An exhibit at the Summerland Museum has information on soldiers from Summerland who served during World War I.
The exhibit, which opened on Friday evening, is called Summerland Remembers The Defenders of the Empire.
Paul Randall, a researcher and volunteer at the museum, said information on around 140 soldiers is on display at the museum. He and his wife Eunice are working to compile information on another 100 Summerland veterans.
Some of the biographical information was done by students at Summerland Secondary School.
The biographical information on the soldiers includes details of who they are, where they served, medals they received, other details of their time in military service and their lives after the war.
The museum exhibit has far more names than the cenotaph in Memorial Park, which lists the names of those who died in war.
“We’ve always remembered the fallen,” Randall said.
Names of the soldiers who served during World War I were published in the Summerland Review in 1915 and 1917. Using these lists, as well as other information, Randall was able to compile a more comprehensive list of those from the community who served during the war.
However, the list is not necessarily complete and Randall is looking for additional information on soldiers who served during World War I.
In addition, some of the names in the museum exhibit are about soldiers who did not live in the community, but who had a connection to Summerland veterans.
In addition to the biographical information, the exhibit includes artifacts such as uniforms and medals from the war, as well as a journal with a soldier’s notes and letters sent home by soldiers.
Those with additional information about Summerland veterans from World War I are asked to contact the Summerland Museum by email at info@summerlandmuseum.com.
Information is also available on the museum’s website at summerlandmuseum.com.
