Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Lieutenant C. P. Steer, 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles, who was killed in action on Vimy Ridge, 22 May 1917

British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. C. P. Steer.); Memorial Plaque (Charles Pearman Steer); Canadian Memorial Cross, G.V.R. (Lieut. C. P. Steer) generally nearly very fine or better (4) £260-£300

Charles Pearman Steer was born in Hampstead, London in January 1882. He served in the ranks with the 34th Company (Middlesex) Imperial Yeomanry in South Africa during the Second Boer War (entitled to Q.S.A. with ‘Cape Colony’, ‘Orange Free State’, ‘Transvaal’, ‘South Africa 1901’ and ‘South Africa 1902’ clasps). Steer was engaged in surveying prior to the Great War, and then served with the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles in the French theatre of war from September 1915 (entitled to 1914-15 Star). Steer advanced to Company Sergeant Major in February 1916, and was commissioned Temporary Lieutenant in ‘D’ Company, 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles in January 1917.

Lieutenant Steer was killed in action in positions on Vimy Ridge, 22 May 1917:

‘The following week was spent in cleaning up and training, afternoons given over to sports. On the 20th we were moved back up to the Ridge and were set to work digging new defences and putting up wire entanglements. At times our work parties, who were under observation from Lens and Mericout, were shelled. As a result Lieutenant Steer was killed on the afternoon of the 22nd. The same day, Lieutenant Darcus, with three of his men, who were putting in screw stakes, unknowingly stirred up a buried bomb and were all wounded.’ (Regimental History refers)

Lieutenant Steer is buried in Ecoivres Military Cemetery, Mont-St. Eloi, Pas de Calais, France.

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