Always faithful: West Novas have had your back for more than 100 years
“Sir, The King will hold an Investiture at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, the 23rd February, 1943, at which your attendance is requested.”
The letter was from the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood. It was addressed to Private Oran Foster, West Nova Scotia Regiment’s Scoutsniper Platoon. King George VI presented him with the British Empire Medal.
Foster, who couldn’t swim himself, had saved four men from drowning when their assault boat capsized.
It’s just one of the many stories of the storied West Nova Scotia Regiment whose battle honours include many of the major actions in the First World War, including Arras, Hill 70, Ypres, and Amiens, and more than two dozen in the Second World War - and more recently theatre honours in Afghanistan.
While the regiment’s story isn’t often told, it’s the stuff of Hollywood movies, with more than 100 years of heroes, headquartered out of Camp Aldershot near Kentville.
Semper Fidelis is their motto. It means Always Faithful.
WNSR Exhibit
On May 7 at Macdonald Museum in Middleton, two veterans of the West Novas helped Middleton Mayor Sylvester Atkinson drop a piece of cam net from the doorway that leads into the past. Ken Keddy of Greenwood, and Ernie Doucette of Tusket, both using walkers, stood and pulled the cord with the mayor to open the exhibition Canada 150: West Novas in Peace and War.
Col. (Retired) Thomas Stinson was master of ceremonies in the museum’s foyer where more than 100 people from across the province gathered for the event, including a couple of the regiment’s honourary colonels Col. Sir Graham Day and Col. John Leefe, and honourary Lt-col. Eric Meisner.
“The display we’re about to open tells the story of individuals who have served the West Nova Scotia Regiment in times of war and peace,” said Stinson.
The display is divided into four major exhibits including the Scout and Sniper Platoon in the Second World War; West Novas Who Served in the First Special Service Force (Devil’s Brigade) in the Second World War; West Novas in Afghanistan; and Notable West Novas.
The latter are six people who started in the West Novas and went on to very successful public careers, Stinson said.
“The display is about ordinary people from local communities who have done extraordinary things in often extraordinary times,” Stinson said.
People
The Exhibition opening was attended by family members and descendants of West Nova Second World War veterans.
The exhibition was created by the Regimental Association History and Museum Committee. Stinson lauded that group and thank Macdonald Museum.
“The museum has provided us with the excellent gallery which allows us the public space to tell the story of the West Novas,” he said.
Details
Canada 150: West Novas in Peace and War, runs until Sept. 30 on the first floor at Macdonald Museum at 21 School Street, Middleton. http://www.wnsr.ca/