Canada. A First War Pair, To Private Thomas William Weller,18Th Infantry Battalion

British War Medal (413098 PTE. T.W. WELLER. 18-CAN.INF.); and Victory Medal (413098 PTE. T.W. WELLER. 18-CAN.INF.). Naming is officially impressed. Un-mounted, contact marks, replacement ribbons, fine.

Footnote: Thomas William Weller was born on October 18, 1892 in Kent, England. He was initially recruited to the 45th Victoria Regiment, before signing his Attestation Paper as a Private (413098) with the 39th Infantry Battalion, on March 25, 1915 in Lindsay, Ontario, at the age of 22, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Elizabeth Weller of Brantford, Ontario (which was later changed to his wife, Emily A. Weller of Brantford), stating that he had no previous military service, that he was not married, that his religion was Church of England and that his trade was that of Brickmaker. The 39th Infantry Battalion was raised in Southeastern Ontario with mobilization headquarters at Belleville, Ontario under the authority of G.O. 86, July 1, 1915. The Battalion sailed from Montreal, Quebec aboard the S.S. Missanabie, on June 24, 1915 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel J.A.V. Preston with 40 officers and 1,003 other ranks, arriving in England on July 3rd. A little over one year after arriving in England, Private Weller was transferred to the 18th Infantry Battalion at Shorncliffe for service in the French theatre, on July 12, 1916, arriving at the Base Depot in France on the 14th and joining the 18th Infantry Battalion in the field on the 22nd. He was attached to the Town Major at Neuville-Saint-Vaast, France on February 11, 1918, returning to the 18th Infantry Battalion on February 19th. Private Weller was serving with the 18th Infantry Battalion in France, when he became "sick" on April 11, 1918. Four days later, he was admitted to No. 5 Canadian Field Ambulance on April 15th with a case of "Diarrhea". He was transferred to the Casualty Clearing Station on April 21st, then placed aboard No. 2 Ambulance Train on April 24th. He was invalided to England aboard the His Majesty's Hospital Ship Essequibo on April 29th. Upon arrival in England, he was posted to the Western Ontario Regimental Depot at Witley and admitted to the Bath War Hospital on April 30th, suffering from "Gastritis", the "Diarrhea" still prevalent. After five weeks at Bath War Hospital, Private Weller was transferred and admitted to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital, Bear Wood, Wokingham, Berkshire, on June 7, 1918. It was here that the attending physician noted that Weller had "some pains in (his) stomach, loss of appetite and weakness" along with "vomiting" on June 22nd. By July 2nd, the vomiting had disappeared, allowing for his discharge from hospitalization on July 5th. Following his discharge from hospital, he was placed on command at the 2nd Canadian Convalescent Depot for the next seven weeks, until August 23rd, when he returned to the 4th Reserve Battalion. His past marriage to Emily A. Weller was approved on November 1, 1918, the date and location of the marriage not stated in his records. He was posted to the 2nd Regimental Depot at Witley on March 31, 1919, then posted to "R" Wing at the Canadian Concentration Camp the following day, on April 1st. Private Weller was awarded fourteen days' Field Punishment No. 2 on July 25, 1919, "for refusing to go on duty". Field Punishment No. 2 involved the sentenced soldier being placed in fetters and handcuffs but was not attached to a fixed object, as per Field Punishment No. 1. This allowed a soldier to still be able to march with his unit and was a relatively tolerable punishment. He was struck off strength of the Overseas Military Forces of Canada, embarking Liverpool, England aboard the S.S. Regina on September 12, 1919 and upon arrival in Canada, was taken on strength at No. 2 District Depot in Toronto, Ontario. Private Thomas William Weller, 39th Infantry Battalion, 18th Infantry Battalion was discharged upon demobilization, at No. 2 District Depot in Toronto, on September 22, 1919, credited with having served in Canada, England and France, entitled to wear the War Service Badge, Class "A", number 460178. For his First World War service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He died on December 27, 1960, at the age of 68.