WW1 Canadian CEF 44th Battalion DCM Single Full Size 147451 Pte. J. Belasko

The WW1 Canadian CEF 44th Battalion DCM Single Full Size medal, named to 147451 Private J. Belasko, represents a distinguished award from the First World War. The Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) was the second highest award for valor in the British and Commonwealth forces, granted for exceptional bravery in the field. This particular example is a full-size, officially impressed issue bearing the recipient’s service number, rank, initials, and surname. Private J. Belasko served with the 44th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, a unit raised in Manitoba and active on the Western Front. The medal displays the standard DCM features, including the sovereign’s effigy and inscribed reverse. Such medals are significant historical artifacts, reflecting individual acts of gallantry by Canadian soldiers during the Great War. This item provides both a tangible link to the service of Private Belasko and insight into the broader context of Canada’s military history in the 1914–1918 conflict.