A Canadian Memorial Group for the Battle of the Scheldt

A Canadian Memorial Group for the Battle of the Scheldt - 1939-1945 Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-1945; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp; and Memorial Cross (D.116773 GNR. W.H. TEMKE). Naming is officially impressed on the cross. All are unmounted, the stars and medals are in their original boxes of issue, better than extremely fine. Accompanied by copies of his Attestation Paper, Service Records, Personal Selection Record, Will, Estate Declaration, PQ Death Transcript and Confirmation Card, Army Awards Card and assorted government and family correspondence. Footnote: William Henry Temke (D. 116773) was born in Lemgo, Lippe, Germany on January 25, 1908 and emigrated to Canada at the age of 20, on March 28, 1928, arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia, eventually settling in Montreal, Quebec. His father was ruined by inflation in Germany and decided to move his family to Canada for a better life. Both father and son were of strong belief, that they wanted to see the current war end and Germany defeated. Temke became a naturalized citizen in July 1936, as did his Czech mother, Elizabeth, and German father, William. He stated that he had no living grandparents, aunts or uncles and that he had no relatives in enemy or enemy occupied territory. He was fully versed in English, French, Finnish, as well as his native German. He married to a Finn, Alina Temke (nee Tuhkelainen) and on October 4, 1934, he became a father, when his wife gave birth to Margit Elizabeth Mary Temke. He signed his RCA Attestation Paper on April 1, 1942 in Montreal, Quebec, stating that he had no previous military service, that he was married to Alina Temke and his trade was as that of Bookkeeper. He previously been a cable splicer with Bell Telephone, a taxi driver and an officer worker before going the into army. He was strong academically and it didn't take the army long to recognize it, as well as his good conduct. Tenke completed his basic training at #48 Basic Training Centre, St. John's, Newfoundland in June 1943. By mid-1944, he found himself in the United Kingdom, then, on July 6, 1944, he disembarked in France, bound for action in the European theatre. He was a Gunner with the 5 Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery and died on October 8, 1944, from wounds that he received in action, as part of the five week conflict known as the Battle of the Scheldt (October 2 - November 8, 1944), at the age of 36. He was buried two days later in a civil cemetery in Huijbergen and then re-interred after the war in the Bergen-Op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery in the Netherlands