A volunteer Drumheller historian who has played a part in documenting the war history of a number of communities throughout Alberta, has completed his most recent project.
Reg Bennett has been compiling honour rolls and remembrance books to commemorate the role many Alberta communities played in conflict and war. It was his research that allowed the Drumheller Cenotaph to be updated when unveiled last spring. His more recent project is helping to commemorate the war dead of Strathcona County.
Reg Bennett was in Sherwood Park on August 24 to present his latest book of Remembrance to the community. Pictured are (l-r) co-author Bonnie Ferguson, Bennett , Strathcona County Mayor Linda Osinchuk and Starr Hansen, Strathcona Museum curator.
“It was a very ambitious project,” museum curator Starr Hanson said, noting that two of her staff members have been fully dedicated to the project since May to get it completed in time for Strathcona Celebrates.
Bennett attended the Freedom of the County Parade at Sherwood Park on Saturday, August 24. Bennett and fellow historian Bonnie Ferguson presented the book to Mayor Linda Osinchuk and a high-ranking officer of The Lord Strathcona’s Horse.
This was a project that Bennett played a role in creating.
Commanding Officer Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Peyton of the Lord Strathcona’s Horse, right, is presented a copy of the Strathcona Book of Remembrance by Bennett.
Bennett said it was an extensive project and originally he was to do Sherwood Park, but the project grew to encompass the entire County. His research came up with hundreds of names. One issue they ran into in making the book was that at one time the boundary of Strathcona County went clear to the Saskatchewan border. So the honour roll was paired down to reflect the current county.
Bennett’s part was to find the names of those who died and prepare the honour roll as well as cover sheet for each solder. Ferguson worked on putting together a biography of each soldier. There were service men in the area that fought in the Boer War, many soldiers from World War I and World War II and in-service soldiers before and after World War II. There were also three soldiers killed in Afghanistan honoured.
It was a busy day and Bennett was honoured to be a part of it. At the Freedom of the County Parade Day, the Lord Strathcona’s Horse Regiment was presented the key to the city. There was also the unveiling of a monument to two of the soldiers who died in Afghanistan.
