The file contains mostly material (notes, memos, letters, lists, clippings, etc.) generated and collected by Peter Hessel in 1998 in connection with the rebuilding and revision (correction of names) of the Arnprior War Memorial on John Street by the Canadian Legion. In the process of this research, it was “discovered” that the Town of Arnprior had presented “Welcome Home medals” after World War I, and that some local residents still have some of these.
Scope and Content
File consists of:
1. Photocopy of article in Arnprior Chronicle Weekly, June 27, 1998, by Sarah McGregor, “Can you help? Ongoing search for the Welcome Home medal”.
2. Clipping of article in Arnprior Chronicle Weekly, July 11, 1998, by Sarah McGregor, “War medals uncovered by local residents”. John Mosley, Cal Mosley, Mayor Lurch, Hal Campbell. Expeditionary Force, Alexander Brennan, Jim Brennan, Fernand Raymond, Adolph Thomas Raymond.
3. Event report: Article on “Reception and Presentation to Returned Soldiers,. Watchman, April 11, 1919, page 1.
4. List by Peter Hessel of Welcome Home Medals (1919) located by June/July 1998. Baatty, Beattie, Brennan, Chenier, Craig, Frappier, Kittner, Legree, Lemourie, Mosley, Walthers, Raymond.
5. Event report: Presentation of medals to returned soldiers, names of 22 soldiers, also 18 killed in action. Watchman, Dec. 28, 1917, page 5.
6. Photocopy of Certificate of Honour presented to J.A. Brennan of Arnprior, on Nov. 28, 1919 (see also colour copy and photos in file: Brennan, James A.).
7. Letter from Hal Campbell of Toronto to Peter Hessel, dated June 2, 1998, re Welcome Home medals. Attached is a photocopy from a book by George A. Brown. Shown are both sides of the Arnprior medal and a description.
8. Colour photocopy of the page above, showing the Arnprior medal.
9. Handwritten notes by Peter Hessel re Bill Martin, Marie Beattie, James Royal Beattie or Beatty, Peter McNab.
Other key terms: soldiers, World War I, cenotaph, war medals.
Notes
See also file “War Memorial” in Peter Hessel Collection.
See also file: Brennan, James A. in Peter Hessel Collection.
See Canadian Welcome Home Medals 1899-1945 by George A. Brown on Reference Room Book Shelf (donated by Arnold McIntyre November 2012)