Showing 89 results

Gordon Douse, born May 22, 1892. Killed in action at Cambrai with 42nd Battalion, September 29, 1918. Son of Mr. and Mrs. J.G. Douse, Lefroy.

John Harrison Douse, born Nov. 17, 1887. Killed in action at Amiens with 3rd Battalion, August 8, 1918.

Henry Christopher Douse, born July 17, 1897. Killed in action at Cambrai with 42nd Battalion, Sept. 29, 1918. Son of Mr. and Mrs. J.G. Douse, Lefroy.

"Rev. H. Heustin read the memorial preayer while flanked by the Bradford Legion's Color Guard during Sunday's Remembrance Day ceremonies at the Legion Hall. Representatives of most town and township organizations were on hand to lay wreaths in memory of Canada's war dead. The address for the hour-long ceremony was delivered by Rev. D.J. Mills, a chaplain at Base Borden."

"Many people may be curious why this huge ship's anchor was left stranded at Holland Landing. The anchor, a relic of the war of 1812, was forged in Chatham, England for a ship-of-war built at Penetang, then an upper lakes naval station. The anchor was being drawn by a sleigh to Penetang when the hauling party was overtaken by a courier with news that the war was over. The laborers unceremoniously dumped the anchor off the sled, where it remains in what is now Anchor Park, and returned to Toronto, or York as it was then known."

"'What for?' That was the thought of uppermost in the minds of those who attended the Remembrance service at Bradford's Royal Canadian Legion Hall on Sunday afternoon. Chaplain Major E. Jankowski of Canadian Forces, Base Borden, posed the question in his address to serve as the theme in reflecting upon those Canadians who fought, were wounded, and gave their lives on the field of battle.He reminded those assembled in the Legion hall that what we enjoy in the way of freedoms and privileges as Canadians are the result of sacrifices suffered on our behalf. In remembering the 330,000 Canadian dead and wounded in the wars, he urged that we pray that such a sacrifice will never be asked of us again. He summed up his thoughts by quoting an inscription in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa:"They are too near to be great. But our children shall understand where and how our fate was changed and by whose hand." This thought was carried outside as wreaths were placed at the cenotaph by representatives of various groups. In photo above, the color part is shown lowering the colors as trumpeter Don Langford plays the Last Post."

Description : The West Gwillimbury History Project (WEGWHIST) meets Weds., Oct. 1st, in the Compton Room of the Bradford Library, 100 Holland Court, at 2 p.m. There are still some "missing families"... If you want your family history to be included, the Project must receive your information by October 1st! WWI Vetereans...To date, the project has the names of only 2 persons who served in WWI and returned home.

Municipality : Hamilton
Community : Ontario

Description : Brad Walker was born in Hamilton, Ontario, on December 1, 1917. He enlisted in the Air Force, Fighter Command on May 27, 1940, and served in Canada until December 1st of that year, when he was sent to the United Kingdom. On December 21st, Walker was assigned to the 403 Squadron RCAF at Manston, Kent. He piloted a Spitfire, conducting Fighter Sweeps, escorting bombers and ships, carrying out ground strafing as well as keeping enemy runways out of commission. Squadron Commander Walker saw action in two tours of duty, making 203 operational flights against the enemy, in both the Hurricane, and Spitfire V to IX. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross at a Royal Investiture on June 6th, 1942, for Leadership and Meritorious Service in the Air, mentioned in Despatches twice, and awarded the American Air Medal from the U.S. government, in recognition of leading air combats against the Japanese invading forces. Brad Walker moved to Bradford in 1951.

"James G. McKinstry was born in the town of Bradford on December 4th, 1884. He enlisted on December 11, 1915, into the 10th Royal Grenadiers, who were later absorbed into the 123rd Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force. The 123rd served in Canada until they embarked for England, on August 8th, 1915. McKinstry served at Bramshott Camp and was confirmed in the rank of A/L Corporal, in 1916. He was appointed A/Cpl. in 1917. In early February, 1917, the 123rd Battalion served overseas in France and Flanders, as a Pioneer Battalion. McKinstry remained in England as a instructor, but was dispatched to the front one month later, as part of the Canadian Corps below Vimy Ridge. In October of that year, the Corps moved to Flanders to aid the British in their autumn offensive. The attack on Passchendaele Ridge took several stages to complete. Cpl. McKinstry was killed in action at Passchendaele on October 21st,1917, and is buried in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, in Belgium. He was 31 years old at the time of his death. At the end of the offensive in November, the Canadian Corps had sustained 16,000 casualties.

"While dignitaries gather at the war memorials in Normandy on Monday, June 6th a short but emotion-filled ceremony was held at the Cenotaph in Bradford. Between 50 and 60 veterans, their families, and members of the Royal Canadian Legion gathered for a Memorial Service led by Padre O. Hopkins, commemorating the 50th Anniversary of D-day. Among the dignitaries present was Mayor Pat Storey, who laid a wreath at the Cenotaph, in honor of the "boys who never came home." The Mayor was also on hand to confirm that the municipality, as part of the 50th Anniversary activities, will be following the recommendations of Chief of Police John Harrison, and renaming a number of streets after Bradford veterans. "It's something we've been trying to get on with for five years," commented Storey, noting that the proposed names have historical significance, as "the names of people that have contributed to our country and our community." Chief Harrison, who with Special Constable Les Bluestein, carried out the archival background research, told those gathered that following amalgamation, there were a number of duplicate street names in the town of Bradford West Gwillimbury. "Because of confusion in emergency situations, those street names have to be changed," the Police Chief said. Changing the names to honor veterans, living and dead, was an appropriate step, added. Councillors, in Committee of the Whole last night, voted to recommend the renaming of several streets after the veterans, "to honor those individuals while they are still living, and commemorate in part the 50th anniversary of D-Day." Barrie Street in West Gwillimbury will be known as Woolven Rd.; Centre Street in the marsh will be Noble St.; Church St. in Bond ...
(Page 2) ...Head - Booth St.; Simcoe Place i Bradford - Kneeshaw Place; Simcoe Road in Bond Head - Hopkins Rd.; Simcoe Street (the bend from Luxury to the canal) - Walker Avenue; Turner Rd in West Gwillimbury - Breeze Drive; and the Service Road on the north side of Highway 88 - McKinstry Road. For biographies of the veterans see pages 18 and 19."