Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War D.S.O. group of four awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel W. P. Wilgar, Canadian Engineers

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col. W. P. Wilgar); Jubilee 1935, good very fine (4) £1200-1400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the Canadian Expeditonary Force 1914-1918.

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D.S.O. London Gazette 4 June 1917.

William Percy Wilgar, who was born in Cobourg, Ontario, in March 1877, was a pre-war officer in the Canadian Engineers (Militia) who joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force in the rank of Major in January 1916.

Embarked for France as C.O. of the 10th Field Company, C.E., in August 1916, he was mentioned in despatches for the Vimy Ridge operations in April 1917, in addition to being awarded the D.S.O., but was invalided to the U.K. on account of sickness in July 1917.

Returning to his command in the Field at the end of the year, he was temporarily attached to H.Q. 4th Divisional Engineers, and took over the 10th Battalion, C.E., in the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, on the reorganization of the Engineers in May 1918.

Demobilised back in Canada in June 1919, Wilgar was appointed C.O. of 3rd Division Engineers, and was President of the Military Engineers Association of Canada 1929-31, in addition to being appointed an Honorary A.D.C. to the Governor-General, the Earl of Bessborough in 1934 He died in August 1940; sold with copied service record.