"Editor of Witness, Bradford, Ontario. Dear Sir: Just a few lines to acknowledge receiving The Bradford Witness very regularly and must say I am very thankful to Hon. Earl Rowe and to you for being so good as to provide us boys with the paper, as it sure is great to read the news of good old Bradford and district. As for news over here, it is very scarce. It seems as though the friends I had back in Canada have given up writing since I came over here, though I certainly have done my part as I have written to several, but no answer, and I make a practice of answering any letter I get. Of course, their replies may have been lost at sea. However, I receive The Witness very regularly, and that means a whole lot when I don't get any other mail. Again I send my thanks to Mr. Rowe and you for this great pleasure, and also to the Bradford Corps Association. They have been real good to me. Yours truly, Jack Donnelly. B. 49-511 - Pte. Jack Donnelly, R.C.O.C. No. 2 Detachment, M.T. Depot, Can. Army Overseas."
"Native of Gilford District Believed First Invasion Casualty To Be Reported Here Believed ti be an Invasion casualty, the sad news came to Bradford last Wednesday afternoon that Arthur George McDonnell, eldest son of Mr. George McDonnell, formerly of Gilford, has died of wounds on June 12. As the family had no word of his being in action previous to this message, it is believed that he received fatal wounds during the early days of the invasion of Normandy." ...
"Refused Promotion and Apparently Safer Task to Answer Call of Duty with Famous British 8th Army in Italy. The toll of war has sacrificed a life which embodied all that was fine and noble and has brought a great loss, not only to his family and friends, but also among those to whom our fighting men will look for sane judgments in all the troublous days still to come, by the death in action in Italy of Lieut. Keith D. Fairs on May 24." ...
"News From home Appreciated Most By Boys May 25, 1944 Dear Mr. McKenzie: My first copies of The Bradford Witness arrived a few days ago and I can assure you it was indeed a pleasure to read news of the old town. My mail has been coming through exceptionally well, but even so I found a number of items of news in your paper that my wife and mother apparently had overlooked. Spring has at last arrived in England and is most welcome after a winter of fog and rain. I am at present on a drome in the centre of the fruit-growing district and the trees are a mass of bloom. Whoever wrote about the beauties of "An English Apple Orchard in the Spring" didn't half do it justice. Like everyone else these days, we are kept very busy, but last week I managed to get sufficient time off to visit Shakespeare's birthplace, Stratford-on-Avon. It is a beautiful little town and the Memorial Theatre is very interesting. I hear from Ron. Sutherland and Lorne West quite regularly by letter, but it is difficult to arrange one's leave in order to get together. My sincere thanks to you and Mr. Earl Rowe for making it possible to receive your paper. Without a doubt, news from home is cherished most by all the boys overseas. My kind regards to all the good people of Bradford and district. Sincerely, Laurie Melbourne."
"Word has been received by his mother in Toronto that Flight Sgt. Kenneth Patience is missing after air operations. Sgt. Patience is the youngest son of Mrs. Patience and the late Wm. Patience, the latter a native of South Simcoe who died in Floral, sask., a number of years ago. After a husband and father's death the family came to Bradford and here Kenneth Patience first attended school." ...
"Word was received last week by Mr. arnold Walker, of Blubber Bay, B.C., formerly of Bradford, that his only son, William, has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for dropping blood plasma to the Partisan troops of General Tito's Yugoslavian Army, thereby saving the lives of several of his soldiers." ...
"Another waster Paper and Rag Salvage will take place in Bradford Friday, June 16. The local Veterans again will make a complete tour of the village, both the business section and the residential section, in an effort to secure every scrap of waste paper in Bradford. The Need for Waste paper is not fiction - it is an absolute necessity. Tie up all your waste paper and rags tightly so that they may be most easily handled by the collectors. Place them in a spot where they will be in plain view of the collectors from the street, and they will be taken away. If weather is not favourable, the collection will be made the following Friday - June 23."
"To the Bradford Witness: Have arrived safely overseas. As this is my first trip to this country, I'm looking forward to seeing a great deal of it. I think, in fact, I know that I'll still like good old Canada. I'm writing this letter along with one to my family, so it will be short. Will be glad to hear from anyone who will write to me. There was a wonderful bunch of men who came over on the last draft, so it won't be long now. Will be seeing you all soon. -Bruno In his letter to his parents Bruno Cavallo told of meeting Baldwin Stoddart, Calvin and Wilfred Aikens and several men from Orillia and Sudbury whom he knew when working in those towns. His address is - Cpl. Bruno Cavallo, B-108600, No. 4 C.I.R.U., Canadian Army Overseas."
Contains biographies on Trooper Keith Noble & Trooper Art Turner, photograph of Bradford Legion veterans at D-Day 50th anniversary, and a photograph and account of Harold Metcalf of Cookstown in World War II
"Mr. and Mrs. Daniel wilson, of Bond head, have been notified by Ottawa that their second son, Flt.-Sgt. Harold (Chub) Wilson, is missing after air operations over enemy territory. The entire crew of his craft failed to return and as yet there is no information regarding their fate, although authorities assure the parents that information is being sought through the Red Cross regarding them."
