George V (MAJOR C.J. INGLES D.S.O. WEST. TOR. REGT.). Naming is officially impressed. Very dark patina, replacement ribbon. Accompanied by its Miniature, marked "MADE IN ENGLAND" on the edge, dark patina, original ribbon. Extremely fine.
Footnote: Charles James Ingles was born on November 6, 1883 in Toronto, Ontario, the son of Archdeacon Charles Leycester Ingles and Frances Helen Oates "Nettie" Ingles (nee Young). He was also the younger brother of Captain George Leycester Ingles. Charles James Ingles was a resident of Welland, Ontario when he signed his Officers' Declaration Paper as a Major with the 98th Infantry Battalion "Lincoln and Welland Battalion", on November 23, 1915 in Welland, at the age of 32, naming his next-of-kin as his wife, Watham Virginia Bell Ingles of Toronto, stating that he was with an Active Militia, the 44th Lincoln and Welland Regiment, that he had six years' previous service with the Queen's Own Rifles from 1900 to 1906, and eight years with the 44th Lincoln and Welland Regiment from 1907 to November 30, 1915, that he was Married, that his religion was Church of England and that his profession was that of Civil Engineer. He had also served as a Major with the Welland Canal Force. As of June 13, 1916, he and his wife had three children: a daughter, Helen Virginia Ingles, age 7 and a son, Charles Leycester Ingles, age 5. The Battalion was raised in the Lincoln and Welland Counties of Ontario with mobilization headquarters at Welland under the authority of G.O. 151, December 22, 1915. The Battalion sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia aboard the S.S Lapland, on July 16, 1916 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel H.A. Rose with a strength of 36 officers and 1,050 other ranks. Ingles was posted as a permanent cadre with the 98th Infantry Battalion on September 19, 1916 and transferred to the 12th Reserve Battalion on October 6, 1916.
Major Ingles received his orders to proceed overseas for service in the French theatre, and was subsequently transferred to the 20th Infantry Battalion "1st Central Ontario Regiment" on January 27, 1917. He arrived at the Base Depot in France on the 30th, left for his new unit on February 13th and joined them in the field on the 15th. He was named Acting Adjutant Vice Captain on May 12, 1917. Major Ingles was in action on August 27, 1918, when he suffered a "slight" gunshot wound to his left shoulder, but insisted in remaining with his company during the afternoon and night, to ward off a potential counterattack. He was evacuated and admitted to No. 20 General Hospital at Camiers on the 30th, where he would recuperate for the next five days, before being discharged on September 5th. For his actions on August 26th and 27th, Major Ingles, 20th Infantry Battalion was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, the announcement appearing in the Third Supplement to the London Gazette 31183 of Friday, February 14, 1919, on Saturday, February 15, 1919, page 2365. His citation for the award was published in the Second Supplement to the London Gazette 31480 of Tuesday, July 29, 1919, on Wednesday, July 30, 1919, page 9684: "For conspicuous gallantry and determined leadership. On the morning of August 26th he handled his company with great skill and daring, working forward under heavy machine-gun and artillery fire and taking his objective. On two occasions he organised parties to clean out enemy machine-gun nests that were impeding the advance. He was wounded in the arm but insisted in remaining with his company during the afternoon and night, defending a portion of the line subject to counterattack. His example was an inspiration to all ranks." He was also Mentioned in Despatches, the announcement appearing in the Eighth Supplement to the London Gazette 31448 of Tuesday, July 8, 1919, on Friday, July 11, 1919, page 8819. Upon the ceasing of hostilities, Major Ingles proceeded to England on April 5, 1919, where he was posted to "O" Wing at the Canadian Corps Camp at Witley, for return to Canada. He embarked for home from Liverpool aboard the S.S. Caronia on May 14, 1919, arriving in Toronto on May 28th. Major Charles James Ingles, D.S.O., 98th Infantry Battalion, 20th Infantry Battalion was discharged upon demobilization at No. 2 District Depot in Toronto, on July 25, 1919, credited with having served in Canada, England and France with the 98th Infantry Battalion, the 12th Reserve Battalion and the 20th Infantry Battalion. For his First World War service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. After the war, Major Ingles served with the West Toronto Regiment and was with them when he received the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal, by Government Order 28 in 1925 (regimental lineage: the Queen's Rangers, 1st American Regiment had been formed in Toronto, Ontario on January 15, 1921 as The West Toronto Regiment. On August 1, 1925, it was amalgamated with the 2nd Battalion (35th Battalion, CEF), The York Rangers and re-designated The Queen's Rangers. It was re-designated The Queen's Rangers, 1st American Regiment on December 1, 1927. On December 15, 1936, it was amalgamated with The York Rangers). Charles James Ingles died on March 5, 1936, at the age of 52.