{"product_id":"canada-cef-a-first-second-war-medal-to-sergeant-major-tr-higham-kia-battle-of-caen-july-25-1944-m0444-3rl5","title":"Canada, Cef. A First \u0026 Second War Medal To Sergeant Major T.r Higham, Kia Battle Of Caen, July 25, 1944","description":"\u003cp\u003eBritish War Medal, rim impressed 274760 PTE. T. R. HIGHAM. NOTTS \u0026amp; DERBY. R., plated, in very fine condition; Victory Medal, rim impressed 274760 PTE. T. R. HIGHAM. NOTTS \u0026amp; DERBY. R., plated, minor contact, in very fine condition; George V Jubilee Medal 1935, plated, in very fine condition;  George VI Coronation Medal 1937, plated, in very fine condition; Efficiency Medal for Canadian Forces, two Bars on ribbon, rim impressed BTY. S.M.(W.O CL.2) V.R. HIGHAM. R.C.A. (N.P), plated, in very fine condition; 1939-45 Star, plated, in very fine condition; France and Germany Star, plated, in very fine condition; Defence Medal, plated, in very fine condition; Canada Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Bar, plated, in very fine condition; War Medal, plated, small knock to edge of obverse at 7 o’clock, in very fine condition. All medals contained in a wooden frame with glass covering, measures 271mm (w) x 271mm (h) x 28mm (d), case shows wear around the edges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMemorial Cross with George VI cypher, suspended from a silver bow suspension, reverse engraved A. 32080 R.S.M. T.R. HIGHAN, reverse 6 o’clock marked LACKIE STERLING, reverse of bow also marked STERLING, measures 32.40mm (w) x 40.15mm (h – inclusive of bow suspension), weighs 15.6 grams, dark patina, scattered oxidation, in very fine condition. Accompanied by its hardshell black case with a crown on the exterior lid, yellow velvet and silk interior, measures 65mm (w) x 84mm (h) x 18mm (d), in very fine condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOfficial Warrant “The Honourable the Minister of National Defence” appointing Higham to be Regimental Sergeant Major Warrant Officer I Class, dated February 29, 1941, constructed of parchment paper on reinforced cloth backing, measures 455mm (w) x 295mm (h), rolled and contained in original packaging addressed to Mrs. T. R. Higham of London Ontario, edges of packing torn, but warrant in very fine condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCertificate of Honour from the Corporation of the City of London to the memory of R.S.M Tom Reginald Higham, dated November 19, 1945, contained in wooden and glass frame, measures 274mm (w) x 375mm (h), in very fine condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLorie Chronograph, a square wristwatch composed silver with crystal face, swiss manufacture with face presenting gilded letters with an internal seconds hands in place of the 6 o’clock dial, measures 25.5mm (w – inclusive of the crown) 32.3mm (h) x 8.25mm (d), weighs 16.6 grams, edges feature decorative engraving, crystal face heavily cracked and broken, missing one strap band, very worn, in fine condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLeather dog tag impressed HIGHAM. T. N\u0026amp;D 27476, worn on a thin rope line, small hole on dog tag, in very fine condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInsignia of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery, a threaded and embroidered coat of arms; a brass badge, reverse hollow, both in very fine condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBar in white medal, obverse engraved W.O.I.T.R. HIGHAM R.C.A DIED IN HIS COUNTRY’S SERVICE 26 JULY 1944, measures 14.5mm (w) x 67mm (h), discoloured, very fine condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAccompanied by “History of the 7\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Canadian Medium Regiment R.C.A” by Captain A.M Lockwood, hardcover edition, in extremely fine condition; “Royal Scots Greys: Extracts from Regimental History 1876-1914)” London: Sifton, Praed \u0026amp; Co, Ltd. 1919, with the first three pages signed by soldiers, dating 1937, in extremely fine condition; letters and correspondence to Mrs. Higham following the death of T.R Higham, including a letter from the office of the mayor of London Ontario, dated August 8, 1944; Cecila Raven (host of T.R Higham in England), dated August 18 1944; Postcards from Petawawa Ontario; A binder of First War documents pertaining to Higham including his discharge certificate dated 1921, Jubilee and Coronation Medal certificates, correspondence to Mrs. Higham newspaper clippings, black and white photographs; Notices and information pertaining to A\/P.O Evans, Mrs. Higham’s brother.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFootnote: Tom Reginald Higham was born to Tom and Katherine Higham on June 13, 1899, in Derby, Nottingham, England, one of three children. Prior to his active service for his country, he was employed as a bookkeeper. Higham joined the R.F.A in June 1913, in Nottingham.  He enlisted for the war at Nottingham on June 18, 1915. He was posted with the Sherwood Foresters until March 1917.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe served on the Western front with the 11\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e division in France from June 1915 until September 1916. From February 1917 until September 1919, he was a Signal Instructor at Poona \u0026amp; Fyzabad. In March 1917 he was transferred to the Tank \u0026amp; Machine Gun Corps and served on a special mission to Poland from March until June 1917.  From September 8 to October 10, 1917, Higham attended the 195\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e infantry brigade school of instruction for NCOs, receiving the remarks “very keen. Rec for a promotion”. He then served in India from May 1919 to September 1919. He was discharged from the 9\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Battalion Machine Gun Corps on July 5, 1921. He attested in 12 Bty RCA on Jan 1922, transferred to the 55\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e RCA in June 1926 and was later appointed to the 7\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Fd Bde RCA in April 1936.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHigham was married to Christobel Mabel Hilda Evans on September 29, 1921 in Southampton, England. They relocated to London, Ontario and had two children, Tom Reginald, born April 20, 1923, and Margarite McCarthy, born May 31, 1925. In May 1935, he was awarded Efficiency Decoration and the Jubilee Medal.  In 1942, he was awarded the bar to Efficiency Decoration. In 1937, he went to England on the Canadian Coronation Contingent, and in June that year, he was presented with the Queen Elizabeth with Coronation Medal. Higham continued to serve with the 12\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e and 55\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Field Batteries between 1923 to 1936, and was promoted to a Sergeant Major Warrant Officer I class in 1938.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHigham enlisted for the Second World War on September 7, 1939, naming his next of kin as his wife, Christobel Mabel Hilda Higham, living at 532 Hill St. London, Ontario. His medical examination denotes a snake tattoo on his right arm, and a face tattoo on his left arm. He was taken on strength in London Ontario as a Sergeant Major Warrant I Class with the 12\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e field brigade on the same day. He was posted the Head Quarters of the 5\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Army Field Regiment on June 3, 1940, in Petawawa. In September 1941, Higham spent a total of 7 days in the Military Hospital for thrombosed hemorrhoids, and later, sinusitis in October. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 7\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e went overseas in November 1941, where it participated in two years of constant training. On November 12, 1941, Higham’s training in the United Kingdom began. He received the second bar to the Efficiency Medal in May, 1944. The 7\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Medium crossed the Channel in the second week of July 1944, and fought with every major battle that the First Canadian Army was engaged. The battle at Caen began on July 13, 1944 with the first rounds being fired at Rots shortly after 6 pm. This battle took place during the larger Battle of Normandy, Operation Overlord. In the course of the action over 10 months, the 7\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e occupied roughly 60 gun positions and fired nearly 70,000 rounds of 100-pound shells in support of three Canadian divisions, the 1\u003csup\u003est\u003c\/sup\u003e Polish Armoured Division, and all of the British 21\u003csup\u003est\u003c\/sup\u003e Army Group. On July 25, 1944, R.S.M Higham was killed in action at Caen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn June 1944, Higham was recognized in the form of a certificate by Field Marshal Sir Bernard L. Montgomery, commander of the 21\u003csup\u003est\u003c\/sup\u003e Army Group, which reads “It has been brought to my notice that you have performed outstanding good service and shown great devotion to duty during the campaign in France. I award you this certificate as a token of appreciation and I have given instructions that this shall be noted in your record of service.”  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHigham is memorialized at Beny-Sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery in Reviers. His cross is inscribed “At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember him.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 7\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Medium Regiment, Royal Canadian Division was disbanded on June 8, 1945. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"eMedals","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46133209956629,"sku":"M0444-3.RL5","price":1150.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0713\/9105\/2053\/files\/c2020_984_mnc4415_1_1_1_1_1.jpg?v=1692904505","url":"https:\/\/www.emedals.com\/products\/canada-cef-a-first-second-war-medal-to-sergeant-major-tr-higham-kia-battle-of-caen-july-25-1944-m0444-3rl5","provider":"eMedals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}