QSAMIKE Posted June 20, 2010 Posted June 20, 2010 Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen:...... Well home again after a good day of Garage Saleing and would thought I would share with you a couple of fantastic items I have found..... THE BIRKS MEMORIAL BAR: BOWHAY, SAMUEL LESLIE F/L (PILOT) J4744 - From Three Hills Alberta. Killed Jan 10/45 age 29. #5 O.T.U. Boundary Bay, British Columbia. Liberator aircrafte exploded midair. F/L Bowhay stayed at the controls and maintained control of the aircraft long enough for several of his crew to bail out. He stayed with the aircraft. BOWHAY, WILLIAM EDWARD P/O (PILOT) J85938 - From Three Hills Alberta. Killed July 23rd 1944 age 24. 418 City of Edmonton Squadron. Mosquito aircraft HR149 crashed at Parkstone, Dorset, England. OPERATIONS WING. Mike
coldstream Posted June 20, 2010 Posted June 20, 2010 Mike Very interesting items, I have to say I've never heard of this bar. Can you give us some background information or a point in the right direction please. Best regards Simon
QSAMIKE Posted June 20, 2010 Author Posted June 20, 2010 (edited) Hello Simon:..... The Birk's bar was awarded / given to the next-of-kin of members of the Canadian Army / Navy / Air Force who died during WW2..... It was sent to the next-of-kin by the Henry Birks' and Sons Co. Ltd. a jeweler with national chain of stores at the expense of the Birk's family as a gift to the families in recognition of their loss.... It was sent on a Birk's Blue card and had the Rank / Name and Date of death engraved..... Birks at the time would mount the casualties medals free of charge and the bar was sewn across the ribbons..... The NOK of course also rec'd the memorial cross..... The bars were very often misplaced or lost or separated from the medals and memorial cross and they are very hard to find that is why it is quite rare to find 2 to brothers..... Please see: http://members.shaw....s/memorials.htm http://www.cmp-cpm.f...ng.asp?ref=MemB http://www.medalsofw...stpage=whatsnew Mike Edited June 20, 2010 by QSAMIKE
coldstream Posted June 20, 2010 Posted June 20, 2010 Mike Thanks for that. I cant believe that I've never come across these before. A whole collecting field on their own I would imagine. Regards Simon
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