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.
Discover Box reference material
All information contained within this page is intended for the use of in class education only.
Discover Box reference material
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Battle of Passchendaele
Passchendaele: The Brutality Of The Ypres Salient | The Battle Of Passchendaele | Timeline |
George McLean, DCM
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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.
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Henry (Harry) Tronson
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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. |
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.
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.
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.
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 PresentationThis 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.
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Battle Drill School and 110 CBAT filmThis 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
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World War Two References
More Indigenous resources