Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War Vimy Ridge operations M.M. awarded to Private J. J. Anderson, 50th (Calgary) Battalion, Canadian Infantry, who was wounded in action in September 1918

Military Medal, G.V.R. (811067 Pte. J. J. Anderson, 50/Can. Inf.), nearly extremely fine £450-500

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

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M.M. London Gazette 28 July 1917. The original recommendation states:

‘In front of Vimy Ridge. On the night of the 10-11th May 1917. During the heavy bombardment previous to the first counter attack, when the rest of his Lewis Gun Team had been killed and the enemy attack was launched, alone he fought his gun with great bravery and coolness, thereby preventing them entering our position at this point.’

James Johnston Anderson was born in Manitoba on 4 October 1882, and enlisted in the 138th (Edmonton) Battalion at Edmonton on 6 December 1915. Arriving in England in August 1916, he was transferred to the 50th Battalion in the Field that November and was awarded the M.M. for the above cited deeds at Vimy Ridge on 10-11 May 1917. He was subsequently wounded on 5 September 1918 - taking a gun shot wound to the thigh - and was invalided to England. Anderson was discharged at Calgary in February 1919 and died in November 1940; sold with copied service papers.