A Fine Canadian First War Medal Bar to the 24th Infantry CEF

1914-15 Star (65042 Cpl J.R. BALES. 24/Can:Inf:); British War Medal (65042 S. SJT. J.R. BALES. 24-CAN.INF.); Victory Medal (65042 S. SJT. J.R. BALES. 24-CAN.INF.); Canadian Volunteer Service Medal; War Medal 1939-1945; Jubilee Medal 1935; Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal, GVR (R.Q.M.S. (W.O. CL. 2) J.R. BALES VIC. RIF. OF C.); and Efficiency Medal, GVIR, 1st Issue with CANADA Scroll (R.Q.M.S. (W.O. CL. 2) J.R. BALES V.R. OF C.). Mounted to a suspension with swing bar pinback, as worn by the veteran, original ribbons, light contact, better than very fine. Accompanied by copies of his West Derby Entry of Birth Certificate, Index Cards, Attestation Papers, Service Records, WWII Certificate of Active Service in Canada, Discharge Certificates, Supplement to the Canada Gazette (awarding him the Jubilee Medal 1935, page 3, dated May 4, 1935), Canada Gazette (awarding him the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal, page 1837, dated January 10, 1931), Canada Gazette (awarding him the Efficiency Medal with CANADA Scroll, page 1411, dated April 3, 1943), along with two WWI Scanned Group Photographs (one entitled "Sergeants, 24th Battalion (Victoria Rifles) C.E.F.", the other entitled "No. 8 Platoon"), all in plastic sleeves housed in a binder.

Footnote: John Rofe Bales was born in West Derby, Liverpool, England on December 18, 1887, the son of James Nunn Bales (Master Mariner) and Agnes Mary Bales (late Williamson, nee Burgess). In his Canadian Militia records, his year of birth is variously stated as 1887, 1890 and 1896, the month and day always stated as December 18th. He later moved to Montreal, Quebec, where he completed High School and gained Junior Matriculation to McGill University in 1911. He was a Rifleman with the Victoria Rifles of Canada from September 23 to October 31, 1914, before he signed his Attestation Paper as a Sergeant (initially as D-502028, later as 65042) with the 24th Infantry Battalion "Victoria Rifles" on October 31, 1914 in Montreal, naming his next-of-kin as his father, Captain John Bales of Liverpool, stating that he had previous military service with the 3rd Regiment Victoria Rifles of Canada, that he was married and that his trade was that of Engineer. He arrived in England aboard the S.S. Cameronia on May 20, 1915. It was here that he qualified as a Company Armourer and was appointed Company Armourer Corporal at East Sandling on August 9, 1915. Bales embarked for France from Folkestone the following month on September 15th, landing at Boulogne, France the next day. After briefly being transferred to the 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade, Machine Gun Company, Machine Gun Corps on December 24, 1915, he was transferred to the Canadian Ordnance Corps as an Armourer Sergeant, on October 1, 1916. He followed that with return to the 24th Infantry Battalion on May 24, 1917. Bales was promoted to Armourer Staff Sergeant on January 1,1918 and returned to England on April 7th. He sailed to Canada on May 10, 1919 and was discharged upon demobilization at Dispersal Station "F", Military District No. 4 in Montreal on May 19, 1919. He was awarded the Trio for his WWI service. Post-war, Bales served with the Canadian Militia, Non-Permanent Active Militia (N.P.A.M.) as part of the Victoria Rifles of Canada from November 21, 1920, as a Company Quartermaster Sergeant until June 27, 1926, when he was promoted to Company Sergeant Major, later followed by a promotion to Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant on December 1, 1928. He remained with the Victoria Rifles until he was discharged in November 1939 in Montreal, in consequence of his returning to Non-Permanent Active Militia status but was to see further service in the Second World War. He was re-called for service on August 1, 1940, signing his Attestation Paper on August 5, 1940 in Montreal, naming his next-of-kin as his brother, James Nunn Bales of Westmount, Quebec, stating that he was Single and that his trade was that of Refrigeration Engineer. Bales served in Canada, was at Mt. St. Bruno Camp, at Farnham Military Camp in 1941 and was admitted to St, Anne's Military Hospital in 1941 and 1943. He was discharged on January 15, 1944 from his war service and was awarded the CVSM and WM, then returned to Non-Permanent Active Militia status. He was also awarded three additional medals and published accordingly: the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal (Canada Gazette, page 1837, dated January 10, 1931), the Jubilee Medal 1935 (Supplement to the Canada Gazette, page 3, dated May 4, 1935) and the Efficiency Medal with CANADA Scroll (Canada Gazette, page 1411, dated April 3, 1943). Bales died on January 27, 1960, at the age of 72.