First War Challicom Brothers Canadian Field Artillery Group (Gunner Oliver Challicom KIA; Gunner David Spencer Challicom WIA): Gunner Oliver Challicom, Canadian Field Artillery: 1914-15 Star (83977 GNR: O. CHALLICOM. CAN:FD:ART:); British War Medal (83977 GNR. O. CHALLICORN. C.F.A.); and Victory Medal (83977 GNR. O. CHALLICORN. C.F.A.); along with his Identification Tag (aluminum, stamped "83977 O. CHALLICOM ARTY CANADIANS C", 38.3 mm). Gunner David Spencer Challicom, Canadian Field Artillery: British War Medal (314655 GNR. D.S. CHALLICOM. C.F.A.); and Victory Medal (314655 GNR. D.S. CHALLICOM. C.F.A.). Naming is officially impressed, the surname on Oliver Challicom's name spelled incorrectly (Challicorn) on his BWM and VM. Un-mounted, original ribbons, dark patnias on the BWM medals, contact marks and surface wear, very fine. Accompanied by copies of Gunner Oliver Challicom's Index Cards, Attestation Paper, Service Records and Medical Records, along with a copy of Gunner David Spence Challicom's Attestation Paper.
Footnote: Oliver Challicom was born on April 26, 1893 in London, England, the son of James Challicom and Elizabeth Challicom. The couple had two other children, a son, David Spencef Challicom (see below) and a daughter, MaggieChallicom. The family immigrated to Canada from Essex in 1905. Oliver Challicom signed his Attestation Paper as a Gunner (83977) with the 15th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, on February 14, 1915 in Toronto, Ontario, at the age of 21, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Elizabeth Owen of Toronto (his mother having been widowed), stating that he had previous service and remained as part of an Active Militia with the 9th Canadian Field Artillery, that he was not married and that his trade was that of Steamfitter. He was posted to the 4th Brigade, 15th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery and embarked Canada aboard the S.S. Northland on May 29, 1915, arriving in England on June 8th. After almost four months training in England, he received his orders to proceed overseas to France with the 6th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery, arriving in the French theatre on September 15, 1915. Eight months after arriving in France, he was posted to the 6th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery, on reorganization of the establishment on May 21, 1916 and was taken on strength the next day. He was awarded seven days Field Punishment No. 1 (which consisted of the convicted man being placed in fetters and handcuffs or similar restraints and attached to a fixed object, such as a gun wheel or a fence post, for up to two hours per day), on September 28, 1916, "for when on active service, neglect of duty in that he failed to comply with an order", the incident having occurred the previous day. Thirteen months after arriving in France, Gunner Oliver Challicom, 6th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery was Killed in Action on October 17, 1916, at he age of 23. He is buried in Bapaume Post Military Cemetery, Somme, France, Grave Reference: I. C. 3 and is commemorated on page 65 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. The announcement of his death was cabled to officials in Ottawa on October 24, 1916 and his obituary was published in the Toronto Star four days later, on October 28th. He is credited with having served in Canada, England and France. His brother, David SpencerChallicom, received his 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, along with his Memorial Plaque and Scroll. As his mother had pre-deceased him the previous June, no Memorial Cross was issued. In his Will, he stated that "In the event of my death I give the whole of my property and effects to my Mother, Mrs. E, Owen, 87 Hatherly Road Toronto Canada", however, she did died in June 1916 and no allowance was made in the Will for that, nor a second Will filed in the event of her death. Throughout his service, his pay had been assigned to his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Owen of Toronto, but after she passed away, it was changed to his sister, Miss Maggie Challicom of Toronto. His older brother, David Spencer Challicom was born on May 13, 1888 in Ilfracome, South Wales, the son of James Challicom and Elizabeth Challicom. At the age of two, he contracted Diphtheria (a serious bacterial infection usually affecting the mucous membranes of the nose and throat), resulting in Strabismus (a condition in which the eyes do not properly align with each other). He signed his Attestation Paper as a Gunner (314655) with the Cobourg Heavy Battery, No. 1 Siege Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, on December 18, 1915 in Cobourg, Ontario, at the age of 27, naming his next-of-kin as his wife, Mary Challicom of Toronto, Ontario, stating that he six years' previous service with the 48th Highlanders, that he was Married and that his trade was that of Engineer. He arrived in England aboard the S.S. Adriatic on April 10, 1916. After six months training in England, he received his orders to proceed overseas to France, arriving in the French theatre on October 13, 1916. Upon arrival in France, he automatically reverted to the ranks as a reinforcement and was drafted to 1st Canadian Divisional Ammunition Column, leaving for his new unit on the 15th. Five days after joining the 1st CDAC, he was posted to the 2nd Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery on October 20th and was taken on strength the next day. He was treated at No. 2 Canadian Field Ambulance on February 1, 1917 "for eye refraction", then transferred to No. 1 Canadian Field Ambulance the same day, where he continued to be treated, before being discharged to duty two days later, on the 3rd. Gunner Challicom was appointed to the trade qualification of Shoeing Smith on April 24, 1917 (Shoeing Smiths shod horses and knew the Blacksmiths trade, but not all blacksmiths could shoe a horse) and was awarded one Good Conduct Badge on December 18, 1917. He was transferred to the 15th Canadian Infantry Battalion on June 22, 1918 and left for the 15th Battalion via the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Centre on the 26th. His training began on the 28th at the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Centre, before joining his new unit on August 15th. Gunner David Spencer Challicom was in action on September 1, 1918, when he suffered a gun shot wound from machine gun fire, to his right arm and the right side of his abdomen at 7:30 am. He was initially reported as "missing", however, further investigation by the medics indicated that he was quite alive and that he had had a fresh dressing applied at 5 pm the same day. He was admitted to No. 2 Canadian Field Ambulance on the 2nd, before being transferred to No. 7 General Hospital at Etaples on the 3rd. He was subsequently invalided to England on the 5th, where he was posted to the 1st Central Ontario Regimental Depot and admitted to the Military Hospital at Devonport on September 6th, where X-rays were done and he was treated for his injuries. After five and a half weeks at Devonport, he was transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Woodcote Park, Epsom on October 15th, where he would recuperate for the next seven weeks, before being discharged from hospital on December 4, 1918, at which point he was posted to the 12th Reserve Battalion. Gunner David SpencerChallicom was placed on command at the Canadian Concentration Camp at Kinmel Park, North Wales on December 30th and was struck off strength to Canada on January 9, 1919. He embarked for Canada aboard the S.S. Olympic, arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia on January 17, 1919. Upon arrival, he returned to Toronto and was posted to the Casualty Company at Exhibition Camp. In his Medical History of an Invalid, dated February 4, 1919 at Exhibition Camp in Toronto, the physician noted that Challicom was experiencing "slight weakness (in the) Abdominal wall - right." and that he had "pain in (the) scar - sharp needle like character - radiating into (the) abdominal cavity - coming on at night and morning when undressing and dressing himself - rests only for a few seconds. Perspires readily around (the) head - also becomes dizzy in a hot room - passes off when he gets out in (a) cooler room". After his assessment by the medical personnel, he was designated "Category C" (Home Service in Canada) but after two weeks, Gunner David Spencer Challicom, Cobourg Heavy Battery, No. 1 Siege Battery, Canadian Field Artillery/1st Canadian Divisional Ammunition Column was discharged as being "Medically Unfit" at No. 2 District Depot in Toronto, on February 18, 1919, credited with having served in Canada, England and France and entitled to 183 days War Service Gratuity (WSG), which the government finished paying out in June 1919. For his First World War, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. Throughout the war, his pay had been forwarded to his wife, MaryChallicom of Toronto. He died on October 19, 1933, at the age of 45 and is buried in Prospect Cemetery in Toronto.