Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Collection of Canadian Shooting Medals awarded to Major-General Sir John M. Gibson, K.C.M.G., 13th Battalion, Canadian Infantry, later Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario

University of Toronto Presentation Medal (3), 34mm, gold (29.39g), the reverse engrave ‘I. M. Gibson, LL.B’, and dated 1869; 34mm, silver (2), the reverse both engraved ‘I. M. Gibson’ and both dated 1863; Victoria Rifle Club Medal (2), silver, the suspensions bars engraved ‘J. M. Gibson’ and ‘Lt. Col. Gibson’, and dated 1877 and 1879 respectively; U.S. Centennial Rifle Association Shield Medallion, gold (9.73g), the reverse engraved ‘American Riflemen to I. M. Gibson of the International Canadian Rifle Team Sept. 13th & 14th 1876’; Government of Canada Kolapore Cup Medal, gold (14ct., 20.21g), the reverse engraved ‘Presented by the Government of Canada to Major J. M. Gibson 13th Battalion, Infantry.’, with top ‘Kolapore, Wimbledon 1875’ brooch bar; Government of the Dominion of Canada Wimbledon 1881 Prize Medal, gold (15ct., 22.84g), the reverse engraved ‘Prestd. by the Govt. of the Dominion of Canada to Lt. Col. John M. Gibson, 13th Batt.’, with ‘Kolapore’ top brooch bar; Victoria Rifle Club Goodwin Medal 1885, gold (9.37g), engraved ‘Won by Lt. Col. Gibson’; together with a XIII Royal Regiment silver medal, the reverse engraved ‘Gillard Cup A. Co.’; and a XIII Royal Regiment gilt and enamel medallet, some pin marks to edges where the medals have previously been mounted on a board, generally good very fine (lot) £600-£800

K.C.M.G. London Gazette 1 January 1912.

Sir John Morison Gibson (1842-1929) was educated Hamilton Central School and the University of Toronto and enlisted in the 13th Battalion as an Ensign in 1864. He served with them at the Battle of Ridgeway during the Fenian Raids of 1866, and served as the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (as the 13th Battalion was re-designated) from 1886 to 1895. A member of the Ontario Legislature from 1879 to 1905, he served as Attorney General of Ontario, before being appointed the 10th Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario in September 1908, being knighted in 1912. He resigned from office in September 1914.