1033160 Pte Herbert Charles Pryke, The RCR

Pair: 1033160 Pte Herbert Charles Pryke, The RCR, comprising: 

(a) and (b) BWM, Vic imp in caps 1033160 PTE. H.C. PRYKE. R.C.R

Medals mounted on short lengths of original ribbon, toned NEF.

Herbert Charles Pryke was born 30 Oct 1894 at Paris, Texas. A printer by trade, he attested at Halifax on 24 July 1916 at age 21, initially to the 237th Bn (New Brunswick Americans) CEF and was later transferred to the 97th Bn (Toronto Americans). That unit sailed for england on SS Olympic on 19 Sept 1916, where it was absorbed by the RCR and PPCLI Depot units.  Pte Pryke landed in France on 22 Oct 1916 and joined the RCR battalion (7 Bde, 3 Cdn Div) in the field on 25 Oct. He was wounded in action, probably from routine shellfire, and died of wounds on 24 Jan 1917 at 42 Casualty Clearing Station, CAMC. He is buried at Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension, France, one of 704 members of the RCR who were KIA or DOW in the First World War.  His medals, together with Memorial Plaque and scroll were later sent to his father as next of kin, at Toledo, Ohio, and his mother received a Memorial Cross, none of which is present with the medals. 

Sold with copies of Commonwealth War Graves Commission memorial pages.  His digitized service file is available on the LAC website. A good, albeit short, history of an American volunteer in the RCR.