Want to learn more about the contribution of Burnaby residents to the First and Second World Wars?
There are several places to find more information on the local connection to military efforts overseas, starting with Burnaby’s honour roll.
An honour roll was a way for communities to keep track and recognize men and women who volunteered for active service during both world wars. In 1916, Burnaby crafted its own honour roll for those fighting in the First World War. By the end of the war more than 1,200 names were listed on the roll, including more than 90 servicemen and women who never came home.
In 1956, the roll was relocated to the present site of city hall and put into storage until it was found decades later and restored. It’s now kept in secure storage at the Burnaby Village Museum.
The story of the honour roll for those who served in the Second World War is very different.
Unlike its First World War counterpart, it wasn’t until decades after the end of the war did an honour roll begin to take shape.
After it was determined that a roll had never existed for veterans of the Second World War, city staff went to work scouring archives of Burnaby institutions, including churches and schools, in search of information on veterans. Databases created by Veterans Affairs also assisted staff in compiling an honour roll. To date, more than 1,800 names have been added to the roll, including 160 soldiers who died overseas.
This Friday, take time to remember the men and women who served in the two world wars. You can find digital copies of both honour rolls at www.burnaby.ca/remembers.
– Source: City of Burnaby, Burnaby Remembers
