Military Medal

[torre]

I'm not sure if this is the correct place to post this, but I hope someone can point me in the right direction.

I have discovered my Grandfather was awarded the Military Medal in WW1 and I would like to find out more. It was reported in the London Gazette.

He was English, but he was serving with the Canadian forces. He was reported 'killed in action', but it was later discovered he was taken prisoner and escaped to England.

Was a 'citation' given with a Military Medal and if so, how can I find out what it said. I am in England, so I am more than happy to phone the right place and pay for a copy.

I'm not a military person, so I hope this makes sense.

[jim1]

The MM was was most commonly awarded gallantry/conspicuous conduct medal & there are few citations.
You may find mention of what he did in his Batt. war diary or local newspapers.

He was English, but he was serving with the Canadian forces

In what capacity?
Do you know his Batt ?

[torre]

Thank you for coming back to me.

He was a Sgt in the 7th Battalion Canadian Infantry.

He was captured at St Julien, near Ypres on 24 Apr 1915.

[jim1]

The Library of Canada which is the home of their war diaries only have the 7th. from Dec. 1916 !
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/lac-bac/search/arch_adv
As you probably know St. Julien is where the monument to the Canadian Forces is erected marking the first use of gas by the Germans. I was there a few years ago.
Edit:
Not being one who gives up easily I found the 2nd. Infantry Brigade's diary which starts from 1/4/1915 & gives a blow by blow account of the action that day.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01kgw/
Scroll down the page to the diary.

[torre]

Thankyou for that Jim.

He was gassed. He eventually died of emphysema.

I have seen a copy of the interview he gave when he escaped back to England. It's very moving. Maybe it was what he said in that interview which gained him the MM.

Thanks for your help.

[jim1]

MM's were issued (at least the ribbon anyway) pretty soon after the event.
The 2nd. Bde. narrative mentions the use of gas. nobody knew what it was until it was too late.
Even the Germans were surprised by it's effect & I've seen a report by a German Officer who was there at the time describing how the gas even killed all of the wildlife in the area.
The Canadian Memorial there is a fitting tribute to those men.
When you read the narrative (assuming you will of course) you will notice map refs.
Take note of 6.C.6. this is where the 7th. were on the 25th.
Top RH corner of this map:
http://maps.nls.uk/view/101464903

[mmm45]

MM was instituted March 1916 what date do you have for the London Gazette?
My opinion is he was decorated for his escape.

Ady