Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War D.S.O. group of four awarded to Major S. S. Burnham, 19th Battalion, Canadian Infantry, a gallant Battalion C.O. who was wounded in September 1916 and killed in action in August 1918

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. S. S. Burnham, 19/Can. Inf.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Major S. S. Burnham), together with the recipient’s Canadian Memorial Cross, G.V.R., the reverse officially inscribed, ‘Major S. S. Burnham, D.S.O.’, generally good very fine (5) £1200-1500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the Canadian Expeditonary Force 1914-1918.

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D.S.O. London Gazette 18 October 1917:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Previous to an attack he displayed exceptional initiative and forethought in personally supervising the placing of observation posts in the forward area, thus securing that at no time during the battle was there any lack of communication from the front to rear. On at least two occasions he made daring personal reconnaissances under very heavy machine-gun and shell fire, and brought back very valuable information. His cheerfulness and coolness throughout this period were a wonderful example to the men in the front line.’

Sydney Smith Burnham, who was born in Toronto in August 1889, was a pre-war officer in the Canadian Militia prior to enlisting in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in November 1914.

Embarked for France as C.O. of the 19th Battalion, Canadian Infantry, in September 1915, he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 15 June 1916 refers), and remained actively employed until being wounded by shrapnel in the left arm on 12 September 1916.

Having then resumed his command in the Field in November of the same year, he was appointed to the staff of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade in early 1917, and afterwards the 2nd Canadian Division, and added the D.S.O. and two further “mentions” to his accolades (London Gazettes 28 December 1917 and 31 December 1918 refer), prior to being killed in action on 9 August 1918.

The gallant Burnham, who was 28 years of age, is buried in Caix British Cemetery on the Somme; sold with copied service record - also see Lots 1164 and 1165.