Material Type

Artifact

Other Name

WW1 MEDAL GROUPING, INCL. M.M.

Date Range From

1914

Date Range To

1919

Materials

SILVER, BRASS, NYLON

No. Pieces

5

Description

1) BRITISH WAR MEDAL 1919 - SILVER MEDAL HAS UNCROWNED GEORGE V EMBOSSED ON FRONT WITH TEXT AROUND RIM THAT READS, "GEORGEIVS V BRITT:OMN:REX ET IND:IMP:". BACK HAS UNCLOTHED HORSEMAN (ST. GEORGE NAKED) AND HORSE TRAMPLING PRUSSIAN SHIELD, SKULL AND CROSS-BONES. IN THE UPPER PORTION BETWEEN HORSE'S NECK AND RIDER'S KNEE IS SUN OF VICTORY. RAISED TEXT READS, "1914 1918". EDGE ENGRAVED "736821 L CPL C BETTS 16 CAN INF". (H: 5.1, L:3.7, W: 0.4) 2) BRITISH WAR MEDAL 1919 RIBBON - NYLON RIBBON, WITH WATERED STRIPES. ORANGE STRIPE IN CENTRE FLANKED IN ORDER WITH WHITE, BLACK AND BLUE STRIPES. (H: 0.025, L: .19.3, W: 3.3) 3) ALLIED VICTORY MEDAL, RIBBON, PIN FOR SERVICE AT THE FRONT - BRASS MEDALLION WITH LOOP ON TOP. FRONT IS INSCRIBED: "THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILIZATION" "1914-1919". WREATH SURROUNDS PRINTING ON FRONT. FEMALE WINGED GUARDIAN ANGEL EMBOSSED ON BACK. ENGRAVED ON EDGE "736821 L CPL C BETTS 16 CAN. INF.". WATERED NYLON RIBBON, WITH RED STRIPE IN CENTRE FLANKED IN ORDER WITH ORANGE, YELLOW, GREEN, BLUE & PURPLE LINES. PIN PERFORATES THE LOOP ON TOP OF MEDAL AND HAS BRASS DISK SHAPED NUT ON BACK. FRONT OF PIN READS, "FOR SERVICE AT THE FRONT”, AND HAS A BRITISH FLAG SHIELD IN THE MIDDLE. (H: 0.9, L: 14.6, W: 4.3). 4)MILITARY MEDAL – SILVER MEDAL WITH UNCROWNED KING GEORGE WITH TEXT AROUND THE PERIMETER THAT READS, “GEORGIVS V BRITT: CAN: REX ET IND: IMP:”. REVERSE HAS THE CROWN ABOVE KING GEORGE’S MONOGRAM UNDER WHICH READS, “FOR BRAVERY IN THE FIELD”. LAUREL WREATH SURROUND THE TEXT. TOP OF MEDAL HAS ORNATE SCROLL TYPE SUSPENDER THAT SWIVELS. EDGE HAS ENGRAVING THAT READS, “736821 L. CPL C. BETTS. 16/MAN R.”. (H: 0.3, L: 5.4, W: 3.7). 5) MILITARY MEDAL RIBBON – NYLON RIBBON WITH WHITE CENTER STRIPE FLANKED IN ORDER BY RED, WHITE AND BLUE STRIPES. (H: 0.025, L: 22.0, W: 3.1).

Subjects

PERSONAL SYMBOL

Historical Association

MILITARY

History

AT THE TIME OF DONATION, DONOR JIM BETTS SAID THE ITEMS CAME INTO HIS POSSESSION WHEN HIS BROTHER ED “SOLD OUT” ON NOVEMBER 3RD, 2010. THE DONATED MATERIALS WERE PREVIOUSLY ON ED’S FARM SITE. THE FARM WAS LOCATED ON SECTION 21 - 114 AND DONOR’S FATHER CLARENCE BETTS “MOVED THERE IN 1929-30, BUT KEPT ORIGINAL HOMESTEAD.” EAST QUARTER SECTION 4 – 214. DONOR’S FATHER CLARENCE HAD 12 BROTHERS AND SISTERS. EARL’S EFFECTS HAD BEEN SENT TO CLARENCE AND EARL’S MOTHER (JULIA BETTS) BUT HOW THEY ENDED UP WITH CLARENCE IS UNKNOWN BECAUSE JULIA’S PLACE BURNT DOWN. ED BROUGHT THE TRUNK OVER AROUND NOVEMBER 3RD, 2010 AND SAID, “TAKE IT” BECAUSE THERE WAS NO PLACE FOR IT IN LETHBRIDGE. EARL WAS BESIDE HIS BROTHER CLARENCE WHEN HE GOT SHOT. “DAD WAS SHOT THROUGH THE CHEEKS, LOST THUMB. HE ALWAYS SAID IT WAS SO COLD OVER THERE UP ON THAT RIDGE. UNCLE REED SAID THE TOUGHEST BUGGERS IN RAYMOND LOVED TO FIGHT, AND EARL DID; ALTHOUGH HE WOULDN’T DRINK COFFEE BECAUSE OF THE CHICKERY (RATION COFFEE). DAD WAS UP TO 220 LBS IN THE ARMY WITH THE GOOD FOOD EATEN. THEY LIVED ON HOMESTEAD IN LITTLE SODDY. DAD PASSED AWAY ON DECEMBER 4, 1969. HE JOINED THE WAR EFFORT BECAUSE IT GOT TO HIM THAT GUYS (ALLIED COUNTRIES) WERE BEING PUSHED AROUND” CLARENCE BETTS WAS BORN ON AUG 10, 1889, WAS A FARM LABOURER FROM COUTTS. ACCORDING TO BETTS’S ATTESTATION FORM TO THE CANADIAN OVER-SEAS EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, HE ENLISTED ON ARIL 4TH 1916 AT LETHBRIDGE ALBERTA. HE WAS ISSUED THE SERVICE NUMBER 736821. HE SERVED WITH THE 113TH LETHBRIDGE HIGHLANDERS AND THE 16TH (CANADIAN SCOTTISH) BATTALION. HIS UNIT SAILED SEPTEMBER 25, 1916. IN OCTOBER OF 1916 HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE 17TH BATTALION AND IN NOVEMBER HE TRANSFERRED TO HIS FINAL UNIT, THE 16TH BATTALION. HE SERVED IN ENGLAND FROM OCTOBER 1916 TO NOVEMBER 1916, AND IN FRANCE FROM NOVEMBER 1916 TO OCTOBER 1918. HE WAS SHOT ON AUGUST 15, 1917 AND TREATED AT THE 4TH GENERAL HOSPITAL ETAPLES. BETTS WAS WOUNDED AGAIN ON OCTOBER 1, 1918 BY A PIECE OF SHRAPNEL. HE WAS DISCHARGED ON APRIL 4, 1919 AFTER THREE YEARS OF SERVICE. ON 3 JULY 1919, IT WAS PUBLISHED IN A SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE THAT HIS MAJESTY THE KING WAS “GRACIOUSLY PLEASED TO APPROVE OF THE AWARD OF THE MILITARY MEDAL FOR BRAVERY IN THE FIELD” TO “WARRANT OFFICERS, NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND MEN” AMONG WHOM WERE INCLUDED MEMBERS OF THE CANADIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE. ONE OF THE NAMES PUBLISHED IN THE LIST WAS LANCE CORPORAL CLARENCE BETTS. SEE THIS OBJECT’S PERMANENT FILE TO SEE COPY OF RELEVANT PAGES FROM THE GAZETTE. FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE BETTS’ BROTHERS’ MILITARY SERVICE IN ADDITION TO BACKGROUND FAMILY INFORMATION, PLEASE SEE THIS DONATION’S PERMANENT FILE.

Catalogue Number

P20110006007

Acquisition Date

2011-02

Collection

Museum

Less detail