Canada. A Memorial Cross to Gunner Hipkiss, KIA during the Battle of Arras

George V (341143 Gnr. C.H. HIPKISS). Sterling silver, marked "STERLING" and hallmarked "R" on the reverse, original ribbon, dark patina, extremely fine.

 

Footnote: Charles Henry Hipkiss was born on November 2, 1894 in Buffalo, New York (with the first of his three Attestation Papers stating that he was born in Toronto, Ontario), the son of James Edward Hipkiss and Mary Elizabeth Wilkinson-Hipkiss-Cudahy, one of four brothers who would serve during the war. Hipkiss signed his first Attestation Paper as a Private (53686) with the 18th Infantry Battalion "Western Ontario Regiment", on October 26, 1914 in St. Thomas, Ontario, at the age of 19, naming his next-of-kin as his sister, Mrs. Mary Balfour of Toronto, stating that he was born in Toronto, that he had no previous military service, that he was Married, that his religion was Roman Catholic and that his trade was that of Labourer. Five and a half months later, he was struck off strength as being "Medically Unfit" on April 14, 1915 at London, Ontario, the reason not stated in his records. The following year, Hipkiss signed his second Attestation Paper as a Private (207838) with "A" Company, 97th Infantry Battalion "Toronto Americans", on February 3, 1916 in Toronto, at the age of 21, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Mrs. Cuddahee of Toronto, stating that he was born in Buffalo, New York, that he had previously served with the 18th Infantry Battalion CEF, that he was not married, that his religion was Roman Catholic and that his trade was that of Tile Layer. Two weeks after enlisting, he married Lillian Hipkiss on February 16, 1916. He was admitted to hospital at Exhibition Camp in Toronto with a case of "Tonsilitis" on March 6, 1916 and after four weeks treatment, he was discharged on April 4th. By the end of May, he had run afoul of the authorities, as he was declared Absent Without Leave from 9:30 a.m. in Toronto on May 31, 1916. Four days later, he was struck off strength as a "Deserter" from the battalion upon its departure from Toronto, on June 4, 1916. Hipkiss reappears in early 1917 and was a resident of Toronto, when he signed his third Attestation Paper as a Private (341143) with the 70th Infantry Battalion, on January 22, 1917 in Toronto, at the age of 22, naming his next-of-kin as his wife, Lillian Hipkiss of Toronto, stating that he was born in Buffalo, New York, that he had no previous military service (a falsehood), that he was Married, that his religion was Roman Catholic and that his trade was that of Tile Setter.

 

He sailed on April 28, 1916 aboard the S.S. Olympic, arriving in England on May 7th, where he was taken on strength at Shorncliffe. Eleven days after arriving in England, he was transferred to the 8th Reserve Battalion on May 18, 1917, followed by a second transfer a week after that, to the 119th Infantry Battalion "Algoma Overseas Battalion" on May 26th. Hipkiss was appointed Acting Lance Corporal on August 1, 1917 but reverted to the rank of Private, after having been declared Absent Without Leave on September 13th. He was posted to Witley Camp when he received orders to proceed overseas to the Canadian Field Artillery, arriving at the Canadian Artillery Pool on November 19, 1917. He left for the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp in France on November 21st, where troops were held before being sent to reinforce existing units, arriving the same day. One week later, he was to see his final posting, this time to the 4th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery on November 28, 1917. 341143 Gunner Charles Henry Hipkiss, 4th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery was Killed in Action during the Battle of Arras, on September 3, 1918, at the age of 23. His death is described on his "Circumstances of Casualty" card: "Whilst, with two comrades, occupying a small dugout just West of Cherisy, he was instantly killed when and (an) enemy shell exploded in the dugout." He is buried in Dury Crucifix Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, Grave Reference: I. A. 4., about seventeen kilometres east-south-east of Arras and is commemorated on page 429 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. His obituary appeared in the Toronto Star of September 24, 1918, where it was noted that one of his brothers had been killed a year earlier, while another had been wounded at the same time. For his First World War service, Gunner Hipkiss was posthumously awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, which were forwarded to his wife, Lillian Hipkiss, along with his Memorial Cross, Memorial Plaque and Scroll. She was paid a War Service Gratuity in the amount of $100 ($180 less the amount of $80 of a Special Pension Bonus). In his Will, dated March 8, 1917, he stated that "I bequeath all my real estate and my personal estate to my mother, Mrs. Lillian Hipkiss of Toronto".