Just in time for Remembrance Day, we look into the story of not just one local man, but six – and all of them brothers – who took up the call to serve King and country in the First World War. One will have the distinction of serving as honour guard to the King himself on one of Canada’s most important days. But each man’s story is equally important and will range from close to home to Azerbaijan and every place in between.

After the story we can’t help but make an incredible story even more so with some added details we know you will like. We also encourage the listeners to find the Ridgway brothers in the Remembrance Day Banners the town puts out each year, and to join us on the museum grounds for the Remembrance Day Service on November 11. The museum will be open special hours for that day so you can come in and see our extensive WW1 exhibit ... including a life-sized picture of Tom Ridgway. Visit our website or our Facebook page for full details on the hours we will be open.

Episode Picture:

The Ridgway Brothers  (Back Row: l to r Eddie, Laurie, John, Tom; Front: l to r Bert, Ernie)

[Photo supplied by Cathy DeRuiter]

Research:

Extensive Research for this Episode came from the Genealogical Files and Ridgway Brother’s Service records compiled by Cathy DeRuiter

Smedman, Lisa. Dunsterforce, Vancouver Courier. https://cdbe6920-b060-4736-bf2a-58f92dcfee21.filesusr.com/ugd/5273e0_0ebf14d8fa5d427fa57c4ae3899efe17.pdf

Brown, Eric and Tim Cook The 1936 Vimy Pilgrimage. Canadian Military History, Volume 20, Number 2, Spring 201, pp 46-47, 52. https://allnationsstampandcoin.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/5-Brown-and-Cook-Vimy-Pilgrimage-v-2.pdf

Links:

Phyllis Ridgway Story https://globalnews.ca/news/7922913/phyllis-ridgway-dead-canada-toronto/

“The Museum That Wasn’t” Season 1, Episode 23 https://anchor.fm/cwoodstories/episodes/The-Museum-That-Wasnt-e1ig37a