Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A group of five awarded to Captain A. F. Watts, Canadian Expeditionary Forces, awarded the Order of St. Stanislaus for services in North Russia

British War and Victory Medals (Capt.); War Medal 1939-45, Canadian issue in silver; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, no clasp, these two unnamed; Russia, Order of St. Stanislaus, 3rd Class breast badge with swords, by Eduard, St. Petersburg, 39 x 39mm., gold and enamel, ‘56’ gold and St. Petersburg mark for 1908-17 on eyelet, manufacturer’s name on reverse, lower left interarm eagle with sword hilt replaced, one arm with enamel damage; together with a mounted set of five miniature dress medals, the C.V.S.M. with clasp, the Order of St. Stanislaus in silver-gilt and enamel, with handle of one sword missing; together with two identity tags, Capt. A. F. Watts, CE. Cdn.’, very fine and better (12) £1600-2000

Alexander Francis Watts was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on 4 May 1894. An Accountant by occupation and a member of the 90th Winnipeg Rifles, he was commissioned into the 90th Battalion at Winnipeg on 1 November 1915. Posted overseas in June 1916 he was transferred to the 8th Battalion and in March 1917 to the 18th Reserve Battalion. He was on command to the Royal Flying Corps, 1 June-20 November 1917. He proceeded overseas to North Russia in September 1918 and was promoted to Acting Captain. He remained in North Russia until September 1919 at which time he was ranked as Temporary Captain and had been awarded the Order of St. Stanislaus 3rd Class. Returning to Canada he was discharged at Winnipeg on 4 October 1919. Living in Vancouver and employed as an Investigator, whilst on the Reserve of Officers attached to the Winnipeg Rifles, he re-engaged on 16 November 1940. He served with the South Alberta Regiment in Canada and was honourably discharged on 25 July 1946. Captain Watts died on 29 January 1964.

Sold with original letter with envelope from Alexander Watts to Janet Walters (they married in 1921), written on paper headed, ‘The Canadian Syren, Northern Russia Expeditionary Force, Army Post Office, London, dated 14 May 1919:

‘My Dearest Janet, No I have’nt forgotten about my little girlie, how could I, but the reason I have’nt written is that we have been on the move rather fast lately and have been sleeping under the stars most of the time .... For the last three weeks we have been pushing on and have taken three small villages and the train has only just caught up to us. They had to repair the track as they came on, which was blown up in almost every hundred yards and all the bridges either blown or burned. ... The American Railway Troops are working at it and we have taken over all the railway ahead of Saroka. At present we are only two miles or so from Lake Onega, so you see we are getting on a bit. However I think our time is getting short out here as there are any amount of English troops and we are about the only ones left who are not regulars. ...’

With framed ‘Notary Public, Seattle, Washington, 1920, certificate of award for the Order of St. Stanislaus, written in Russian and English:

‘Order 278, dated Sept. 13th 1919. In recognition of valuable services rendered to the Russian Army, and activities within the Northern Region, I award the Order of St. Stanislaus, 3rd Class, with Swords and Bow,- to Captain Alexander F. Watts, of the British Army, Canadian Detachment. Signed (Printed) Miller, Lieutenant-General, General Staff’.

Also with framed Statement of Service in the Canadian Armed Forces (2) - for World Wars I and II; photographs of the recipient; photographs of his and his wife’s memorial stone; copied service papers and copied war history extracts.