WW1 1915 Star Trio & Memorial Cross to Canadian Infantry KIA – Vimy Ridge?

An interesting 1915 star trio awarded to 71240 Private Frederick Walter Boalch of the 27th Battalion (Manitoba Regiment) Canadian Infantry.
Frederick Boalch was born in Bristol England in 1886 the son of George a joiner living and working in Bristol Gloucestershire, Frederick was working as at a saw mill before he decided to emigrate, sailing on the Royal George and heading for New Brunswick in Canada on Christmas eve 1913.
He joined up on the 31st October 1914 into the 27th battalion Canadian Infantry in Winnipeg Manitoba, they were part of a second contingent recruited during the winter of 1914-1915 and in the spring of 1915 they sailed for England, but instead of sailing in a great armada like the First Contingent they left in separate smaller transports. The summer of 1915 was spent in training at Shorncliffe on the coast of Kent and in September they left for the France as the Second Canadian Division.
Once in France after a short time training they were sent into battle and here they saw much action on the Somme, being involved in most of the major battles including the Battle of Thiepval and the Battle of the Ancre Heights.
In the early months of 1917 the second Canadian division moved towards Arras and stopped a few miles north east from the town at Vimy, the town was Seized and held by the German 6th Army in 1914, it was of great military importance to both sides due to it overlooking much of the Allied-held ground. It was the subject of a failed French assault in 1915 and now it was now the task of the Canadian Corps, operating under British General Julian Byng to recapture Vimy Ridge.
What followed was one of the most enthralling and astonishing large scale bloody battle of the war, involving not only infantry and artillery but bombardment from the air and the use of Tanks to overcome the enemy, I could write for ever about this action, if you haven’t done already, please at least Google this battle, you will get a taste of what a formidable task the Canadian divisions achieved that day, suffering over 10,000 wounded or killed.
Weather Frederick went on to also serve at the attack on La Coulotte, Lens and the Battle of Hill 70, I do not know, or if he was severely wounded at Vimy and taken to a field ambulance or a clearing station nearby and later died, I am unsure, but now he is remembered with honour at the Vimy Memorial in France.
This superb trio comes in very good condition however the victory medal has been erased for some reason, or this may be a replacement for a lost medal. The group comes with various research and a commonwealth war graves details etc. the memorial cross comes in good condition, this is just named on the back F. W. Boalch, when I got it, it was completely black and hadn’t been touched for years, I wrestled with myself should I clean or leave alone, in the end, well you can see the result, but now I can see it shows a little wear to the high points. Also included is a small book on Vimy Ridge, It is a good read, I’ve read it myself many times, it has some good pictures of the Canadians, battle plans and hard to find information regarding German divisions.
A wonderful and scarce casualty group which holds excellent investment potential.

Code: 15825