(639183 A. Sjt C.H. FOX. C.M.G. BDE.). Naming is officially impressed. Dark patina, bruised, edge nicks, light contact, replacement ribbon, very fine.
Footnote: Charles Henry Fox was born on September 3, 1881 in Brockville, Ontario, the son of John Fox and Margaret Fox. He was a resident of Brockville when he signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (639183) with the 156th Infantry Battalion "156th Leeds and Grenville Battalion", on January 5, 1916 in Brockville, Ontario, at the age of 34, naming his next-of-kin as his wife, Lois Fox of Brockville, stating that he had ten years' previous service with the 41st Regiment, the last five as a Colour Sergeant, one year with the Royal Canadian Regiment as a Sergeant, achieving a Signal Certificate, that he was Married, that his religion was either Baptist or Congregationalist, and that his trade was that of Bricklayer. As of October 3, 1916, the couple had two sons: John Henry Fox, age 4 and Harvey George Fox, age 2. The Battalion was raised in Leeds and Grenvile Counties of Ontario, with mobilization headquarters at Brockville under the authority of G.O. 151, December 22, 1915. The Battalion sailed October 18, 1916 from Halifax, Nova Scotia aboard the S.S. Northland, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel T.C.D. Bedell with a strength of 28 officers and 778 other ranks, arriving in Liverpool, England on the 28th. Upon arrival in England, he was appointed Acting Colour Sergeant Major at Witley Camp, then transferred to the 119th Infantry Battalion at Bramshott Camp four days later, on November 1st, where he reverted to the rank of Private at his own request. He was to be Acting Corporal, then Acting Sergeant, both on November 17th. Early in the new year, Acting Sergeant Fox was transferred to the 156th Infantry Battalion at Bramshott Camp on January 9, 1917 and was to be Acting Colour Sergeant Major. He continued to serve in England until late March 1918. He reverted to the rank of Private on transfer to the 6th Reserve Battalion on March 2, 1918, followed by a posted to the 2nd Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Brigade for service in the French theatre on March 25, 1918, arriving at the Canadian Base Depot in France on the 26th. He left the Canadian Base Depot for the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Centre on March 30th, was transferred to the Canadian Machine Gun Corps on March 31st and joined the Canadian Machine Gun Reinforcement Pool on April 1st. He would remain at the Pool for almost ten weeks, before joining the 2nd Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Brigade on June 7, 1918. Fox was promoted to Corporal on August 10th and was appointed Acting Sergeant on September 4th. While serving with the 2nd Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Brigade, he developed "bleeding" in his rear end and was initially treated at a Casualty Clearing Station. He was transferred and admitted to No. 56 General Hospital at Etaples on September 15, 1918, his bleeding attributed to "Piles" (Hemorrhoids).
It was here than an operation was performed to correct the issue. While in hospital at Etaples, he reverted to the rank of Corporal on September 22nd. He was briefly admitted to No. 6 Convalescent Depot on October 14th, before being transferred to No. 7 Convalescent Depot at Boulogne on the 15th, then transferred and admitted to No. 10 Convalescent Depot at Ecault on the 17th. He would recuperate at Ecault for the next five weeks before being discharged from hospitalization on November 22nd. However Corporal Fox had additional issues with his left knee throughout the past two months and was invalided to England, where he was posted to the Canadian Corps Machine Gun Corps Depot on December 2nd. In a medical examination performed at Seaford on January 2, 1919, the doctor drew attention to "Synovitis" in Fox's left knee (a condition where the synovial membrane, which lines and lubricates the knee joint, becomes inflamed). In his report, the doctor noted that Fox had been "in France for nine months when his left knee was injured again and for this he was invalided to England. He has had "water on the knee" several times since it was first injured in civil life in 1913. He says it plays out on route marches and has a tendency to lock if he sits too long before moving it". The left knee had become slightly larger than the right knee, although the hemorrhoids which had been operated upon at Etaples had been cured. He was soon posted to the Canadian Concentration Camp at Kinmel Park, Rhyl, North Wales, pending return to Canada. He embarked Liverpool on January 18, 1919 aboard to HMT Aquitania, arriving in Halifax on the 24th. Upon arrival in Canada, he was taken on strength at the Military District No. 3 Sub Depot in Ottawa, Ontario on January 27, 1919. Acting Sergeant Charles Henry Fox, 156th Infantry Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Brigade was discharged upon demobilization at Military District No. 3 in Ottawa, on February 21, 1919, credited with having served in Canada, England and France, entitled to wear the War Service Badge, Class "A", number 81775. For his First World War service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He died on August 2, 1951, at the age of 69.