MEDAL, COMMEMORATIVE

Description: SILVER MEDAL; BLUE, WHITE, RED RIBBON. MEDAL COMMEMORATES CORONATION IN 1911 OF GEORGE V OF BRITAIN. FEATURES BUST IN PROFILE OF GEORGE V AND MARY. "KING GEORGE V QUEEN MARY" ON FACE "LETHBRIDGE ALTA TO COMMEMORATE THE CORONATION JUNE 22 1911". RIBBON SEPARATE FROM MEDAL.

History: FROM PERSONAL EFFECTS OF GEORGE WATSON ESTATE. MEDAL CAME INTO WATSON'S POSSESSION VIA GEORGE HENRY JOHNSTON AND GEORGE WILLIAM FREDERICK JOHNSTON. SEE ATTACHED CORRESPONDENCE. *UPDATE 2014* FROM WATSON SR.'S OBITUARY IN JUNE 30, 1980 LETHBRIDGE HERALD: "WATSON, GEORGE OF 1409 9 AVE SOUTH PASSED AWAY IN LETHBRIDGE ON JUNE 27 AT THE AGE OF 84 YEARS... [HE] WAS EDUCATED IN LETHBRIDGE AND TOOK HIS NORMAL SCHOOL TRAINING IN CALGARY. DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR HE ENLISTED IN THE ROYAL FLYING CORPS, SERVING AS A FLYING CADET. HE RETURNED TO THIS AREA AND TAUGHT SCHOOL IN SLEEPY HOLLOW, MILK RIVER, COALHURST, COALDALE, AT THE LETHBRIDGE COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE FROM 1930 TO 1950, AND FROM 1950-1961 AS VICE PRINCIPAL OF HAMILTON SCHOOL, THE FIRST JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL IN LETHBRIDGE. HE WAS AN HONORARY LIFE MEMBER OF THE ALBERTA TEACHER'S ASSOCIATION. ACTIVE IN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS, HE SERVED ON THE FOLLOWING: THE FIRST TOWN PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY, THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD, THE HEALTH UNIT, AND ONE TERM AS AN ALDERMAN ON CITY COUNCIL. DURING ITS FORMATIVE YEARS HE SERVED AS COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE NO. 1 SQUADRON OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN AIR CADETS. HE WAS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE LETHBRIDGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, AND THE LETHBRIDGE RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION." FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE WATSON FAMILY, INCLUDING WATSON SR.'S MILITARY SERVICE RECORDS, SEE PERMANENT FILE P19830011000-GA.