Material Type

Artifact

Other Name

CANADIAN MEMORIAL CROSS

Date Range From

1917

Date Range To

1921

Materials

SILVER, SILK, PAPER

No. Pieces

4

Height

0.3

Length

41.2

Width

3.2

Description

1) MEDAL - SILVER CROSS WITH MAPLE LEAVES AT SIDES AND BOTTOM. THE TOP OF THE VERTICAL ARM HAS ST. EDWARD'S CROWN AND AT THE END OF THE OTHER ARMS A MAPLE LEAF. AT THE CENTRE, WITHIN A LAUREL WREATH, IS THE REIGNING MONARCH'S ROYAL CYPHER. INITIALS "GR" IN CENTRE. ENGRAVED ON BACK OF CROSS "736746, PTE E.E.BETTS". "STERLING" TRADEMARK STAMPED ON BACK. PURPLE SILK RIBBON IS WRAPPED AROUND THE LOOP ON TOP OF THE CROSS. (H: 0.3, L: 41.2, W: 3.2) 2) CASE - BLACK LEATHERETTE MEDAL CASE WITH A GOLD CROWN ON TOP OF LID. INSIDE OF LID IS LINED WITH CREAM COLOURED SATIN. MOUNT BOARD INSERT FITS INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE CASE. HAS CREAM COLOURED VELVET ON FRONT AND BLACK OR INSERT. CREAM COLOURED RIBBON EXTENDS FROM TOP OF INSERT AND HANGS ONTO VELVET. (H: 2.9, L: 8.6, W: 6.5) 3) LETTER – AGED PAPER WITH ENGLISH COAT OF ARMS, TEXT READS, “I AM DIRECTED, BY THE HONOURABLE THE MINISTER OF MILITIA AND DEFENCE, TO CONVEY TO YOU THE ENCLOSED MEDAL FOR THE DECEASED OFFICER OR SOLDIER WHOSE NAME IS ENGRAVED THEREON, AND TO EXPRESS TO YOU THE REGRETS OF THE MILITIA COUNCIL THAT HE DID NOT LIVE TO WEAR THIS AWARD.” IT IS SIGNED WITH A SIGNATURE THAT RESEMBLES, “J. N. HEUOLEG”, UNDERNEATH SAYS, “MAJOR-GENERAL, ADJUTANT-GENERAL, CANADIAN MILITIA.” (H: 0.02, L: 12.7, W: 8.5) 4) CERTIFICATE – CANADIAN SHIELD AT TOP. WRITING UNDER SHIELD SAYS, “THIS CROSS IS PRESENTED TO YOU IN MEMORY OF ONE WHO IN THE GREAT WAR DIED FOR KING AND COUNTRY”. IT IS SIGNED, “H. GUTHRIE, MINISTER OF MILITIA & DEFENCE”. BACK OF CARD HAS DARK SMEAR RESIDUE. (H: 0.03, L: 5.7, W: 8.8)

Subjects

PERSONAL SYMBOL

Historical Association

MILITARY

History

AT THE TIME OF DONATION, DONOR JIM BETTS SAID THE ITEMS CAME INTO HIS POSSESSION WHEN HIS BROTHER ED “SOLD OUT” ON NOVEMBER 3RD, 2010. THE DONATED MATERIALS WERE PREVIOUSLY ON ED’S FARM SITE. THE FARM WAS LOCATED ON SECTION 21 - 114 AND DONOR’S FATHER CLARENCE BETTS “MOVED THERE IN 1929-30, BUT KEPT ORIGINAL HOMESTEAD.” EAST QUARTER SECTION 4 – 214. DONOR’S FATHER CLARENCE HAD 12 BROTHERS AND SISTERS. EARL’S EFFECTS HAD BEEN SENT TO CLARENCE AND EARL’S MOTHER (JULIA BETTS) BUT HOW THEY ENDED UP WITH CLARENCE IS UNKNOWN BECAUSE JULIA’S PLACE BURNT DOWN. ED BROUGHT THE TRUNK OVER AROUND NOVEMBER 3RD, 2010 AND SAID, “TAKE IT” BECAUSE THERE WAS NO PLACE FOR IT IN LETHBRIDGE. PRIVATE EARNEST EARL BETTS WAS BORN IN BENJAMIN, UTAH ON MARCH 10, 1890 TO PARENTS RICHARD AND JULIA BETTS. HE GREW UP IN A HUGE FAMILY WHICH INCLUDED SIBLINGS ELIZA, PETER, SARAH, RICHARD, ALMA, LAURA, DAVID, REBECCA, GEORGE, CLARENCE, REED, ROLLA, MYRTLE, GRACE, INEZ, RUTH, ELIJAH AND PEARL. THE FAMILY IMMIGRATED TO CANADA WITH THE INFLUX OF MORMON PIONEERS AT THE TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY. THEY MADE THEIR HOME NEAR RAYMOND, ALBERTA. AS A YOUNG MAN, EARL BETTS WORKED A RANCH NEAR COUTTS. ON MARCH 27, 1916, EARL BETTS ENLISTED WITH THE 113TH BATTALION CEF LETHBRIDGE HIGHLANDERS. HE WAS ISSUED THE SERVICE NUMBER 736746. HE ARRIVED IN ENGLAND ON OCTOBER 6, 1916 ON THE SS TUSCANIA. HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE 16TH BATTALION CEF ON NOVEMBER 22, 1916 AND EMBARKED FOR FRANCE SHORTLY THEREAFTER. PRIVATE BETTS REMAINED AT THE FRONT LINES WITH THE 16TH BATTALION FOR FIVE MONTHS AND SAW ACTION AT VIMY RIDGE. ON APRIL 9, 1917 PRIVATE BETTS WAS ONE OF 3,598 CANADIAN SOLDIERS WHO FELL AT VIMY RIDGE. HIS I.D. TAG BEARS THE SCARS OF THE TRAUMA THAT WAS INFLICTED UPON HIM THAT DAY. ACCORDING TO THE BETTS FAMILY, CLARENCE WAS WITH EARL AT THE TIME THAT HE WAS KILLED. SADLY, THE ONCE-KNOWN LOCATION OF EARL’S REMAINS—AND 43 OTHERS—WERE LOST IN THE YEARS FOLLOWING THE WAR. THE STORY OF THE LOST 44 MEMBERS OF THE 16TH CANADIAN SCOTTISH BATTALION IS A RESEARCH FOCUS OF CANADIAN HISTORIAN NORM CHRISTIE. HIS EFFORTS TO LOCATE THEM IS FEATURED AS PART OF THE HISTORY CHANNEL’S 2017 DOCUMENTARY “SEARCHING FOR VIMY’S LOST SOLDIERS.” PTE. EARL BETTS IS REMEMBERED AT THE VIMY RIDGE MEMORIAL. HE WAS AWARDED THE VICTORY MEDAL AND THE BRITISH WAR MEDAL. HIS MOTHER, JULIA RECEIVED THE MEMORIAL CROSS AND DEATH PLAQUE IN HONOUR OF HER SON'S SACRIFICE. FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE BETTS’ BROTHERS’ MILITARY SERVICE IN ADDITION TO BACKGROUND FAMILY INFORMATION, PLEASE SEE THIS DONATION’S PERMANENT FILE.

Catalogue Number

P20110006005

Acquisition Date

2011-02

Collection

Museum

Less detail