King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited Canada.One warm evening in June 1939, the elementary school children and parents of West Gwillimbury drove to Alliston to see the Royal Couple on board the train as it passed through the little town. But the train did not stop and thousands of disappointed onlookers did not get a glimpse of the King and Queen. Engineer Harry Toman (brother-in-law of Herbert Bowles) was under instruction not to stop the Royal Train as it was late leaving the Toronto Station. At Midhurst, where 28 peoples were gathered, the train stopped to take on water supplies. King George VI stepped off the train to shake hands with the small group. One of those present was Edith Belfry, teacher of S.S. #9 Mount Pleasant. The Bradford High School students went by train to Toronto where they saw the Royal Couple riding in the Royal Car. The pupils had been given flags to wave and in some places the children put pennies on the railroad tracks.
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited Canada.One warm evening in June 1939, the elementary school children and parents of West Gwillimbury drove to Alliston to see the Royal Couple on board the train as it passed through the little town. But the train did not stop and thousands of disappointed onlookers did not get a glimpse of the King and Queen. Engineer Harry Toman (brother-in-law of Herbert Bowles) was under instruction not to stop the Royal Train as it was late leaving the Toronto Station. At Midhurst, where 28 peoples were gathered, the train stopped to take on water supplies. King George VI stepped off the train to shake hands with the small group. One of those present was Edith Belfry, teacher of S.S. #9 Mount Pleasant. The Bradford High School students went by train to Toronto where they saw the Royal Couple riding in the Royal Car. The pupils had been given flags to wave and in some places the children put pennies on the railroad tracks.
Staff artist's sketch shows how the robbery was executed by men, who forced people to lie on floor and then looted tills. Constable is also depicted as he went upstairs for revolver and entered into gun duel with men who nearly hit him.
Ledger-keeper at Bradford bank is Grace Moriarty, who was "compelled to lie on the dirty floor in my white dress." Getaway car crashed into truck in escaping.
Off-duty provincial Constable Reginald Wilson had nine shots fired at him by three masked gunmen and an undisguised leader who staged a western-style hold-up of the Bank of Commerce at Bradford yesterday. Four of his return shots hit car.
Road block on highway was almost immediately thrown up by provincial police. Police said the pattern of escape used by men was similar to that employed in the hold-up of the Royal Bank of Canada at Woodbridge, just 17 days ago today.
Two bullets which missed Cons. Wilson are indicated here, lodged in doorway by Nick Bicko, left and Emery Sarasin, who saw the shooting. Wilson was out for a casual stroll near the bank when he became suspicious. He went to room and got gun.
Bullet found on street after hold-up is shown by Lorne Fines. After examining the location of bullet holes in the abandoned getaway car, under close guard as a garage, police hinted at least one of the thugs may have been wounded by constable.