Canada, CEF. A South Africa and First War Medal Bar to Sapper Brown, Canadian Railway Troops

 A swing mounted medal bar with horizontal pin on reverse, measuring 136 mm (w) x 98 mm (h), comprising four decorations: 

A Queen’s South Africa Medal, in silver, full size, rim engraved 29495 TPR: S. E. BROWN. 5TH REG: N. & D.I.Y.,  original ribbon with clasps NATAL, TRANSVAAL, ORANGE FREE STATE, CAPE COLONY, light wear and small contact marks on the rim, very fine. 

A King’s South Africa Medal, in silver, rim engraved 29495 TPR: S. E. BROWN. 5TH REG: N. & D.I.Y., original ribbon with clasps SOUTH AFRICA 1902, SOUTH AFRICA 1901, light wear with dark spot on the obverse center, remains near very fine. 

A British War Medal, silver, full size, rim impressed 1078758 SPR. S.E. BROWN. C.R.T., original ribbon, light wear, near extremely fine. 

A Victory Medal, bronze gilt, full size, rim impressed 1078758 SPR. S.E. BROWN. C.R.T., original ribbon, multiple dark spots on the obverse and reverse, light wear, near very fine. 

Footnote: Samuel Edward Brown was born in Sunderland, England in January 1876.

He was living in Montreal with his wife, Mary and six children at the time of his enlistment. Although his trade is listed as a horseman, he also served nine years with the Imperial Army, with the 5th Field Co. Can. Engineers. Brown joined the war effort on October 17, 1916. 

He arrived in England in December 1916, and was transferred to the Railway Corp in February 1917. He proceeded overseas and arrived in France at the end of the month. 

In November 1917, Brown suffered a shoulder and face injury when a horse he was exercising tripped on a wire and threw him to the ground. He was hospitalized for a few weeks at the 103rd Field Ambulance, No. 6 Stationary Hospital and the 1st West Gen. Liverpool for a right humerus fracture. 

He was discharged due to demobilization in 1919.