Material Type

Artifact

Other Name

WWI MEMORIAL CROSS "STAFFORD"

Date Range From

1917

Date Range To

1918

Materials

STERLING SILVER

No. Pieces

2

Height

0.2

Length

3.9

Width

3.1

Description

WWI MEMORIAL CROSS, STERLING SILVER. CROSS WITH ARMS OF EQUAL LENGTH AND WREATH BEHIND IT, LEAVES ON ENDS OF THREE ARMS, KING’S CROWN ON TOP ARM, MONOGRAM IN CENTRE, BACK MARKED, “MAJOR, A.B. STAFFORD.” INCLUDES CHAIN, STERLING SILVER, CURB STYLE, LINKS LAY FLAT AGAINST ONE ANOTHER, HEAVY CHAIN WITH RING CLASP. 51 CM LONG.

Subjects

PERSONAL SYMBOL

Historical Association

MILITARY

History

ACCORDING TO DONOR FRANK VASTANO AT TIME OF DONATION, HE "FOUND THE MEMORIAL CROSS ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO IN AN ABANDONED STORAGE UNIT IN LONDON, ONTARIO. ON JANUARY 8, 2010 A STORY APPEARED IN THE HAMILTON SPEACTATOR ABOUT DAVE THOMSON. HE WAS SEEKING THE PUBLIC'S HELP IN FINDING THE FAMILY OF ANOTHER FALLEN SOLDIER'S MEMORIAL CROSS. I CONTACTED MR. THOMPSON WHO LOCATED MAJOR A.B. STAFFORD'S FAMILY IN LETHBRIDGE. I SENT THE MEDAL TO MR. THOMSON IN ST. GEORGE, ONTARIO, WHO IN TURN HAD THE MEDAL SENT TO LETHBRIDGE." ACCORDING TO "SOME HIGHLIGHTS REMEMBERED," COMPOSED BY MAJOR STAFFORD'S DAUGHTER MARGARET JEAN ISABEL (STAFFORD) DEAN, MAJOR ALEXANDER. BOSWELL. STAFFORD ENLISTED IN THE ARMY IN 1915. HE WENT OVERSEAS ON FEBRUARY 14, 1916. STAFFORD WAS REPORTED DANGEROUSLY WOUNDED BY A SHELL ON JUNE 23, 1917. THE NEXT DAY, THE FAMILY WAS INFORMED HE HAD DIED FROM HIS WOUNDS AT VIMY RIDGE IN FRANCE. CAMPBELL PEAT (JANE GIBB STAFFORD'S GRANDSON) SAID, “IT (THE MEDAL) WAS A COMPLETE SURPRISE TO ME FROM KEVIN (COLLECTIONS TECHNICIAN AT THE GALT).” PEAT SAID THE MEDAL WOULD HAVE BELONGED TO JANE GIBB STAFFORD (A. B. STAFFORD'S MOTHER). HE SAID WHILE OTHER ITEMS WERE PASSED ON THROUGH THE FAMILY (THE STAFFORD FAMILY BIBLE, THE GOOD CRYSTAL ETC.) NO MEDAL EVER SHOWED UP. HE SAID, “THE LAST OF THE SECOND GENERATION STAFFORDS (MYSELF) SUSPECTS THAT JANE GIBB STAFFORD SENT THE MEDAL TO E. T. GALT (A TRUSTED FAMILY FRIEND) IN LONDON, ONTARIO. HE WOULD HAVE PAWNED THE MEDAL AND SENT HER BACK THE MONEY.” FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE: GALT ARCHIVES - 19640618000, 19720123000, 19738767000, 19861075016, 19981035053, 20011103000, AND 20081027000. ALSO SEE PERMANENT FILE.

Catalogue Number

P20100001000

Acquisition Date

2010-03

Collection

Museum

Less detail