Name/Title
1918 - WWI - A pair of British War and British Victory medals named to 457722 Private Hugh Keenan - an 87th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards) CEF Sniper who was wounded twice.Scope and Content
Part of the Lieutenant Michael A. Hayes-Rivet (MHR) Trust Collection *** FOR ARCHIVE PURPOSES ONLY - ARTIFACT NOT PART OF MUSEUM COLLECTION ***
1918 - WWI Pair of correctly named and engraved British War and British Victory medals named to 457722 Private Hugh Keenan - an 87th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards) CEF Sniper who was wounded twice.
ABOUT THE MEDALS
A total of 351,289 Victory medals (authorized on 1 September 1919) and 427,993 British War Medals (authorized on 26 July 1919) were awarded to members of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF).
The 1914-1918 British War Medal (BWM) was awarded to all ranks of Canadian overseas military forces who came from Canada between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918, or who had served in a theatre of war. Those who had enlisted in the Overseas Military Forces of Canada (OMFC) in the United Kingdom and had not served in a theatre of war were not entitled to this medal.
The 1914-1918 British Victory medal (VM) was awarded to all ranks of the fighting forces, to civilians under contract, and others employed with military hospitals who actually served on the establishment of a unit in a theatre of war between 05 August 1914 and 11 November 1918 (inclusive). It was also awarded to members of the British Naval mission to Russia 1919 - 1920 and for mine clearance in the North Sea between 11 November 1918 and 30 November 1919. This medal was always issued with the British War Medal.
ABOUT CGG THE SOLDIER
457722 Private Hugh Keenan - Original Member of 60th Bn VRC, transferred to 87th Bn on 21 April 1917
, was qualified as an 87th Bn (CGG) SNIPER. Born in Edinburgh on 1 May 1886, Hugh Keenan was a former Imperial Army Soldier (Royal Scots) who worked as a Fireman in Montreal before enlisting with the 60th Battalion CEF in 1915. He became a Sniper with the 87th Battalion in 1918 and was wounded twice, once in 1916 and in 1918 when he was hit with a gunshot to his lower jaw on 3 September 1918.
Having been at the front since early 1916, he was always getting in trouble being absent without leave several times and even court martialed for drunkenness and striking CGG 87th Bn BQMS MWO Timberlake, however due to his performance while fighting, was found guilty of only one offense and given a light sentence. Although there are no photos of him, his fighting spirit and clear signs of PTSD are enough to celebrate and honour this wounded warrior and imagine how rough and rumble he must have looked..Created By
Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.Create Date
December 31, 2025Updated By
Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.Update Date
June 20, 2026
