A Second World War MID Group to the Royal Canadian Artillery

A Second World War MID Group to the Royal Canadian Artillery - 1939-1945 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp; War Medal 1939-1945 with MID Clasp; and Efficiency Medal (CAPT. R.G. COWAN RCA). Naming is officially impressed on the EM, the others are un-named. Mounted to a suspension with swing bar pinback, as worn by the veteran, original ribbons, light contact, tarnishing on the silver medals, residue in the recessed areas of the stars from cleaning, better than very fine. Accompanied by copies of his Service Records and Recommendation Letter for the Efficiency Medal.   Footnote: Russell Grenville Cowan's military service before the war included the 5th Field Battery, 2nd Field Brigade, RCA (November 30, 1927 to November 7, 1937) and the 3rd Medium Battery, 2nd Medium Brigade, RCA (November 8, 1937 to September 11, 1939). He joined the 7th Field Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery as a Lieutenant on September 12, 1939 at Montreal, Quebec. He embarked Canada on November 23, 1939 and while in Europe, he attended a number of courses and changed his next-of-kin contact to Miss Daphne L. Ralph, Croydon, Surrey, England. He is documented as being a Liaison Officer, attached to the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade and the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada for Duty and Rations from July 6 to August 5, 1940, then solely attached to the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade immediately afterwards, followed by a transfer four and a half months later to 7/35 Battery on December 21st. He was promoted to Captain on June 30, 1941. Cowan was attached to the 1st Canadian Army Reinforcement Unit on June 25, 1942 until December of 1942 and promoted to Major on September 24th. Cowan embarked the United Kingdom for service in the European theatre with the 3rd Canadian Medium Regiment, RCA on July 6, 1944, disembarking in France on the 8th. Early in 1945, he returned to Canada for a brief time before embarking for the United Kingdom on February 25, 1945, arriving on March 5th. He returned to the European theatre soon afterwards, for another year's service before embarking North West Europe on March 23, 1946, disembarking in the United Kingdom on the 24th. He returned to Canada, where he was struck off strength on June 5, 1946 upon return to reserve status. Cowan's military service totalled twenty years, five months and fourteen days: 5th Field Battery, 2nd Field Brigade, RCA, Military District No. 4 (November 30, 1927 to November 7, 1937 = nine years, eleven months and seven days), 3rd Medium Battery, 2nd Medium Brigade, RCA, Military District No. 4 (November 8, 1937 to September 11, 1939 = one year, ten months and three days), 2nd Field Regiment, RCA (September 12, 1939 to June 25, 1942 = five years, six months and twenty-six days), 1st Canadian Artillery Reinforcement Unit (June 26, 1942 to December 15, 1942 = eleven months and eight days), 1st Canadian Signals Reinforcement Unit (December 16, 1942 to November 13, 1943 = one year, nine months and twenty-six days) and 1st Canadian Artillery Reinforcement Unit (November 14, 1942 to January 14, 1944 = four months), qualifying him for the Efficiency Medal. He is credited with having served in Canada, the United Kingdom and Continental Europe during the Second World War.