Material Type

Artifact

Other Name

LETHBRIDGE HOME GUARD

Date Range From

1914

Date Range To

1918

Materials

PLASTIC, CARDBOARD, ALUMINIUM

No. Pieces

8

Diameter

1.9

Description

THE BUTTON HAS A CREAMY COLOURED BACKGROUND, UPON WHICH HAS BEEN IMPOSED A LARGE GREEN, ORANGE AND YELLOW MAPLE LEAF. "LETHBRIDGE HOME GUARD" IS PRINTED IN SQUARE BLACK LETTERS AROUND THE EDGES AND "CANADA" IS PRINTED IN LARGE BLACK LETTERS ACROSS THE CENTRE. THE BACK OF THE BUTTON IS CARDBOARD. "THE WHITEHEAD AND HOAG. CO. BUTTONS, BADGES, NOVELTIES AND SIGNS, NEWARK N(EW) J(ERSEY)" AND A TRADEMARK ARE PRINTED ON THE BACK. THERE IS A METAL PIN WITH WHICH TO FASTEN THE BUTTON.

Subjects

PERSONAL SYMBOL

Historical Association

MILITARY

History

THE DONOR OWNED STRATHCONA COURT AND COALDALE HOUSE. HE COLLECTED THE PINS & BUTTONS. THE HOME GUARD FORMED DURING W.W.I. TO PROTECT LETHBRIDGE AND GUARD PRISONERS OF WAR AT THE EXHIBITION GROUNDS. *UPDATE* IN 2014 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT JANE EDMUNDSON CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF MILITARY OBJECTS. AN EXCERPT FROM CHRISTOPHER R. KILFORD'S BOOK 'ON THE WAY!' (TRAFFORD PUBLISHING, 2004) DISCUSSES THE LETHBRIDGE HOME GUARD: "FOR THOSE WHOSE CIVILIAN WORK, AGE OR HEALTH DID NOT ALLOW THEM TO ENLIST IN THE MILITARY, SERVICE IN THE LETHBRIDGE HOME GUARD WAS A SUITABLE AND SOMEWHAT SAFER ALTERNATIVE TO JOINING A UNIT HEADING OVERSEAS... THE HOME GUARD PRIMARILY GUARDED THE CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY BRIDGE SPANNING THE OLDMAN RIVER AND THE LOCAL POWER STATIONS. THEY WERE ALSO PREPARED TO FIGHT ANY FIRES THAT MIGHT THREATEN THE CROPS SURROUNDING LETHBRIDGE... A SIREN SYSTEM IN LETHBRIDGE WAS USED TO SUMMON THE HOME GUARD MEMBERS WHEN NEEDED. TRAINING WAS CARRIED OUT ON MONDAY AND FRIDAY EVENINGS. THOSE WITH PREVIOUS MILITARY EXPERIENCE WERE APPOINTED AS DRILL INSTRUCTORS AND GIVEN A COMPANY OF 20 CIVILIANS TO TRAIN. ON OCCASION THE HOME GUARD, WITH THEIR BAND LEADING THE WAY, WOULD MARCH THROUGH LETHBRIDGE AS A CONFIDENCE BUILDER FOR THE LOCAL POPULATION (AND NO DOUBT THEMSELVES) AND TO HOPEFULLY ATTRACT MORE RECRUITS. EACH HOME GUARD MEMBER WAS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING HIS OWN RIFLE. AMMUNITION, ALWAYS IN SHORT SUPPLY OR DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN DUE TO DIFFERING CALIBERS, WAS PURCHASED AT THE LOCAL HARDWARE STORE WHEN AVAILABLE... TO PAY FOR AMMUNITION AND OTHER EXPENSES, ABLE-BODIED MEN IN LETHBRIDGE NO ENROLLED IN THE HOME GUARD WERE ASSESSED THE SUM OF ONE DOLLAR EACH. THE PRIDE OF THE LETHBRIDGE HOME GUARD WAS THE 'FLYING SQUADRON' THAT CONSISTED OF ENOUGH VEHICLES TO MOVE 200 MEN EQUIPPED WITH GUNNY SACKS FOR FIGHTING CROP FIRES. SEVERAL MOTORCYCLISTS AND BICYCLISTS ARMED WITH REVOLVERS WERE ALSO AVAILABLE AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE TO COUNTER ESCAPES FROM THE LOCAL INTERNMENT CAMP. ALL HOME GUARD MEMBERS WERE ALSO SWORN IN AS SPECIAL POLICE AND THEIR PRESENCE BOOSTED INTEREST IN THE MILITARY, AIDED RECRUITING AND LATER THE HOME GUARD WOULD BECOME A SOURCE OF OFFICERS FOR UNITS HEADING OVERSEAS." A LETHBRIDGE HERALD ARTICLE FROM JULY 9, 1942, INCLUDES BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION ON THE DONOR, FRED DOWNER. DOWNER WAS BORN IN BRIGHTON, ENGLAND IN 1867 AND CAME TO CANADA IN 1886. HE FIRST WORKED IN WINNIPEG, THEN LAKE LOUISE, WINNIPEG, ST. PAUL, HELENA, AND COLUMBIA FALLS. DOWNER MARRIED KATE FARBON IN ENGLAND IN 1892, AND RETURNED WITH HER TO COLUMBIA FALLS, WHERE HE BECAME A HOTEL PROPRIETOR. IN 1894 THE COUPLE AND THEIR TWO CHILDREN MOVED TO GREAT FALLS, AND DOWNER OPERATED THE GRAND HOTEL THERE UNTIL A VISIT TO LETHBRIDGE IN 1897 WHEN HE MET AND PARTNERED IN BUSINESS WITH WILLIAM HENDERSON. THEY ERECTED BOTH THE HOTEL COALDALE AND BALMORAL HOTEL IN DOWNTOWN LETHBRIDGE. DOWNER WENT ON TO MAKE MANY REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS ACROSS LETHBRIDGE, INCLUDING THE VICTORIA AND CONNAUGHT MANSIONS, STRATHCONA COURT, WEST VIEW COTTAGES, WESTMINSTER HOUSE, AND DEVONSHIRE GARDENS. DOWNER WAS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE LETHBRIDGE ODD FELLOWS AND OLDTIMER'S ASSOCIATION. HE PASSED AWAY ON JUNE 21, 1953 AFTER A LENGTHY ILLNESS. FOR HARDCOPIES OF ARTICLES ON THE LETHBRIDGE HOME GUARD AND FRED DOWNER, SEE PERMANENT FILE.

Catalogue Number

P19800026000

Acquisition Date

1979-12

Collection

Museum

Less detail