Local heritage society remembers

Nov 12, 2009

 Portland and District Heritage Society Remembrance day display. Photo courtesy of Ken Brown

In recognition of Remembrance Day, the Portland District and Area Heritage Society offered up a display at Saturday’s farmers’ market in Verona, which included a number of interesting artifacts from the two world wars and the Korean War.

The society’s president Ken Brown gathered the artifacts, which were loaned out from the Military Communications and Electronics Museum at CFB Kingston where Ken worked for 13 years after retiring from a 32-year career in military communications in the RCAF and Signals Corps.

Items on display included five helmets from WWI and WW2. One was a German helmet worn by German soldiers in WW2.

A home-made transmitter, likely made in the 1930s that Ken suspects was built by a radio mechanic from Camp Borden, was also displayed along with an American-made Korean War vintage walkie-talkie used by American troops in that war.

Of great interest was a family military history book loaned to the society by Lois Grant, whose family members served in both world wars. One particularly interesting old photo displayed a group of machine gunners from Portland Township who fought at Vimy Ridge in the first World War. Two vintage military uniforms from the 1950s were also displayed.

Ken was pleased to see many market goers stopping by to look at the display. “Some even spoke to me and shared some of their wartime experiences.”

Bill and Marg Campsall of Verona took in the display and it brought back memories for Bill, who worked on a hospital ship in WW2. For Ken, whose father was a veteran of World War 2, remembering those who participated in the conflicts is important. “This display is about honouring the people who fought in the wars and the difficult times that they experienced.”

The Military Communications and Electronics Museum at CFB Kingston is happy to loan out artifacts for educational purposes and anyone interested can contact the curator of the museum at 613-541-5395.

The Portland and District Heritage Society will also be holding a meeting on November 19 at the Princess Anne Building in Hartington at 7PM with guest speaker Doug MacIntyre speaking about his family history. Everyone is welcome.