A Fine Collection of Awards to the Canadian Forces

A Great War Vimy Ridge D.C.M. group of three awarded to Lance-Sergeant E. W. R. Fyfe, 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles, who was severely gassed shortly after winning his decoration

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (552664 L. Sjt. E. W. R. Fyfe, 1/Can. Mtd. Rif.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (552664 L. Sjt. E. W. R. Fyfe, 1-C.M.R.), nearly extremely fine (3) £1200-1400

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 26 July 1917:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He single-handed destroyed an enemy machine-gun and shot the two gunners who were firing it.’

Earl Walter Rennif Fyfe was born in Montreal on 9 February 1894. A Farmer by occupation, and a tall man for the age at 6 feet, he enlisted in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force at Calgary, Alberta, in June 1915.

Embarked for England, he first went out to France as a reinforcement to the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles in October 1916, the unit having been badly mauled on the Somme.

Advanced to Lance-Sergeant, he was among those engaged at Vimy Ridge in April 1917, where he won his D.C.M. for the above cited deeds, prior to being severely gassed on the 26th - he was also mentioned in Haig’s Vimy despatch (London Gazette 7 June 1917 refers).

Invalided to Canada in March 1918, after months of hospital treatment, he was discharged at the year’s end. Fyfe died in April 1939; sold with copied service papers.