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Medal Set


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Church Lad's Brigade Archives and Museum
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Nom de l'objet : Medal Set
Type de l'objet : Medal, Commemorative
Classification de l'objet : Man-made Artefact
Catégorie de l'objet : Communication Artefact
Sous-catégorie de l'objet : Documentary Artefact
Discipline : History
Material Culture
Military History
Constituant de l'armé : British Army
Grade militaire : Non-commissioned Officer
Unité militaire : 166th (Newfoundland) Field Regiment Royal Artillery
Matériaux : Yellow Copper Zinc Alloy
Cupro-nickel
Bronze
Technique de fabrication : Cast
Numéro d'accession : NoAccession11
Pays d'origine : England
Canada
Continent d'origine : Europe
North America
Province d'utilisation : Newfoundland and Labrador
Pre-confederation Newfoundland
Pays d'utilisation : Canada
Dominion of Newfoundland
Culture : British
Canada
Secteur géo-culturel : European
North American
Contexte culturel : Service Medals
Date de début de production : 1945
Date de fin de production : c 1960s
Période : Mid 20th Century
Description : This artefact is a group of military, Church Lad's Brigade, and Canadian Legion. The first group consists of medals that were issued for service in the British Army in the Second World War. The first medal in the set is the 1939-45 Star. It is a six pointed star that bears the royal crown above the royal cypher in the center. Around the cypher is printed "The 1939-45 Star." The reverse of the medal is plain. The medal is cast in a yellow copper zinc alloy and attached to the ribbon by way of a small wire ring. The ribbon is comprised of three vertical stripes of dark blue, red, and light blue that represent the three branches of service Navy, Army, and Air force. The second medal is the Africa Star. It is a six pointed star that has the royal crown and cypher at the center. Surrounding the crown and cypher is the inscription "The Africa Star." The reverse of the star is plain. The ribbon's field is of a pale yellow overlaid with dark blue, red, and light blue. The yellow representing the sands of Africa, while the coloured stripes represent the above noted branches of service. The ribbon also contains a metal clasp inscribed "1st Army." The following medal in the set is the Italy Star. Like the previous two, it is a six pointed star bearing the royal crown and cypher surrounded by the title "The Italy Star." The ribbon is divided into equal stripes of red, white, green, white, and red. The colours of the ribbon represented the House of Savoy, Italy's royal family. The following is the Defence Medal. It is a circular medal cast in cupro-nickel. The front of the medal depicts the uncrowned effigy of King George VI. Surrounding the effigy is the inscription "GEORGIVS VI D : BR : OMN : REX ET INDIAE IMP. The reverse of the medal displays a royal crown resting on an oak tree stump flanked by two lions. Above the image are the dates 1939, 1945, while under the image is the line "The Defence Medal." The ribbon consists of an orange center stripe flanked by green and black stripes. The orange stripe represents flame; the green represents British lands attacked by the enemy; while the black represents the blackouts. The green stripes on the medal in this group have faded to yellow. The fifth medal in the set is the War Medal 1939-1945. Circular in shape, the front of the medal has a crowned effigy of King George VI, surrounded by the line GEORGIVS VI D : BR : OMN : REX ET INDIAE IMP. The reverse shows a lion standing atop a two headed dragon that has an eagle head and dragon head. Above the lion are the dates 1939, and 1945. The ribbon has seven stripes of red, blue, white, red, white, blue, and red, representing the colours in the British Flag. The last of the military medals is the Newfoundland Volunteer War Service Medal. The medal is circular and is cast in bronze. The front of the medal is composed of the royal cypher topped by a caribou and a royal crown. Surrounding the image is the line "Newfoundland Volunteer War Service Medal 1939-45." The reverse of the medal depicts the female figure of Britannia, with a spear in her right hand, flanked by two lions. The ribbon is made up of 7 stripes of red, white, blue, maroon, blue, white, and red. The Royal Canadian Legion medals are a set of three service medals. The first is for the service as past commander. The medal is a cast of the Legion device, consisting of a red enamelled maple leaf in a white enamelled circle. The circle is surrounded by a bare metal laurel of maple leaves. Under the enamelled design is a blue enamelled banner housing the word "Legion." Under the banner is a small red enamelled poppy flanked by two smaller bare metal poppies. The device is surmounted by a royal crown. The ribbon is comprised of a blue field that has three thin yellow stripes on each edge. There are two metal clasps on the ribbon, the first inscribed "Service Officer," the second "District." The ribbon is attached to a pin back bar that bears the title "Past Commander." The second Legion Medal is similar in design to the first, except that it is bi-metal rather than enamelled. The center of the device, the maple leaf, banner, poppies, and crown, are cast in a silver coloured metal, while the laurel is cast in a gold coloured metal. The ribbon is solid green in colour. It ribbon has a small circular metal disk attached to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Legion. The disk depicts a lit torch flanked by the dates 1926 on the left and 1976 on the right. Under the torch is the word "Legion," and three poppies. The ribbon is attached to a metal pin back clasp the bears the word "Service." The third legion medal is identical to the first except for the clasps. The ribbon contains two metal clasps; the first reads "1st Vice President," while the second clasp reads "2nd Vice President." The ribbon is attached to a metal pin back clasp that is inscribed "Past Officer." The final set in the group is made up of three CLB service medals. The first is for 50 Years of service in the CLB. The medal contains the inscription "50 Years" surrounded by decorative foliage. The ribbon is comprised of three stripes of maroon, yellow, and dark blue, the CLB colours. The second medal in the set is a commemorative medal for the 1939 royal visit of King George VI and Queen Elisabeth. The medal bears the effigy of both king and queen; both individuals are surmounted by a single crown. The legend that encompasses the circumference of the medal surrounding the effigies bears the inscription "To Commemorate The Visit Of King George VI and Queen Elisabeth." Inside the legend is stamped the date of June 17th, 1939. The ribbon is made up of three stripes of red, white, and blue and also contains an enamelled metal clasp that reads "Newfoundland." The final medal is for the 70th anniversary of the Newfoundland CLB. The face of the medal bears the title "Church Lad's Brigade," and depicts the hat badge/ device of the CLB. The medal is suspended from a solid red ribbon.
Commentaires : When Britain declared war in the fall of 1939 Newfoundland, as part of the British Empire, was again obligated to support the Crown`s war effort. Unlike the previous war, due to concerns over the cost of raising, equipping, and sustaining an independent unit, Newfoundland did not raise an infantry regiment for service abroad. The first men to be called into service that fall were men for the Royal Navy. By February of 1940, it had been decided that Newfoundlanders would form a complete regiment of British Heavy Royal Artillery, with the view of raising subsequent artillery regiments if possible. The response to the call for men was enthusiastic and by February 17th, 400 men had enlisted for service. Edwin Wheeler was one of the first 400 Newfoundlanders to volunteer for service in the Newfoundland artillery, being issued the regimental number of 970014. Wheeler and the other recruits spent the first month after enlistment marching and listening to lectures in St. John`s. Due to the high cost of having uniforms locally made the early recruits remained in civilian clothes, their only identification as being in the service was a khaki arm band with the letters R.A. embroidered in red. On April 14th after a rally the previous evening at the CLB Armoury Wheeler and the other recruits paraded to the train station where they entrained for service in England. Wheeler, who managed to pick up the nickname Dewey at some point in his service, was sent to form part of the 166th (Newfoundland) Field Regiment Royal Artillery. He served with the 166th for the entirety of the war and saw service with the regiment in Africa and Italy. When the war ended he was demobilized and discharged on the 17th of October, 1945. After he left the army he returned to serve with the CLB, with whom he had served prior to his enlistment in 1940, taking up a position in the Avalon Battalion Band. He also became involved with the Royal Canadian Legion, serving a number of years in various leadership roles.
Fonctions : The medal group belonged to Edwin Wheeler of St. John's, Newfoundland. The medals were issued to him for his service in the British Army during the Second World War, the Royal Canadian Legion, and the Church Lad's Brigade.
Hauteur : 4.4 (All Stars)
Largeur : 3.8 (All Stars)
Diamètre extérieur : 3.6 (All Circular War Medals)
Unité de mesure linéaire : cm
Nombre d'objets : 1
Nombre de parties composantes : 12
Nom des parties composantes : The 1939-45 Star
The Africa Star
The Italy Star
Defence Medal
War Medal 1939-1945
Newfoundland Volunteer War Service Medal 1939-45
Royal Canadian Legion Past Commander Service Medal
Royal Canadian Legion Service/ 50th Anniversary Medal
Royal Canadian Legion Past Officer Service Medal
CLB 50 Year Service Medal
CLB 1939 Royal Visit commemorative medal
CLB 70th anniversary Medal
Établissement : Church Lad's Brigade Archives and Museum 
Ville de l'établissement : St. John's
Province de l'établissement : Newfoundland and Labrador

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