MEMORIAL CROSS

A First War Medal Pair to the Canadian Pioneer Battalion - British War Medal (770069  PTE.G.W. ROUTLEDGE. CAN. PNR. BN.), Victory Medal (770069  PTE.G.W. ROUTLEDGE. CAN. PNR. BN.), naming is impressed, partial replacement suspension of War Medal, near very fine. Footnote: George Routladge was born in Yorkshire England in 1883 and worked as a waiter in Toronto before enlsiting in January 1916. 

Canada. North West Canada Medal 1885, to Lieutenant George Wilson Stewart, 90th Winnipeg Battalion (Winnipeg Rifles)

1 Clasp - SASKATCHEWAN (LIEUt G.W. STEWART 90th BATTn.). Naming is neatly engraved in large capitals. Replacement ribbon, scattered nicks on the raised rim on the obverse, light contact overall, better than very fine. Accompanied by assorted research papers.

Footnote: George Wilson Stewart was born on November 26, 1856 in Glasgow, Scotland, the son of George McKenzie Stewart, his mother's maiden name being Wilson. His father had been engaged in the mercantile trade for over twenty years. The family immigrated to Canada with his parents, settling in Guelph, Ontario, where he received his early schooling. He later attended Hellmuth Boys' College, a first class boarding school in London, Ontario, where special attention was given to higher mathematics and Latin. Upon graduation, he served four years' apprenticeship in an architect's office in Toronto, Ontario, then opened an office of his own in the city. He did spent one year in Europe, travelling around the continent, in order to gain all the information possible about the field of architecture. Stewart was lured by the building boom in Manitoba in 1880 and subsequently moved to Winnipeg, becoming a draftsman for Balston C. Kenway. He later entered into partnership with Mancel Willmot (Wilmot & Stewart) in October of that year. During the next three years, their firm was remarkably successful, designing commercial, institutional and residential terrace blocks in Winnipeg. Stewart was also a talented designer in his own right and is credited with an exceptional work located in the border town of Emerson, Manitoba, creating a mansion for the wealthy owner, William N. Fairbanks, in a striking Italianate design. The sudden downturn in the economy of Winnipeg in 1884 forced the dissolution of the partnership with Willmot. Stewart was then appointed as resident architect of Manitoba, representing the Dominion Government's Department of Public Works in Ottawa. His works included military and mounted police buildings, as well as the Fort Osborne Barracks building in Winnipeg. At the same time, Stewart also served with the Canadian Militia, in the rank of Lieutenant with the 90th Winnipeg Battalion (Winnipeg Rifles). He took part in the Riel Rebellion of 1885 and suffered gunshot wounds in altercations with the Sioux and Blackfoot tribes, one of the wounds incurring in his neck. Many of his comrades were killed and wounded during the conflict. The natives called the 90th Winnipeg Battalion the "Little Black Devils", as they wore drab green uniforms that looked black under certain illumination. For his service during the Riel Rebellion, Lieutenant George Wilson Stewart, 90th Winnipeg Battalion was awarded the North West Canada Medal with Saskatchewan clasp. He is listed on the medal roll, entitled to the Saskatchewan clasp. He is also acknowledged on the North West Active Service List of Members of the Militia Force 1885 (with claims to "Grants of Land" under the provisions of the Act of 1848-49 Victoria, Chapter 73, granting Bounty Land to Officers and Soldiers). He was later made a Captain and retired with that rank. After the Riel Rebellion, Stewart returned to his architecture practice, with his last work in Canada appearing to have been the spectacular castle-like Riding School & Drill Hall at Regina, Saskatchewan for the Northwest Mounted Police (1886). This was the largest indoor arena in Western Canada in the Nineteenth Century, measuring 225 feet long and 125 feet wide of clear-span space, unobstructed by columns. This structural feat was achieved by the use of large curved wood arch beams rising nearly 30 feet at the crown of the roof. Unfortunately, the entire building burned to the ground on November 26, 1887, ironically on Stewart's thirty-first birthday. The same plans by Stewart were used in 1888-1889, to build a complete replica which stood in place until it too was destroyed by fire, this time in 1920, the year he was to retire from the architectural world. Stewartmoved to Dallas, Texas in 1887 and continued to practise there, at first in partnership with B.C. Fuller and after the death of Fuller, on his own account. He joined the Texas State Association of Architects and served as President of that organization in 1890. He took an active interest in all manner of athletic and field sports, and "other manly exercises". It was noted, that while in Dallas, he took little active interest in political issues and devoted his time and attention to the study of architecture. By 1892, he had moved again, this time to the State of Georgia where he was reported to be "a successful architect in Atlanta". He maintained an office in Atlanta for at least fifteen years, at first in partnership with James W. Golucke, as Golucke & Stewart, Architects (1896-1899), and then under his own name. Stewart moved to St. Petersburg, Florida in 1911, as "there was an opportunity for an architect, and because of the climate". He designed many of St. Petersburg's homes and larger buildings, including the eclectic scheme for the St. Petersburg Yacht Club (1916-1617) and the federal Post Office Building (1917, executed in a bold Renaissance Revival style and presently listed on the National Register of Historic Places). He retired as an architect in 1920. He was known locally as a member of the Episcopal church, the Kiwanis club, the Yacht club, the Echo club, the Art club and the Masonic Lodge. Stewart died on March 12, 1937 at Mound Park Hospital in St. Petersburg, at the age of 80. He had been ill for the two weeks before his passing and was buried from The Palms Funeral Home, one of the buildings he had designed. His wife, Marie Congdon Stewart had predeceased him in February 1935 and he was buried beside his wife in Marietta, Georgia.

George V (Capt. A. GUNN). Naming is engraved. Contact marks and surface wear evident, without ribbon, near very fine. Footnote: Alexander McKay Gunn was born on January 12, 1885 in Owen Sound, Ontario. He signed his Attestation Paper with the 44th Infantry Battalion, on December 21, 1914 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, naming his next-of-kin as his sister, Mrs. L. (Elizabeth) Penner of Owen Sound, stating that he had no previous military service, that he was not married and that his trade was that of Fireman. He was a Lieutenant and later, a Captain, with the 25th Battalion, New Brunswick Regiment, when he was died on August 23, 1917. He is remembered with honour at the Vimy Memorial, Pas-de-Calais, France. At the base of the memorial, these words appear in French and in English: "TO THE VALOUR OF THEIR COUNTRYMEN IN THE GREAT WAR AND IN MEMORY OF THEIR SIXTY THOUSAND DEAD THIS MONUMENT IS RAISED BY THE PEOPLE OF CANADA." Inscribed on the ramparts of the Vimy Memorial are the names of over 11,000 Canadian soldiers who were posted as "'missing, presumed dead" in France. He is commemorated on page 248 on the First World War Book of Remembrance. Gunn is documented as being awarded the 1915-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal posthumously, the Trio not included here.

An Army Meritorious Service Medal to the Canadian Army Service Corps - George V non- swivel, 3rd type ribbon, (81227 C.S. MJR. A.R.S.MJR H. DOWSON. CAN: A.S.C.). Naming is officially impressed, Very fine. Harry Dowson was born on 16th July 1884 in Langtoft, Yorkshire, England. He joined the CEF on 15th December 1914 having seen nine years service in Coldstream Guards. MSM- L.G-18th January 1919. CG :- 12th April 1919. Canadian Motor Machine Gun Motor Transport Company.