Material Type

Artifact

Other Name

MINIATURE MEDALS BOARD

Date Range From

1970

Date Range To

1980

Materials

SILVER, NICKEL, GOLD, NYLON

No. Pieces

1

Height

0.9

Length

6.3

Width

6

Description

ONE SET OF FOUR MINIATURE MEDALS MOUNTED UPON CARDBOARD BACKING. BACKING HAS RED FELT COVER SEWN TO IT WITH SIMPLE SINGLE LOOP STITCH. BACK ALSO HAS STEEL HINGED FASTENING PIN. FRONT HAS FOUR MEDALS. FAR LEFT IS THE ORDER OF CANADA, WHICH IS A SIX POINTED SNOWFLAKE, EACH ARM HAVING FIVE SIDES. SNOWFLAKE IS EDGED WITH SILVER. THE ANNULUS IS MISSING. ITS RIBBON IS RED WITH BROAD WHITE CENTRE. MIDDLE LEFT MEDAL IS THE ORDER OF ST. JOHN. MEDAL HAS SOLID BLACK RIBBON. MEDAL ITSELF IS TRUE MALTESE CROSS WITH EIGHT POINTS MADE OF NICKEL WITH WHITE ENAMEL FACE. CROSS IS EMBELLISHED WITH LIONS PASSANT IN TOP LEFT AND BOTTOM RIGHT, AND UNICORNS IN OPPOSITE CORNERS. MIDDLE RIGHT MEDAL IS THE QUEEN ELIZABETH II SILVER JUBILEE MEDAL. MEDAL IS CIRCULAR AND MADE OF SILVER WITH QUEEN ELIZABETH II FACING RIGHT WEARING THE IMPERIAL STATE CROWN. INSCRIPTION READS "ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FID. DEF.". ON REVERSE IS LARGE MAPLE LEAF WITH "CANADA" AROUND TOP RIM AND "1952 E II R" AROUND LOWER RIM WITH A SMALL CROWN ABOVE CYPHER. TO ITS RIGHT IS "1977" WITH "HUNT" ABOVE IT. ITS RIBBON IS WATERED WHITE WITH NARROW CARDINAL RED STRIPES AT OUTER EDGE AND NARROW CARDINAL RED STRIPE DOWN CENTER BORDERED BY GARTER BLUE ON EITHER SIDE. FAR RIGHT MEDAL IS CANADIAN FORCES DECORATION OF SERVICE. COIN HAS SCROLL ARMS WITH RIBBON LOOPED THROUGH THEM AND TEN SIDED SHAPE. FACE HAS UNCROWNED QUEEN ELIZABETH II FACING RIGHT WITH PIG TAIL. AROUN RIM IS "ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA" AND "CANADA" AT BOTTOM. ON REVERSE IS A CROWN, THREE MAPLE LEAVES AND AN EAGLE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NAVY, ARMY AND AIR FORCE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. THE WORD "SERVICE" IS ON A SCROLL AT BASE AND A FLEUR-DE-LIS IS ON EACH SIDE OF THE CROWN. RIBBON IS RED WITH THREE NARROW ARGENT STRIPES DOWN CENTER. RIBBONS HAVE SMALL STAINS.

Subjects

DOCUMENTARY ARTIFACT

Historical Association

MILITARY

History

MEDALS WERE AWARDED TO A. ANDERSON. THE ORDER OF CANADA IS AWARDED TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO EXEMPLIFY THE HIGHEST QUALITIES OF CITIZENSHIP AND WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS ENRICH THE LIVES OF THEIR CONTEMPORARIES. LT. COL. ANDERSON WAS AWARDED "MEMBER" STATUS FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN OR TO A PARTICULAR LOCALITY, GROUP OR FIELD OF ACTIVITY. THE ORDER OF ST. JOHN IS AWARDED TO THOSE WHO PROFESS THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, HAS PERFORMED A SERVICE FOR THE ORDER AND CONFORMED TO THE RULES OF THE ORDER. LT. COL. ANDERSON WAS GRANTED OFFICER STATUS. THE QUEEN ELIZABETH II SILVER JUBILEE MEDAL WAS AWARDED TO 30,000 CANADIANS INCLUDING 7000 ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL. THE RECIPIENTS WERE NOMINATED AND AWARDED THE MEDAL FOR VARIOUS ACTS OF SERVICE AND DEVOTION. THE CANADIAN FORCES DECORATION WAS AWARDED TO ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL OF ALL LEVELS FOR 12 YEARS OF SERVICE. *UPDATE* IN 2014 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT JANE EDMUNDSON CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF MILITARY OBJECTS. BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION ABOUT A. C. ANDERSON WAS RETREIVED FROM GALT ARCHIVES RECORD 20061053009: "ANDREW CHARLES (ANDY) ANDERSON WAS BORN IN 1909 IN SHABBONA, ILLINOIS, THE ELDEST OF SIX CHILDREN OF CHARLES ERIC AND BERTHA ANDERSON (NEE OSTERVIG). THE ANDERSON FAMILY MOVED TO CHAMPION, ALBERTA IN 1912. ANDY ANDERSON WORKED ON THE FAMILY FARM UNTIL 1930, A YEAR AFTER HIS FATHER’S DEATH. HE THEN DECIDED TO LEAVE THE FARM AND ENTER THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA. IN 1934 MR. ANDERSON GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA WITH A PHM.C. (PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMIST) DEGREE. HE APPRENTICED WITH J.D. HENDERSON IN CHAMPION, AND THEN MOVED TO LETHBRIDGE WHERE HE WAS EMPLOYED BY THE R.J. KITSON PHARMACY FOR 14 YEARS. IN 1948 MR. ANDERSON ESTABLISHED ANDERSON’S MEDICAL DENTAL PHARAMCY. THE PHARMACY STILL OPERATES UNDER THE OWNERSHIP OF MR. ANDERSON’S SON MURRAY. ANDY ANDERSON MARRIED HIS WIFE RHETA IN 1938 IN CHAMPION. AS WELL AS THEIR SON MURRAY, THE ANDERSONS HAD A DAUGHTER MARILYN (MARRIED LEW HUTCHISON). ANDY ANDERSON ENTERED PUBLIC LIFE IN 1950 WHEN HE WAS ELECTED TO THE LETHBRIDGE PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD (LPSB). HE SERVED ON THE LPSB FOR 14 YEARS AND WAS ITS CHAIRMAN IN 1954, 1958 AND 1962. IN 1964, ANDY ANDERSON WAS ELECTED TO LETHBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL AND SERVED AS AN ALDERMAN UNTIL 1968. IN MARCH 1968 MR. ANDERSON BECAME THE MAYOR OF LETHBRIDGE WHEN HE CHOSEN FOR THE POSITION BY THE OTHER MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL FOLLOWING MAYOR FRANK SHERRING’S RESIGNATION ON 5 MARCH 1968. ANDY ANDERSON BECAME THE LONGEST SERVING MAYOR IN LETHBRIDGE HISTORY, RETIRING FROM OFFICE IN 1986. HE WON FOUR MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, AND WAS ACCLAIMED MAYOR TWICE AS WELL. AS WELL AS HIS POLITICAL CAREER AND PHARMACY BUSINESS, MR. ANDERSON WAS INVOLVED WITH A WIDE RANGE OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL. AMONG THEM ARE THE LETHBRIDGE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, ST. MICHAEL’S HOSPITAL ADVISORY BOARD, UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE SENATE AND BOARD OF GOVERNORS, LETHBRIDGE RECREATION COMMISSION, THE COMMUNITY CHEST, SOUTHMINSTER UNITED CHURCH, ROYAL CANADIAN SEA CADET CORPS, CANADIAN WESTERN NATURAL GAS, MASONIC LODGE NO. 39, THE KINSMEN CLUB, THE ROTARY CLUB, INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS (IOOF), CHINOOK CLUB AND THE BENEVOLENT AND PROTECTIVE ORDER OF ELKS (BPOE). HE WAS ALSO AN HONOURARY MEMBER OF THE LETHBRIDGE AND DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, GENERAL STEWART BRANCH NO. 4 ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION, AND THE POLISH COMBATANTS ASSOCIATION. ANDY ANDERSON ALSO SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF THE CANADIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE PROVINCIAL MUNICIPAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THE EXECUTIVE OF THE CANADIAN FEDERATION OF MAYORS AND MUNICIPALITIES, THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AUTHORITY COMMITTEE, HONOURARY PRESIDENT OF ST. JOHN AMBULANCE, AND AS THE HONOURARY COLONEL OF THE 20TH INDEPENDENT FIELD BATTERY RCA. AMONG THE AWARDS AND HONOURS ANDY ANDERSON RECEIVED DURING HIS LIFE WERE A PAUL HARRIS FELLOWSHIP FROM ROTARY INTERNATIONAL; CERTIFICATE OF MERIT FROM THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION; GOOD CITIZENSHIP AWARD FROM THE IOOF; CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD FROM THE JAYCEES (1985); AWARD OF EXCELLENCE FROM THE ALBERTA URBAN MUNICIPALITIES ASSOCIATION (1983); MERITORIUS SERVICE AWARD FROM THE CANADIAN PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION (1977); ROBINS COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD (1963); THE QUEEN’S MEDAL (1977); BROTHER OF THE ORDER OF ST. JOHN (1983), LATER PROMOTED TO OFFICER; HONOURARY DOCTOR OF LAWS DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE (1985); AND A MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF CANADA (1985). ANDREW CHARLES ANDERSON DIED ON 23 APRIL 1996 AND IS BURIED IN MOUNTAIN VIEW CEMETERY, LETHBRIDGE. HIS WIFE RHETA DIED IN 2011 AND IS BURIED IN MOUNTAIN VIEW CEMETERY AS WELL." [SOURCE: ARCHIVES VERTICAL FILE, "PEOPLE, IDENTIFIED - A"] *UPDATE (2023)* IN 2019, COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT ELISE PUNDYK CONDUCTED A COLLECTIONS AUDIT, WHICH INCLUDED ARTIFACTS DONATED BY "ANDERSON, RITA." IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE CORRECT SPELLING OF THE DONOR'S FIRST NAME IS "RHETA" AND THE DONOR FIELD HAS BEEN AMENDED TO REFLECT THE CORRECT SPELLING. THE SON OF ANDREW AND RHETA ANDERSON, MURRAY ANDERSON, WAS INTERVIEWED BY PUNDYK ON FEBRUARY 2, 2019 TO ADD FURTHER CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION REGARDING HIS FATHER’S ARTIFACTS. NO SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON THIS ITEM WAS PRESENTED. AS REPORTED BY THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD, OCTOBER 19, 1985, UPON MAYOR ANDERSON’S RETIREMENT ANNOUNCEMENT; “OCT 25, MAYOR ANDERSON WILL BE IN EDMONTON FOR A 2 P.M. INVESTITURE, AT ST. ANDREW’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, FOR A PROMOTION TO OFFICER OF THE ODER OF ST. JOHN. … OCT 30, HE WILL BE AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE IN OTTAWA, FOR A 5:30-6 P.M. INVESTITURE SERVICE, PRECIDED OVER BY GOV.GEN. JEANNE SAUVE, AS HE RECEIVES THE ORDER OF CANADA. … 'THESE ARE REALLY VERY HIGH HONORS – I’M QUITE PROUD,' THE MAYOR SAID. 'WHILE YOU HAVE TO BE NOMINATED FOR THE ORDER OF CANADA, THE DECISION IS MADE BY THE OFFICIALS OF THE ORDER AND THEY MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION. I HAD BECOME A MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF ST. JOHN IN 1983, AND THIS PRESENTATION IS A STEP UPWARDS. IT IS GRANTED EVERY FEW YEARS – IF THE CITIZEN CONTINUES TO MAKE CONTRIBUTUIONS.' AN ORDER OF CANADA MEMBERSHIP IS GIVEN TO THOSE WHO STRIVE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THEIR IMMEDIATE COMMUNITIES OR DEVOTE THEIR TALENTS TO SPECIAL CAUSES AND WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE GAINED HIGH DISTINCTION ON THE NATIONAL OR INTERNATIONAL SCENE.” ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA: “ESTABLISHED IN 1967 BY HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II, THE ORDER OF CANADA IS THE CORNERSTONE OF THE CANADIAN HONOURS SYSTEM AND RECOGNIZES OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT, DEDICATION TO THE COMMUNITY, AND SERVICE TO THE NATION. THE ORDER RECOGNIZES PEOPLE IN ALL SECTORS OF CANADIAN SOCIETY. THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE VARIED, YET THEY HAVE ALL ENRICHED THE LIVES OF OTHERS AND MADE A DIFFERENCE TO THIS COUNTRY.” “ESTABLISHED IN 1888 BY QUEEN VICTORIA, THE MOST VENERABLE ORDER OF THE HOSPITAL OF ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM IS A WORKING ORDER OF CHARITABLY MINDED MEN AND WOMEN WHOSE PHILANTHROPY IS EXPRESSED PRINCIPALLY THROUGH ITS TWO FOUNDATIONS, THE ST. JOHN EYE HOSPITAL IN JERUSALEM AND ST. JOHN AMBULANCE. THE ORDER TRACES ITS ORIGINS TO THE KNIGHTS HOSPITALLER, OF THE CRUSADES, WHO SERVED THE ABBEY OF ST. MARY’S SMALL HOSPITAL FOR SICK PILGRIMS IN JERUSALEM IN THE 12TH CENTURY. THE ORDER WAS BROUGHT INTO THE CANADIAN HONOURS SYSTEM IN 1990. “ “THE QUEEN’S SILVER JUBILEE MEDAL COMMEMORATES THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACCESSION OF HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND TO THE THRONE. NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN EVERY IMPORTANT FIELD OF ENDEAVOUR — INCLUDING THE PROFESSIONS, EDUCATION AND ARTS, VETERANS' GROUPS, SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS, PHILANTHROPIC AND CHARITABLE BODIES, AND WELFARE SERVICES — WERE ASKED TO PARTICIPATE IN SUBMITTING NOMINATIONS. ALL MEMBERS OF THE ORDER OF CANADA, ORDER OF MILITARY MERIT, AND RECIPIENTS OF THE CANADIAN BRAVERY DECORATIONS RECEIVED THE QUEEN’S SILVER JUBILEE MEDAL.” “THE CANADIAN FORCES’ DECORATION IS AWARDED TO OFFICERS AND NON-COMMISSIONED MEMBERS OF THE CANADIAN FORCES WHO HAVE COMPLETED TWELVE YEARS OF SERVICE. THE DECORATION IS AWARDED TO ALL RANKS, WHO HAVE A GOOD RECORD OF CONDUCT. … THE DECORATION IS AWARDED TO THE REGULAR FORCES, RESERVE FORCES, OFFICERS OF THE CADET INSTRUCTORS CADRE (CIC), CANADIAN RANGERS AND HOLDERS OF HONORARY APPOINTMENTS IN THE CF.” ON HIS FATHER’S SERVICE, “MY DAD WAS, TOO YOUNG FOR THE FIRST WORLD WAR. AND HE WAS TOO OLD FOR THE SECOND WORLD WAR. BUT HE WAS INVOLVED WITH THE SEA CADETS HERE IN LETHBRIDGE FOR YEARS. AND DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR, HE WENT TO VANCOUVER ON A TRAINING. THEY TOOK THEM OUT TO THERE AND THEN HE WAS ON A SHIP, ON A MINELAYER, OR A DESTROYER OR SOMETHING. AND THIS IS JUST A STORY THAT HE TOLD ME. THEY WERE OUT THERE, ONE DAY, AND THEY WERE DOING DEPTH CHARGES PRACTICE. AND THEY LOOSED OFF THIS WHOLE THING OF DEPTH CHARGES RIGHT INTO A SCHOOL OF SALMON. SO, THIS BIG EXPLOSION IN THE WATER AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THERE WAS ALL THESE DEAD FISH IN THE WATER, SO THEY JUST CALLED THE FISHING FLEET AND THEY CAME AND PICKED THEM UP. BUT THAT’S THE ONLY STORY I GOT FROM HIM DURING THAT TIME. I WOULD HAZARD A GUESS AND SAY THAT THAT PROBABLY FACILITATED HIM MOVING INTO THIS POSITION? BUT THIS POSITION HERE WITH AT THE – WITH THE, ARTILLERY – I THINK IT’S THE ARTILLERY, OR THE FIELD ARTILLERY - I THINK IT WAS AN HONOURARY POSITION. “ PLEASE SEE PERMANENT FILE P19970018000 FOR FULL INTERVIEW AND FURTHER INFORMATION, INCLUDING ARCHIVAL RESEARCH FROM THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD.

Catalogue Number

P19960006009

Acquisition Date

1996-03

Collection

Museum

Less detail