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A Birchall in the Fenian Raids

Posted in 1850-1900 Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags Brushfire Wars, Canada, Family Groups and Singles, United Kingdom on December 6, 2023 by The Dude

I was really happy to find this single out of an auction in the UK. This medal is impressed to Pte F.Birchell Fenwick Rifle Company. It is the Canada Service Medal and it has the bar issued to it for the Fenian Raids 1866. This medal wasn’t approved until 1899. It’s one of a handful of 19th Century Birchalls I have found and the first 19th Century CSM. No. 2 Company (Fenwick Rifles) (Simcoe, Ontario) was first raised on 22 January 1862 as the Simcoe Volunteer Militia Rifle Company. Frederick appears on the rolls as a member of the 39th Battalion, Norfolk Rifles.

Canadian Press Photo – Panzerschreck

Posted in Paper with tags Canada, Panzerschreck, WW2 on February 21, 2016 by The Dude

Pretty straightforward, a Canadian press photo of two Canadian soldiers inspecting a discarded Panzerschreck found in abandoned German positions in Europe, 1945.

Private R. Neel and Sergeant R.B. Swain of The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada examining a German bazooka anti-tank weapon found in an abandoned trench in Hochwald, Germany, 5 March 1945. Bell, Ken., Photographer

A Birchall in Heavy Bombers for the RCAF

Posted in 1945 + Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags Canada, Family Groups and Singles, Night Bomber Offensive, WW2 on March 1, 2015 by The Dude

This medal is a GVI Canadian Efficiency Decoration awarded to Wing Commander Kenneth Birchall (C1592). Ken was born in Ottawa on the 17th of March 1916. He attended the technical school in Ottawa and went on to become a Pilot-Sergeant in the RCAF, later enlisting in 1939 in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

The Ottawa Journal records his promotion to Flying Officer (Temporary) in January 1940. He went on to complete two tours in bombers over France and Germany and then returned to Canada. He served as the Chief Instructor at No.2 Bombing and Gunnery School at Mossbank in Manitoba. In the 14 June 1945 London Gazette he was gazetted for the Air Force Cross (AFRO 1127/45 dated 6 July 1945). Ken had completed 1,502 hours flying as of date of award. The award was presented 1 April 1949.

The blurb for the award is as follows…

“Wing Commander Birchall, during the period of his employment as chief instructor at No.2 Bombing and Gunnery School, has produced outstanding results in training efficiency. Through devotion to duty and untiring effort he contributed in great measure to raising and maintaining the efficiency and morale of this station at a very high level. His service has been outstanding for the past five years and during that period he has made a valuable contribution to the prosecution of the war.”

Aside from the missing AFC, Ken would also be entitled to the Victory Medal, the 1939-45 Star, the Air Crew Europe Star, the Defence Medal and the CVSM with Overseas Bar.

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The Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal

Posted in 1945 + Medals with tags Canada, United Nations on May 16, 2013 by The Dude

Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal (French: Médaille canadienne du maintien de la paix) is a campaign medal created in 1988 to recognize the contributions of all Canadian Peacekeepers towards the ultimate goal of peace, after the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations was awarded that year’s Nobel Peace Prize. Go Canada!

Newfoundland Volunteer Service Medal

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals, Rare Medals with tags Canada, Newfoundland, WW2 on April 20, 2013 by The Dude

In 1949 Newfoundland joined the Confederation of Canada. In 1981 the Government decided to create and award this medal to the servicemen of Newfoundland who served overseas and did not receive a service medal from any other country. They were not eligible for the Canadian medal since they were not a part of Canada during WW2. This is mine, one of 800 issued. I have one original and one reproduction.