Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. and Second Award Bar group of four awarded to Sergeant T. Wilson, Royal Field Artillery, who was twice wounded in action

Military Medal, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar (103989 Cpl. -A. Sjt:- T. Wilson. D162/Bde: R.F.A.); 1914-15 Star (103989. Dvr. T. Wilson, R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (103989 Sjt. T. Wilson. R.A.) light contact marks, very fine (4) £700-£900

M.M. London Gazette 23 February 1918.

M.M. Second Award Bar London Gazette 20 August 1919.

Thomas Wilson was born in Eyemouth, Berwickshire, on 30 April 1891, and having emigrated to Canada in 1908, when 18 years old, he returned to Britain and worked as a baker in North Berwick. Following the outbreak of the Great War he volunteered for service on 24 August 1915 and served during the Great War with 'D' Company,162nd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, part of the 33rd Division. The Company embarked from Southampton landing in France on 13 December 1915.

The 162nd Brigade first went into action on 13 February 1916 and were involved in major actions in the Battles of the Somme including the Battle of Albert (1-13 July), the Battle of Bazentin (14-17 July), and the attacks on High Wood (22 July - 7 August). Promoted Corporal on 19 February 1917, Wilson saw further action in the Arras Offensive (9-24 April), the Hindenburg Line (12 September - 12 October) and Operation Hush on the Flanders Coast. The Brigade also saw action in the 3rd Battles of Ypres (31 July - 10 November). The first award of the Military Medal to Wilson was for actions in the 3rd Battles of Ypres whilst a member of D (Howitzer) Battery.

On 22 September Wilson was wounded by gas on 22 September 1917, and was awarded his first Military Medal on 4 October 1917 which was gazetted the following February. He was promoted Sergeant, and was awarded the Second Award Bar to the Military Medal for ‘Operations on the Western Front’ between October and December 1917 year. He was also awarded a Divisional Certificate for distinguished services on the 25 April 1918, during the retreat from Kemmel Ridge. He was wounded again on 2 May 1918.

In May 1921, Wilson returned to Canada and settled in South Porcupine. He was awarded the British Empire Service League Canadian Legion Medal '1937-40', and remained in Ontario for the rest of his life before his death, aged 73, on 26 June 1964. He is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto.

His son, Thomas Peter Wilson, served during the Second World War with 434 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in December 1944.

Sold with the recipient’s British Empire Service League Canadian Legion Medal, the reverse engraved ‘Tho’s Wilson, S. Porcupine, Br #287. 1937-40’, with top ‘Past President Branch’ riband bar; and copied research which states that Wilson requested that his Military Medal be personally presented to him by H.M. the King (although it is not clear whether this request was granted).