Canada. An Officer's Colonial Long Service Trio to Lieutenant Colonel/Major Lennox Irving

Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ Decoration, Victoria (in silver gilt, maker marked "SG" (Sebastian Garrard), hallmarked with the British lion, marked with a leopard's head (made in London) and date marked "f" (1901) and name engraved "LIEUT. COLONEL L. IRVING 42nd. REGIMENT" on the reverse, measuring 35.8 mm (w) x 63.2 mm (h), original ribbon suspended from hanger bearing oak leaves and acorns, with pinback, traces of gilt remains); Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal, Victoria (LIEUT. COLONEL L. IRVING, 42nd. REGIMENT); and British War Medal (MAJOR. L. IRVING.). Naming is officially impressed on the CAFLSM and the BWM, with replacement ribbons. Un-mounted, bruising on the BWM, pitting on the CAFLSM, contact marks, fine. Accompanied by an "On War Service 1916" Badge (in silver, obverse illustrating a crown surmounting the date "1916", inscribed "ON WAR SERVICE" on the three panels of the triangular frame, reverse maker marked "J.R. GAUNT & SON Ltd LONDON" and number impressed "442648", measuring 44.2 mm (w) x 39.3 mm (h), vertical pinback); a Town of Pembroke Honor Medal (in red bronze, obverse illustrating the Town of Pembroke coat-of-arms, inscribed "Pembroke" and maker marked "HARWOOD BROS. PEMBROKE" below, reverse inscribed "Presented to" surrounded by the inscription "FOR HONOR BROUGHT TO PEMBROKE", measuring 35 mm in diameter, suspended from a hanger inscribed "PEMBROKE", with pinback); along with copies of his First World War Officers' Declaration Paper, Index Card and two lists confirming his award of the CAFLSM (1903) and the CAFOD (1905).

Footnote: Lennox Irving was born on May 16, 1863 in Pembroke, Ontario. As of April 1917, both his parents were acknowledged as being deceased. While serving as a Lieutenant Colonel with the 42nd Regiment, he was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal by G.O.145 in 1903 and the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ Decoration by G.O. 96 in 1905. Before going overseas during the First World War, Irving was diagnosed with a case of Bronchitis. A Medical Board declared him "unfit for any service for one month" on March 2, 1916, but by April 3rd, he had been declared "Fit for General Service". Irving signed his Officers' Declaration Paper in the rank of Major with the 240th Infantry Battalion "Lanark and Renfrew Battalion", on July 20, 1916 in Renfrew, Ontario, at the age of 53, naming his next-of-kin as his sister, Anne E. Irving of Huron Road Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, stating that he was on the Reserve of Officers with the 42nd Regiment, that he had been a Lieutenant Colonel with the 42nd Regiment and a Corporal with the Queens Rifle Corps, that he was Single, that his religion was Presbyterian and that his profession was that of Barrister at Law. The Battalion was raised in Ontario, with mobilization headquarters at Renfrew, under the authority of G.O. 69, July 15, 1916. The Battalion sailed May 3, 1917 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel E.J. Watt, with a strength of 14 officers and 375 other ranks. Upon arrival in England, Major Irving was absorbed into the 7th Reserve Battalion on May 14th, for a period of forty-four days, before returning to his unit on June 29th. During this period, he proceeded overseas on an Instructional Course on June 14th and was attached to the 38th Infantry Battalion from June 17th to 26th. He is acknowledged as having served in England from April 30, 1917 to July 18, 1917. Lennox Irving died on November 10, 1938, at the age of 75 and is buried in Royal Oak Burial Park, Victoria, British Columbia.