Photograph of Jack Geddes, soldier in World War II who lost his life in battle. Jack was the son of George and Julia Ethel (Robinson) Geddes, born on May 13th, 1917 in Bradford, Ontario. . Jack worked as a Sub-Foreman for a Barrie construction company prior to marrying Mabel Elizabeth Copeland in May, 1940, and they had a daughter Gwendoline Elizabeth. He enlisted on November 27, 1942 specifically for the RCAF. Jack earned the rank of Sergeant in October of 1943 and was an Air Gunner for the RCAF. He and his flight crew did not return from their mission to Revigny, France. They were presumed dead until his body was found and registered through the Imperial War Graves Commission at Auger St Vincent Cemetery in Oise, France. He died July 19, 1944, and his wife received his Operational Wings recognition in honour of his service.
Helen Vipond honours Canada as the representative to strike the gong at the War Museum in Seoul, three times in hope that the sound will travel far enough to reunite the two Koreas in peace.
These are the children of Charles and Emily (Johnson) Adams, farmers of Bradford. David and John in the back row, and their sisters Bertha, Lilly (Perry) and Emily (Else). Jessie Lawrence is not pictured as she lived in Saskatchewan. David and John fought in World War I, though John died in Belgium on November 10th, 1917 and is buried in the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery.
Personnel files of one hundred and seventy-eight personnel who served in World War I with ties to South Simcoe. Research was commenced by Jan Coward. After her passing, a group of research assistants are working to verify the research and share this publicly. Original database exists as an online spreadsheet. Reseach assistants have identified which personnel files have been verified.
