Material Type

Artifact

Other Name

BRITISH WAR MEDAL

Date

1919

Materials

SILVER OR GERMAN SILVER

No. Pieces

1

Diameter

3.5

Description

NO RIBBON EXTANT "#3285175" BRITISH WAR MEDAL.HEAD PROFILE GEORGE V OBVERSE. NAKED MAN RIDING HORSE, TRODDING SKULL & CROSS BONES "1914-1918" REVERSE SIDE "A. CPL. L.L. L'ARRABEE O.R."

Subjects

PERSONAL SYMBOL

Historical Association

MILITARY

History

BRITISH WAR MEDAL ISSUED 1919 AWARDED TO CANADIANS WHO SERVED OVERSEAS C.E.F. 450,000, NAVAL SERVICE 4,800. SEE P19880008001-GA. *UPDATE* IN 2014 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT JANE EDMUNDSON CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF MILITARY OBJECTS, INCLUDING THOSE DONATED BY MARGARET WHEELER. FROM THE ENGRAVING ON THE BACK OF THE MEDAL SHE WAS ABLE TO DEDUCE THAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY AWARDED TO LESLIE LLOYD LARRABEE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO FIND A CONNECTION BETWEEN LARRABEE AND THE WHEELERS. ACCORDING TO HIS DRAFT PAPERS AND ONLINE INTERNMENT RECORDS FOR THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC, LARRABEE WAS BORN ON MARCH 15, 1896 IN COMPTON COUNTY, QUEBEC, AND WORKED AS A JEWELLER BEFORE BEING DRAFTED IN JUNE 1918. THE PARTICULARS OF HIS MILITARY SERVICE ARE UNKNOWN, AND UPON HIS DEATH IN 1927 LARRABEE WAS BURIED IN COOKSHIRE, COMPTON COUNTY, QUEBEC. ON AUGUST 20, 2014, JANE EDMUNDSON SPOKE TO BILL KANE, A COUSIN OF MARGARET WHEELER ON THE HENDERSON SIDE. HE CONFIRMED ASHLEY WHEELER SPENT MOST OF HIS LIFE IN QUEBEC, AND REMEMBERED STAYING WITH THE WHEELERS IN MONTREAL WHILE HE HIMSELF WAS IN MILITARY TRAINING DURING WWII. KANE POSITED THAT ASHLEY MAY HAVE KNOWN LESLIE LLOYD LARRABEE EARLIER IN LIFE, GIVEN THAT COMPTON COUNTY IS CLOSE TO SHERBROOKE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A CONCRETE LINK BETWEEN LARRABEE AND THE WHEELERS DONOR MARGARET WHEELER WAS BORN TO ALBERT AND ETTA IVES, AND WAS THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF PROMINENT LETHBRIDGE CITIZENS WILLIAM AND MARGARET HENDERSON. SHE MARRIED WILLIAM ASHLEY WHEELER OF SHERBROOKE, QUEBEC ON JULY 11, 1936. MARGARET WAS A GALT MUSEUM ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBER AND CITY OF LETHBRIDGE ARCHIVES VOLUNTEER AND ASHLEY SPENT HIS CAREER WITH THE BANK OF MONTREAL. ASHLEY DIED IN LETHBRIDGE ON FEBRUARY 21, 1972, AND MARGARET ON JANUARY 5, 1988. SEE PERMANENT FILE FOR HARDCOPIES OF OBITUARIES AND INFORMATION ON FAMILY HISTORY.

Catalogue Number

P19880008004

Acquisition Date

1988-01

Collection

Museum

Less detail