The Passing of a True Gentleman, Dr. Tom Edgett, Past President

It is with greatest sympathy to his family that we report the death of Dr. Tom Edgett, Past President and current Board Member of the Albert County Historical Society. Dr. Edgett was instrumental in the creation of the RB Bennett Commemorative Centre at the Albert County Museum. He was the primary driver behind the refurbishment project which was completed in 2010. Tom was the truest of gentlemen and will be sorely missed. His obituary follows:

Judson Thomas Edgett, Physician

1928-2020

Dr. Tom Edgett, 91, of Riverview NB, passed away peacefully Saturday, January 4, 2020 at the Moncton Hospital with family at his side.  He was born in Moncton on January 15, 1928 to Judson Gurney and Lorena (Stenhouse) Edgett.

 Loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and brother, Tom is survived by his wife Mary E. (Jill) Edgett (Mackenzie) of Riverview; five children Susan Edgett (Stephen Diamond) of Moncton, Jane Edgett (Brock Webel) of Bermuda, John Edgett (Charrisse) of Greenwood, NS, Anne Marcoux (Mark) of Hillsborough, and Mary Stienburg (Don) of Musquodoboit Harbour, NS; 15 grandchildren; Alex Battah, Sam Webel, Tara Timmons and Kyle Timmons (Janice), Thomas, Grace, John, Angus, William, James and Catherine Marcoux,  Claire, Sarah, Erin and Leah Stienburg ; four great grandchildren; Sadie Timmons, Mackenzie and Alexandria Timmons, Robert Tingley; and dear sister, Jean Boby of Moncton and her children, Heather Budreski (George), Craig Boby and Tim Boby (Wendy) and their families.

 An active alumnus of Mount Allison University and Dalhousie University, Tom’s medical career took him to Weymouth, Halifax and Toronto. Along with a growing family, he returned to his hometown of Moncton to specialize in Internal Medicine.  He co-founded the Moncton Hospital Cardiac Unit with his colleague, the late Bill Turner, and later he established the Rheumatology Clinic.

Tom instilled in his family a love for the outdoors, where many family memories were made skiing, hiking and camping.  In retirement, Tom and his beloved Jill, explored Canada and its north many times, a passion they shared. Tom was a founding member of the Aberdeen Fishing Club and spent many days on the water with life long friends.  He also enjoyed time with colleagues and looked forward to their weekly coffee club.

His passion for local history led him in his retirement to undergo a large capital project at the Albert County Museum. He successfully secured private and public funding to elevate the national historical relevance of the property as it relates to Prime Minister R.B. Bennett.

Tom was known for his compassion, his remarkable musical talents, his love for engaging conversation and his seemingly endless reach for knowledge on most any topic.  He will be missed by so many.

Visitation will take place at Cobb’s Funeral Home, 330 Whitepine Rd., Riverview on Tuesday from 2-4 and 6-8 PM. A service celebrating Tom’s life will take place at St. Paul’s United Church, 404 Cleveland Ave., Riverview on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 at 1 PM with Rev. Steve Berube officiating. A reception will follow in the church hall. Interment will take place at Gray’s Island Cemetery, Hillsborough at a later date.

For those who wish, memorials to Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation, St. Paul’s United Church, Albert County Historical Society or a charity of your choice would be appreciated. The family would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to the doctors, nurses and staff at the Moncton Hospital for their exceptional care.

Liberation 75 Tulip Planting - 75 Years to the day Marking the End of The Battle of the Scheldt, Oct. 1st – Nov. 8th, 1944

On November 8, 2019 the Albert County Museum and RB Bennett Commemorative Centre with The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 32 (Hillsborough) will be planting 75 Liberation75 Tulips in celebration of the liberation of the Netherlands in 1945 by the 1st Canadian Army and to commemorate the 1.1 million Canadians who served in the Second World War.

It happens that November 8 , 2019 is 75 years to the day that ended the Battle of Scheldt.

In early October 1944, the Allies controlled the harbours north of the Seine but the supply issue was not yet solved: Dieppe, Le Tréport and Ostende had been opened but could not handle the high volumes that Allied troops in Europe required. Le Havre, Boulogne and Calais were not serviceable having suffered major destructions. Further north, Antwerp had been liberated by the Allies on September 3rd, but the city was located on the Scheldt River, some 80 kilometres from the open sea and the river’s mouth was still under German control. The only way to make sure that the supplies required by the campaign in Europe could enter the continent was to capture the Scheldt. This was to be the mission of the First Canadian Army.

The marshes south of the Scheldt Estuary was defended by German troops in an area the Allies named the Breskens pocket. The terrain posed the largest threat for the advancing Allied troops, where the flooded fields not only slowed the attackers, but it also provided cover for the defending German troops from both land and aerial reconnaissance. The 3rd Canadian Infantry Division's 7th Brigade moved across the Leopold Canal while the 9th Brigade mounted an amphibious attack on the northern coast on 6 Oct; the two Canadian brigades secured the area near the Aardenburg road by 12 Oct. Meanwhile, the 8th and 9th Brigades asserted pressure from different directions to overwhelmed the Germans in the pocket. This operation was named Operation Switchback, and it ended on 3 Nov after securing Knokke and Zeebrugge, eliminating German threat on the south coast of the Scheldt Estuary.

The island stronghold of Walcheren was attacked from the air, with British Royal Air Force aircraft targetting dykes, flooding the island. The flooding hampered German movement, and also raised the water levels so that the Allies could have deeper water for an amphibious operation. As predicted by Eisenhower, the capture of this island "required a joint naval, air, and ground operation," and it was exemplified with this successful coordination between bombers and ground troops. On 31 Oct Canadian troops attacked across the single causeway between Walcheren and South Beveland, supported by an amphibious assault on 1 Nov from the south across the estuary. On 6 Nov, the island's capital Middelburg fell, and the island was declared secure two days later.

After a month of fighting, the Allied victory came at a high cost of 12,873 casualties among the veterans of Falaise and Caen, half of them Canadian. Meanwhile, the victors captured 41,043 prisoners. With the hostile forces cleared from the area, time-consuming mine-clearing operations could finally begin. Antwerp opened as an Allied port on 28 Nov. "The end of Nazism was in clear view when the first ship moved unmolested up the Scheldt", said Eisenhower. This first vessel to arrive at Antwerp was appropriately the Canadian-built freighter Fort Cataraqui. The gallantry that the Canadian soldiers had shown amidst fierce fighting earned utmost respect of Montgomery. "The Canadians have proved themselves magnificent fighters. Clearing the Scheldt was a job that could have been done only by first-rate troops. Second-rate troops would have failed."

The planting ceremony will take place at the Albert County Museum on Friday, November 8 at 2pm.

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The text on the Battle of Scheldt was taken verbatim from https://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=116 .

43rd Annual Quilt & Fibre Fair Taking Place July 9th to 13th

The Albert County Museum is proud to present the 43rd Annual Quilt & Fibre Arts Show and Sale from July 9th to 13th, 2019.  This one of the longest running quilt shows and sales in Atlantic Canada!  This year’s theme is “Christmas in July” and in addition to nearly 80 quilts on for sale and display, the show also offers a variety of different fibre arts.  Knitting, weaving, hooking, cross stitching, and a variety of beautifully sewn pieces are all available for purchase and all items in the show are locally made and crafted.  Daily workshops and demonstrations are also included in this wonderful event. 

“Quilting has a rich history in this area and there continues to be local interest in the art form” says Janet Clouston, Managing Director of the Albert County Museum.  “This year the show is celebrating its 43rd anniversary and ranks as an historic event for the area as well as the Museum’s biggest fundraiser.” Clouston added, “Without the dedication and hard work of the volunteers that put the Quilt Show together, we wouldn’t be able to experience such a successful community building event. “

The 43rd Annual Quilt and Fibre Arts Show and Sale is being held from Tuesday, July 9th until Saturday, July 13th from 9:30am until 5:30pm daily in the Community Hall (built in 1870) and the beautiful Court House (built in 1903).  Admission is $3 and proceeds go towards funding the many projects happening at the museum. Special $5 admission the Museum is available for paid attendees Quilt & Fibre Fair.

For further information contact: Janet Clouston from the Albert County Museum.  Phone (506) 734-2003 or email: janet@albertcountymuseum.ca

Canada Day and RB Bennett Birthday Celebration on Monday, July 1st

The Albert County Museum is looking forward to welcoming friends, neighbours and visitors to the New Brunswick’s Bay of Fundy region to our Open House and celebration of two great birthday’s - Canada’s and RB Bennett’s, the 11th Prime Minister of Canada who was born right here in Hopewell! Admission is free and the day’s events start at 12 noon with singing of O’ Canada and the raising of the Canadian Flag followed by a free BBQ lunch and games for the young … and young at heart!

Live Music featuring Fundy Ceilidh. There will be several Guest Speakers, including author and historian Brent Wilson, who will share stories of the 100th Anniversary of the triumphant return of Albert County’s 26th Battalion 1919. Special exhibit of a WWI Howitzer and newly found and donated metal of fallen soldier CR Oulton, who died in 1917 at the age of 15. See you on Canada Day! Supported by the Government of Canada.