Canada. First War British War Medal, to Sapper Walter Samuel Webb, Canadian Engineers

(2009355 SPR. W.S. WEBB. C.E.). Naming is officially impressed. Dark patina, very light contact, original ribbon, maker marked "J.R. GAUNT LONDON" on the pinback, extremely fine.

Footnote: Walter Samuel Webb was born on April 13, 1899 in Toronto, Ontario. He had had the measles, the mumps and the chicken pox in childhood, with no complications. Webb was a resident of Toronto when he signed his Attestation Paper as a Sapper (2009355) with the Canadian Engineers, on May 29, 1918 in Toronto, at the age of 19, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Laura Webb of Toronto, stating that he had no previous military service, that he was not married, that his religion was Church of England and that his trade was that of Driver. He was transferred to the Engineering Depot at Brockville, Ontario on June 6, 1918. Sapper Webb was transferred to the 57th Draft, Canadian Engineers for service in the European theatre, on July 12, 1918, embarking Montreal, Quebec that day and arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia on the 18th. Nine days after arriving in Halifax, he developed a medical issue while waiting for his transport to Europe and was treated at Cogswell Street in downtown Halifax, on July 28th. The doctor who performed the examination described Webb's condition: "Yesterday (27th), while out with a 'lady', (he) had considerable sexual excitement without orgasm, which was followed by pain and soreness in (the) testes. For which he came to hospital, during (the) night and after rest, (the) pain and soreness passed away. Evidently a simple case of testicular congestion". After three days, he was discharged to duty on the 31st. Sapper Webb embarked Halifax on August 3, 1918, arriving in Liverpool, England on the 16th, where he was taken on strength of the 3rd Canadian Engineers Regimental Depot at Seaford, Sussex and briefly placed on command at Purley from the 16th to the 22nd. Six weeks after arriving in England and still attached to the Canadian Engineers Regimental Depot, he received a medical examination, as he was experiencing "issues" while training with his unit at Seaford. He was diagnosed "D.A.H." (Disordered Action of the Heart, otherwise known as Soldier's Heart or Effort Syndrome, and was thought to result from a combination of over exertion, mental stress and fatigue) during his medical exam at the SMB Rooms at Seaford. In his Proceedings of a Medical Board Report, dated September 27, 1918 at Seaford, the attending physician stated that Webb "Has not been to France. Never had and serious illness but complains of pains during marches under full equipment, and has had to fall out frequently because of dizziness". He was declared to be "Fit for Duty, B11". The condition continued, forcing him to be medically reassessed on November 16th at Seaford. The doctor noted that Webb had had "no hospital entries to this point" and that the "soldier states (that he) had no trouble with (his) heart before entering the army. Pain and shortness of breath has troubled him ever since. He has not been to Europe. Never had any serious illness". Seeing as hostilities had ceased five days earlier and that his condition remained of concerned to the doctors, he was struck off strength of the Overseas Military Forces of Canada, posted to camp for return to his homeland. Sapper Webb sailed for Canada on December 7, 1918 aboard the S.S Olympic, arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia on the 14th. He was subsequently posted to the Casualty Company at Exhibition Camp in Toronto, where it was noted that he was suffering from "stress of service (route marches, etc.), (from) excessive smoking" during his medical exam. In his Medical History of an Invalid Report, dated January 9, 1919 at Exhibition Camp in Toronto, the attending physician noted that Webb had "Partial loss of function of (the) heart" and that he was a "Poorly nourished boy of 19". He went on to state that Webb "Experiences sharp shooting pain in (the) heart. Pain lasts about 5 minutes and is felt once a day at once in 2 days. Feels somewhat weak during attacks of pain and has slight shortness of breath. First felt pain in (the) left side of (his) chest in front, on July 12, 1918 after a day of severe heat and drill. Felt a little weak but was able to carry on. Felt pain at intervals of once or twice a week with little or no weakness of a month or so. One hot day in August, after walking 7 miles on a route march, felt a severe pain in (the) heart region and almost immediately fainted on the march and was carried on a stretcher. Rested a few days and upon resuming duty, felt some pain at intervals. Fainted after working 3 or 4 times in (the) next few weeks. Has been a heavy cigarette smoker before and after enlistment - 10 to 20 a day". The Medical Board at Exhibition Camp recommended that he be declared Category "E" (unfit for General Service, Service Abroad and Home Service). Sapper Walter Samuel Webb, Canadian Engineers was discharged as "having been found medically unfit for service" at No. 2 District Depot in Toronto, on January 18, 1919, credited with having served in Canada and England, the latter of which was for only four months. For his First World War service, he was awarded the British War Medal.