George Mathewson
Sarnia’s military contribution to Canada’s defence is second to none.
More than one in 10 residents of the city enlisted to fight in the First World War, and a staggering 16% of the population signed up for the Second.
From the Boer War to Afghanistan, the call to action resulted in the sacrifice of 306 local men who fell in service to the nation.
The special publication you see before you is both a tribute to the men and women who serve today, and a commemoration of those who so often bravely fought in the past.
Most of the stories owe their genesis to the Sarnia War Remembrance Project, a meticulous and growing record of the city’s military contributions initiated five years ago by retired teacher Tom Slater and a group of volunteer researchers.
The vast majority of the tales here have never been told before, outside of the families of the participants, and they represent countless hours of original research, interviews and fact checking.
The roster of skillful writers who contributed to the project includes Slater, fellow researchers Tom St. Amand and Lou Giancarlo, Journal columnist Phil Egan and military historian Randy Evans.
Gratitude as well goes to our sales team, graphic artists, carriers, and especially all of our advertisers, without whom this special edition would not have been possible.
Sarnia Remembers is our own small way of keeping alive the memory of those who serve to protect our freedoms, and to offer a humble thank you.
Lest we forget.
Cover artwork by Tyler Viscount of The Journal. Image used: “Canada’s part in the Somme advance: a brilliant affair at Courcelette,” drawn by Fortunino Matania. The scene depicts the capture of the sugar refinery at Courcelette in Northern France by the Canadians on Sept. 15, 1916.