Canada, CEF. A First War Pair to Pte. Pynn, Royal Newfoundland Regiment, Died of Wounds 1918

A British War Medal, in silver, full size, rim impressed 4036 PTE. J. PYNN. R. NEWF D. R., bright, light contact marks, very fine. 

A Victory Medal, in bronze gilt, full size, scratches to gilt and areas of wear, very fine condition. 

Jack (John) Pynn was a baker at John Browning’s Bakery, and had volunteered with the Seventeenth Recruitment Draft. He enlisted in St. John’s on October 30, 1917. On December 11th, he embarked to Halifax aboard the Bowring Brothers’ vessel Florizel. From there, he travelled on the Missanabie to Glasgow, arriving at the end of December. 

At the end of May, 1918, Pynn reported from the Base Depot with his reinforcement draft of the 1st Battalion (now the Royal Newfoundland Regiment). On July 29 he was admitted into the 20th General Hospital at nearby Dannes-Camiers complaining of a mild chill. Eight days later, he was transferred southward to the not far-distant 6th Convalescent Depot in the vicinity of the coastal town of Étaples. From there, he was then forwarded to the 5th Convalescent Depot on the 11th from where he was subsequently discharged to duty at the Divisional Infantry Base Depot at Rouen twelve-thirteen days afterwards. Private Pynn was to report back with the Newfoundland Battalion in the field on August 30. 

While serving with ‘B’ Company on October 14th, Pynn was wounded by a gunshot wound to the left arm and both legs, further complicated by a fractured femur.  He was evacuated from the field to no. 44 casualty clearing station. On the 18th, he was forwarded to the 62nd Casualty Clearing Station, and then on to the 8th Stationary Hospital at Wimereux after being deemed dangerously ill. 

Private Pynn was reported as having died of wounds on October 31, 1918. While he had enlisted at the declared age of 18, there are other sources which cite his death at 17. His exact birth date remains unknown. 

At the end of October 1918, the Royal Newfoundland Regiment was engaged in the final phase of the war known as the Hundred Days Offensive. During this period, the regiment was advancing with British forces through northern France and into Belgium, taking part in a series of attacks against retreating German positions.

In late October specifically, they were involved in operations around the Scheldt (Escaut) valley, contributing to the push toward the city of Valenciennes. The regiment participated in difficult assaults on fortified positions, often facing stubborn resistance despite the overall German withdrawal. These actions were part of the broader Battle of the Selle and subsequent advances that helped break the last organized German defensive lines before the Armistice in November 1918.