A First War M.M. Awarded for Action near Bourlon Wood 1917

Military Medal (410503 Pte J.H. HAILSTONE. 38/E. ONT: R.); British War Medal (410503 A.L. CPL. J.H. HAILSTONE. 38-CAN.INF.); and Victory Medal (410503 A.L. CPL. J.H.HAILSTONE. 38-CAN.INF.). Naming is officially impressed. Loosely mounted to a suspension with swing bar pinback, original ribbons, dark patinas on the silver medals, contact marks and surface wear, very fine. Accompanied by a 38th Infantry Battalion Armband (khaki brown wool base, a navy blue wool circle above a green wool rectangle with "38" screen printed in yellow, glued in place in the centre, of the armband, 85 mm x 430 mm), a 38th Infantry Battalion Cap Badge (pickled brass, unmarked, 35.5 mm x 39.2 mm, intact lugs), a 38th Infantry Battalion Collar Tab (browning copper, maker marked "R.J. INGLIS" on the reverse, 28.5 mm x 28.8 mm, intact lugs), a CEF For Service at the Front Badge (bronze and enamels, numbered "293714" on the reverse, 22.2 mm, screwback), an Army Class "C" War Service Badge (silvered white metal, red enameled insert in the crown, maker marked "CARON BROS. MONTREAL 1917" and numbered "11023" on the reverse, 27 mm x 30 mm, horizontal pinback), along with a copy of his Attestation Paper and assorted research papers. Footnote: John Herbert Hailstone was born on November 9, 1892 in London, Essex, England, the son of John Hailstone and Emily Hailstone. He initially served with the 43rd Regiment, Duke of Cornwall's Own Rifles (A11877) and was transferred to the 38th Infantry Battalion on May 25, 1915. He signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (410503), with "C" Company, 38th Infantry Battalion "Royal Ottawa Battalion" on May 27, 1915 at Barriefield Camp, Kingston, Ontario, at the age of 22, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Emily Hailstone of London, England, stating that he had no previous military service, that he was Single and that his trade was that of Labourer. The Battalion was raised and mobilized in Ottawa, Ontario under the authority of G.O. 86, July 1, 1915. The Battalion sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia for Bermuda on August 8, 1915 aboard the S.S. Caledonia, with a strength of 37 officers and 1,038 other ranks, as a Protective Garrison. Upon the conclusion of Garrison Duty, the Battalion sailed for England on May 29, 1916 aboard the S.S. Grampian, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel C.M. Edwards, arriving in Plymouth, England on June 9th. After two months in England, Private Hailstone embarked for the French theatre with the 38th Infantry Battalion, on August 13, 1916, arriving at Le Havre the next day. The Battalion served in France and Belgium with the 12th Brigade, 4th Canadian Division. Private Hailstone was appointed to the rank of Acting Lance Corporal on June 9, 1916 and ceased to hold the rank of Corporal at his own request on July 19th. He was granted one Good Conduct Badge on May 27, 1917 and is on record as having been a 12th Brigade Lineman as of July 24, 1917. Six months after the conclusion of the war, he was at Le Havre and proceeded to England on May 5, 1919, where he was posted to F Wing, Canadian Concentration Camp at Kinmel Park, North Wales for return to Canada. Private Hailstone was awarded the Military Medal, "For gallantry during operation near Bourlon Wood.", the announcement appearing in the Second Supplement to the London Gazette 31338 of Tuesday, May 13, 1919, on Wednesday, May 14, 1919, page 6052. He was struck off strength and embarked from Southampton aboard the H.M.T. Olympic on June 6, 1919, arriving in Halifax on the 12th. Hailstone was discharged upon demobilization at Dispersal Station "G", Military District No. 3 in Kingston, Ontario, on June 16, 1919, credited with having served in Canada, England and France, entitled to wear the War Service Badge, Class "A", number 229710. For his First World War service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. Hailstone died on March 10, 1973, at Centenary Hospital in Scarborough, Ontario, at the age of 80. (C:4)