A First War Pair to the 8th Canadian Siege Battery; Canadian Garrison Artillery

British War Medal (2327447 GNR. G.W. BERRY. C.G.A.); and Victory Medal (2327447 GNR. G.W. BERRY. C.G.A.). Un-mounted, dark patina on the BWM, light contact, very fine. Footnote: Gordon William Berry was born on October 31, 1893 in Guelph, Ontario, the son of William P. Berry and Jane Berry. He had one sister and one brother who had died from Diphtheria, but his other two sisters were healthy. He was a resident of Walkerville, Ontario when he signed his Attestation Paper (2327447) with the Cobourg Heavy Battery on June 1, 1917 in Windsor, Ontario, at the age of 23, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Jane Berry of Brantford, Ontario, stating that he had no previous military service, that he was not married and that his trade was that of Cashier. Berry departed with his unit from Montreal, Quebec aboard the R.M.S. Grampian on September 16, 1917, arriving in Liverpool, England on October 10th and was taken on strength of the 2nd Brigade, Canadian Reserve Artillery upon arrival. Berry was admitted to No. 12 Canadian General Hospital at Bramshott on November 5, 1917, suffering from inflammation of the tarsal joints and a swollen left ankle, which was causing him pain upon movement and was tender when pressure was applied. Two weeks later, he was transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Woodcote Park, Epsom on November 20, 1917, where he would recuperate for the next two and a half weeks, before being discharged to duty on December 14th. The following Spring, Berry was posted overseas as a reinforcement to the Canadian Siege Artillery on April 2, 1918, arriving in France the next day. He arrived at the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp on May 1st and joined the 3rd Brigade, Canadian Garrison Artillery on May 29th, where he would serve with the 8th Canadian Siege Battery. He was admitted to No. 7 Casualty Clearing Station on July 7, 1918 with a case of "Gleet" (a watery discharge from the urethra caused by gonorrheal infection), and after five days treatment, was discharged on the 12th. He left Rouen, France and proceeded to England on March 28, 1919, arriving on April 3rd. One week later, he was transferred from the 8th Canadian Siege Battery to the 10th Canadian Siege Battery onApril 10th, then struck off strength to Canada on May 3, 1919. Berry was discharged upon demobilization at No. 2 District Depot in Toronto, Ontario on May 11, 1919, credited with having served with the 8th Canadian Siege Battery in France and Belgium. For his First World War service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.