Regt Adjt
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Last week there was an eBay auction by a UK seller who was claiming that he had for sale the medal group of Padre "Rusty" Wilkes, MC. These medals (a group of six) were being sold with a scrapbook kept by Padre Wilkes covering his service in the Second World War.
The medal group being offered included an officially dated 1943 Military Cross, the 1939/45 Star, the Italy Star, the Canadian Voluntary Service Medal with Overseas Clasp, the Defence Medal, and the 1939/45 War Medal. None of these medals are named, which is how each of these medals was issued.
The problem, however, is that these are not all of Padre Wilkes' medal entitlement, and the medals being sold could not have been Padre Wilkes'. While the current seller may have purchased these with the scrapbook in good faith, they are not the medal group to the officer being described.
I have not detailed what other medal(s) should be with the group, so that a future seller may not attempt to add those to the made up group.
This information has been provided for information purposes in case they are offered for sale again and members of the Regiment become aware of the auction.
Pro Patria
M.M. O'Leary
Captain
The RCR
The following are added to support future intent searches on this topic:
Second World War Military Cross
Major Russell Oliver Wilkes
Padre
The Royal Canadian Regiment
Canadian Army
Captain, the Canadian Chaplain Service from 1st June 1940
Scrapbook
MC Award Presentation by General Sir Oliver Leese at San Vito, Italy
Citation - “WILKES, Russell Oliver, Honorary Captain (Acting Honorary Major) - Military Cross - Canadian Chaplain Services (attached Royal Canadian Regiment) - awarded as per Canada Gazette dated 25 December 1943 and CARO/3963 dated 5 January 1944, "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Sicily". Recommended by Lieutenant-Colonel D.C. Spry, Commanding Officer, Royal Canadian Regiment; supported by Brigadier H.D. Graham (Commander, 1 Canadian Infantry Brigade), by Major-General G.G. Simonds (General Officer Commanding, 1 Canadian Infantry Division) and by General B.L. Montgomery (General Officer Commanding, Eighth Army), whose headquarters had the document, 1-13 October 1943; recommendation with Headquarters, 15 Army Group, 15 October to 20 November 1943 when approved as an immediate award by General Harold R. Alexander.”
http://thercr.ca/honours_awards/ww2_citations/MC_WILKES_D2_WHI-ZIN_013.pdf
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