A Scottish 'Digger's' Great War casualty medal pair: Corporal Thomas McGillivary Cran, 9th Light Trench Mortar Battery, Australian Imperial Force

- British War Medal. Silver issue (734 Cpl. T. Mc G. Cran 9 L.T.M.B. A.I.F.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (734 Cpl. T. M. Cran 9 -L.T.M.B. A.I.F.)

Sold together with:

- Australian Imperial Force. Cap badge. Kings Crown, complete with slider suspension as issued

- Australia. Blackened brass shoulder title. Complete with 2 x copper loop fittings as issued

Important: Corporal Thomas Cran is recorded as having 'Died Of Wounds' at Ploegstreet Wood, Belgium, on 12 June 1917

Note: Both medals confirmed as the recipients full medal entitlement for the Great War (recipients extant service papers held by the Australian National Archives refer)

Thomas McGillivary Cran, son of John Cran (a Farmer) and Elizabeth Cran (nee McGillivary) was a native of, Strathdon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where he was born on 28 January 1885. His father farmed at Farmton, Glenkindie, Strathdon. Prior to the Great War, Thomas had migrated to Australia. Thomas attested for service with the 36th Battalion Australian Imperial Force on 8 March 1916 at West Maitland New South Wales, giving his age as 30 and his profession as 'Engine Driver'. After a period of training in Australia and later in England he embarked for France in November of that year, and was assigned to the 9th Light Trench Mortar Battery from 8 May 1917. Promoted Temporary Corporal a day later, sadly he was not to enjoy his new unit or step up in rank for long as on 2 June 1917 he was wounded in action and died of his injuries on 12 June - an annotation in his record notes: 'Died of wounds received accidentally owing to explosion of ammunition dump at Ploegsteert Wood'. A parcel of personal effects was forwarded to his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Cran, of Clifton Road, Aberdeen, Scotland.

The life and supreme sacrifice of Thomas Cran, who Died-of-Wounds died during the Great War, is perpetuated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, at the Boulogne Easter Cemetery, Boulogne, France, where his bodily remains lie buried. He is also commemorated on the Clatt War Memorial 1914-1919, located at Clatt, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. This latter rural memorial listing 7 x soldiers, Thomas being the only one who served with the dominion forces

For those with a particular interest in the 'Fallen' of the Great War who hailed from the, Strathdon area, of, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, see the monumental web-site for the Kennethmont, Gartly, Rhyne & Kearn and Clatt war memorials at;

- www.kinnethmont.co.uk

Condition: Medals are EF

Code: 20873