A First War Medal Group to the Second Canadian Infantry CEF

A First War Medal Group to the Second Canadian Infantry CEF - 1914-15 Star (8643 Pte J. ANDERSON. 2/CAN:INF:); British War Medal (8643 PTE. J. ANDERSON. 2-CAN. INF.); and Victory Medal (8643 PTE. J. ANDERSON. 2-CAN. INF.). Naming is officially impressed. Cleaned, contact on the obverse of BWM from the adjoining Star, residue on the reverse of VM, court-mounted with dual push pins, very fine. Accompanied by a CD containing twenty-four pages with copies of his Attestation Paper, Service Records, Medical Records and Discharge Certificates. Footnote: James Anderson was born on October 21, 1883 in Perth County, Perth, Scotland. He enlisted at Cornwall, Ontario on August 14, 1914 and signed his Attestation Paper on September 22, 1914 at Valcartier, Quebec, stating that he was not married, that he had  previous military service with the Gloucester Regiment in South Africa and that his trade was that of Fireman, having been employed with Canadian Pacific Railways as a Locomotive Fireman before enlisting. The Battalion was raised in eastern Ontario with mobilization headquarters at Camp Valcartier, under the authority of P.C.O. 2067, August 6, 1914. The Battalion sailed October 3, 1914 with a strength of 45 officers and 1,098 other ranks, including Anderson, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel D. Watson. He was with the 2nd Battalion in England for four months before departing for the French theatre in February 1915. He did seek medical attention in November 1914 at Salisbury Plain, for what he called "rhumatism", later diagnosed as "myalgia" (muscle pain) and was treated at Bulford Hospital from about six weeks. It was noted in his records that his unit was "unofficially notified" that he was "a prisoner of war" in the field on May 30, 1915. He was previously struck off strength as missing, thought to be a prisoner of war but had returned to his unit, August 17, 1915. He later met with misfortune, as he stepped on a nail in Lens, France, with the wound becoming septic in January 1916. He was treated at Canadian Field Ambulance, then in hospital at Monty Catz Baillieul, all the while compounded by "sciatica". He was transferred from France to England, where he was posted to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot at Seaford on October 27th, 1917. It was noted in his Proceedings of a Medical Board dated December 22, 1917, that Andersonwas "In France 32 months in front line. Evacuated Oct. 27th 1917 with infected foot due to running a nail into foot, left. States he is subject to attacks of arthritis, in hospital at Salisbury Plains in 1914, and for 9 weeks in France in 1915 was unable to carry on in front line." It went on to state, "Should not be sent back to France this winter." Two months later, in February 1918, Anderson was evacuated to Canada. He spent the remainder of the war in Kingston, Ontario, with his medical situation still being monitored closely. He was discharged on demobilization at No. 3 Battalion, Canadian Garrison Regiment, Kingston, Ontario on Februray 19, 1919. Anderson died on September 9, 1937.