The Georgetown Vault
  • Home
  • Our History
    • Georgetown History >
      • Dorothy Stone
      • Dominion Seed House
      • 115 Main Street
      • 70 Mill Street.
      • H.T. Arnold Glove Works, currently The Carpet Barn
      • Creelman Brothers
      • The Old Bank
      • Georgetown Train Station
      • 86 Main Street
      • Town Hall 1878-1968
      • The iron bridge (Grand Trunk Railway bridge)
      • Berwick Hall in Georgetown, Dec 17 1913
      • Jewish Farm School
      • Main Street Fire of 1922
    • Norval History >
      • Presbyterian Church Manse
      • Maxted family History
  • Our Stories
    • Memories
    • People of Georgetown
  • Events A - L
    • 100th Anniversary of WW1
    • 100th Anniversary - Vimy Ridge
    • 10,000 Balloon release - June 1988
    • 2014 Olympics
    • 215 Vigil
    • Bang - O - Rama
    • Black Lives Matter March
    • Canada Day in the Glen >
      • Other years
      • Canada Day 1967
      • Canada Day 2008
      • Canada Day 2010
      • Canada Day 2012
      • Canada Day 2014
      • Canada Day 2015
      • Canada Day 2016
      • Canada Day 2017
      • Canada Day 2018
      • Canada Day 2019
    • Canada's most Patriotic Town - 2017 >
      • Snowbirds fly over
    • Car Show >
      • Car Show 2005
      • Car Show 2006
      • Car Show 2007
      • Car Show 2008
      • Car Show 2013
      • Car Show 2015
      • Car Show 2016
      • Car show 2017
      • Car Show 2019
    • Centennial Parade 1967
    • Centennial School 50th Anniversary
    • Chapel Street School 25th Reunion 1994
    • Christmas >
      • Christmas 2008
      • Christmas 2012
      • Christmas 2015
      • Christmas 2017
      • Christmas 2018
      • Christmas 2020
      • Christmas 2021
    • Cinema Opening 1979
    • Citizen of the Year Awards
    • Covid-19
    • Craft Beer Fest
    • Crazy Boat Races >
      • 1988
      • Through the years
    • Cruise Nights
    • Doctors vs staff hockey games >
      • Doc's vs Staff Charity Game - 2010
      • Doc's vs Staff Charity Game 2011
    • Donkey Baseball
    • Fall Fairs >
      • Through the Years
      • Fall Fair 1977
      • Fall Fair 2009
      • Fall Fair 2015
      • Fall Fair 2016
      • Fall Fair 2017
      • Fall Fair 2018
      • Fall Fair 2019
      • fall fair 2020*
    • Farmer's Market >
      • Farmer's Market 2014
      • Farmer's Market 2015
    • Fred's Towing 50th Anniversary 2008
    • Georgetown's 50th
    • GDHS 100 YEAR REUNION - 1987 >
      • 100 YEARS Yearbook
      • Newspaper Clippings
      • Newspaper Inserts
      • Pictures
      • Publications
    • Halloween >
      • Halloween 2010
      • Halloween 2015
      • Halloween 2018
      • Halloween 2019
      • Halloween 2020
    • Health Home and Wellness Show 2014
    • HHFD vs Toronto Maple Leaf Alumni 2009
    • Highland Games >
      • 1976 Highland Games Programme
      • 2007
      • 2009
      • 2013
      • 2020
    • Highway 413 Protests.
    • Holmes Tv Show
    • Home Coming 2007 >
      • Meetings and Gatherings
      • The Set up
      • Friday Night Meet and Greet
      • GDHS Reunion
      • Saturday Night's Big Party
      • Sunday and Closing Ceremonies
      • Final Tally
      • Committee BBQ
      • Newspaper Articles
      • Publications
      • Odd stuff
    • Home Coming 2013 >
      • Homecoming Literature
      • Friday - Pizza Hut
      • Friday Night Meet and Greet
      • Saturday
      • Saturday Night's Party
    • Home Town Hockey
    • Hospital Walk 2018
    • Ice Storm 2013 >
      • Saturday December 21st
      • Sunday December 22nd
      • Monday December 23rd
      • Tuesday December 24th
    • Ice Storm 2016
    • International Plowing Match >
      • 1974 Plowing Match
    • Jim Cuddy Concert - Oct 17th 2020
    • Light up the Hills >
      • Light up the Hills 2008
      • Light up the Hills 2009
      • Light up the Hills 2010
      • Light up the Hills 2012
      • Light up the Hills 2014
      • Light up the Hills 2015
      • Light up the hills - 2016
      • Light up the Hills 2017
      • Light up the Hills 2018
      • Light up the hills 2020
    • Limehouse corn roast 2015
    • Lobster Fests >
      • Lobsterfest 2013
      • Lovefest 2014
  • Events M - Z
    • Movies >
      • Imposters - Tv show
    • Mr. Dressup
    • Municipal awards
    • Normandy Blvd Reunion
    • Olympic Torch Relay - 2010
    • Ontario Radio Reunion - 2013
    • Outhouse races
    • Pioneer Days - Downtown
    • Princess Margaret Train
    • Rail Road Hall of Fame induction - 2014
    • Random Car Club >
      • Random Car Club 40th Anniversary
      • Random Car Club 45th Anniversary
      • Random Car Club 50th Anniversary
    • Raptor's Championship
    • Raylawn Reunion 2013
    • Ribfest 2021
    • Rodeo Queen 1961
    • Santa Claus Parades >
      • Santa Claus Parades - Older
      • 1971
      • 1995
      • 2005
      • 2006
      • 2007
      • 2008
      • 2009
      • 2011
      • 2012
      • 2015
      • 2017
      • 2018
      • 2020
      • 2021
    • Salute to the John Street Culvert 2015 - Beep Beep
    • Shel Lawr
    • Sheridan Nursery's 100th Anniversary Gala
    • Skate-a-thon 1977
    • Soap Box Derby
    • Storm 1982
    • Storm Damage - November 15th 2020
    • Storm of July 19th 2013
    • Terry Fox
    • The King and His Court
    • Town Hall Fire - September 21st 1968
    • Train Collision
    • Train Derailments
    • TV bingo
    • Wind Storm - November 2020
    • Wintario
  • Groups and Clubs
    • 4H
    • Air Cadets
    • Choral Society
    • Groups and Clubs
    • Georgetown Little Theatre
    • Georgetown Girls Pipe Band
    • Girls Pipe Band Reunion
    • Georgetown Seniors Center
    • Kinsmen
    • 676 Lorne Scots
    • Legion Pipe Band
    • Lions
    • Lorne Scots
    • 150th Anniversary Lorne Scots >
      • Lorne Scots Service Monument
      • Meet N Greet/ Armories Open House
      • Trooping of the Colours
    • North Halton Go-Kart Club
    • Optimist Club
    • Optimist Club #2
    • Radical Car Club
    • Rotary Club
    • scouts
  • In Memory of...
  • In Memory of (2)
  • Lest we Forget
    • Candle Light Tributes
    • Community Covenant for Veterans Ceremony - June 6th 2014
    • Heroes >
      • John Pollands Girvan
    • Pictures
    • Poem by Fred McCartney
    • Remembrance Day >
      • Remembrance 1968
      • Remembrance 1989
      • Remembrance Day ~ 1999
      • Remembrance Day ~ 2008
      • Remembrance Day ~ 2012
      • Glen Parade ~ 2013
      • Remembrance Day ~ 2013
      • Remembrance day 2015
      • Remembrance Day 2017
      • Remembrance day 2018
      • Remembrance day 2021
    • Remembrance Park
    • V-E Day 2011
  • Our Town A - L
    • Abandoned Railline
    • Allison's
    • Andrew Murray Motors
    • Armenian Boys Farm
    • The Armory Renos
    • Around Town >
      • Through the years
      • Older Pictures
      • 1979 - 2011
      • 2000s
      • 2010's
      • 2020's
    • Bands >
      • Blue Steel
      • Deadbeats
      • Elixir
      • Ides of march Band
      • Outcasts
      • Rocket's Sha-Booms
      • Station House Band
    • Barber Dynamo Ruins
    • Beaver Lumber
    • Bob Law Sketches
    • Bowling Alley Demo
    • Car Clubs
    • Cedervale Park
    • Cemeteries >
      • Devereaux
      • Glen Williams
      • Greenwood Cemetery A - F
      • Greenwood Cemetery G - L
      • Greenwood Cemetery M - R
      • Greenwood Cemetery S - U
      • Greenwood Cemetery V - Unknown
      • Holy Redeemer
      • Norval Hill Crest A - G
      • Norval Hill Crest H - P
      • Norval Hill Crest Q - Z
      • St Stephen's
    • Chapel Street School - Ruins
    • Churches >
      • Holy Cross
      • Holy Cross - Maple Ave - Demolition 1965 - 2015
      • Holy Cross 1989
      • Knox Presbyterian - 1985
      • Knox presbyterian Church
      • Knox 2014 -
      • Knox Church Organ
      • St. George's
      • St john's Anglican - Stewarttown
      • St. John's United Georgetown and Glen Williams
      • St John's United Georgetown and Glen Williams - 2
      • St. Stephen's - Hornby
    • Credit Union
    • Delrex Development
    • Devereaux Cemetery - Open 2013
    • Dick Licata Outdoor Pool
    • Dominion Seed House >
      • Dominion Gardens
      • Dominion Seed House
      • 1946 Mail Order Catalogue
    • Factories >
      • Gage / DRG Stationary
      • Coated Paper/Domtar
      • Creelman Brothers
      • Domtar
      • Meadowglen Mushrooms
      • Mold Masters
      • Provincial Paper
      • Smith and Stone
      • Smith and Stone News Letters
      • Standard Products
      • Varian Yearbooks >
        • 1968
        • 1969
        • 1990 - 35th Anniversary
      • Yoder
    • Families >
      • Barnes/Walsh
      • Bradley
      • Emmerson's
      • Hancocks
      • Little
      • Wheelers
      • Wrigglesworth
    • Famous from town >
      • Without Pictures.
    • Furnace Room Brewery
    • Gellert Center
    • Georgetown Academy c. 1870
    • Georgetown Game
    • Georgetown District Memorial Hospital >
      • Older Pictures
      • 1958 - 1979
      • 1980 - 1991
      • 1992 - 1995
      • 90's Expansion
      • 1998 AGM
      • Like Family Book 1998
      • 2002 - 2004
      • Air Ambulance
      • Miscellaneous
      • 50TH Anniversary 2011
      • Expansion 2012 - 2013
      • 60th Anniversary
    • Georgetown Market Place - The Mall
    • Georgetown Transit
    • Georgetown Volunteer Ambulance Services
    • Glen Williams >
      • Glen Village
      • Industry
      • Neighbours in the Glen >
        • September 2015
        • December 2015
        • February 2018
        • April 2018
        • May 2018
        • July 2018
      • Preston's Store
      • Spring Floods
    • Golf Clubs
    • Halton Hills FD >
      • 100th Fireman's Ball Invitation
      • 1921 Bylaws
      • 1894 Bylaws
      • Halton Hills Fire Department
      • New Fire Hall Opening 1977
      • Pearl Oliver - Dispatch
      • Recognition and Awards night 2016
      • Recongnition and Awards night 2017
      • Recognition and Awards Night 2018
      • World Trade Center Steel
    • Henry Shepherd MBE - 1895 - 1960
    • Henry Shepherd Park
    • Herrington Animal Control
    • Holy Cross site - Build 2018
    • Hotels
    • Hydro Commision
    • Jewish Farm
    • Lawn Bowling Club
    • Legion >
      • Legion
      • Parade ~ Aug 2013
      • WW I Quilt
    • Library / Cultural Centre
    • Limehouse
  • Our Town M - Z
    • Main Street
    • Main Street 2007
    • Maps >
      • 1877 Map book
    • Mayors
    • McGibbon Hotel
    • McGibbon Hotel 2015/16
    • Mcgibbon Build Documents
    • Meadow Glen Mushrooms
    • Memorials and Plaques
    • Memorial Arena >
      • 30th Anniversary of the Little NHL
      • 2010
      • Memorial Arena Demolition
      • Memories
      • Final Skate
      • Seat Sale - Nov 9th 2013
      • 42 Mill Street
    • Mill Street Home Demolitions
    • New Arena
    • New Paper Articles
    • News Papers >
      • 1867
      • 1893
      • 1913
      • Aug 15th 1945
      • October 25th 1944
      • June 2nd 1954
      • June 9th 1954
      • June 16th 1954
      • November 8th 1961
      • January 30th 1964
      • 1972
      • November 1974
      • 1976
      • Feb 4th 1981
      • March 24th 1982
      • 1983
      • 1984 Hearld
      • 1987
      • March 7th 1988
      • March 6th 1989
      • March 17th 1996
      • March 17th 1999
      • 2000 - 01
    • Normandy Blvd
    • Norval >
      • Willow Park
      • Willow park/Montgomery Gardens 2018
    • New Outlet Mall
    • Odd Stuff
    • Open Kitchen 2018
    • Paper Mill Dam
    • People
    • Rainbow Crossing 2020
    • Roxy Theater
    • Royal Bank On Main
    • Station House Demo and Reno's
    • Station House Hotel
    • Stewarttown
    • Street Names
    • Summer Camps
    • Taxi Companys
    • Terra Cotta
    • Tim Murdock Racing
    • Toronto International Speedway
    • Toronto International Speedway - Ruins
    • Toronto Suburban Railway
    • Town of Halton Hills
    • Trails
    • Trains >
      • CN Construction 2015
    • Upper Canada College
    • Water Falls Playground - 6th Line
    • Water Tower
    • White Bridge Construction 2020
    • YMCA Camp
  • Publications
    • Pamphlets
    • 1947 Booklet
    • 1960s Cookbook
    • 1973 Directory
    • 1976 Directory
    • 1982 pamphlet
    • 1985 Living in Georgetown
    • Foot Prints from the Near Past
    • Glen Williams Cook Book 1968
    • Halton Sketches
    • Hearld 125th Anniversary CookBook
    • Lion's Cook Book
    • My Heritage - Violet Brownridge
    • Walking Backwards
  • Schools
    • PUBLIC SCHOOLS >
      • Centennial >
        • Graduation 1979 - 80 Programme
        • Odds and Ends
      • Chapel Street Formerly known as Georgetown Public
      • George Kennedy
      • Glen Williams >
        • Mrs Somerville
      • Holy Cross
      • Harrison
      • Howard Wrigglesworth >
        • 1955 yearbook
      • Joseph Gibbons
      • Old Limehouse School House
      • Limehouse
      • Norval
      • Park
      • Pine View
      • Sacre Coeur
      • Spayside School
      • SS#16 Stone School.
      • Stewarttown >
        • Spread the Net Winners 2018
      • St. Francis
    • HIGH SCHOOL >
      • GDHS >
        • Changing the Rebel Name
        • Class photos
        • Concerts
        • 1956 Commencement Dinner Dance
        • 1979 Formal
        • GDHS 1962 Commencement
        • GDHS 25th Reunion 1912
        • Georgetown District High School 2010
        • GDHS Football
        • GDHS Slides
        • GDHS swim Team
        • GDHS Track
        • Odds and Ends
        • Rebel Reunion (1973) 2008
        • Sports Award programmes >
          • 1971
          • 1972
          • 1974
          • 1975
        • Sports
    • Other
  • Sports
    • Baseball >
      • 1960's / 1970's rep
      • Baseball
      • GBA
      • Georgettes
      • Glen Williams
      • Eagles >
        • 2009
        • 2010 COBA Champs
        • 2011 COBA Champs
        • 2015 COBA Champs
        • 2018 OMB Champions
        • 2020
      • Kinsmen Girls Softball
      • Limehouse
      • Powder Puff
      • Royalettes
      • Team Pictures
    • Figure Skating
    • Hockey >
      • Team Pictures
      • Bantam Tournament
      • Gemini's
      • Hockey
      • Hockey Heritage Awards >
        • 1979 - Roy Norton Sr
        • 1980 - Royal Canadian Legion
        • 1981 - Bud James
        • 1982 - Gerry Inglis
        • 1983 - Robert Lane
        • 1984 - Ron Dixon
        • 1985 - Bob Goldham
        • 1986 - Walter Bianchi
        • 1987 - Del Beaumont
        • 1988 - Red Asseltine
        • 1989 - Robert Tost
        • 1990 - Roy Ward
        • 1991 - Gerry Perkins
        • 1992 - Herb Robinson
        • 1993 - James Ford
        • 1994 - Karen Harrison
        • 1995 - Norm Lockurst
        • 1996 - Harold Gilmer
        • 1997 - Shel Lawr
        • 1998 - Ron McKnight
        • 1999 - Bob Webster
        • 2000 - Bryan Lewis
        • 2001 - Wayne Pries
        • 2002 - Dave Kentner
        • 2003 - Zeke McCandless
        • 2004 - Carson Mininch
        • 2005 - Charlie Hanman
        • 2006 - Brian James
        • 2007 - Bob Hooper
        • 2008 - Hal Pells
        • 2009 - Don Fendley
        • 2010 - Finn Poulstrup
        • 2011 - Geraldine Hardcastle
        • 2012 - Neil Cotton
        • 2013 - Bill and Pam McGillivray
        • 2014 - Jack Moon
        • 2015 - Dr. Ron Lefebvre
        • 2016 - Gary Stone
        • 2017 - Sheila Campbell
        • 2018 - Dennis Norton
        • 2019 - Grace Rylett
      • Hockey Programmes >
        • 1967 Bantam Tournament
        • Raiders 1967 - 68
        • Raiders 1973 - 74
        • 1975 Bantam Tournament
        • Raiders 1975 - 76
        • Raiders 1976 - 77
        • Raiders 50th Anniversary
        • 40th Anniversary Little NHL
        • Raiders 1978 - 79
        • Raiders 1981 - 82 Champs
        • Raiders 1981 - 82
        • Raiders 1983 - 84
        • Raiders 1984 - 85
        • Geminis 1986 - 87
        • 1994 Bantam Tournament
        • 1994 Midget Tournament
        • 1995 Bantam Tournament
        • 1998 Bantam Tournament
        • 1999 Bantam Tournament
        • 2000 Bantam Tournament
        • 2017 Citation Awards
        • 2017 - Day of Hockey Celebrations
      • Junior B Beavers
      • Raiders
      • Raiders 1981 Hardy Cup
      • Refs
      • Timbit's
    • Lacrosse
    • Ladies Flag Football
    • Men's Flag Football
    • Other Sports >
      • 2016 YBC Kids
      • 2016 Bowling Banquet
    • Soccer Club
    • Sports Museum
  • Videos
  • Centennial public School Yearbooks
    • 1971 - 72
    • 1972 - 73
    • 1973 - 74
    • 1974 - 75
    • 1975 - 76
    • 1976 - 77
    • 1977 - 78
    • 1979 - 80
    • 1980 - 81
    • 1981 - 82
    • 1982 - 83
    • 2017-18
  • Stewarttown Public School Yearbooks
    • 1978/79
    • 1979/80
    • 1980/ 81
    • 1981/82
    • 1982/83
    • 1984/85
    • 1985/86
    • 1989/90
    • 1994/95
    • 1996/97
    • 1999/00
    • 2004/05
    • 2005/06
    • 2006/07
    • 2007/08
    • 2008/09
    • 2009/10
    • 2010/11
    • 2011/12
    • 2012/13
    • 2013/14
    • 2014/15
    • 2015/16
    • 2017/18
  • GDHS Yearbooks
    • 1933
    • The 50's >
      • 1956 - 57
      • 1957 - 58
      • 1958 - 59
      • 1959 - 60
    • The 60's >
      • 1960 - 61
      • 1961 - 62
      • 1962 - 63
      • 1964 - 65
      • 1965 - 66
      • 1966 - 67
      • 1967 - 68
      • 1968 - 69
      • 1969 - 70
    • The 70's >
      • 1970 - 71
      • 1971 - 72
      • 1972 - 73
      • 1973 - 74
      • 1974 - 75
      • 1975 - 76
      • 1976 - 77
      • 1977 - 78
      • 1978 - 79
      • 1979 - 80
    • The 80's >
      • 1980 - 81
      • 1981 - 82
      • 1982 - 83
      • 1983 - 84
      • 1984 - 85
      • 1985 - 86
      • 1986 - 87
      • 1987 - 88
      • 1988 - 89
      • 1989 - 90
    • The 90's >
      • 1990 - 91
      • 1991 - 92
      • 1992 - 93
      • 1993 - 94
      • 1994 - 95
      • 1995 - 96
      • 1996 - 97
      • 1997 - 98
      • 1998 - 99
      • 1999 - 2000
    • The 2000's >
      • 2000 - 01
      • 2001 - 02
      • 2002 - 03
      • 2003 - 04
      • 2004 - 05
      • 2005 - 06
      • 2006 - 07
      • 2007-08
      • 2008 - 09
      • 2009 - 10
      • 2010 - 11
      • 2011 - 12

ww 1 quilt

Submitted by Georgetown Legion 
From the Georgetown Independant 
First World War quilt returns … almost 100 years later
By Ted Brown

Staff writer

The year was 1915.
Like the rest of the British Commonwealth, Canada was at war, as countless soldiers were shipped overseas to fight the enemy on the trenched battlefields of Europe.
Back home in Georgetown, various groups were thinking of ways to support those who had signed up and marched off to that faraway war in Europe.
The Georgetown Women’s Institute (WI) decided to create a quilt for those soldiers who had been wounded and were recuperating in hospital in England.
The quilters would never have guessed that nearly 100 years later their labour of love would find its way home.
With war already raging for a year, the WI decided to ‘sell’ space on the quilt, charging everyone 10 cents per name, to have their name embroidered on the quilt.
In an excerpt from The Georgetown Herald’s July 28, 1915 issue, (ironically published one year to the day after war had been declared in Europe), the notice went out to the WI members, asking for help with the quilt.
The excerpt read:
‘Would all interested in the autograph quilt for the Women’s Institute hasten to secure names that all may be worked and returned by the first week in Sept. to give time to complete for exhibition at the fall fair. We would suggest that there be many family, business, and professional groups, anyone at a distance to have their address attached. Names will be repeated as often as ten cents is paid. The quilt is to be sent away to the Canadian Hospital in England and the remainder of the money used by the Institute to secure comforts for the soldiers.’
Obviously, the quilt was completed by September, as it was displayed at the Esquesing Agricultural Society Fall Fair (now Georgetown Agricultural Society) October 6-7, 1915, before being sent overseas.
The finished quilt features 355 names. At 10 cents per name, it raised $35.50 in 1915, which would be equivalent to raising $717.57 in 2013 dollars.

It was sent to Shorncliffe Military Hospital where many wounded Canadian soldiers returned from battle to be patched up and convalesce. The hospital is located just outside Folkestone in Kent, in close proximity to both Dover and Folkestone ports, making it ideal to transport wounded troops from ships.
As we know, The Great War ended with the signing of the Armistice, November 11, 1918.
It’s only speculation, but it’s likely the quilt stayed at Shorncliffe for some time after that as many troops remained in hospitals in England for some time, to grow strong enough to endure the sea voyage back to Canada.
At that point, the trail of the Georgetown Women’s Institute Shorncliffe quilt goes cold.
Fast forward to the spring of 2012.
Norman Jennings and his wife Daisy Nellie were married in the 1930s, and lived in Kingston, Surrey. Daisy died prior to 2012, and in his final days, Norman talked to his nephew Tony Groves of Wimbledon, London, who was the executor of his estate.
He told Groves that he had ‘an army blanket thing in the cupboard’ and he didn’t know what to do with it. Groves never gave it any more thought at the time. After his uncle died April 23, 2012, Groves and his wife Maggie started clearing his uncle’s belongings from his residence.
“We thought no more about it. When he died it was our job to deal with his estate and that’s when we first saw it (the quilt),” said Groves. “It was in the linen cupboard with the sheets and blankets.”
In addition to the 355 names embroidered on the front, the quilt also had the name and address  ‘DN Jennings, 23 Orlando Rd SW4’ written in ink on the back.
“I knew that Shorncliffe (hospital) housed the military hospitals for Canadian troops so to that extent I knew what I was looking at,” said Groves in an email interview. “I also noticed that his (his uncle) wife’s address, before they married, was on it, so it must have come through her family. I can only assume that a relative of hers worked at the hospital but that is only a guess.
“So the next question was what to do with it. Sell it? Put it in a drawer for another 100 years?” said Groves. “We made up our minds pretty quickly that if the people of Georgetown made it for their lads all those years ago then they should have it back if they so wished.”
Groves searched online and found Georgetown had become part of Halton Hills. He decided to contact Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette, and asked him if the town had a museum or a group that would be interested in the quilt.
Bonnette forwarded Groves’ query to Esquesing Historical Society (EHS) archivist Mark Rowe, who contacted Groves, May 24, 2012, saying EHS would be quite pleased to accept the quilt.

“I am pleased to hear this item would be of use to you as part of your local history,” replied Groves to Rowe’s email, “It would give me great satisfaction to know that it can be seen by people rather than kept locked away as it has been for such a long while now. Although it is almost 100 years old it is still in very good nick. I have absolutely no idea how my uncle got hold of it and can only assume that one of his family worked at the hospital in the First World War.”
Groves told Rowe he’d investigate the costs and details of having the quilt sent back to Georgetown, and get back to him. The quilt was temporarily placed on hold.
One year to the day later, May 24, 2013, Rowe still hadn’t heard anything from Groves. He emailed him again to see if he’d made any progress.
Groves had been busy settling his uncle’s estate, and the quilt had been somewhat forgotten.
Groves replied quickly, and the quilt repatriation was once again at the forefront.
“I was a little reluctant to put it in the post as I don’t altogether trust any mail service, “said Groves. “I decided to see if it could be sent back through diplomatic channels.”
Groves contacted the Minister of Veterans’ Affairs and explained the situation. Veterans’ Affairs Director General of the Commemoration Division, André Levesque, replied to Groves in an email, saying, “It is heartwarming to learn that you are donating this quilt to the historical society in Halton Hills, Ontario, Canada. Having the quilt come “full circle” after so much time is a truly wonderful moment for all involved.
“With respect to your request for assistance in transporting the quilt to Canada, Veterans Affairs Canada staff contacted the Canadian High Commission in the United Kingdom. I am pleased to advise that the Commission has agreed to arrange for delivery of the quilt from the United Kingdom to Halton Hills.”
Groves was delighted and was told to contact Suzanne Happe, at the Canadian High Commission in London, to work out the details.
Happe contacted Rowe August 13 this year telling him the quilt was on its way.
The best part of the message from Happe was, “At the request of Mr. Tony Groves, the Commander, Brigadier General Michael Dabros CD of Canadian Forces Liaison Staff (London), has agreed to cover the cost of shipping the above historic quilt from the UK back to you for the town of Georgetown from whence it came.”

Consequently, the quilt arrived at Rowe’s residence in mid-August, and everyone involved— Groves, the Canadian High Commission in the UK (embassy), Veterans’ Affairs, and most of all, members of Esquesing Historical Society— were delighted.
For Happe it was one of her final duties at the Canadian High Commission in the UK, as she returned to Canada and retired from the Canadian Forces at the end of August.
“There are some names on the quilt I noticed,” wrote Groves. “I assume that there might be some descendants of those names on the quilt still living in the area.
“I know your lads did well and suffered badly up on Vimy Ridge in 1917 but this (quilt) predates Vimy by two years,” said Groves.
The quilt is now hanging on display in the Georgetown Branch of Halton Hills Public Library, along with a number of artifacts honouring Remembrance Day. It will be displayed in the library until the end of November, then will be taken to Mountainview Residence for a day, to show the veterans who reside there.
From there, it will return to the EHS archives.
The display, a joint effort of EHS, Halton Hills Library and Branch 120 (Georgetown) of the Royal Canadian Legion, was set up October 25.
Branch 120 president Jack Harrison, Halton Hills Public Library staffer Jodie Mandarino and Sheridan College Visual Merchandising student Samantha Babic co-ordinated their efforts to set up the display.
“The whole thing is amazing,” said Harrison. “This (quilt) was done in 1915— almost 100 years ago, and it comes back to town, in amazing shape at that. When I heard about it, I was quite excited, and now that it’s set up on display, it’s wonderful.”
All the players in Georgetown are quite pleased at the outcome of the quilt, making its way back to Georgetown. But the most pleased is Tony Groves.
“I have a great love of military history and I had relatives serving in the armed forces in both world wars,” said Groves. “My uncle is buried in Perth (China Wall) Cemetery in Ypres being killed in 1917. I still have his medals and some of his possessions that were returned to the family.
“We’re not the great and the good,” said Groves, speaking of his wife and himself. “It just seemed right and proper that the quilt, which has survived in such good condition, should go back ‘home’ where it was made all those years ago. It is part of your history and we are so pleased that it will be exhibited so people can see it.”
So the story has gone full circle.
Like an old veteran, the quilt, sent out 98 years ago to fight its own battle— comforting and reminding wounded troops overseas that they were in their families’ hopes and prayers— has done its duty. It’s come home to the safety and respect of the Esquesing Historical Society archives.
And a responsible, amateur historian in Wimbledon has also done his duty, making sure it did return home, where it can inspire memory and respect, as well as once again remind all of the horrors of war— then, now and forever.