Material Type

Artifact

Other Name

WAR SOUVENIR (GERMAN)

Date Range From

1933

Date Range To

1945

Materials

ALUMINIUM, STEEL

No. Pieces

1

Height

6.3

Width

4.6

Description

ALUMINIUM WITH STEEL CLASP. HAT BADGE FEATURES A GERMAN EAGLE PERCHED ON A SWAZTIKA OVER AN ARTILLERY PIECE. INSIDE A RING OF LAUREL LEAVES DRAB FINISH.

Subjects

DOCUMENTARY ARTIFACT

PERSONAL SYMBOL

Historical Association

MILITARY

History

WAR SOUVENIR ACQUIRED BY UNKNOWN MEMBER OF 2 A/T OF THE R.C.A. & PASSED ON TO DONOR DURING A RECENT REUNION (1989). BELIEVED A HAT BADGE OF WERHMACT UNIT. *UPDATE* IN 2012 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT DAVID SMITH CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF MILITARY OBJECTS. HE LEARNED THE FOLLOWING. ACCORDING TO CLARENCE JENSEN AS QUOTED IN THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD FROM AUGUST 11, 1979, “THE 20TH ANTI-TANK BATTERY ASSOCIATION IS HOLDING A 40TH ANNIVERSARY REUNION IN LETHBRIDGE DURING THE LABOR DAY WEEKEND FROM FRIDAY AUG. 31 TO MONDAY SEPTEMBER 3, SAY A SPOKESMAN FOR THE ASSOCIATION. CLARENCE JENSEN SAYS THE ASSOCIATION WAS FORMED FROM THE 20TH ANTI-TANK BATTERY MOBILIZED AT LETHBRIDGE IN 1939. THE BATTERY’S ORIGINAL MEMBERS – ABOUT 130 PERSONS – WERE MOSTLY FROM THE LETHBRIDGE AREA HE SAYS. THE GROUP WENT OVERSEAS IN 1940 AND FOUGHT WITH THE 2ND DIVISION IN EUROPE, JENSEN SAYS. ASSOCIATION MEMBERS AND FAMILIES BETWEEN 150-200 PERSONS ARE EXPECTED TO COME FROM ACROSS CANADA, JENSEN SAYS. ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE A BANQUET AND DANCE, A BARBECUE AND CEREMONY AT THE WAR MONUMENT IN GALT GARDENS.” ACCORDING TO JENSEN’S OBITUARY IN THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD, “CLARENCE JENSEN PASSED AWAY ON NOVEMBER 7, 1999 AT THE AGE OF 80. CLARENCE WAS BORN IN MEDICINE HAT ON JUNE 29, 1919 TO MARTIN AND JOHANNA JENSEN. HE WAS RAISED AND EDUCATED IN THE LETHBRIDGE AREA. ON SEPTEMBER 11, 1939, CLARENCE JOINED THE 20TH ANTI-TANK BATTERY OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN ARMY AS LANCE BOMBARDIER (#M94). HE SERVED OVERSEAS, WAS WOUNDED IN FRANCE AND RETURNED HOME IN AUGUST 1945. CLARENCE THEN RESUMED WORK WITH THE LETHBRIDGE NORTHERN IRRIGATION DISTRICT AND CONTINUED TO WORK THERE FOR THE NEXT 37 YEARS. CLARENCE MARRIED LORRAINE BEVERIDGE ON JULY 19, 1946 AND TOGETHER THEY RAISED FOUR SONS. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION, A PAST MASTER OF THE ALBERTA MASONIC LODGE NO 3 A.F. AND A.M. IN FORT MACLEOD AND R.M. MEMBER OF EAGLE AERIE OF 3100 LETHBRIDGE. CLARENCE WAS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE LETHBRIDGE SENIOR CITIZENS, HELPED ESTABLISH THE LONDON ROAD PARK WITH THE CITY OF LETHBRIDGE AND WAS INVOLVED IN THE FORT MACLEOD 4H CLUB.” FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE SEE PERMANENT FILE.

Catalogue Number

P19910053004

Acquisition Date

1990-09

Collection

Museum

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