Kingsville Military Museum

World War II

World War II started in 1939 when Nazi Germany, led by Adolf Hitler, invaded Poland. In response, the United Kingdom and France declared war on Germany. Meanwhile, Japan, seeking dominance in Asia and the Pacific, had been at war with China since 1937. In December 1941, Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor prompted the United States to enter the war against Japan.

 

Canada played a crucial role in the Battle of the Atlantic and the air war over Germany, with significant contributions and sacrifices in battles such as Dieppe, Hong Kong, Ortona, Normandy, and Juno Beach. The first convoy left Halifax for the United Kingdom in September 1939, and soon two convoys were departing weekly. Until the end of that year, around 410 ships had crossed the Atlantic, facing dangerous and challenging conditions. 

Kingsville-Military-Museum-Ontario-Canada18
Kingsville-Military-Museum-Ontario-Canada23
Kingsville-Military-Museum-Ontario-Canada21

In the next six years, over one million Canadians and Newfoundlanders served in the armed forces, with more than 45,000 losing their lives and another 55,000 wounded. Canadian forces also engaged in Southeast Asia. Despite difficulties in regions like Hong Kong and Burma, Canadians contributed to the Allied victory, which led to ‘V-J Day’ in August 1945.

 

World War II was the deadliest conflict in history, resulting in 70 to 85 million deaths, with most being civilians. Genocides, including the Holocaust, along with starvation, massacres, and disease, claimed millions of lives. The conflict in Europe ended with the liberation of territories occupied by Germany, followed by the invasion of Germany by both the Western Allies and the Soviet Union. This combined assault led to Germany’s surrender on May 8, 1945. In the Pacific, Japan’s refusal to capitulate prompted the United States to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima on August 6 and Nagasaki on August 9. This led to Japan’s declaration of surrender on August 15.

Artifacts

Pte. Edsel Cowan - WWII

LetterToMom

Wrote letters to his mother at least 3 times a week.

He shot himself in the foot and had a toe removed. He was in hospital many months healing and had to convince authorities that this was an “accident”.

Flight Lieutenant Harry Siberry Shortt WWII

HarrySiberryShortt

He was born in western Ontario and enlisted in Toronto on 12 August 1940.  He flew in 20 sorties with No. 50 Squadron from October 1943 to January 1944. Included are attacks over Berlin, Hanover, the Ruhr, Leipzig, Hamburg and Mannheim. He left the air force in 1945.

“For his personal example of coolness and courage, his determined resolution always to make the most vigorous attacks in the face of the enemy’s defence and his valuable service to the squadron, he is strongly recommended for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.” 24 May 1944 as per London Gazette

Medals:

  • Distinguished Flying Cross
  • 1939-45 Star
  • Air Crew Europe Star
  • Defence Medal
  • Canadian Volunteer Service Medal
  • 1939-45 War Medal

Col. Frederick Jasperson

LtCol-FredKJasperson-CO-Canada-Glove

This Baseball Glove was sent by the Red Cross while he was a Prisoner of War during WWII.

It is a 1930 model Spalding with a Mo-split finger.

Born on 16 July 1900 in Kingsville, Essex, Ontario, Frederick Kent Jasperson was a lawyer who attended the University of Toronto, Columbia Law School, and Osgoode Hall. He had belonged to the 48th Highlanders of Toronto and was commissioned in the Essex Scottish as he started a law career in Windsor. 

On 19 August 1942, Jasperson led his troops at Dieppe in the raid that nearly wiped out the unit. In initial press reports, the colonel was reported missing and presumed killed. The colonel had in fact survived but was one of hundreds captured. After over two and a half years as a prisoner of war, Jasperson was liberated by the US 3rd Army in May 1945.

Medals:

  • Dieppe 1942
  • Distinguished Service Order with 2 Laurel Leaf bars
  • 1939-1945 Star
  • France & Germany Star
  • Defence Medal
  • Canadian Volunteer Service Medal
  • 1939-45 War Medal
  • Canadian Confederation Medal
  • Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Medal
  • Canadian Efficiency Medal with Silver Canada Bar

Edgar Thibert - Medals

EdgarThibert

Essex Scottish Unit, McGregor Tartan shield

Medals:

  • 1939-1945 Star
  • Defence Medal
  • 1939-45 War Medal
  • Canadian Volunteer Service Medal
  • Canadian Forces Decoration
  • Dieppe 1942 with clasp Medal

Army Hardtac

ArmyHardtack