1914-15 Star (8216 Pte J.M. HOLLISTER. 2/CAN:INF:); British War Medal (8216 PTE. J.M. HOLLISTER. 2-CAN.INF.); and Victory Medal (8216 PTE. J.M. HOLLISTER. 2-CAN.INF.). Naming is officially impressed. Un-mounted, replacement ribbons, contact marks and surface wear, very fine.
Footnote: John Milton Hollister was born on January 11, 1888 in Osnabruck Centre, in Eastern Ontario. He signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (8216) with "F" Company, 2nd Infantry Battalion "Eastern Ontario Regiment", on September 23, 1914 at Valcartier Camp, at the age of 25, naming his next-of-kin as his father, J.A. Hollister of Osnabruck Centre, stating that he was with an Active Militia, that he had three years' previous service with the 59th Stormont and Glengarry Regiment, that he was not married and that his trade was that of Fireman. The Battalion was raised in Eastern Ontario with mobilization headquarters at Camp Valcartier, Quebec under the authority of P.C.O. 2067, August 6, 1914. The Battalion sailed October 3, 1914 from Quebec City, Quebec, aboard the S.S. Cassandra, with a strength of 45 officers and 1,098 other ranks under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel D.Watson. After three months' training in England, Private Hollister received his orders to proceed overseas to France with the 2nd Infantry Battalion, arriving in the French theatre on February 8, 1915. The Battalion was to serve in France and Belgium with the 1st Infantry Brigade, 1st Canadian Division. A month after arriving in Rouen, he was fined three days' pay on March 9, 1915, followed thirty-seven days later by an additional fine of five days' pay on April 15th, his records not indicating as to why. Private Hollister suffered a gun shot wound (shrapnel) to the face during the Second Battle of Ypres and was evacuated to No. 25 General Hospital at Hardelot on June 16, 1915. Two days later, he was transferred and admitted to No, 13 General Hospital at Boulogne on the 18th, where he would be treated for the next five days, before being transferred to No. 1 Convalescent Depot at Boulogne on June 23rd. After nine days convalescence, he was posted to the Canadian Base Depot on July 2nd, rejoining the 2nd Infantry Battalion at the end of the month, on July 30th. One year after his wounding, he entered hospital again, admitted "sick" to No. 25 General Hospital at Hardelot on June 14, 1916. He was initially diagnosed "NYD" (Not Yet Determined) but that soon changed to the after effects of shell shock and rheumatism. Nine days later he was transferred to No. 1 Convalescent Depot at Boulogne on June 23rd, then discharged from hospital and posted to the Canadian Base Depot on the 26th. Four weeks later, he ran afoul of the authorities, when he was forced to forfeit fourteen days' pay "for drunkenness" while in Le Havre on the 22nd, the sentencing handed down on the 24th. He left for the 2nd Infantry Battalion a week later, on July 30th, rejoining them two days later, on August 30th. That Fall, Private Hollister was attached to the 1st Divisional Salvage Company on October 5, 1916. He was classified "B' by a Medical Board on June 14, 1918 and was transferred from the 2nd Infantry Battalion to the Canadian Labour Pool on June 18th, with an additional transfer to the 1st Canadian Employment Company on October 23rd. While still in France, he was transferred to the 10th Infantry Battalion, at the Canadian Base Depot at Etaples on February 6, 1919, joining his new unit in the field on March 17th. Two months later, he returned to England and was posted to the Ontario Regimental Depot on May 11th. He embarked for Canada from Liverpool, England on May 28, 1919 aboard the RMS Empress of Britain, arriving at Quebec City on June 4th. Private John Milton Hollister, 2nd Infantry Battalion was discharged upon demobilization at Dispersal Station "F", Military District No. 4 in Montreal, Quebec, on June 5, 1919, entitled to wear the War Service Badge, Class "A", number 301268, credited with having served in Canada, England and France. For his First World War service, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. Throughout the war, his pay was directed to Miss Clara Hollister of West Rush, New York, USA (the address later changed to Northfield Station, in Eastern Ontario). Hollister died on October 25, 1951, at the age of 63.