WWI Victory Medal to the Canadian Labour Battalion CEF

WWI Victory Medal to the Canadian Labour Battalion CEF - (633674 SJT. W.F. MORRISON. CAN. LABR. BN.). Naming is officially impressed. Contact marks and surface wear, very fine. Footnote: William Freeman Morrison was born on February 20, 1881 in Chelsea, Quebec. He signed his Attestation Paper with the 43rd Regiment, Duke of Cornwall's Own Rifles, on March 4, 1916 in Russell, Ontario, at the age of 35, naming his next-of-kin as his wife, Jessie Morrison of Ottawa, Ontario, stating that he had eight years previous military service with the 43rd Regiment, Duke of Cornwall's Own Rifles, the last six as a Sergeant, that he was married and that his trade was that of Piano Maker. When the First World War began, the unit was mobilized for action and did not go overseas as a formed unit. Instead, the unit was used to recruit and train soldiers mostly for the 2nd, 38th and 207th Infantry Battalions of the CEF. Morrison was assigned to the 38th Infantry Battalion, which was raised and mobilized in Ottawa, Ontario under the authority of G.O. 86, July 1, 1915. The Battalion sailed with a strength of 37 officers and 1,038 other ranks for Bermuda on August 8, 1915 as a Protective Garrison. On May 30, 1916, the Battalion sailed for England under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel C.M. Edwards. The Battalion served in France and Belgium with the 12th Brigade, 4th Canadian Division. Morrison was later transferred to the Canadian Labour Battalion, whose duty it was to keep roads in good repair, to dig trenches and fill up sand bags, as well as to repair bomb and shell damage. They also manhandled heavy cases of ammunition, gas cylinders and artillery shells.