Canada. A Medal Pair, to Sapper John France, Canadian Engineers

British War Medal (505327 SPR. J. FRANCE. C.E.); and Victory Medal (505327 SPR. J. FRANCE. C.E.). Naming is officially impressed. Un-mounted, dark patina on the BWM, gilt wear on the VM, both with edge nicks and contact marks, original ribbons, better than fine. Footnote: John France was born on December 9, 1893 in Bolton, Lancashire, England. He was a resident of Montreal, Quebec, when he signed his Attestation Paper as a Sapper (505327) at the Engineer Training Depot in Halifax, Nova Scotia, as part of the 17th Draft of the Canadian Engineers, on June 22, 1916, at the age of 22, naming his next-of-kin as his grandfather, John France of Cheshire, England, as both his mother and father were deceased, the next-of-kin later changed to a friend, Mrs. Elizabeth Boydell of Hawkesbury, Ontario (later of Mimico, Ontario), stating that he had no previous military service, that he was Single, that his religion was Church of England and that his trade was that of Steam Fitter. Sapper France embarked Halifax, Nova Scotia on July 24, 1916, aboard the S.S Olympic, arriving in Liverpool, England on the 31st and was taken on strength at Shorncliffe on August 1st. The following Spring, he was posted to the Engineers Pool on May 2, 1917, assigned to the 3rd Field Company, Canadian Engineers in the field, arriving in the French theatre on May 6th. Three months after arriving in France, he was admitted to No. 3 Canadian Field Ambulance on August 2, 1917, then transferred to No. 10 Canadian Field Ambulance the same day. He was then transferred to No. 6 Casualty Clearing Station on August 11th, followed by his admission to No. 18 General Hospital Dannes at Camiers on August 13th. While serving in France, he had had stomach problems, which elicited vomiting, along with considerable pain coming from an area where he had a previous operation. He had an attack of Appendicitis in February 1916 before enlisting and had an operation to correct the issue at that time. Also he was diagnosed with "P.U.O."(Pyrexia of Unknown Origin = fever). It was decided that he be invalided to England, where he was admitted to 2nd Southern General Hospital at Bristol on August 20th. After three and a half weeks at Bristol, he was admitted to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital, Bear Wood, Wokingham, Berkshire, on September 13, 1917 with "Adhesions" on the right side, attributed to the previously mentioned operation. His stay at Bear Wood would entail almost two months, before he was transferred to the Military Convalescent Hospital at Epsom on November 8, 1917 and was subsequently admitted to Granville Canadian Special Hospital at Buxton the next day, where it was noted that he had "Flat Feet". Eleven weeks recuperation at Buxton helped to clear his stomach issues, allowing him to be discharged from hospitalization on January 26, 1918, then posted to the 3rd Canadian Convalescent Depot at Seaford. He continued to be on command to the 3rd Canadian Convalescent Depot until May 23, 1918, when he was transferred to the 2nd Canadian Engineers Reinforcement Depot. He is documented as being on command to the 2nd CERB for a course at Bexhill on July 22nd and placed on command to CSME on September 4, 1918. Sapper France was posted to Kinmel Park, Rhyl, North Wales, on December 2, 1918 for return to Canada. He embarked for home aboard HMT Melita on December 10th and upon arrival in Canada, was posted to the Casualty Company at Exhibition Camp in Toronto, Ontario on December 18, 1918. Sapper John France, Canadian Engineers was discharged upon demobilization at No. 2 District Depot in Toronto, on January 21, 1919, credited with having served in Canada, England and France. For his First World War service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He died on January 16, 1967 in Trenton, Ontario, at the age of 73.