An Alberta woman has been diligently trying to find the rightful owner of a memorial cross inscribed with BDR W.J. Cook that might belong to a family in Guelph.
How it ended up in Fort McMurray, says Susan Giebel, is a mystery.
“I know that it is an important honour that has to be and should be returned to the family,” says Giebel. “It's so touching.”
A memorial cross is awarded by the Government of Canada to the loved ones of Canadian armed forces personnel who either died in service or whose death was credited to their service.
Giebel, herself a veteran, says the cross was found at the local Royal Canadian Legion in Fort McMurray in a case with a newspaper article that reads ‘Late W.T. Cook is buried in Acton.- Highly Respected Guelph Resident is Laid to Rest-Funeral Largely Attended’.
“Now how the relation went to W.J. Cook, we’re unsure,” says Giebel but written on the bottom of the newspaper article in pencil it reads ‘please return.’
Giebel has been researching extensively on the internet and through the service records of veterans affairs was able to verify that the veteran’s name was William John Cook, a bombardier that passed away in 1951 from war-related injuries.
A memorial cross was given at the time to both his mother and his wife Mary Hodgson who lived in Guelph at the time.
Hodgson passed away in 1974 and is buried in Fairview Cemetary in Acton with J Cook. She had three children with him -one daughter and two sons named Jean, Frank and George respectively.
“So I'm trying to find the family. I've been able to verify that they were from the Guelph area,” says Giebel.
“I don't know if they're still alive.”
Giebel says if the family member is found, she will personally deliver the medal to them in person.
“It would be such an honour,” says Giebel.