Canada. A First War Pair, to Sapper John Fraser White, Canadian Engineers

British War Medal (506218 SPR. J.F. WHITE. C.E.); and Victory Medal (506218 SPR. J.F. WHITE. C.E.). Naming is officially impressed. Un-mounted, scattered gilt wear on the VM, light contact, replacement ribbons, better than very fine.

 

Footnote: John Fraser White was born on on June 7, 1883 in Newcastle, New Brunswick. He was a resident of Newcastle when he signed his Attestation Paper as a Sapper (506218) at the Engineers Training Depot, 22nd R.D., 12th Field Battery, on September 20, 1916 at Newcastle, at the age of 33, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Mary White of Newcastle (his father deceased), stating that he had seven seasons' previous service with the 12th Field Battery New Brunswick, that he was not married, that his religion was Church of England and that his trade was that of Labourer. Sapper White embarked Canada aboard the S.S. Grampian on January 26, 1917, arriving in England on February 6th and was taken on strength at Crowboro on the 7th. Three months later, he proceeded overseas to the Engineer Pool on May 9, 1917, arriving in France on May 10th. He was taken on strength at the Reinforcement Pool on June 7, 1917 and posted to the 5th Company, Canadian Engineers. One year later, he was transferred to the 5th Battalion, Canadian Engineers on June 5, 1918, where he served with the 2nd Cable Section. Upon the ceasing of hostilities, Sapper White was struck off strength to the Canadian Engineers Reinforcement Pool at Le Havre on April 13, 1919, then struck off strength to the Canadian Engineers Reinforcement Depot at Seaford, on proceeding to England for demobilization, on April 19th. In his Medical History of an Invalid Report, dated May 7, 1919 at Seaford, he was officially diagnosed with "Amblyopia" (also known as "lazy eye", a vision development disorder in which an eye fails to achieve normal visual acuity) of his left eye. He had had the condition since childhood and it was causing him to have "defective vision". Shortly thereafter, he was attached to 'H' Wing at the Canadian Concentration Camp, Kinmel Park, Rhyl, North Wales for return to Canada. He sailed for Canada from Liverpool, England aboard the HMT Regina on May 20, 1919, arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia on 28th. Sapper John Fraser White, Canadian Engineers was discharged upon demobilization at Dispersal Station "O", No. 7 Military District in Saint John, New Brunswick, on May 30, 1919, credited with having served in Canada, England, France and Belgium, entitled to wear the War Service Badge, Class "A", number 267965. For his First World War service, Gunner Ferguson was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. As his father was deceased, he was the sole support for his widowed mother throughout the war, in the amount of $45.00 per month.