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Auction: 24111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 290

(x) The Victory Medal awarded to Private A. J. Sloane, 3rd Canadian Infantry, who was taken prisoner of war at the Second Battle of Ypres

Victory Medal 1914-1919 (9832 Cpl. A. J. Sloane. 3-Can. Inf.), good very fine

Arthur 'Art' John Sloane was born at Kingston, Ontario on 18 June 1892 and attested there on 22 December 1914. He was stationed with the 3rd Battalion (Toronto Regiment), Canadian Infantry on the Ypres Front on 22 April 1914 when the Canadians and their French Colonial allies became the first troops to be subject to a gas attack. The attack forced the French back and opened a gap on the Canadian left which in turn compelled them to withdraw, through several days of bloody fighting the frontline was stabilised behind St. Julien.

Sloane was taken prisoner of war during the Battle on 24 April, likely during his Division's defence of St. Julien. His service papers state that his location during his imprisonment is not known however he alludes to being held at Giessen, Germany in the series of letters he wrote while imprisoned. These were quoted in local newspapers in Canada and make for interesting reading, particularly the one written soon after his capture and quoted in an article entitled 'Was Missing, Now Safe'.

The article written on 5 June 1915 quotes him as stating:

'I think it is a miracle that I am still alive today after the two days and nights we went through. It was worse than hell could ever be. I never want to go through the same again, or think about it if I can help it, although it will be hard to forget. When I think of it, all now and see some of the sights of that day, it makes me shudder, but I guess my nerve is gone now. We were two days and nights without food or water, there being no possible way of getting to us as we were cut off in our little trench. What little water I had, I gave to the boys that were badly wounded, as I worked nearly all the first night to bring them in. Our battalion was badly cut up, especially our company. We were in the front line of trenches. We now have between 30 and 40 left out of our double company of 230, but no doubt both sides lost very heavily.'

Repatriated on 13 January 1919 Sloane was demobilised and returned to Canada. He married there and suffered serious injury during a car pile-up in Toronto which was reported in April 1936, although he must have recovered as his death was not reported until 17 May 1954 at Sunnybrook Hospital; sold together with copied newspaper extracts, casualty list and service papers.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£40

Starting price
£20