A Memorial Cross to Private Osmond John Culbert Begin, 86th Machine Gun Battalion, KIA in the Somme

Canada; George V (174221 Pte O.J.C. BEGIN). Naming is engraved. Sterling silver, marked "STERLING" and hallmarked on the reverse, on shortened replacement neck ribbon, contact marks, very fine. Accompanied by its Canadian government issued memorial card, in its hardshelled case of issue, scratch on the lid, lightly soiled medal bed, case also very fine.

Footnote: Osmond John Cuthbert Begin was born on April 24, 1891 in Hamilton, Ontario, the son of Charles T. Begin and Elizabeth Begin. He was a resident of Hamilton and employed in the office of the Canadian Westinghouse Company, when he signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (174221) with the 86th Machine Gun Battalion, on September 10, 1915 in Hamilton, at the age of 24, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Elizabeth Begin, stating the he had one years' previous service with 13th Royal Regiment, that he was not married and that his trade was that of Clerk. His religion was Church of England. Eight months after enlisting, Private Begin of the 86th Machine Gun Battalion sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia aboard the S.S. Adriatic, on May 19, 1916, arriving in Liverpool, England on May 29th, with Begin being appointed Acting Lance Corporal on May 30th. He reverted to the ranks at his own request on October 7, 1916. Private Begin was struck off strength to the 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade for overseas service in the French theatre, on October 21, 1916. He arrived at the Base Depot in Le Havre, France on the 22nd and joined his new unit in the field on the 27th. The following Spring, he was attached to the Canadian Corps Signals School from March 2 to April 1, 1917. Three weeks after leaving the Signals School, he was in action when he was "slightly wounded in the left arm on April 23, 1917". He was subsequently admitted to No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance with a gun shot (shrapnel) wound to his left arm. He was transferred to No. 22 Casualty Clearing Station the following day, where he would recuperate for the next two weeks, until May 8th, when he rejoined his unit in the field. He was sentenced to five days' Field Punishment No. 1 and forfeited one days' pay, for when on active service he overstayed his leave from 12:00 midnight on September 12, 1917 to 7:20 a.m. on September 13, 1917. 174221 Private Osmond John Culbert Begin, 1st Division, 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade was Killed in Action during the German Spring Offensive in the Somme, on March 25, 1918, at the age of 27. He is buried in Pargny British Cemetery, Pargny, Somme, France, Grave Reference: IV. C. 1. and is commemorated on page 366 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. His parents were notified of his death by the military. They were told that he was serving with the "Borden Motor Machine Gun Battery" and had been "engaged in terrific fighting on the western front" when he was killed. His mother, Elizabeth Begin, received his Memorial Cross, British War Medal and Victory Medal, while his father, Charles T. Begin, received his Memorial Plaque and Scroll. In his Will, dated September 18, 1916, Private Begin bequeathed all his real estate and personal estate to his mother, Elizabeth Begin. He is also remembered with honour, along with twenty-six others, on the Memorial Plaque at All Saints' Anglican Church in Hamilton, Ontario, inscribed "To the men of All Saints' Parish who gave their lives in the Great War 1914-1918".