Material Type

Artifact

Other Name

REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE

Date

1870

Materials

BRASS, RIBBON

No. Pieces

2

Length

11.2

Width

3.7

Description

BRASS MEDAL HANGS FROM A YELLOW AND GREEN STRIPED RIBBON. RIBBON IS SOILED AND FRAYED AT ENDS. MEDAL CONSISTS OF A TOP PIECE WITH IMAGES OF AN ANCHOR AND VARIOUS WEAPONRY (SWORDS, CANNONS, AXES). HANGING FROM THIS IS A ROUND PIECE. THE PERIMETER FEATURES A WREATH OF LEAVES. WITHIN THIS A BLUE RING THAT HAS "REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE 1870" WITHIN IT IN GOLD. IN CENTER OF MEDAL IS MAN'S PROFILE WITH A SPRIG OF LAUREL IN HIS HAIR. IN RAISED LETTERING ON BACK OF MEDAL IS "VALEUR ET DISCIPLINE". MEDAL HAS SOME DISCOLORATION ON FRONT AROUND PERIMETER AND ON MAN'S PROFILE.

Subjects

PERSONAL SYMBOL

Historical Association

MILITARY

History

MEDAL TRANSFERRED FROM ARCHIVES. THE FILE FROM WHICH THE MEDAL COMES CONTAINS THE MEMORABILIA OF WILLIAM SHIRLEY, PART OF THE 20TH ANTI-TANK BATTERY VETERANS ASSOCIATION FONDS. WILLIAM CHARLES SHIRLEY WAS BORN AND RAISED IN LETHBRIDGE. IN 1925 MR. SHIRLEY JOINED THE NON-PERMANENT ACTIVE MILITIA IN LETHBRIDGE. THE UNIT HE JOINED WAS THE 20TH FIELD BATTERY, ROYAL CANADIAN ARTILLERY (RCA). IN SEPTEMBER 1939 MR. SHIRLEY VOLUNTEERED FOR ACTIVE SERVICE SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE WAR WAS DECLARED WITH GERMANY. HE WAS THE FIRST REGULAR SOLDIER TO VOLUNTEER IN MILITARY DISTRICT 13, AND HIS REGIMENTAL NUMBER - M8 - REFLECTED THE FACT (THE FIRST SEVEN NUMBERS WERE RESERVED FOR OFFICERS). MR. SHIRLEY CONTINUED TO SERVE WITH THE 20TH ANTI-TANK BATTERY, AS IT WAS RE-DESIGNATED ON 1 DECEMBER 1939. THE 18TH, 20TH, 23RD AND 108TH BATTERIES RCA WERE ASSIGNED TO THE 2ND ANTI-TANK REGIMENT RCA ON 1 DECEMBER 1939. WILLIAM SHIRLEY WAS PROMOTED TO BATTERY SERGEANT MAJOR IN MAY 1940. WHILE THE UNIT TRAINED IN ENGLAND, MR. SHIRLEY WAS AGAIN PROMOTED, THIS TIME TO REGIMENTAL SERGEANT MAJOR OF THE 2ND ANTI TANK REGIMENT. THE 20TH BATTERY WENT INTO ACTION IN JULY 1944 WHEN THE UNIT CAME UNDER FIRE NEAR CARPIQUET, FRANCE. MR. SHIRLEY SERVED WITH THE 2ND ANTI TANK REGIMENT AS IT FOUGHT IN FRANCE, BELGIUM AND GERMANY. WILLIAM SHIRLEY WAS AWARDED THE MEMBER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE (MBE) FOR DEDICATED, PRESTIGIOUS SERVICE. HE ALSO RECEIVED A MEDAL FOR LONG SERVICE TO THE NON-PERMANENT ACTIVE MILITIA. *UPDATE* IN 2014 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT JANE EDMUNDSON CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF MILITARY OBJECTS. WILLIAM CHARLES SHIRLEY'S LETHBRIDGE HERALD OBITUARY PROVIDED BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS ABOUT HIS LIFE IN LETHBRIDGE AFTER HIS MILITARY SERVICE: AFTER THE WAR, SHIRLEY WAS EMPLOYED BY SICK'S BREWERY UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT IN 1973, AND HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION. SHIRLEY DIED ON AUGUST 25, 1974. SEE PERMANENT FILE FOR HARD COPY OF OBITUARY.

Catalogue Number

P20060023000

Acquisition Date

2006-08

Collection

Museum

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