Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Private J. Roberts, Canadian Railway Troops, late 90th Light Infantry

British War and Victory Medals (1042893 Pte. J. Roberts. C.R.T.); mounted court-style for display together with a renamed South Africa 1877-79, 1 copy clasp, 1877-8-9 (779. John Roberts. 90th. L.I.) to represent the recipient’s full entitlement, nearly extremely fine (3) £100-£140

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Lieutenant-Colonel Edward De Santis.

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John Roberts was born in Dublin in March 1858 and attested there for the 90th Light Infantry on 3 March 1876. He served with the Regiment in South Africa from 10 January 1878 and saw active service in the actions against the Gaikas and Galekas in the Transkei, and subsequently in the Zulu War, being present at the Battle of Ulundi. He subsequently served with the Regiment in India, returning to the U.K. on 30 march 1882. He transferred to the Reserve on 8 April 1882, and was discharged on 24 February 1888, after 11 years and 358 days’ service.

Emigrating to Canada in 1904, Roberts attested for the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force at Montreal on 28 January 1915, lying about his age, and was posted to the 23rd (Westmount) Reserve Battalion. Proceeding with them to England, he was declared permanently unfit for military service on 2 November 1915, and was discharged on 21 January 1916. Returning to civilian life, he re-enlisted in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force at Ontario on 24 January 1917, again lying about his age, and was posted initially to the 240th Battalion, before being transferred to the 257th Railway Construction Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. He served with this new unit (which had been re-designated the 7th Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops) during the Great War on the Western Front from April 1917, and was employed in the Ypres sector. Returning to Canada on 19 November 1917, he was discharged on 15 May 1918, and resumed his civilian career as a policeman in Montreal. He died there on 4 December 1927, aged 69.

Sold with a small bronze Maple Leaf medal, the reverse engraved ‘3rd Shot Put Won by’.