Orders, Decorations & Medals - Other Commonwealth

Lot 4901    SESSION 19 (4.30PM FRIDAY 29TH JULY)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Other Commonwealth

Estimate $4,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au

CANADA, Pair to a 'Mountie': Medal of Bravery; Royal Canadian Mounted Police Long Service Medal with Bronze Bar with one star (25 years service). CST Van Den Born 9-IV-1986 on first medal, J.Van Den Born on second medal. Both medals engraved. Display mounted, bar loose on second medal, otherwise good very fine.

Ex Noble Numismatics Sale 122 (lot 3716).

Together with two ribands for first medal; two sets of ribands with bars for both medals; Royal Canadian Mounted Police hat badge (QC); GRC/RCMP shoulder titles (2) (GRC is Gendarmerie Royale du Canada i.e. French text equivalent of Royal Canadian Mounted Police); RCMP Commissioner's Commendation Pin (yellow/black bar with raised metal Bison's head in centre); Province of British Columbia pin bar; cases for both medals, the Long Service and Good Conduct one with small RCMP badge in gilt on the lid; colour photo in frame (23.5x32cm) under perspex of Her Excellency the Governor General of Canada Jeanne Sauve P.C., C.C., C.M.M., C.D. presenting the Medal of Bravery to Constable Jan Van Den Born M.B.

Medal of Bravery: Canada Gazette 20/6/1987 - awarded to Constable Jan Van Den Born of Maple Ridge, British Columbia on 15 June 1987; invested 25 September 1987.

Citation: On April 9, 1986, while on a routine patrol, Cst. Randy Marquardt observed a high-rise apartment building on fire in Coquitlam, British Columbia. Having requested back-up and alerted the fire department, he entered the building, climbed the stairs to the 12th floor and began knocking on doors to warn occupants and direct them to the stairwell. By this time, smoke was dense throughout the building. He proceeded downstairs, stopping on each floor to alert occupants. Unable to enter the 9th floor because of the heavy smoke, he was met on the 8th by Sgt. Andrews who assisted him in his task. On the 6th floor, they were joined by Cst. Reg Steward and, having obtained a master key, they went back to the 12th floor to ensure all occupants had left the building. Again they were unable to enter the 9th floor. Once outside Cst. Marquardt, who had been overcome by smoke inhalation, was helped to an ambulance. Cst. Steward and Sgt. Andrews assisting in crowd control, observed seven people still stranded on 9th floor balconies. Along with Cst. Jan Van Den Born, they re-entered, climbed to the 9th and located apartments where people remained. They had to force their way in and break the balcony windows to get to the frightened occupants. They then assisted them to the stairwell and downstairs where they were treated for smoke inhalation.

All four police officers were awarded the Medal of Bravery. They also received the Police Commissioner's Commendation.

Jan Van Den Born was born in Holland and immigrated to Canada in 1953. He first lived in Maple Ridge, British Columbia in 1961 and was a volunteer fireman from 1966 to 1974. After working as a postman and a municipal employee he joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police at 26 years of age. Some of his postings were at Surrey, Williams Lake and Coquitlam.

Together with a folder of research including official letters for the award and the investiture of same as well as several letters from a variety of government officials and members of parliament, a copy of Pony Express August 1987, a RCMP GRC bi-lingual (English/French) journal featuring the details and the actions of the police officers in receiving the above awards, four other colour photos, three identical to the framed photo above, a copy of a letter written by J Van Den Born when he sold his medals and a sales listing for the above group dated 31/5/2006 for Canadian $5,950.