Canada. A First War Pair, 3Rd Infantry Battalion, Wounded In Action 1918

British War Medal (174275 PTE. J. FAULKNER. 3-CAN.INF.); and Victory Medal (174275 PTE. J. FAULKNER. 3-CAN.INF.). Naming is officially impressed. Un-mounted, dark patina on the BWM, light contact on the VM, original ribbons, near extremely fine. Accompanied by their addressed Box of Issue (stamped "WAR and VICTORY", inscribed in typewritten text "17482" at the upper right, addressed "174275 / PTE. J. FAULKNER, 3-Can.Inf." on the front panel, inscribed in handwritten black ink "This is the property of James Faulkner" on the back panel, box in rough shape); an Envelope (with a label affixed, inscribed "ON HIS MAJESTY'S SERVICE", addressed to "Mrs. J. Faulkner, / 306 1/2 Barton St. E., / Apartment #2., / HAMILTON, Ontario.", postmarked August 26, 1944 in Hamilton, Ontario, with a three cent stamp, measuring 165 mm (w) x 92 mm (h)); a Veterans Guard of Canada Cap Badge and Collar Tab (both in bronze gilt, the Cap Badge measuring 36.2 mm (w) x 48.5 mm (h), the Collar Tab measuring 27 mm (w) x 35 mm (h), both with intact lugs and pin, along with scattered gilt wear and oxidation); and Canadian Army Training Memorandum "CATM" Magazine, Number 59, February 1946 (featuring stories about the Canadian Women's Army Corps, cover printed in brown and yellow inks, on an off-white card stock, containing 48 pages printed in black ink on a coated white paper stock, dual staple-bound, die-holes top and bottom near the spine, measuring 165 mm (w) x 245 mm (h)).

Footnote: James Faulkner was born on October 30, 1896 in Belfast, Ireland and later immigrated to Canada. He was a resident of Hamilton, Ontario when he signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (174275) with the 86th Infantry Battalion "86th Machine Gun Battalion", on September 3, 1915 in Hamilton, at the age of 18, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Sarah Faulkner of Hamilton, stating that he was with an Active Militia, that he was not married, that his religion was Presbyterian and that his trade was that of Carriage Painter. The Battalion was raised in Southern Ontario with mobilization headquarters at Hamilton, Ontario under the authority of G.O. 151, December 22, 1915. The Battalion sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia aboard the S.S. Adriatic, on May 19, 1916 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel W.W. Stewart with a strength of 36 officers and 1,072 other ranks, arriving in Liverpool, England on May 29th. After five months training in England, Private Faulkner was transferred to the 3rd Infantry Battalion for overseas service in the French theatre on October 21, 1916, arriving at the Canadian Base Depot in France on October 22nd. He left for his new unit on the 23rd and arrived with them in the field on the 28th.

The following Spring, he suffered a gun shot (shrapnel) wound to his right thigh and head on May 3, 1917. He was admitted to the Casualty Clearing Station on May 4th, which was followed by his admission to No. 1 South African General Hospital at Abbeville on May 5th. After ten days at Abbeville, Private Faulknerwas transferred and admitted to No. 5 Convalescent Depot at Cayeux on May 15th, where he would convalesce for another ten days, before being discharged to Base Details at Etaples on May 25th. He was posted to the 1st Canadian Infantry Battalion Depot, leaving for the 1st Canadian Entrenchment Battalion on August 28, 1917, arriving with them on the 30th. Nine days later, on September 8th, he left for the 3rd Infantry Battalion and joined them in the field the same day. Five and half weeks afterwards, he was posted to the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Centre on October 17, 1917, where he would remain for five weeks, before leaving for the 3rd Infantry Battalion on November 20th, joining them the same day. Private Faulkner's third stint with the 3rd Infantry Battalion would last nine months, when he suffered another gun shot wound on August 31, 1918, again to his right thigh but this time a very severe one. The entrance wound was through the right buttock, the bullet exiting the inside side of the right thigh. He was admitted to No. 3 Canadian Field Ambulance and was immediately invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Cambria.

Upon arrival in England, he was admitted to Northamptonshire War Hospital on September 2nd, where he would be treated for the next three weeks, before being transferred and admitted to the Grange Military Hospital on September 24th. After sixteen days at Grange, he was transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Woodcote Park, Epsom on October 12th. After two weeks at Epsom, he was posted to No. 1 Central Ontario Regimental Depot and placed on command to No. 1 Canadian Convalescent Depot on October 23, 1918. He was taken on strength of the 12th Reserve Battalion at Witley on November 25, 1918, which was followed two weeks later by his posting to the Canadian Concentration Camp at Kinmel Park, Rhyl, North Wales for return to Canada on December 8th.

Medical examinations were performed on Faulkner at Kinmel Park on December 12th and 13th, where the attending physician declared that everything was now "normal" with his patient. He embarked Liverpool, England aboard HMT Grampian on December 15th, arriving in Saint John, New Brunswick on the 24th. Upon arrival in Canada, he was taken on strength at No. 2 District Depot in Toronto, Ontario, then posted to the Casualty Company at Exhibition Camp on December 24th. Private James Faulkner, 86th Infantry Battalion, 3rd Infantry Battalion was discharged from service upon demobilization on January 22, 1919 at No. 2 District Depot in Toronto, Ontario, credited with having served in Canada, England and France. For his First World War service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He would later serve with the Veterans Guard of Canada during the Second World War.