Canadian Military Heritage Museum launches project to remember local WWII heroes

The Canadian Military Heritage Museum, located on Greenwich Road in Brantford, works to preserve the stories of soldiers who fought in World War I and World War II.

Bob Ion, the museum’s chair, says the project they’re working on aims to ensure every soldier from Brant, Brantford, and Six Nations of the Grand River is remembered in the city’s memorial.

“The project we are currently working on was initiated by the city. Our war memorial was created in 1933 and designed by Walter Allward, who also created the Vimy Memorial. There’s been some question as to whether names from World War II are missing,” Ion said.

For Bob Ion, the stories told at the museum are personal, dating back to his birth.

He said, “Dr. Frank Clark landed with troops at Normandy, treating the wounded and getting them back to hospitals. After the war, he returned to Brantford and opened a practice. He was our family doctor—he delivered me, my two sisters, and my brother.”

The museum has passed on a list of soldiers’ names to the city to determine if they are eligible to be added to the memorial and if their names are indeed missing.

The museum notes that their World War I records are accurate, and they want World War II records to receive the same attention.

This project is crucial to the museum, as they don’t want the contributions and memories of these soldiers to be forgotten—and they are looking for your help.

Randy Johnson, Vice Chair of the museum, says they connect with community members to collect artifacts, which helps them identify soldiers and tell their stories.

“If people find items, perhaps when clearing out a relative’s home, they can bring them to us. Our archivists then try to trace the items and make connections with the individuals and events involved,” Randy said.

If you have information or artifacts to share, you are encouraged to contact the Canadian Military Heritage Museum in Brantford.