A Canadian 3rd Battalion Military Medal Group for Souchez Trench Raid 1916

Military Medal (201374 PTE. F. GARDNER. 3/CAN:INF:BN:); British War Medal (201374 PTE. F. GARDNER. 3-CAN.INF.); and Victory Medal (201374 PTE. F. GARDNER. 3-CAN.INF.). Naming is officially impressed. Un-mounted, extremely fine. Accompanied by three cap badges: 3rd Infantry Battalion "Toronto Regiment" (browning brass, unmarked, 42.5 mm x 51 mm); the 95th Infantry Battalion (blackened copper, maker marked "ELLIS BROS" on the reverse, 46.7 mm x 47 mm); and the Cheshire Regiment (two-piece construction, bronze insignia on a white metal base, unmarked, 43.3 mm x 53 mm), along with a CD containing twenty-two pages of paperwork on Gardner, including copies of his Attestation Paper, Service Records, Medical Records, Particulars of Family of an Officer or Man Enlisted in C.E.F. Form, Will and Discharge Certificates.

Footnote: Frederick Gardner was born on January 1, 1895 in Dudley, Lancashire, England. He signed his Attestation Paper with the 95th Battalion on November 10, 1915 in Toronto, Ontario, stating that he had four years military service as a Private with the Cheshire Regiment, that he was not married and that his trade was that of Labourer. The Battalion was raised and mobilized in Toronto, Ontario under the authority of G.O. 151, December 22, 1915. The Battalion embarked Canada May 31, 1916, sailing for England under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel R. Barker with a strength of 36 officers and 1,061 other ranks, includingGardner, disembarking in England on June 8th. In England, the Battalion was absorbed into the 5th Reserve Battalion. He was transferred to the 3rd Battalion on September 21, 1916, joining them in the field on October 9th. Throughout much of the war, he was treated on numerous occasions for various aliments, including venereal disease, dermatitis and eczema. One such incident forced him to be hospitalized in August 1917, with a penalty in the form of loss of pay, before returning to the 3rd on September 1st. Another disciplinary situation was decided on July 8, 1918, as he was sentenced to ten days field punishment for "drunkeness" when on active service. Upon conclusion of hostilities, he proceeded to England on March 22, 1919, leaving Southampton bound for Canada on April 14th. Gardner was discharged from active service upon demobilization on April 23, 1919 in Toronto. He was cited for his Military Medal in the London Gazette 29953 on February 19, 1917, "For conspicous gallantry displayed during a raid on the enemy trenches on the morning of December 9th, 1916, in the vicinity of Souchez, north of Vimy Ridge."