WW1 CEF CANADIAN SERGEANT / OFFICER NORMAN FISKE ID BRACELET VIMY RIDGE WOUNDED

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WW1 CEF CANADIAN SERGEANT / OFFICER NORMAN FISKE ID BRACELET VIMY RIDGE WOUNDED:
$146.28

Here is a silver I.D. bracelet that was worn by a Canadian Sergeant, later officer who had spectacularly bad luck in the Great War. Of course his documents are available through the Veteran\'s Affairs website and I looked them up. He was born in London England and emigrated to Canada. He identified himself as a rancher from around Red Deer Alberta when he attested in Sept. 1914. He listed 2 years with the 15th Light Horse, a unit that had been around since 1905 and then when the 35th Central Alberta Horse was raised he served two years with them.

Norman was a large man for the age measuring 5\' 11\" with a 41\" chest. For a 22 year old lad that was very large. He sailed from Valcartier October 8, 1914 leaving his Mother as next of kin. Presumably a period of training ensued and this is in his record as well. Some qualifications as bomber and so on are listed. Then when you start looking at his medical records it gets a bit bad.

On April 23 1916 he suffered bomb wounds to both legs. Then, 6 days later, grenade wounds to both legs. Again on May 6th, grenade wounds to both legs and the next day, May 7, more bomb wounds to both legs. The poor bloody guy must have stood on his head in the trenches all day long. Then in 1917 he was admitted to a casualty clearing station for pustular dermatitis, perhaps because of a gas exposure. Then on April 10th he received what I presume to be a sucking chest wound [SW Chest] as it\'s entered in his record. Not long after this, while in hospital he was categorized as dangerously ill. He appears to have been evacuated to London where he was assessed and x-rayed and found to have foreign bodies in his shoulder, chest and arm. By Sept. 1917 he was struck off strength from the hospital and returned to Canada for follow up treatment. His last pay was drawn after 1920 it appears so he was likely in hospital for some time or perhaps that was just a lingering payment of some sort.

During this whole process you can watch his promotion history raise from Private to Lance Sergeant to Acting Lieut and then Lieut. One medical record that I have copied and shown here is indicate what I THINK is a gas wound though it might say \"has wound\"and it says Sept. 1917 Vimy Ridge.

So, was he a lucky soldier? He did make it back and lived to 1968 but what were his legs like? What were his nerves like?

Anyway, here is his ID bracelet which is extremely interesting because it has been engraved twice. He got his when he was promoted Sergeant. Perhaps his first one was lost during an injury or perhaps he never had one. Then, when he was promoted, and we do know he went to London on leave, he had it reengraved to indicate his new rank as Lieutenant.

It measures 8 1/2\" long and is in excellent condition. The Sergeant side shows a little more wear than the Lieut. side of course.

Immediately after listing this item I will be listing a completely unused cap badge of the same man.

Best of luck offerding and thanks for looking at one of my militaria sales.