WW1 Canada Victory medal young Private Statom injured Vimy 1917

Victory Medal awarded to young private Arthur Statom injured shortly after the famous Canadian battle of Vimy Ridge in April 1917. He had only been in France for a little over 2 months.

On front: image of

On back: THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILIZATION 1914-1919

Engraved on edge:  201700 PTE. A.C E. STATOM 20-CAN.INF.

Arthur Charles Edgar Statom was born on 1897 in Leicester (UK). He lived in Toronto and listed his occupation as a messenger. He enlisted on June 20^th 1915 in Niagara, he was 17 years old.

He was a member of the 96^th battalion and sailed on  the SS Olympic for UK on  May 31 1916, arriving on August 6^th. He landed in France on March 9^th 1917 and was attached to 20^th Infantry Bataillon. 

Shortly afterwards:

• Admitted to Boulogne hospital May 12^th 1917 with shrapnel wounds to both his left face and severe one to his left shoulder
• May 15 Middlesex War Hospital Clacton on Sea
• July 7^th Military Convalescence Hospital  Epsom
• July 16^th discharged

From  the  War Diaries for the 20^th Infantry Battalion..

 11th of May:

His planes opened fire on front line trench at 4:15AM. Sniping active from FRESNOY WOOD.

…During the day collected bodies lying in ARLEUX LOOP between MANITOBA and WINIPEG ROADS and buried them. All identification in most cases had previously been removed from bodies by unknown persons.

Enemy artillery active from 9 PM on bodies collected for burial by Coys in piles of 8 at junction of ARLEUX LOOP and WINIPEG and ALBRETA ROADS.

12^th

Another fine day.  Enemy artillery quiet through the day, but more active after dark. During the day the men have to be absolutely still only being able to work at night. Coys buried some bodies in their areas last night, taking locations, and marking the spots. During day the balance of bodies were collected and buried at night.

The Victory Medal was awarded to all ranks of the British Imperial fighting forces, to civilians under contract, and others employed with military hospitals who actually served in a unit in a theatre of war between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918. 

The Battle of Vimy Ridge was part of the Battle of Arras, in the Pas-de-Calais department of France, during the First World War. The main combatants were the four divisions of the Canadian Corps in the First Army, against three divisions of the German 6th Army. The battle occurred from 9 to 12 April 1917, marking the commencement of the Battle of Arras and serving as the inaugural assault of the Nivelle Offensive. The objective was to draw German reserves away from the French forces, preparing for a crucial offensive along the Aisne and the Chemin des Dames ridge several days later.

The Canadian Corps was to capture the German-held high ground of Vimy Ridge, an escarpment on the northern flank of the Arras front.

By nightfall on 12 April 1917, the Canadian Corps was in firm control of the ridge, having suffered 10,602 casualties; 3,598 men had been killed and 7,004 wounded

WIKPEDIA