Man seeks to return war medal
A Toronto man is reaching out, hoping that he can return a British War Medal to a direct descendant of the Peterborough-born man who was awarded the United Kingdom campaign medal for First World War service.
Alex McKenna, 77, has had the medal given to Private William Joseph Gadoua – his uncle by marriage – since his aunt gave it to him before she died in 1980. The couple did not have any children and McKenna had planned to give it to his own kids.
Gadoua, who enlisted in the 93rd Battalion (Peterborough) Canadian Expeditionary Force on Dec. 16, 1915 at age 18, died on New Year’s Day in 1963 at age 65 after living for most of his adult life in Toronto, McKenna said.
The infantryman is buried at Mount Peace Cemetery in Mississauga. His father, Joseph Gadoua, who died in 1923, is buried in Peterborough.
McKenna hopes that a more direct relative is alive today that would accept the medal awarded to officers and men of British and Imperial forces who service in the First World War. He has had it court-mounted – a process of securing the medal to a backing to prevent movement.
“It would be nice if it could go back to someone in his family,” said the Alderwood retiree, himself a veteran of more than 50 years with Toronto Fire Service and the Office of the Fire Marshal.
McKenna said he doesn’t know a whole lot about his late uncle, other than he worked for years as a crane operator at Anaconda Brass in New Toronto, which closed in 1989.
Service records online indicate the shingler by trade was born on May 6, 1897, was Roman Catholic and stood about 5’5”. His regimental number was 195416.
If he can’ t find a relative, M cK en na said he may donate the medal to the city or local museum.
The 93rd Battalion, which was recruited in Peterborough County and mobilized in the city, left for Britain on July 16, 1916, providing reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until Oct. 6, 1916, when its personnel were absorbed by the 39th Reserve Battalion.
The battalion, which was commanded by Lt.-Col. T.J. Johnston from Sept. 19 to Oct. 6, 1916, was awarded the battle honour The Great War 1916.
It was disbanded on May 21, 1917 and perpetuated by the virtually disbanded 50 th Field Artillery Regiment (The Prince of Wales Rangers), on the Supplementary Order of Battle since 1970.
NOTE: Any relatives of William Joseph Gadoua are encouraged to contact Alex McKenna at 416-2592835 or mckennaar@bell.net .