7. Put Together a Shadow Box to Display My Grandpa's War Medal

The shadow box I put together

Soon after I started researching my family history, I was visiting my Uncle George in Keremeos, BC and asked him if he had any information that could help me further my research. He is 20 years older than my Dad so he was a great person to get some info from and stories. He was also really happy to see someone take interest in the family history.

A couple of years later during another visit we were talking some more about family history and he told me that he had something for me. I was surprised and excited to find out that it was my Grandpa’s medal he received for his service with the Canadian army during WW II. I have kept it in a Ziploc bag for all these years and have wanted to do something special to preserve it.

Putting together a shadow box for my Grandpa’s medal got put on my list so I could make sure it got done this year. It became my Remembrance Day project that I worked on during the week of Remembrance Day which added more significance to the project for me.

My Grandpa passed away when I was 6 years old so I don’t have many memories with him (I mostly remember him sitting in his armchair while I chased his big cat around the house with my twin sister and brother)  so it’s nice to have a day to remember him and others who served our country each year.  At a young age my Dad taught me the importance of attending Remembrance Day Ceremonies and to remember those who fought to preserve our freedom. I have always made an effort to attend the ceremonies whenever I am able to. This year I attended the ceremony at the University of Alberta’s Butterdome before I went to church. It was a great ceremony and I liked how one of the speakers encouraged people to share the stories of those who have fought in the wars.



My Great Grandparents to the Far right

I will share a little bit of my Grandpa’s story. Harry George Arthur Johnson was born April 16, 1906 in Fulham, England to Harry Johnson and Florence Bennett. He was 8 years old when World War I began. His father joined the 1st Battalion of The Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment to serve Great Britain in that war.

Less than 3 years later my Great Grandfather returned home to England as he was too ill to continue his service. He died on April 7, 1917; one day after my Grandpa’s 11^th birthday. Two days after his father’s death, My Grandpa’s uncle Richard was killed in Flanders and seven months later his uncle George was also killed in Flanders. Three Years after his Father’s death my Grandpa’s mother passed away, leaving the children orphaned.

My Grandpa set out on a new adventure to Canada when he was 17 years old, landing in Halifax and living in several places including Medicine Hat, Alberta; Dawson’s Creek, BC and Vancouver, BC. During World War II my Grandpa served with the 10th Field Squadron Royal Canadian Engineers. As far as I know he remained in Canada throughout his army service. My dad travelled to England with his dad one time who took him to the Fulham Cemetery where Grandpa’s father is buried among others who lost their lives in the First World War and many years later I travelled to England with my Dad and visited the same cemetery. This time to honour the memory of two men who fought for peace and freedom.