A First War Medal Pair to the 58th Infantry Battalion

British War Medal (727742 PTE. E.J. HAMERTON. 58-CAN.INF.); and Victory Medal (727742 PTE. E.J. HAMERTON. 58-CAN.INF.). Naming is officially impressed. Un-mounted, original ribbons, contact marks and surface wear, very fine. Footnote: Edward John Hamerton was born on March 17, 1893 in London, Middlesex, England. He was a resident of Stratford, Ontario when he signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (727742) with the 110th Infantry Battalion "Perth Battalion", on April 3, 1916 in Mitchell, Ontario, at the age of 23, naming his next-of-kin as his father, Robert Hamerton of Lambeth Infirmary, Kensington Street in London, stating that he had no previous military service, that he was not married and that his trade was that of Farmer. The Battalion was raised in Perth County Ontario with mobilization headquarters at Stratford under the authority of G.O. 151, December 22, 1915. Hamerton suffered a sprained ankle and was hospitalized for seventeen days at the Military Hospital in London, Ontario, from June 21st to July 7th, 1916. The 110th Infantry Battalion sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia on October 31, 1916 aboard the S.S. Caronia, under the command of J.L. Youngs with a strength of 26 officers and 635 other ranks, arriving in England on November 11th. Hamerton was transferred to the 8th Reserve Battalion on December 31, 1916, then taken on strength the next day. A little over five months later, he was struck of strength to the 58th Infantry Battalion for overseas service in France, on June 7, 1917, arriving in the French theatre the next day. He left for his new unit in the field on July 26th, arriving with them the same day. After twenty months in France, Hamerton proceeded to England on February 10, 1919, then embarked for Canada from Liverpool, England aboard the RMS Baltic, on March 12th. Private Hamerton was discharged upon demobilization at No. 2 District Depot in Toronto, Ontario, on March 31, 1919, credited with having served in Canada, England and France, entitled to wear the War Service Badge, Class "A", number 157865. During the war, his pay had been forwarded to his guardian, Mrs. Frank Studor of Sebringville, Ontario. He died on May 2, 1951, at the age of 58.