Lest We Forget - Ingram Dale Weldon - Killed in Action 101 Years Ago Today 06.07.1916

Ingram Dale Weldon was from Middle Coverdale,Albert County, New Brunswick and was born Feb 10, 1889. He was the son of Son of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Weldon, of Albert County, New Brunswick. He enlisted with the 32 Battalion on May 28, 1915. He was listed as Killed in Action at while fighting with the 28th Battalion in Ypres on June 07, 1916. He has no known grave, and is listed on the Menin Monument on Panel 18 - 26 - 28. 

 You can find his attestation papers by clicking here.

He is Commemorated on Page 180 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.

A virtual memorial can be found here. 

Another link for information can be found here. 

If anyone has any further information, photos or memories they would like to share please pass them along. 

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Lest We Forget - Lester Carruthers Bishop - Killed in Action 100 Years Ago Today 06.03.1917

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Lester Carruthers Bishop, 832321 was from Irving Settlement, Albert Co., New Brunswick and was born February 18, 1897. He was the son of Mr. & Mrs. William H. Bishop, of Hillsborough, Albert County, New Brunswick, Canada. He enlisted with 145th (New Brunswick) Battalion in Moncton , on February 14, 1916. His occupation was listed as student. He served overseas with the 50th Battalion, CEF. He was killed in action June 3,  1917 at Vimy Ridge, France by artillery fire. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the VIMY MONUMENT, Pas de Calais, France 

 You can find his complete war records here.

He is listed on page 202 of Canada's Book of Remembrance.

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Roots of history: seeking plants

At the Albert County Museum, we are reviving the perennial gardens. If you are dividing your plants this spring, we might be able to provide a home for your surplus.

In particular, we are looking for perennials with traditional uses, such as the following:

• Culinary herbs (e.g., sage, oregano)

• Food plants (e.g., grapes, gooseberries)

• Herbs for teas and tisanes (e.g., lemon balm, peppermint, bergamot)

• Medicinal herbs (e.g., Echinacea, hops)

• Plants used as dyes (e.g., madder, woad)

• Plants with other uses (e.g., soapwort, sweetgrass)

  We are also looking for seeds, rootstock and cuttings of fruits and vegetables with a history of being grown in Albert County.

  If you would like to donate any plants, please contact Janet Wallace (email garden@albertcountymuseum.com) to see if we can use the plants.  Please provide labels with the plants. If you have a story behind the plants, please let us know. For example, we would love to know the history of your plant (when and where it was originally planted or found) and also how you have used it.

  If you would like to volunteer to help in the garden – perhaps you want to choose a spot and plant the perennials yourself, or you might like to help out in the vegetable garden, we welcome your help.

Do you have plants to share? 

Lest We Forget -George Arthur Patterson - Killed in Action 100 Years Ago Today 05.25.1917

George Arthur Patterson 41575 was from Coverdale, Albert Co., New Brunswick and was born September 22, 1889. He was the son of Martha Paterson, of Coverdale, Albert County, New Brunswick, Canada. He enlisted with 8th Battery on September 26, 1914. His occupation was listed as trainman. He served overseas with 7th Canadian Siege Battery. He was killed in action May 25, 1917 at Vimy Ridge, France. He is buried at  HIGHLAND CEMETERY, ROCLINCOURT ; Pas de Calais, France 

 You can find his attestation records  by clicking here.

He is listed on page 306 of Canada's Book of Remembrance.

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You can view his internment records here. 

If anyone has any further information, photos or memories they would like to share please pass them along. 

Lest We Forget -Cyrus Whitefield Gaskin - Killed in Action 100 Years Ago Today 05.23.1917

Cyrus Whitefield Gaskin, 303389 was from Turtle Creek, Albert Co., New Brunswick and was born July 9, 1892. He was the son of John William and Eunice Jane Gaskin, of Middle Coverdale, Albert County, New Brunswick, Canada. He enlisted with Canadian Garrison Artillery on October 19, 1915. His occupation was listed as fireman. He served overseas with 4th Canadian Siege Battery. He was killed in action May 23, 1917 at Vimy Ridge, France. He is buried at CABARET-ROUGE BRITISH CEMETERY ; Pas de Calais, France. 

 You can find his complete service records  by clicking here.

He is listed on page 242 of Canada's Book of Remembrance.

You can view his internment records here. 

If anyone has any further information, photos or memories they would like to share please pass them along. 

Happy International Museums Day!

Today, and in the coming week, International Museum Day is being celebrated in over 145 countries around the world and in over 35,000 museums globally! Why is this day, and the week ahead so important? Because museums are the places wherein past, culture, and society come together; as we raise awareness of our museums, we enhance our understanding of our worlds. Understanding breeds cooperation, and cooperation breeds peace. 

This year's theme is "Museums and contested histories: Saying the unspeakable in museums". The Albert County Museum is no stranger to the concept of "contested histories". The infamous Story of Tom Collins is still, to this day, one of the most hotly debated parts of our local history. The debate surrounding the trial of the century lives on in the Shiretown of Albert County!

Come celebrate International Museum Day with us this weekend, Saturday, May 20th, at the Albert County Museum! We are commemorating our first day of the season with a welcome party at 11am. You will be the first to hear of some of the exciting new plans for the summer, and of course, take the opportunity to visit our many exhibits and grounds. See you then!

*Special thanks to the International Council of Museums for the use of their imagery. 

A Living Memorial to Vimy Ridge Planted at the Museum

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Jim Landry of Landscape NB/PEI with Vimy Oak in front of Albert County Courthouse

If you missed the planting of the Vimy Oak Tree yesterday at the Museum, not to fear you can still visit the oak tree at its new home on the museum grounds. We planted the tree across from the English Oak tree planted in 1937 in commemoration of the Coronation of King George VI in front of the majestic county courthouse. The tree is planted with a direct view of our gun which was captured at Vimy Ridge on April 9, 1917 and won by Albert County in the 1919 Victory Loans Campaign. 

Our Vimy Oak was grown from scions cut from one of the original oak trees grown from acorns gathered at Vimy Ridge in 1917 by Lieutenant Leslie H. Miller. He planted his acorns at his farm in Ontario, which he eventually called Vimy Oaks Farm.

After the battle of Vimy Ridge all but one oak tree was destroyed, so the Vimy Oaks Legacy Corporation was formed and began the project to repatriate the Vimy Oaks to Vimy Ridge in 2015. Our tree was originally slated to be planted at Vimy Ridge, but due to soil regulations was unable to be planted there. The project then sent over acorns from the Vimy Oaks in Ontario to France and and are growing them there. Our Vimy Oak tree is one of 250 that are going to be planted across Canada, and was the first to be planted in New Brunswick. 

The day was made more profound as it was 100 years to the day that Lieutenant Louis Stanley Edgett from Hillsborough, NB died of wounds suffered from a counter-attack at Vimy Ridge on May 10, 1917. You can read more about him here. 

With special thanks to the people who made this project possible: The Liptay Family for purchasing the tree, Jim Landry at Landscape NB/PEI for having the foresight to obtain 40 trees for NB and PEI, Kim Wilmot of Ayles Natural Landscaping from Riverview for helping with the planting and subsequent care of the tree and the Vimy Oaks Legacy Corporation for making the whole thing possible. 

Thanks to the large number of people who attended the planting, along with the dignitaries present, our MLA Brian Kierstead, and representatives from the Hillsborough Legion Branch 132 President Keith Steeves, and Riverview Veterans Association President Peter Jubb. 

Planting of Vimy Oak at Albert County Museum

From Left to Right - Brian Kierstead - MLA Albert, Stuart Liptay - ACHS President, Kim Wilmot - Ayles Landscaping, Peter Jubb - Riverview Veterans Association President, Keith Steeves - Hillsborough Legion Branch 132 President, Jim Landry - Executive Director Landscape NB/PEI

CTV ATlantic did a Great story on the planting and it can be found here.  

Lest We Forget - Louis Stanley Edgett - Killed in Action 100 Years Ago Today 05.10.1917

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Lieutenant Louis Stanley Edgett was from Hillsborough, Albert Co., New Brunswick and was born June 23, 1894. He was listed as being born at sea on the Indian Ocean on board the Ship Stanley. He was the son of Annie Bella Steeves (formerly Edgett), of Moncton, New Brunswick, and Capt. Judson Hughes Edgett (mercantile marine). He enlisted with the 140th Battalion on June 20, 1916. His occupation was listed as student. He served overseas with 60th Battalion (Victoria Rifles). He died serving with the 87th Battalion of wounds suffered during an enemy counter-attack. He has is buried in LAPUGNOY MILITARY CEMETERY. 

 You can find his complete war records by clicking here.

He is listed on page 233 of Canada's Book of Remembrance.

There is a stirring memorial on the UNB website about midway down the page. 

He is commemorated by a family stone in the Grey's Island Cemetery, Hillsborough, NB. 

The War Diaries of the 87th Battalion on May 10, 1917 - Here and Here.

If anyone has any further information, photos or memories they would like to share please pass them along. 

His personal war diary was published and can be purchased here. 

Come Help Us Plant a VIMY RIDGE Oak Tree - Wednesday, May 10 @ 3pm

We're pleased to announce that on Wednesday, May 10, 2017 we will be planting a Vimy Oak tree in commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. The tree was made available through the Vimy Oaks Legacy Project with the cooperation of Landscape NB/PEI.  The Vimy Oak Trees were grown from scions cut from oak trees grown from acorns gathered on the Vimy Battlefield by Lieutenant Leslie H. Miller in 1917. The planting will take place during the Anglophone East School District Heritage Fair.

After the Battle at Vimy Ridge was won, many soldiers realized that they had been part of something truly great. Lieutenant Leslie H. Miller, born in 1889 in Milliken, ON, looked around for a souvenir on the Ridge, which was completely devoid of structures or vegetation due to shell fire but he did find a half buried oak tree. He gathered up a handful of acorns.

Those acorns were subsequently planted by him on his farm which he called ‘Vimy Oaks Farm’ and are now large majestic oaks. The First World War wiped out all but one native oak in the Vimy region, and the Vimy Oaks Legacy Project was created to repatriate the native oaks to Vimy Ridge to create a living memorial to honour the memory of all those who fought, connecting modern Canada and modern France, and reaffirming our comradeship with France and her people.

Arborist collecting scions.

In January 2015, the process began with professional arborists taking cuttings (scions) from the crowns of the oaks which were grafted onto base root stock – Quercus robur. Today, the trees are almost 5 feet tall and are ready for their journey back to France and to various places across Canada.  

Landscape NB & PEI was able to obtain 40 trees out of a stock of 200 from the foundation and brought them to New Brunswick to be shared across the two provinces. In April, they sent out a request for appropriate locations to plant them and were overwhelmed with requests.

When asked about the Vimy Oaks Legacy project, Executive Director of Landscape NB&PEI, Jim Landry said, “Last June I had the opportunity to visit the grave of my great uncle and his best friend who were both killed at the battle. Also, I have worked my entire life in the horticulture industry. This project links those two things together so beautifully. “.

A Vimy Oak at the Nursery

Stuart Liptay, President of the Albert County Historical Society says, “We were fortunate that Brunswick Limestone out of Hillsborough, NB contacted us about the potential for getting one of the Vimy Oaks through Landscape NB&PEI, as we had no idea some were even available. I immediately called Jim Landry at Landscape NB&PEI and asked him for a tree. Once Jim heard the story about our Vimy Ridge gun he was really excited about the prospect.” Liptay went on to say,” The museum is in the process of restoring a gun that was captured at Vimy Ridge on April 9, 1917. The gun was captured by the 27th Battalion at Vimy Ridge and was awarded to Albert County in the 1919 Victory Loans Competition. The addition of a living oak tree descended from the great oak trees at Vimy Ridge is an amazing addition to the story of our Vimy Gun.”

The oak tree is going to be planted across from an English Oak which was planted in 1939 to commemorate the Royal Visit of King George VI and his wife, Queen Elizabeth when they toured across Canada by train. The two oak trees, one from England and one with roots at Canada’s great battle in France are a great symbol of unity for our country in its 150th year.

The planting ceremony will take place at the Albert County Museum on Wednesday, May 10 at 3pm just before the awards ceremony for the Anglophone East School District Regional Heritage Fair. Viewing of the Heritage Fair projects begins at 2pm and is open to the public. The Heritage Fair highlights projects developed by middle school students around historical and heritage related themes.

We hope to see a crowd out on Wednesday afternoon!

A Window on the Great War - A Letter from the Front, April 29, 1917 France

This World War One letter was written by Hugh C. Wright of Shepody (Hopewell) Albert County on April 29, 1917 while he was in serving in the Canadian Garrison Artillery (CGA) in France. Hugh had enlisted in the 26th Battalion on November 17, 1914 when he was 19 years old. He sailed with the 26th Battalion from Saint John on June 13, 1915 aboard the steamship “Caledonia”. They arrived in England on June 24, 1915 where they underwent rigorous training in preparation for going to the battle front.

Hugh served in the 26th Bn, 5th Infantry Brigade in Belgium and France spending 17 months in the trenches. In February 1917, he transferred to the 4th Siege Battery, 2nd Brigade CGA and was a gunner for the remainder of the war. He was discharged on May 10, 1919...on his 24th birthday!

Hugh Wright was the youngest son of James and Jane Wright. Hugh's letters are addressed … “Dear Father” because his mother had died when he was only 7 years old.

The letter was written in pencil and unlike the last letter the censor did not cut anything out of this one. You can see it was read by the sticker applied to the envelope. 

“I am very fortunate to have over 50 letters that my Great Uncle Hugh wrote to his family while serving in WWI”. Great Niece Dawne McLean

With many thanks to Hugh Wright's great niece, Dawne McLean who kindly submitted the letter.

" Somewhere in France

April 29th/17

Dear Father & all ~

Well another week has rolled by & it is my turn to write this Sunday

so here I am trying to scratch off a few lines before dinner.

Well at last the cold weather appears to be about all over & now it

is nice and warm so a fellow can lay out on the grass and enjoy himself

(that is when not working) but a fellow does not mind working when

it is nice and dry underfoot.

I suppose Clarke told you last week about us being up to the Batt and saw

Billie R and Walter D but did not see Joe as he was in the hospital sick and

I am glad that he is, as there has been some pretty tough scrapping going on

here lately and he is better out of it. I have never heard whether Guy R has

ever come to France or not. I suppose Jim is in England yet training.

We haven't had any mail from home for nearly two weeks so it must be delayed

somewhere. I wish you would get me a couple of suits of underwear like I

used to wear when home. The stuff that we get here at the baths is not much,

so I will get my own and do my own washing this summer.

I have not seen or heard anything more of Blair. Their Battery is quite aways

from us so it is pretty hard to see them.

Well, it will soon be a year since I went on leave. Last year I went on the

10th of May, but I don't expect to get any leave this summer although I

would like to have a few days in blighty.

A fellow gets so tired and sick of this place. It will soon be two years since

I came to France & it certainly seems a long time but maybe it will end this fall

and I hope so.

Well I can't think of anything more now so will close.

Hope we soon get some mail.

So long for this time

Hugh

We received your letter of April 4th today and was glad to hear from you.

Hugh

(the signature of the Censor is also written on this last page of the letter)"

Lest We Forget - Arthur Everett Tingley - Killed in Action 100 Years Ago Today 04.28.1917

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Arthur Everett Tingley, 830262 was from Midway, Albert Co., New Brunswick and was born June 26, 1896. He was the son of Otis K. and Huldah Tingley, of Midway, Albert County, New Brunswick. He enlisted with the 144th Battalion on December 21, 1915. His occupation was listed as student. He served overseas with 8th Battalion (Manitoba Regiment). He has no known grave and is remembered on the Vimy Monument. 

 You can find his attestation papers by clicking here.

He is listed on page 339 of Canada's Book of Remembrance.

If anyone has any further information, photos or memories they would like to share please pass them along.