A Fine Collection of Awards to the Canadian Forces

A fine Great War M.C. group of four awarded to Major C. F. H. K. Douglas, 2nd Canadian Mounted Infantry, who had earlier been recommended for a decoration for his gallantry as a member of Pearkes, V.C’s bombing party

Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse privately inscribed, ‘Lieut. C. F. Keith Douglas, 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles, Roclincourt, Novr. 1916’; 1914-15 Star (107190 Pte. C. F. H. K. Douglas, 2/Can. Mtd. Rif.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Major C. F. H. K. Douglas), the third with scratch to edge, otherwise very fine and better (4) £1000-1200

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

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M.C. London Gazette 10 January 1917:

‘For conspicuous gallantry in action. He personally made several valuable reconnaissances prior to a raid. Later, he led the bombing parties into the enemy’s trench with great courage and skill. He has on many occasions done fine work.’

Charles Francis Hugh Keith Douglas was born at Bridgemouth, England, on 14 December 1886, and was educated at Christ’s Hospital, London. A Rancher by occupation, and a member of the 31st (British Columbia) Horse (Militia), he enlisted in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force at Victoria, British Columbia, in December 1914.

An accompanying letter from George Pearkes, who would go on to win the V.C. in the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles, states:

‘Charlie Douglas and I enlisted in the 2nd C.M.Rs and went overseas early in 1915. When I became the Battalion Bombing Officer, Charlie was my Bombing Sergeant. In 1916 I was transferred to another Battalion after being wounded at Ypres. We saw each other frequently in 1916-17. Charlie received his commission and was Adjutant of the 2nd C.M.Rs at one time ... Charlie and I were always good friends and took part in several raids togethe r’.

And a glimpse of Pearkes and Douglas at work in the Ypres salient in the summer of 1916 may be found in the history of the 2nd C.M.R.:

‘On the 25th [July 1916], Lieutenant G. R. Pearkes and Sergeant C. K. Douglas located a German listening post in a sap in No Man’s Land opposite trench 58. Coming back, they filled an ammunition box full of explosive extracted from Bosche bombs, then returned and dug it under the listening post; unfortunately, the fuse used was old and defective, so the explosion didn’t come off. Nothing daunted, however, these two went and tore the listening post down; later, finding it had been strongly rebuilt and wired in, they again took the explosive out, this time with a new fuse, dug it in without alarming the German sentries, and blew the whole thing out of existence. For this successful and audacious piece of work both were recommended for decorations, but none were granted’.

Subsequent gallant work carried out by Douglas at Regina Trench in September 1916 no doubt contributed to him receiving a commission in the Field that November. The regimental history states of this period:

‘Wonderful work was done by the Battalion bombers, under Sergeant C. K. Douglas, night and day without rest during the whole tour. They carried up water, bombs and rations over miles of country often swept by German machine-gun fire and artillery fire’.

Duly commissioned, he was awarded his M.C. for the above cited deeds in the Vimy Ridge Sector on 20-21 November 1916, the first of a series of successful raids mounted by the Canadians in this period. Of the events that night, the regimental history states:

‘On that night, guided by Scout Lance-Corporal G. W. Graham, the raiders, with blackened faces and hands, stole across No Man’s Land and, at a given signal, threw mats on the wire, and, led by their officers, rushed the German trench. The bombing squads [led by Douglas], turning left and right, worked their way on to the objectives set for them, overcoming a stubborn resistance as they went bombing dugouts from which the Huns were firing ... As a result of the raid, several dugouts with their occupants were destroyed, many Germans were killed in their trenches and one prisoner was taken with valuable identifications secured. This was the first of many successful raids put on by the Canadians in the Vimy Ridge Sector, and the Battalion received congratulatory messages from Lieutenant-General Sir Julian Byng, Major-General Lipsett, and our Brigade Commander, Brigadier-General Elmsley. Later, General Elmsley came, personally thanked each of the raiders and what was still more appreciated, obtained special leave to Blighty for them’.

Douglas, who did indeed enjoy a spell of leave in early December, remained actively employed in the 2nd C.M.Rs until the War’s end, gaining advancement to the temporary rank of Captain in October 1917, and appointment as Adjutant in January 1918. He was also mentioned in despatches for his part in the final Allied advance (London Gazette 11 July 1919), a period that witnessed a fellow 2nd C.M.R. officer, Captain “Jock” MacGregor, win a V.C. at Cambrai in September 1918.

Discharged back in Canada in October 1919, Douglas, who settled in Guelph, Ontario, returned to uniform in the 1939-45 War, serving in Canada as a Captain and Q.M. in the 11th Field Ambulance (R.F.), Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps. He died in May 1971.

Sold with the recipient’s original M.I.D. certificate (Haig’s despatch, dated 16 March 1919), several original photographs and a letter from Pearkes, V.C., confirming the recipient served under him and was a close friend, together with a file of research.