A fine Great War M.C. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel J. A. Harstone, 57th Regiment (Peterborough Rangers) and 77th Battalion (Ottawa) Canadian Infantry

Military Cross, G.V.R.; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt.); Defence Medal, silver; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, with overseas clasp; War Medal, silver; Jubilee 1935; Efficiency Decoration, Canada, G.VI.R. (Major (A/Lt. Col., M.C.) mounted as worn, good very fine (8) £500-600

M.C. London Gazette 2 April 1919: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty south of Mons on 10th November 1918. When the left flank was held up by heavy machine-gun fire, he rushed forward and established a series of machine-gun posts in the neighbouring houses. He then made his way to the right flank under continuous fire, and the two companies were able to co-operate in alternate rushes, resulting in the capture of two enemy posts which were holding up the attack.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 11 July 1919.

E.D. (Canada) General Order 67 of 1945.

John Archibald Harstone was born at Rosemath, Ontario, Canada, on 5 April 1893. He was granted a commission in the Militia as Lieutenant in the 57th Regiment (Peterborough Rangers) on 1 March 1915, whilst attending the Officers’ Training Corps Course at University College Toronto. Upon graduating later that year and qualified as a Musketry Instructor, he was commissioned into the 77th Battalion (Ottawa) C.E.F., and embarked for England in June 1916 where he transferred to the 51st Battalion (Edmonton) C.E.F. He proceeded to France in October 1916, and was wounded on 24 March 1917. He returned to France in August 1917, this time with the 19th Battalion (Toronto), was promoted to Temporary Captain in October 1917, and was severely wounded by a gunshot to the chest on 5 April 1918, being admitted to the St John Ambulance Brigade Hospital at Etaples. After recovering from this second wound, Captain Harstone went on to win the Military Cross in an action near Mons on the penultimate day of the war.

Demobilised in May 1919, Harstone qualified as a lawyer and practised in Toronto and Peterborough, later becoming Chairman of the Court of Revision for the city of Peterborough, which appointment he held until his retirement in October 1962. He served in the 4th Field Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery from 1928 to 1940, when he was mobilised into the 4th Anti-Tank Battery R.C.A., and a Major. He commanded this unit in Canada and England until March 1942, when he was appointed Assistant Director of Claims with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel at C.M.H.Q. in London, England, until his discharge from the service in November 1945.

The group is sold with the following original documentation: eight photographs including a particularly good group shot of the Machine Gun Section, 77th Overseas Bn. C.E.F., Ottawa, May 1916; Commission as Lieutenant in 57th Regt. (Peterborough Rangers) March 1915; Certificate of Military Instruction for qualification as Musketry Instructor, December 1915; Telegram informing of his wounds in April 1918; forwarding letter for Canadian Efficiency Decortaion, and Officer’s Record of Service from June 1940.