Canada, CEF. A First War Group to Lieutenant Roden, 213 Battalion, Forestry & Railway Construction Depot, 23rd Squadron RAF

A First War Pair, court mounted medal bar, reverse reinforced with black felt and small horizontal pin, measures 70 mm (w) x 105 mm (h), comprising: 

A British War Medal, in silver, full size, rim impressed LIEUT. G. S. RODEN. , cleaned, minor wear, extremely fine. 

A Victory Medal, in bronze gilt, full size, rim impressed LIEUT. G. S. RODEN., cleaned, minor wear, extremely fine. 

A Royal Flying Corps Graduation Certificate, named for Lieut. G. S. Roden, Canadian Expeditionary Force in the Military Wing, dated December 16, 1917, measures 170 mm (w) x 210 mm (h), creased and rip along the left side, remains very fine. 

A Certificate of Military Qualification, to Prov. Lieut. G.S. Roden, 12th Regiment, dated March 31, 1916, denoting the rank of Lieutenant, measures 335 mm (w) x 210 mm (h), blue stamp from Department of Militia & Defence dated June 12, 1916, creases and slight foxing, very fine. 

A small black and white photo of Roden and another officer, measures 55 mm (w) x 40 mm (h), construction paper residue on reverse, very fine. 

Accompanied by photocopies of service records. 

Footnote: George Stanley Roden was born on November 18, 1893 in Toronto, Ontario. He enlisted in the 213 Battalion, CEF on November 20, 1916 and transferred to the Royal Flying Corps on December 16, 1917. He qualified for his “wings” at the School of Military Aeronautics, Reading, and was subsequently posted to the 23rd Squadron flying Sopwith Dolphins. 

Taking off for a Line Offensive Patrol in Sopwith Dolphin C4148, August 8, 1918, at 10:26 am, Roden was forced to land after he took machine gun fire. His engine was shot through but the aircraft was salvable. Lieutenant Roden survived the incident. 

On October 14, 1918, he was admitted to No. 2 Red Cross Hospital in Rouen, then No. 39 General Hospital in Havre, suffering from influenza. He was discharged on November 11, 1918. He was repatriated to Canada on March 23, 1919, and officially demobilized on April 1, 1919.