A Korean War Group to the Royal Canadian Regiment

Korea Medal (SD 9688 F.J. METALLIC); Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea (un-named); and United Nations Korea Medal (SD 9688 F.J. METALLIC). Korea Medal is officially impressed, UN Korea Medal is privately engraved. Un-mounted, original ribbons, dark patina on the KM, better than very fine. Accompanied by a Canadian Paratroopers Badge (white and yellow embroidery on black wool, reinforced backer, 46 mm x 115 mm), two Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) Collar Dogs (bronze, 21.5 mm x 48.5 mm each, intact lugs), two Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) "Pro Patria" Beaver Shoulder Tabs (bronze, 14.8 mm x 36.4 mm each, intact lugs), a Newspaper Article documenting the 3rd Battalion of the RCR's arrival in Korea (60 mm x 90 mm, laminated), along with copies of his Service Records and Maher's Funeral Homes Proof of Death Certificate. Footnote: Francis Metallic had a full career with the Canadian Forces from 1952 until 1970. He enlisted with the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps on January 14, 1952 and placed at No. 4 Personnel Depot. He was struck off strength to the 3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment at Petawawa on January 18, 1952 and was designated Private 2nd Class on August 8th. Ten days later, he was struck off strength to the X-4 List on August 18th, in preparation for service in the Korean War. Metallic embarked from Canada on August 21, 1952 for service in the Korean theatre, disembarking in Japan on September 3rd. After a one month preparation stopover in Japan, he embarked for Korea on October 4th, arriving there the same day. He was struck off strength to the 3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment in the field on the 6th, an 800 member force commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Keith Campbell, relieving the 1st Battalion of the same regiment. His service in Korea consisted of one years' service, before embarking Korea on August 31, 1953, arriving in Japan on September 1st and placed on the X-8 List. He embarked the Far East on September 19th, disembarking in the United States on the 28th and returned to the Royal Canadian Regiment on December 4th. Metallic was sent to the Canadian Joint Air Training Centre at Rivers, Manitoba for paratrooper training from February 26 to April 7, 1954 and was awarded the Canadian Paratroopers Badge on March 26th. He is documented as having postings at London, Fort Churchill, Edmonton, Montreal and Petawawa. He later saw service in post-war Europe in the mid 1950's and again in the early 1960's. Metallic embarked Canada on September 29, 1955 for service in Central Europe, disembarking Rotterdam, The Netherlands on October 9th and posted to the Canadian Army, Central Europe. His first European service was highlighted by the awarding of his First Good Conduct Badge, with two years and thirty-nine days credit towards his next badge, on February 23, 1956 and qualifying as an Infantryman Driver Group 1 on March 2, 1957. After twenty-six months' service in Europe, he embarked for Canada on November 21, 1957, arriving in Canada on December 2nd. Early in the new year, he re-engaged for three years' service on January 16, 1958 and passed to the RHC Depot at Sussex and Gagetown, New Brunswick on January 28th. One year later, he was transferred to the to the 1st Battalion, Royal Highlanders of Canada at Aldershot, Nova Scotia on February 19, 1959, where he was to remain for the next eight months. Metallic returned to Europe, now with the 1st Battalion, Royal Highlanders of Canada, embarking Canada on October 25, 1959 and arriving in The Netherlands on November 4th. He re-engaged for three years' service on January 16, 1961 and served another twenty-six months in Europe, before embarking Germany on February 27, 1962, arriving in Canada on the 28th. Upon arrival, he was posted to Camp Gagetown, where he later re-engaged for an additional three years' service on January 16, 1964, attended a Junior NCO Course in February 1965 and was transferred to the Royal Canadian Army Pay Corps on April 5, 1965. He was then transferred to the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals in Kingston, Ontario on July 4, 1965, qualified as an Institute Bookkeeper Group 1 on October 11, 1966, re-engaged for an additional five years' service on January 16, 1967 and achieved the rank of Corporal on October 1, 1967. He retired from service on June 16, 1970. Metallic had twenty-four years in retirement before passing away on November 15, 1994 at Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec and was buried four days later in St. Ann Cemetery, Restigouche, Quebec. It is worthy to note that many areas in the Service Records and even in his Proof of Death Certificate have been blacked out for personal and security reasons.