All researched now here is the info.
DCM, Pair and Belgium Croix De Guerra. To 472148SJT. S. Irwin. 72 – Can. Inf
It should be noted that the Victory Medal does not belong with this group the original was thrown away! As I have already written the Victory medal has mostly likely been thrown away. I have concluded this as an eagle eyed antique dealer saved this DCM and War Medal from being scrapped. He watched a Jewellery dealer at a flea market in Florida silver testing them. Thank goodness he managed to save them!
The group
Stanley Irwin was born in Jarvis Norfolk County Ontario on the 26th October 1895.
He worked as a Grocery Store Clerk and lived with his Father John W Irwin at 326 – Ave V. South in Saskatoon. The family were Presbyterian.
Irwin attested on the 30th July 1915 in Saskatoon and was placed in the 65th battalion. Irwin was 20 years old and 9 months he was 5 feet 7 ½ inches with blue eyes brown hair and a fresh complexion
Irwin left Canada bound for England on the 20.6.1916 and arrived in England on the 28.6.1916 on the 3.7.1916 he transferred to the 72nd (Seaforth Highlanders of Canada) Battalion
He landed at Le Have on the 13.8.1916
Hospitalized with Trench Fever 28.4.1917
Awarded good conduct badge 30.7.1917
Made acting L/Cpl 6.10.1917
Appointed Lance Corporal 30.11.1917
DCM approved - 30.12.1917
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During an attack he saw three enemy machine guns preparing to open enfilade fire on a company on his left. He at once crept round behind them on his own initiative with a Lewis gun and put the whole of the three teams out of action. By his initiative and courage he undoubtedly saved the situation and prevented many casualties’ London Gazette 28.3.18
The DCM is of course for possibly one of the most famous action in the Seaforth’s history, the attack and taking of Crest Farm. Special mention is given to Irwin in the regimental history ‘72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada’. The following is written about his part at Crest Farm:
‘One of the outstanding features of this brilliant operation was the work of 472148 Lce.-Cpl. S. Irwin. This N. C. O. was in charge of a Lewis gun crew. He discovered three Hun machine guns in position on the crest, which had not yet opened fire, but which were all trained on A Company and ready to enfilade them. With a bravery that was tinged with the uncanny prescience of an Indian scout, he worked in behind the fated Boche gunners, and firing his Lewis gun from the shoulder, killed every member of the crews who were just going to begin to fire, and captured the three guns single-handed. One of the latter was immediately trained on the enemy. B Company then moved forward and consolidated’
‘A despatch from the Commander-in-Chief, after the taking of Passchendaele, stated in part that the unit which took Crest Farm had by this action accomplished a feat of arms which would go down in the annals of British history as one of the greatest achievements of a single unit’
Promoted to Corporal 3.6.18
Hospital 1 month with Enteritis July 1918
Promoted to Sergeant 13.19.18
Severely wounded in both legs by machine gun fire at Cambria 8.10.1918
Awarded Belgium Croix de guerre 5.4.19 LG
The wounds put an end to Irwin’s service in the Great War; he spent long periods of time in hospital due to his wounds and the complications that stemmed from them. The bullets had actually shattered both his Tibias, it seems that the doctors were able to save his legs but he had numerous infections. He was obviously discharged due to no longer being physically fit. 4.7.19
Stanley Irwin died on the 26th February 1966 in the Mt. Carmel Hospital, Detroit, Michigan, USA
DSCF1465.JPG
DCM, Pair and Belgium Croix De Guerra. To 472148SJT. S. Irwin. 72 – Can. Inf
It should be noted that the Victory Medal does not belong with this group the original was thrown away! As I have already written the Victory medal has mostly likely been thrown away. I have concluded this as an eagle eyed antique dealer saved this DCM and War Medal from being scrapped. He watched a Jewellery dealer at a flea market in Florida silver testing them. Thank goodness he managed to save them!
The group
Stanley Irwin was born in Jarvis Norfolk County Ontario on the 26th October 1895.
He worked as a Grocery Store Clerk and lived with his Father John W Irwin at 326 – Ave V. South in Saskatoon. The family were Presbyterian.
Irwin attested on the 30th July 1915 in Saskatoon and was placed in the 65th battalion. Irwin was 20 years old and 9 months he was 5 feet 7 ½ inches with blue eyes brown hair and a fresh complexion
Irwin left Canada bound for England on the 20.6.1916 and arrived in England on the 28.6.1916 on the 3.7.1916 he transferred to the 72nd (Seaforth Highlanders of Canada) Battalion
He landed at Le Have on the 13.8.1916
Hospitalized with Trench Fever 28.4.1917
Awarded good conduct badge 30.7.1917
Made acting L/Cpl 6.10.1917
Appointed Lance Corporal 30.11.1917
DCM approved - 30.12.1917
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During an attack he saw three enemy machine guns preparing to open enfilade fire on a company on his left. He at once crept round behind them on his own initiative with a Lewis gun and put the whole of the three teams out of action. By his initiative and courage he undoubtedly saved the situation and prevented many casualties’ London Gazette 28.3.18
The DCM is of course for possibly one of the most famous action in the Seaforth’s history, the attack and taking of Crest Farm. Special mention is given to Irwin in the regimental history ‘72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada’. The following is written about his part at Crest Farm:
‘One of the outstanding features of this brilliant operation was the work of 472148 Lce.-Cpl. S. Irwin. This N. C. O. was in charge of a Lewis gun crew. He discovered three Hun machine guns in position on the crest, which had not yet opened fire, but which were all trained on A Company and ready to enfilade them. With a bravery that was tinged with the uncanny prescience of an Indian scout, he worked in behind the fated Boche gunners, and firing his Lewis gun from the shoulder, killed every member of the crews who were just going to begin to fire, and captured the three guns single-handed. One of the latter was immediately trained on the enemy. B Company then moved forward and consolidated’
‘A despatch from the Commander-in-Chief, after the taking of Passchendaele, stated in part that the unit which took Crest Farm had by this action accomplished a feat of arms which would go down in the annals of British history as one of the greatest achievements of a single unit’
Promoted to Corporal 3.6.18
Hospital 1 month with Enteritis July 1918
Promoted to Sergeant 13.19.18
Severely wounded in both legs by machine gun fire at Cambria 8.10.1918
Awarded Belgium Croix de guerre 5.4.19 LG
The wounds put an end to Irwin’s service in the Great War; he spent long periods of time in hospital due to his wounds and the complications that stemmed from them. The bullets had actually shattered both his Tibias, it seems that the doctors were able to save his legs but he had numerous infections. He was obviously discharged due to no longer being physically fit. 4.7.19
Stanley Irwin died on the 26th February 1966 in the Mt. Carmel Hospital, Detroit, Michigan, USA
DSCF1465.JPG