Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Private K. D. Stephenson, 47th Battalion (British Columbia), Canadian Infantry, who lied about his age and signed up for service aged 16, was found out and discharged, only to sign up again, and be killed in action on the Western Front, 21 October 1918

British War and Victory Medals (2499687 Pte. K. D. Stephenson. 47-Can. Inf.) very fine or better

1914-15 Star (16404 Pte W. J. Bowser. 7/Can: Inf:); together with British War Medal 1914-20 (2140544 Pte. A. Copeland. B.C.R.); and Victory Medal 1914-19 (29008 Pte. H. A. Peden. 16-Can. Inf.) generally good very fine (5) £100-£140

Kenneth Douglas Stephenson was born in Aurora, Ontario, Canada in March 1900. He originally attested 20 November 1916 with the 234th Battalion as a Bugler (Service No. 1024446). Stephenson declared his Date of Birth as 10 March 1900. He was discharged 13 April 1917, as ‘Medically Unfit due to being Under Age’. He Reattested 2 January 1918 in the Railway Construction Depot (Service No. 2499687) and this time declared his Date of Birth as 10 March 1899.

Private Stephenson was killed in action whilst serving with the 47th Battalion, Canadian Infantry on the Western Front, 21 October 1918. He is buried in La Sentinelle Communal Cemetery, France.

William James Bowser was born in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada in September 1891. He served during the Great War with the 7th Battalion (1st British Columbia), Canadian Infantry on the Western Front. Private Bowser was killed in action, 15 April 1915, and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin) Gate Memorial, Belgium.

Alfred Copeland was a Native Indian, who was born on the Lillooet Reservation, British Columbia, Canada in November 1892. He served during the Great War with the British Columbia Regiment in the UK. Copeland died at Lillooet, British Columbia in March 1951.

Hugh Alexander Peden was born in Glasgow, Scotland in May 1887. He served during the Great War with the 16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish), Canadian Infantry and died of injuries sustained when struck by a motor vehicle 7 December 1914. Private Peden is buried in the Bulford Church Cemetery, Wiltshire.