PM Sgt Alexander Keith WW1 medals

Medals of Pipe Major (Sgt) Alexander Keith, WWI

Three medals: a) 1914 – 1915 Star, 1918, b) British War Medal 1918, c) Victory Medal, 1919. On rear of 1914 – 1918 Star – 27021 Sjt A. R. Keith  15 – Can:Inf:  On rim of Victory medal – Pipe Mjr A. R. Keith 15-Can.Inf. – mounted

Born in 1879 in Arbroath, Forfarshire, Scotland, Alexander Reid Keith served 18 months as a piper with the 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders in South Africa and thirteen years with the London Scottish before immigrating to Canada in 1909. He served as a Colour Sergeant with the 97th Regiment( Algonquin Rifles) before transferring to the 48th Regiment (Highlanders) at the outbreak of the war in 1914. He attested into the 15th Battalion (48thHighlanders) as a Sergeant Piper at Valcartier, Quebec in September 1914 and assumed the position of Pipe Major which he retained for the duration of the war. Pipe Major Keith served with the battalion in every major engagement of the war including 2nd Ypres, Festubert, Mount Sorrel, The Somme, Vimy, Hill 70, Amiens and the 100 Days battles of the D-Q Line and the Canal du Nord. As well as his responsibilities as Pipe Major, Sgt Keith also cared for the battalion’s famous and much loved mascot Bruno.

Associated place
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Associated event
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Associated name(s)
NA
Era
1914 – 1919 (WW 1)
Location of artifact
Case 46 Medals
Classification
Medals
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