Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War D.C.M. group of three awarded to Sergeant W. Sillers, Canadian Machine Gun Corps

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (721950 L. Cpl. W. Sillers, 5/Coy. Can. M.G.C.); British War and Victory Medals (721950 Sjt. W. Sillers, C.M.G. Bde.), minor edge bruising, good very fine (3) £800-1000

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

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D.C.M. London Gazette 28 March 1918. The original recommendation states:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in command of two Vickers guns. He maintained the fire of his guns during the whole operations, though suffering 50 per cent of casualties. During a heavy barrage he had two men killed and two buried in a shell hole, but went out unassisted, dug them out, used artificial respiration for fifteen minutes and saved their lives.’

Wilfred Sillers was born in Homefield, Manitoba, on 15 November 1896. A Farmer by occupation living at Ashern, Manitoba, he attested locally for service with the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force in February 1916. Posted to the 108th (Selkirk Manitoba) Battalion, he arrived in England in September 1916, and was transferred to the 5th Company C.M.G.C. in March 1917. On active service with the unit in France, he was awarded the D.C.M. for gallantry in action and lifesaving. He returned to England in April 1919 and was discharged in Canada in November 1919; sold with copied service papers.