Showing 38 results

"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."

Photograph of the Bond Head Cenotaph plaque - memorial to the soldiers who lost their lives in the Great War from Bond Head. Plaque reads:
"In Memoriam
Sgt. James Edward Cassells.
Robert Everett Carter.
Leonard Averill.
William J.M. Wood.
Who fell in the Great War."

Attestation paper, page 1, for Elwood James Belfry for World War One.

George Wellington Belfry was born on January 22nd, 1894 in Bradford to William and Julia (Cole) Belfry. George grew up farming prior to his enlistment on February 8th, 1916 at the age of 22. He was drafted into the 76th Battalion though he immediately joined the 18th Battalion which recruited from Western Ontario. George was discharged from duty in early September due to illness, though quickly returned to the front. He was shot on September 15th, though he recovered. The second time he was wounded, on October 1st, proved fatal and he died on November 8th, 1916 and is buried in France.

Photograph of Jack Sutherland's grave site in Shorncliffe Military Cemetery in Sandgate, Eng. Jack was the son of Alexander and Elizabeth Sutherland who ran Sutherland’s Bakery and Grocery. He was the nephew of Bessie Campbell. Jack served in the First World War and was killed in action in 1917.

Photograph of John A. Collis, soldier from World War II. John was born on October 14th, 1915 in Lowville, Ontario to parents George and Florence May Collis. He later married Dorothy Ruby in Bradford, Ontario and had a daughter, Joan Yvonne Collis, and a son, John Neill Collis. He was killed in action on July 25th, 1944 in Caen, France, and is buried in the Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery in Calvados, France.

Sgt. Pilot Scott Neilly, Flight Instructor for the R.C.A.F. He died during the Second World War in a training accident in New Brunswick on May 28, 1942.

Photograph of Flight Sergeant Hedley G. Dimock of the RCAF, who died June 26, 1944 in a take-off accident in India.

"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." ...

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