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.
This item is believed to be a “Holdall,” which would have been used during World War One to keep items together. Holdalls would contain various items needed for personal use and hygiene such as utensils, comb. sewing kit ("Housewife"), shaving equipment, toothbrush, etc. It is stamped with, "1916 W [arrow symbol] D 25." The arrow symbol was used by the British government to denote government property and was used in various parts of the British empire, the "WD" indicates that the item belonged to the British War Department and the "1916" indicates the year.
Medal presented to Canadian Military member, Private E.J. Billings by the citizens of Bond Head in appreciation of his service during WWI. The medal was made by A. Neilly Jewelers in Bradford.
"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."
"'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."
"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."
