Lieutenant-Colonel Jim Medhurst
New Brunswick Rangers
4th Battalion, Queen’s Own Rifles

During the operations October 21st to October 27th 1917. For bravery, endurance and control of the men during six days of very hard fighting. His work was invaluable. Ge continually visited all the forward posts, even during the most intense phases of the enemy bombardment, cheering the men and steadying them to resist the enemy counter attack which was to follow.

(M.M. citation, 30 Nov 1917)

Born on 26 July 1899 in Toronto, James Nahor Medhurst was a First World War veteran and militia staff officer. Although only 15, as a Queen’s Own Rifles cadet, he had lied about his age to enlist in the 20th Battalion in April 1915. He was wounded after Vimy Ridge in May 1917 and then joined the Royal Canadian Dragoons. Medhurst received a militia commission in 1925. By the start of the Second World War, he served as general staff officer at Military District No. 2 in Toronto and then transferred to Atlantic Command in 1940.

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