A fine Great War C.M.G., D.S.O. group of six awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel H. L. Bodwell, Canadian Engineers

The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col. H. L. Bodwell); France, Legion of Honour, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver, silver-gilt and enamel; France, Croix de Guerre 1914-1918, together with the recipient’s Memorial Plaque 1914-18 (Howard Lionel Bodwell), and Canadian Memorial Cross, G.V.R., officially inscribed, ‘Lt. Col. H. L. Bodwell, C.M.G., D.S.O.’, three Great War identity discs in the rank of Major, and two Canadian Engineers’ cap badges, one of them of the overseas variety, generally good very fine (Lot) £2000-2500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of Awards to the Canadian Forces.

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C.M.G. London Gazette 1 January 1918.

D.S.O. London Gazette 14 November 1916:

‘For conspicuous gallantry in action. He, with a small party, built a roadway under intense fire, displaying the greatest courage and initiative. He has on many previous occasions done very fine work.’

Howard Lionel Bodwell was born at Ingersoll, Ontario, on 13 October 1881. A graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada, and a Civil Engineer by profession, he was employed by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway at Nanaimo, British Columbia, supervising a number of important projects such as the railway bridge over Fraser River at Fort St. George. He also worked out in China as an engineer on the Canton Hankow Railway in 1907-09 - see illustration of a splendid Chinese presentation banner which accompanies the Lot.

Enlisting in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force in October 1914, he was commissioned in the 72nd Regiment (The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada), but on entering France in March 1916, was appointed 2nd-in-command of the 2nd Pioneer Battalion, Canadian Engineers. Severely wounded by a shell at St. Eloi that April - in the leg, shoulder and head - he was invalided to England.

Returning to active duty 10 weeks later, he was awarded the D.S.O. for the above cited deeds and, in December 1916, was appointed Assistant Director of Light Railways, Corps of Canadian Railway Troops, in which capacity he remained employed until the War’s end, adding the C.M.G. to his accolades, in addition the French Legion of Honour (London Gazette 21 August 1919 refers), and Croix de Guerre (London Gazette 6 November 1919 refers). He was also twice mentioned in despatches (London Gazettes 4 January and 28 December 1917 refer).

Bodwell contracted influenza on his way home to Canada and died on 15 January 1919. He was buried at Mountainview Cemetery, Vancouver; sold with the above mentioned Chinese banner, with occasional wear and tear, together with a file of research, including copies of award warrants and his service papers.

Also see Lot 776 for his son’s awards.