Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A good Great War 1915 ‘Battle of Festubert’ D.S.O. group of four awarded to Captain J. F. P. Nash, Canadian Infantry, who served with Lord Strathcona’s Horse in South Africa during the Boer War, receiving a dated Q.S.A., and was killed in action on the Western Front on 23 April 1916

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar, in Garrard, London, case of issue; 1914-15 Star (Capt: J. F. P. Nash. 5/Can: Inf:); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. J. F. P. Nash.) nearly extremely fine (4) £1,000-£1,400

D.S.O. London Gazette 25 August 1915:
‘For conspicuous gallantry throughout the action at Festubert, 22-24 May 1915. He repaired the telephone wires personally under very heavy fire. Captain Nash was again brought to notice for excellent work performed under fire at Fleurbaix and at Gravelstafen.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 31 December 1915.

John Foster Paton Nash was born in England on 22 April 1866, and having emigrated to Canada served during the Boer War in Lord Strathcona’s Horse (received a dated Queen’s South Africa Medal with clasps for Orange Free State, Natal, Belfast, and South Africa 1901). Subsequently serving as a Captain in the 31st British Columbia Horse (Militia), he attested for the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force on 19 September 1914, and was posted to the 5th Battalion (Saskatchewan Regiment), Canadian Infantry. He served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 1 April 1915, and for his gallantry at the Battle of Festubert, 22-24 May 1915, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. He was further Mentioned in Despatches at the end of the year, and was killed in action on the Western Front on 23 April 1916. He is buried in the Railway Dugouts Burial Ground, France.

Sold with copied research.

Note: Nash’s dated Queen’s South Africa Medal was sold at Spink in October 1999.

A single, unnamed D.S.O., reputedly that awarded to Captain Nash, is held by the Canadian War Museum.