WW1 & WW2 Medal group belonging to Sgt. Maxwell Gordon Clarke (87th Battalion Canadian Grenadier Guards, 1st Battalion, and CSEF)

Object/Artifact

Musée Canadian Grenadier Guards Museum

Name/Title

Description

A WW1 & WW2 Swing mounted full size medal group of 6 awarded to 178272 Pte. Maxwell Gordon Clarke, 87th Overseas Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards), CEF, 1st Battalion CEF, and CSEF The British War Medal, 1914-1918 The Victory Medal, 1914-1918 The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, no overseas clasp The Canadian War Medal, 1939-1945 The King George V Silver Jubilee Medal, 1910-1935 - named to Sgt Clarke - CGG The Canadian Efficiency Medal plus 3 Clasps - named to Sgt. M.G. Clarke (C.G.G.)- one of only 140 Canadians to be awarded 3 bars to the EM and one of only 1,600 Canadians to be awarded a Kibg George V Efficiency Medal ABOUT THE RECIPIENT: Sergeant Clarke was one of five Canadian Grenadier Guards to participate in the Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force Campaign in Russia in 1919.y A US Citizen, 178272 Private Maxwell Gordon Clarke was born in Concord, New Hampshire USA on 18th July 1897. He is an original member and enlisted with the 87th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards) on 17th March 1916. Upon arrival in France, he transferred to the 1st Battalion, CEF where he remained for the duration of the war. Pte Clarke was wounded twice, once on 19 October 1916 with shrapnel to the chest, and again on 3rd May 1917 with a gunshot wound (GSW) to the right arm. in 1918 he volunteered to serve with the 259th battalion CEF as part of the Canadian Siberia Expeditionary Force (CSEF) and arrived in Vladivostock, Russia on 22nd December 1918. He remained in Russia until 1919 and upon return to Canada, re-joined The Canadian Grenadier Guards where he remained for the remainder of his military career, serving in WW2 as part of the CGG Veterans Guard. The Efficiency Medal was instituted in 1930 for award to part-time warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men after twelve years of efficient service on the active list of the Canadian Militia (British Empire). At the same time a clasp was instituted for award to holders of the medal upon completion of further periods of six years of efficient service. In the British Commonwealth, the Efficiency Medal was gradually superseded by national medals in some member countries, in Canada by the Canadian Forces Decoration in 1951

Created By

Bertille L. Hurel

Create Date

July 14, 2022

Updated By

Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.

Update Date

May 7, 2025