Sydney woman finds soldier’s medal

Hopes to find relatives of P. Campbell

Ann Mischiek knows looking for living relatives of a First World War veteran when she doesn’t have a full name, birthday or birthplace is like looking for a needle in a haystack.

But that isn’t stopping the member of the ladies’ auxiliary of the Royal Canadian Legion branch 12 Sydney from trying.

Originally from Wreck Cove in Victoria County, Mischiek’s great-uncle John Alex Shaw served in the First World War. When he returned to Canada, Shaw never married and when he died in 1949 Mischiek’s family got his war medals.

“As kids we never looked in them,” said the 56-yearold who now lives with her mother in Sydney.

“We just knew they existed because they were in this little (black leather pouch) in the cupboard.”

When Mischiek was packing up her mother’s home for the move she came across the medal pouch and decided to take a look. During the First World War, medals were engraved with the soldier’s rank, name and troop, and it was when Mischiek looked at the engraving she realized one of the medals wasn’t her greatuncle’s. The medal was for a Pte. P. Campbell of the 185 Canadian Infantry.

“I was like, ‘Oh my God, that’s not his. How do I get a hold of his family?’ That’s a long time for it to be sitting in the cupboard,” she said.

“Someone is sitting there saying, ‘My grandfather was in the war and he didn’t get any medals.’ I want to find them and give them back his medal.”

Alfie Giorno from branch 12 said it is possible Campbell died during battle and Shaw was given his medal on his behalf because he was a friend.

If she can’t find Campbell’s family, Mischiek plans to frame the medal and put it on display at the Sydney legion along with her great-uncle’s.

Anyone with information about a P. Campbell can call Mischiek at 902-202-8601.

NIKKI SULLIVAN/CAPE BRETON POST Ann Mischiek, a member of the ladies auxiliary of the Royal Canadian Legion branch 12 in Sydney, holds two medals from the First World War in her hands while sitting at the legion on Sunday. The medal on the left is the King George medal, which was in the pouch with her great-uncle John Alex Shaw’s medals. It belonged to P. Campbell and Mischiek is hoping to track down Campbell’s family members to give it to them. The medal on the right is the Victory Medal, which was awarded to her great-uncle.