The news that the family of Corporal Lionel ‘Leo’ Clarke had donated his Victoria Cross (the most prestigious military medal awarded in the English-speaking world) to the Canadian War Museum in 2009 was a reminder that a large number of other young men with a connection to Flamborough also lost their lives during the terrible conflict of World War I.
Since 2005, the Flamborough Archives has been interested in remembering the young men and women who enlisted and served their country. Initiated by the original research of Professor Jonathan Vance, University of Western Ontario, the Archives has continued to promote recognition of the over 300 men and women who served by encouraging research on their contributions – through a partnership with Waterdown District High School grade twelve History classes, work in 2010 on Flamborough ‘Home Children’ who served, and day to day research by Archives volunteers. To date, over 100 brief biographies of veterans have been made available for researchers.
‘We Will Remember Them’, prepared by Student Archivist, Jessica Darlison, lists those Flamborough residents so far identified who did not return home from the conflict.
