939-45, silver; Canadian Voluntary Service Medal 1939-45, with overseas clasp; War Medal 1939-45, silver, M.I.D. oak leaf, mounted court-style as worn, together with His Excellency the Governor-General and Lady Bessborough’s Prize Medal, silver, in its fitted Mappin & Webb, London case, Quebec, Department of Public Instruction Medal, silver, inscribed to ‘G.C. (Sgt.) Bodwell, G. L., 1936’, Canadian Legion Vimy Pilgrimage Medal 1936, and Shell Oil Company of Canada ‘On Active Service Medal’, silvered metal, the reverse inscribed, ‘G. L. Bodwell’, somewhat polished, otherwise generally very fine (9) £250-300

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

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Geoffrey Lionel Bodwell was born in Vancouver, B.C., on 19 September 1914. His father, a graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada, ended the Great War as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Canadian Engineers and was awarded the C.M.G. and D.S.O. - see Lot 541.

Young Geoffrey followed in his father’s footsteps and also attended the R.M.C. Canada, where he was a Cadet Sergeant and excelled in both academics and sports. Next attending Toronto University, where he studied civil engineering, he was awarded the Governor-General’s Medal for scholastic excellence.

He was also commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Engineers (N.P.A.M.), and served in the 2nd Field Company and 7th Field Company, R.C.E., and it was in the latter unit that he was mobilised in September 1939. Embarked for England in the following year, he gained advancement to Major and held staff posts at Canadian Corps H.Q. and H.Q. 1st Canadian Army, following which he landed in Normandy on 12 June 1944 (D+6). Active service as Brigade Major, 1st Canadian Army Lines of Communication, and Brigade Major, H.Q., Army Group, R.C.E., having followed, he was mentioned in despatches.

On demobilisation, Bodwell returned to his former post at the Shell Oil Company of Canada.

Sold with a large quantity of related buttons and metalled badges, including Royal Military College of Canada helmet plate, cap badge and buckle badge, and Royal Canadian Engineers Officer’s gilt cap badge and collar badges, together with R.M.C. belt and sash, and pennant, and much besides, including a large format photograph of members of No. 7 Field Company, R.C.E., England, June 1941, in its scroll forwarding case addressed to the recipient.