Canada, CEF. A Sir John Craig Eaton Gold Service Medal, to William Carson, c.1919

In 14K Gold, weighing 14.4 grams, marked "14 K" and hallmarked with an "E" inside a diamond on the reverse, obverse illustrating the Eaton coat-of-arms bearing two beavers above a band with three maple leaves and a harp below, surmounted by a beaver and framed by a ribbon banner inscribed "VINCIT OMNIA VERIT" (Truth Conquers All), sprigs of laurel leaves on either side with the cypher of John Craig Eaton (interlocking "JCE") at the top, reverse inscribed "PRESENTED TO Wm. CARSON BY SIR JOHN. C. EATON AS A MARK OF APPRECIATION OF SERVICES IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918", the name engraved in a ribbon banner and the remaining type in raised lettering, measuring 21.5 mm (w) x 33.3.mm (h) inclusive of its integral ring suspension, very light contact, extremely fine.

Footnotes: Sir John Craig Eaton (April 28, 1876 - March 30, 1922) was a Canadian businessman and member of the prominent Eaton family. He was made a Knight Bachelor in 1915 in recognition of his participation in the war effort, and so became Sir John Craig Eaton, and his wife Flora, Lady Eaton. Sir John greatly influenced the Eaton Department Store Company and expanded the stores nationally. William Carson was an employee of the T. Tacton Company in Toronto, Ontario, as well as being a veteran of both the Great War (First World War) and the Second World War, the latter of which saw him lose his life. In regards to the engraved name on the reverse of the medal, William Carson was born on June 29, 1892 in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Ireland. His mother died from tuberculosis when he was about one month old, he himself having acquired Typhoid Fever when he was about 8 or 9 years of age. He was a resident of Toronto, Ontario when he signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (769991) with the 124th Infantry Battalion (later transferred to the 95th Infantry Battalion), on January 10, 1916, in Toronto, Ontario, at the age of 23, naming his next-of-kin as his brother, James Carson of Toronto, stating that his had no previous military service, that he was Single, that his was religion was Methodist (later acknowledged as Church of England) and that his trade was that of Clerk (also later designated as being with the T. Eaton Company as a 4th Floor Carrier). He was posted to Exhibition Camp, where, from March 23rd to April 18th, he suffered from a bout of Influenza, followed immediately afterwards by a bout of Tonsilitis until May 1st. However, Private Carson was discharged as "Medically Unfit" on May 24, 1916 at Exhibition Camp in Toronto. Two years later, Carson was recruited again for the war effort, enlisting as a Private (3031981), signing his Particulars of Recruit Drafted Under Military Service Act 1917 Paper with the 1st Depot Battalion, 1st Central Ontario Reinforcement Depot, on January 5, 1918, stating that he had six months' previous service with the 95th Infantry Battalion. He left for the European theatre from Halifax, Nova Scotia on February 19, 1918 aboard the S.S. Megantic, arriving in England on March 4th. Upon arrival in England, he was posted to the 8th Reserve Battalion but it was soon discovered that he had "eye issues" without glasses. He had been diagnosed with Myopia & Astigmatism, a condition that was identified prior to his enlistment, however, the strain he incurred was a "service aggravation". He also had a case of Conjunctivitis. Upon the cessation of hostilities, his eye issues figuring prominently, he was struck off strength to Canada on December 7, 1918. He was posted to Exhibition Camp with a bout of Bronchitis, from December 14, 1918 to January 3, 1919 and was once again discharged as "Medically Unfit" at No. 2 District Depot in Toronto, on January 21, 1919. William Carson would later serve in His Majesty's forces during the Second World War and was Killed in Action.