Canada, CEF. A First War Trio to 2nd Lieutenant R.W Leedham, 1st Battalion, KIA October 1918

A 1914-15 Star, in bronze, full size, reverse impressed 444006 PTE. R.W. LEEDAM. 1-CAN.INF., light wear, lovely patina, extremely fine. 

A British War Medal, in silver, full size, rim impressed 2. LIEUT. R.W. LEEDAM., dark patina, light wear, extremely fine. 

A Victory Medal, bronze gilt, full size, rim impressed 2. LIEUT. R.W. LEEDAM., light wear and contact marks, remains near extremely fine.  

A 55th Infantry Battalion Cap Badge, in pickled copper, voided, unmarked, two lugs with pin intact on the reverse, measures 35.9 mm (w) x 43.3 mm (h), minimal wear, extremely fine. 

Accompanied by an original telegraph from November 1918, from Buckingham Palace; a letter from the principal of The School House of Shrewsbury expressing sympathies, dated November 11, 1918; a war office letter presenting the decorations to 2nd Lieutenant Leedam, dated February 1923. 

Footnote: Richard Willick Leedham was born in Scotland in 1887. Prior to the First War, he served with the 28th New Brunswick Dragoons, and was employed as a contractor, time keeper. He enlisted with the 55th Infantry (New Brunswick and P.E.I) in March 1915. 

He was transferred to the 1st Battalion in September 1915. On June 21, 1916, he was admitted to the 1st Scottish General Hospital following a gunshot wound to the right hip on June 17th. The record states “On June 13th at Ypres, was hit by shrap. which entered the right hip.”  He was discharged on October 20th, later that year. He was again injured by a gunshot wound to the left shoulder in January 1917. The records indicate that in 1917, Leedham transferred from the CEF to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. 

Leedam was killed in action on October 24, 1918. On this date, the Royal Warwickshire Regiment was engaged in the final phase of the Battle of the Selle, part of the Allied Hundred Days Offensive. The regiment’s battalions advanced against German rear-guard positions along the River Selle, clearing fortified villages, woods, and railway embankments under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire. Their efforts contributed to the continued collapse of German defenses, just weeks before the Armistice on 11 November 1918.