Vernon cadet camp museum
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Welcome to the Schools program for the Vernon Military and Cadet Museum

Information on this page has been researched by volunteers. A number of links have been added for your quick reference. If you note any errors or omissions please contact Maria at manager@vernoncadetmuseum.com
All information contained within this page is intended for the use of in class education only.
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​Discover Box reference material 
Vimy​ Ridge
https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/overseas/first-world-war/france/vimy
​Vimy Foundation 

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Battle of Somme
https://www.pri.org/stories/2016-07-01/why-battle-somme-was-bloodiest-day-british-military-history
https://www.warmuseum.ca/firstworldwar/history/battles-and-fighting/land-battles/the-somme/​
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqvALkpsfRo​
Battle of Ypres
​Menin Gate Ceremony 
Ypres Memorial 
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Battle of Passchendaele
Passchendaele: The Brutality Of The Ypres Salient | The Battle Of Passchendaele | Timeline

Picture
George McLean, DCM
Private George McLean, DCM, was a veteran of two wars.  He had joined up to fight in the South African War in 1902 at the age of 25.  When his regiment, the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles,  arrived in South Africa the Boers had just surrendered. In the First World War George McLean was ranching on the Reserve of the Head of the Lake Band (now the Okanagan Indian Band).  Every eligible man between the ages of 20 and 35 volunteered from the OKIB for the First World War.  George was 41, but he also volunteered. While training at Camp Vernon he helped to capture some German men who had escaped from the Vernon Internment Camp. He was serving with the 54th Kootenay Battalion at Vimy Ridge when he won his Distinguished Conduct Medal, second only to the Victoria Cross.  First he carried a wounded officer to safety, then he returned to the battle and using hand grenades, was able to capture 19 German soldiers single handed.  On his way back escorting his prisoners he was hit twice in the left arm by a sniper.  Later five German soldiers attempted to overpower him. He killed them all.   His wounds required going home to Canada and he was discharged from the Canadian Expeditionary Force back in British Columbia five months before the war ended.  He eventually became a fire fighter in Vancouver and died in 1934.On his father’s side his grandfather was the factor with the HBC in Kamloops, his father was the leader of the McLean Gang and hanged for murder.  On his mother’s side he was related to the chiefs of the Okanagan Nation.  His name is on the OKIB monument.
George McLean's Attestation Papers WWI

Picture
Henry (Harry) Tronson
Private Henry Tronson,   Son of George Henry Tronson and Louisa Margaret. His maternal grandparents were Charles Forbes Vernon, after whom present day Vernon is named, and Catherine Kalamalka, a member of the Nk’maplqs (Head of the Lake) Band of the Okanagan Nation. His great-grandfather was Chief Kalamalka, a highly respected chief in Okanagan Nation, after whom Kalamalka Lake is named.
Harry Tronson worked as a farm labourer at the start of WW1. He enlisted on January 19th, 1917, at 19 years of age. 
He sailed from Halifax to England on the SS Olympic on the 2nd of June 1917. On September 27th, 1917 he was taken on strength with the 47th Battalion in France. In December Harry Tronson caught bronchitis while on active duty and returned to England to recover. He was discharged from the hospital in England 10 days later and returned to the field. Private Harry Tronson was discharged in 1919.
Harry Tronson's attestation papers

Picture
Charlie Simpson
Charlie Simpson
Charlie Simpson's Attestation papers

Picture
Albert, Vernon, and (John) Herbert Ellison (GVMA Archives)
Ellison Brothers 
Albert Ellison Attestation Papers
J. Herbert Ellison Attestation Papers
Prince Ellison Attestation Papers
Vernon Ellison Attestation Papers
Library and Archives Canada First World War
​National War Museum WWI Teachers reference page - we are currently developing material that will be specific to the OKIB and Vernon area. Until then we hope that these references from the national war museum in Ottawa will assist you. 
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Additional Attestation Papers from Solders the area - The museum will not have all of these men's photos or more information. As we locate more information on these solders we will post. If you have information from yours or your student research please feel free to contact us and we would be delighted to add this to our reference page. 
Clarence Wilson
List of Indigenous Solders
James, Weir
Joseph Smith
John Anderson
Lancelot Appleton
Arthur Bagnall

We ask that you do not download or show these films outside of your classroom without expressed permissions from the Vernon Military History Society as they are copyrighted. 

WW1 Presentation 

This film was created by images and a collection of postcards. When driving into/out of Vernon and you look West on the hill side by the camp some of the old trenches can still be seen.

Battle Drill School and 110 CBAT film

This film depicts training at the Coldstream ranch and #110 Basic Army Training here in Vernon. For more information see the History of Vernon Military Camp Page

World War Two References 

Web links and documents 
Quick reference for WWII battles Canada was involved in 
Battle of the Atlantic
Dieppe Raid
​Juno Beach Centre 
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/dieppe-raid
D-Day - History Channel 
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The story of D-Day, in five maps
​​Defending Calais
War Graves 
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Films - some of these films are very graphic 
Archive Video Of The D-Day Normandy Landings
Canadian veteran Jim Parks recalls the D-Day landings in Normandy
D-Day Global News 
Canadian D-Day 75 ceremony held on Juno Beach, June 6, 2019
The Normandy Landings: June 6, 1944 | D-Day Documentary
WW2 - D-Day. Invasion of Normandy [Real Footage in Colour] [SPR background]
VE Day | Canadian Veterans Celebrated in The Netherlands (CBC Radio)
D-Day: How the Allies broke through Hitler's 'Fortress Europe' Global News
Captured Film -- Germany Invades Poland 1939
Hürtgen forest and the end of World War II | DW Documentary
The Abhorrent Crimes of Auschwitz Nazi Doctors | Destruction | Timeline
More Indigenous resources 
30 indigenous names and meanings
Royal Proclamation of 1763.doc
treaties_and_comprehensive.doc
Land Claims Coailation
Museum is now closed for the season. 
For a tour in the off season please email us at manager@vernoncadetmuseum.com
​Our Scheduled reopening is June of 2023

Make a Donation to the Vernon Cadet Camp Museum

    Contact Us

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Thank you to all of our Sponsors 

Fastik Labeling and Packaging

The Greater Vernon Museum and Archives ​

The Vernon Cadet Camp

​​​Construction Drilling Inc.
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Kalamalka Rotary Club

To become a listed sponsor please see our corporate membership page or email the operations manager Maria. 
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​Thank you 

​Mailing Address
Vernon Cadet Camp Museum

4912 Pleasant Valley Road,
Vernon, British Columbia,  V1B 3L7

  • Home
  • Kit Shop
    • Memberships
    • Members Only Page
  • Support
    • Donors Wall
    • Make a Donation
    • Fundraising
    • Who and What is the Society
    • Volunteer Program
    • Sponsor a Cadet
  • Collections
    • HISTORY Vernon Military Camp
    • HISTORY Vernon Cadet Camp
  • Contact us
    • News
  • Exhibit Tour CBDS-Coldstream
  • History Pins