C023759 WWI CANADIAN MAJOR'S SERVICE TUNIC, BREECHES & DOCUMENTS. A grouping consisting of an officers service tunic, breeches and documents that belonged to a Major Benjamin Williams. The three-quarter length, khaki, fully lined tunic has a single-breasted, four button front closure with double eye and hooks to the waist, open neck lapels, and a lay-down collar. The integral shoulder straps are buttoned near the neck. To the rear is a 12" tail vent. There are two pleated patch breast pockets with scalloped, button-down flaps, and horizontal slash, saddlebag hip pockets with straight-edged, button-down flaps. The small brass buttons to the pockets and shoulder straps, and three of the larger ones to the front closure, are each embossed with a "1" surrounded by a wreath of maple leaves with a scroll to the bottom with the text "Ontario Regt Canada" while the bottom button is embossed with a beaver to the center surrounded by the text "Canada Militia" with all surrounded by a wreath of maple leaves surmounted by a King’s crown. Each of the shoulder straps have slide on "Canada" insignia which are stitched in place to the base of the straps. The left strap has a single brass King’s crown which would indicate the rank of Major. The right shoulder strap has two holes where the crown would have been mounted. Attached to each collar are bi metal 1st Infantry Battalion "Ontario Regiment" collar dogs which is a bronze maple leaf with a silver colored overlay which consists of a "1" with a scroll to the top and bottom with the text "Ont", "Canada" surmounted by a King’s crown. The sleeves end in scalloped cuffs and sewn above the left cuff are two faded wound stripes. Above the left breast pocket are sewn three ribbons, a Military Cross, which was awarded to then Lt. (A./Capt) Benjamin for personally bombing a machine gun crew, capturing the gun and seventeen prisoners, a Queen's South Africa Medal, awarded to all who served in South Africa between 11 October 1899 and 31 May 1902 (during the Boer War), and King's South Africa Medal, awarded to all troops who served in South Africa on or after 01 January 1902, and completed 18 months service before 01 June 1902. The medal was not issued alone but always with the Queen's Medal. Around the waist is stitched a 2" wide strip of cloth with belt hooks stitched under it at each side and has to the right waist a horizontal seam pocket. Inside the pocket is a white paper package of toothpicks with the logo and the printing "Canadian Pacific Railways Dining Service and numerous loose toothpicks. The lining is an olive rayon with white cotton lined sleeves. There is a diagonal slash breast pocket and horizontal slash waist patch pocket to the left interior. Hand written in black ink to the back interior just below the collar are the numbers "2002017-0727" and hand stitched below them is a faded white cloth tag with only the hand written numbers "1048" still visible. Only the top row of stitching is holding. The tunic has couple of repairs and multiple holes to the exterior while the interior lining has a split seam and some fairly large wear holes. A pair of, olive drab wool, breeches with a five button French fly closure with another button to the waist. There are six buttons around the waistband for suspenders and a short "V" slash is to the reverse center of the waistband. The buttons are of various types whit one being a metal dish type with "US Army" embossed on it. It is hard to tell which buttons were original. The interior waistband is partially lined in white cotton with the hand written number "7-27-22", while the fly, and pocket bags are in light khaki-colored cotton. The breeches have two, diagonally angled, slash front pockets and a single horizontal slash pocket with a button down flap, missing the button, to the rear right.. The breeches balloon out at thighs and taper down to ankles to a reinforced cuff. The inner thigh is reinforced with an oblong piece of soft leather about 12" high by 6" wide. There are eight, stitch reinforced, holes to each side of the 6 3/4" vertical openings to the outside seams of each of the cuffs, with steel tipped laces. The breeches are in good condition with some repairs to the crotch and to the seam above one of the cuff openings. The documents include an 4 3/4" x 8" off white paper day pass, from the Boer War, for a "Williams B". This hand written pass has an embossed British Royal stamp and allows him to be absent from his quarters from "9:30 AM June 1902 to 9:30 PM same day." for the purpose of proceeding to Johannesburg It is dated "16.6.02". Also included is a five page photocopied document from "Library and Archives Canada" that has his service record from the First World War, his "Officer’s Declaration Paper" for the "9^th Overseas Canadian Mounted Rifle Regiment" and a paper from the Department of Veterans Affairs with his date of death. Although there is damage to the tunic it is still in good shape for its age, the breeches are still in good condition and the documents add a nice touch to an interesting group.

To Order this item, please use one of the two e-mail addresses below to contact us. Please make sure to quote the item number in your e-mail

MILITARIA WANTED!  If you have items for sale, please contact us. We specialize in selling single pieces and entire collections. Over 3 decades in the business and we do all the work for you. Get the best return for your investment.

-E-Mail Address pawmac@nbnet.nb.ca  Or  guild@nb.aibn.com

To return to the main page please CLICK below