Canada. A Military Medal to Gunner James Young, RCA who Landed at Cesenatico 1944

Military Medal, George VI (D.9069 GNR. J. YOUNG. R.C.A.); 1939-1945 Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp; and War Medal 1939-1935. Naming is officially impressed on the MM, the remaining awards are un-named as issued. Un-mounted, spotting on the reverse of the Italy Star, very light contact on all, with original ribbons, the MM with a pinback, extremely fine. Accompanied by a reproduction photograph of Young in uniform with Phyllis Perryman, taken on their wedding day, May 8, 1942 (black and white, on Kodak Xtralife paper, measuring 151 mm (w) x 102 mm (h)).

Footnote: Second War veteran, D.9068 Gunner James Young, 5 Canadian Medium Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery was a Signaller with an Observational Post party when they made a sea-borne landing from the Adriatic Sea, near Cesenatico, Italy, just north of San Marino, on the night of September 21-22, 1944. For his actions that day, he was Mentioned in Despatches, the announcement appearing in the Canada Gazette of Saturday, May 26, 1945 and in the Canadian Army Routine Order (CARO/5718). Gunner Young was awarded the Military Medal, the announcement appearing in the Canada Gazette of Saturday, June 23, 1945 and in the Canadian Army Routine Order (CARO/5801). The citation for his Military Medal states: "On the night 21/22 September 1944, Gunner Young of 5 Canadian Medium Regiment was a signaller with an Observational Post party which made a sea-borne landing behind enemy line near Cesenatico. On landing it was found necessary for the party to pass through a deploying enemy battery in an effort to contact an Italian partisan headquarters. Despite the burden of several days supplies and a wireless set, contact was made the night 22/23 September 1944. An Observation Post was established and Gunner Young set up communications which he maintained without a break for a week. Despite the frequent presence of German soldiers in the same house which necessitated extreme care, he passed back much information and was instrumental in the completion of several successful shoots. The party returned early on the morning of 1 October 1944. An attempt was made to pass the front lines by wading and swimming in the sea. On coming ashore the party found itself in the front lines and was fired upon. Gunner Young, a powerful swimmer, had been swimming farther out to sea than the rest and, seeing the other members of the party wounded, swam farther behind the lines, landed and informed Allied troops of the situation. His action ensured speedy recognition and medical care for the reminder of the party. Throughout the episode Gunner Young's resourcefulness and tireless efforts were of the greatest assistance to the party and permitted the passing of much extremely valuable information as well as the inflicting of many casualties on the enemy."