Article about: Hi, thanks for showing the medals you found, it is a shame that some people dont respect family history anymore and just throw it away. Im so glad you found it, or another history lost. Dave
hey guys, i was hauling a load of garbage and found some old medals from ww1 & 2, with a hand-written list. the pair from ww1 have the name (Lt W H Baker), though most of the medals are from ww2 which have no names.
i also found a stray medal "for long service in the auxiliary forces" with the name "Lt (PYMR) W R Baker". with the "EDMN. REGT." which i assume stands for edmonton, alberta.
i think these things are really cool and would love to know more about them.
also, i don't plan on selling them as i'm fascinated with the history of it all, but what would these likely be worth?
my theory, is that W R Baker, is W H Baker's son, as W H Baker seems to of been born and registered in Edmonton. Would a soldier ever wear his fathers medals, as a sort of tribute or something?
Also, this is the only Lt WH Baker i could find in the gov't ww1 data base:
Wow. To find an ID'd Officers medal bar with service from both wars,
and a 'Canadian Territorial Decoration' - IN THE GARBAGE - is both
a very lucky find and a tragedy at the same time ! (A 'CD' is along
the same lines as a TD, but an entirely different award. Number's
7 and 8 are: the 'Canadian Voluntary Service Medal',
and the '1939-45 War Medal'.)
This guy was a lifer, and spent most of his adult life in the service of
his country, and some DOLT tosses them out like a used tissue ! ?
The Colonial Auxiliary Forces medal alone - which might be from a
father or brother, as it is an earlier 'GVR' type - is worth about
$250 to $300. (It is very likely though, that the one initial is
an error, and he was awarded both long service medals,
seeing they are both to a Lieutenant.)
The larger group may possibly be worth $1000 - $1500, for a
named officer's 'court mounted' set from two wars with a TD.
This is only a guess, and I could be low !
A beautiful set. If I could only be so lucky.........
my theory, is that W R Baker, is W H Baker's son, as W H Baker seems to of been born and registered in Edmonton. Would a soldier ever wear his fathers medals, as a sort of tribute or something?
Also, this is the only Lt WH Baker i could find in the gov't ww1 data base: Item Display - Soldiers of the First World War - CEF - Library and Archives Canada
Beautiful find!
From the Attestation Paper that you have linked to, it actually states:
What is your surname? BAKER
What are your christian names? WILFRED HORATIO
What is the name of your next-of-kin? WILFRED ROBERT BAKER (Father)
This would tend to confirm that WH Baker's father was W R Baker It also states that 'W H' was in the 101st Militia Regt (Edmonton Fusiliers), which was definitely an Edmonton, AB unit, and it seems father and son both joined this unit, as W R (the Dad) has his one medal inscribed EDMN REGT (Edmonton Regiment), which the 101st were renamed in 1920. It would be possible that W H Baker stayed with the same unit post-WWI and ended up with the same unit in WW2, who became the Loyal Edmonton Regt. That's where i would start my research anyway.
The rank LT (PYMR) would stand for Lieutenant (Paymaster). W R Baker must also have been in the ranks for some of his time in the Militia too, as the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal 1899 was actually not normally an officer's medal and was awarded for 20 years service in the ranks. However, officers who had served 20 years (but not all 20 years as an officer) received this award.
For the record the proper identification for the medals in the group to W H Baker are:
1. British War Medal 1914-1920
2. Victory Medal 1914-1919
3. 1939-1945 Star
4. Italy Star
5. France and Germany Star
6. Defence Medal 1939-1945
7. Canadian Volunteer Service Medal 1939-1947
8. War Medal 1939-1945
9. Efficiency Decoration 1930
So 9 is not a C.D. or a T.D., it's an E.D.
Rob
Last edited by Battery Command Post; 12-08-2011 at 07:29 AM.
Just an update fellas, due to a planned motorcycle trip to newfoundland in the summer, I am selling these beauties. If your interested let me know electric_jesus_@hotmail.com
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