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Following Remembrance Day 2011 the
Milton Soldier's web site took a significant step forward, to
start work on the addition of Milton's Soldiers from the Second
World War (WWII 1939-1945) to the site. Prior to that time, only
Milton Soldiers of the Great War (WWI 1914-1919) were on the web
site. At some future time, the site will probably advance further
with the addition of casualties from other conflicts (i.e.
Korea, Peacekeeping Missions, etc.).
The information that is available for the men and women of
Milton in the World Wars varies considerably and this is reflected
in the level of information presented in the sub-directories for
WWI and WWII. The Milton Historical Society (MHS) has published
two books on these conflicts, which you will find on this web site
here:
Whereas the MHS publications deal with the men and women of
Milton "lost in action or died of wounds", the
publications also cover "those that served and returned".
As such, there is considerable additional material in the
publications.
Prior to the Second World War (WWII) there was no reference to
the First World War (WWI) as there was no knowledge that there
would be a second great conflict in the century. Historically, the
First World War (WWI) is known as "The Great War" of
1914-1919. To be considered a "Casualty of War"
by the Commonwealth War Graces Commission" (CWGC), the man or
woman would have had to have died with the specified time period.
There are cases in Milton where the soldier was wounded in the
war, was treated in Europe and back in Canada, but did not recover
and died of his or her wounds. Despite pleadings from many groups,
the CWGC has not (nor will they ever) accept those men and women
as official war casualties. The dates are as follows:
 | WWI: August 4, 1914 - August 31, 1921 |
| WWI: September 3, 1939 - December 31, 1947 |
The Milton Soldiers' Project has also been expanded in connection
with the Maple Leaf Legacy
Project, the Commonwealth War Graves
Commission and the Department of Defence National
Inventory of Canadian Military Memorials. On these web sites
you will find many changes to the grave site photographs of the Milton Soldiers and
the updated names and photographs of all the local memorials, all of
which were incomplete. The CWGC site now contains photographs for
the cemeteries in Milton
Evergreen, Nassagaweya
Ebenezer and Guelph
Woodlawn, taken as part of this project. For all these years
there had been no photographs submitted. Supplementary
work related to the Milton Soldiers is also contained in this
section of the web site, such as the research into Milton's
War Trophy (Victoria Park) and Milton's
Commemorative Gold Watches of the Great War. Research
for this project has received the gracious assistance the members
of the Royal Canadian
Legion (Branch #136 Milton) and the Canadian
Expeditionary Force Study Group (CEFSG).
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