Material Type

Artifact

Date

1939

Materials

ALUMINIUM

No. Pieces

1

Diameter

3.1

Description

MEDAL COMMEMORATING ROYAL TOUR OF 1939 OF GEORGE VI & QUEEN ELIZABETH. TOUR COVERED CANADA FROM COAST TO COAST. MEDAL DEPICTS BUST OF KING & QUEEN OVER FLAGS, COAT OF ARMS & DATE, OBVERSE. REVERSE, CANADIAN COAT OF ARMS. "BIRKS" ON REVERSE.

Subjects

DOCUMENTARY ARTIFACT

Historical Association

COMMEMORATIVE

History

DONOR RECEIVED MEDAL AS A SCHOOLBOY. *UPDATE* IN 2014 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT JANE EDMUNDSON CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF MILITARY OBJECTS, INCLUDING SOME DONATED BY HENRY WILLIS "BILL" PARSONS. BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION ON PARSONS WAS FOUND IN THE PERMANENT FILE OF P20030015001: HENRY WILLIS PARSONS WAS BORN IN LETHBRIDGE IN 1921. IN SEPTEMBER OF 1939, ALREADY BEING A RESERVE MEMBER, HE VOLUNTARILY ENLISTED IN THE ARMY, JOINING THE 20TH BATTERY R.C.A. IN LETHBRIDGE. HE SERVED FOR A TOTAL OF 72 MONTHS, GOING OVERSEAS WITH THE 2ND DIVISION IN 1940; SERVING A TOTAL OF 60 MONTHS OVERSEAS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND CONTINENTAL EUROPE, AS A DRIVER, SIGNALLER AND IN STORES. HE WAS QUALIFIED AS AN ARTILLERY SIGNALLER, CLASS "C". AT THE TIME OF HIS DISCHARGE HE WAS A GUNNER RANKED LANCE BOMBARDIER. HE WAS DISCHARGED IN SEPTEMBER 1945 TO RETURN TO CIVIL LIFE AFTER DEMOBILIZATION. FOR HIS SERVICE, PARSONS RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING MEDALS: 1939-45 STAR; FRANCE-GERMANY STAR; DEFENCE OF BRITAIN MEDAL; CANADIAN VOLUNTEER SERVICE MEDAL & CLASP; WAR MEDAL 1939-45; AND EFFICIENCY MEDAL. PRIOR TO JOINING THE ARMY PARSONS WAS A METRICULATION STUDENT AND, HAVING ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN CHEMISTRY, HE COMPLETED HIS BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN CHEMISTRY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA AFTER HIS RETURN TO CANADA. PARSONS WAS EMPLOYED WITH THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, MINES AND RESOURCES UNTIL HE RETIRED AT AGE 65. HE WAS ALSO ACTIVE IN THE CUB AND BOY SCOUT MOVEMENT BOTH AS A YOUTH AND ADULT, AND WAS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION. PARSONS PASSED AWAY IN MAY 1994 IN OTTAWA, AT THE AGE OF 72 YEARS, AND IS BURIED IN PINECREST CEMETERY THERE.

Catalogue Number

P19890031002

Acquisition Date

1989-08

Collection

Museum

Less detail