In 1942, I.O.D.E. Rosemary Chapter Middleton members made a promise to the family of fallen Aircraftman 2nd class Ivor Badham, who died May 2, 1942, while stationed at Royal Air Force Station Greenwood; to take care of their son’s grave. They did so every year, for Badham and 26 other servicemen, until 2022.
June 9, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 1 Middleton President Andrew Bent led the annual decoration of the Commonwealth war graves at the Old Holy Trinity cemetery in Middleton. The Middleton Legion and 14 Wing Greenwood partner to continue lead the annual wreath-laying memorial service begun by Rosemary Chapter, gathering the second Sunday of June to place a single rose on the cemetery’s 27 graves, each belonging to a Commonwealth Second World War service member.
The ceremony was attended by Annapolis Member of the Legislative Assembly Carmen Kerr and Middleton Mayor Sylvester Atkinson, as well as 14 Wing Deputy Wing Commander Lieutenant-Colonel Devlon Paquette and Wing Chief Warrant Officer Jonathan Proulx.
“These memorial stones before us represent the lives of young souls who knew, and lived and died, as examples of the truth of the words, ‘Greater love has no man than this, than to lay down his life for his friends,’” said Reverend Leon Langille. “After they enlisted in their homelands, in the far reaches of the British Empire, they were sent here to the Valley to train so that they could stand against the tyranny that was threatening the entire free world.”
The Commonwealth service personnel who lost their lives while training and serving in Greenwood during the Second World War originated from the British Isles, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. During the Second World War, there were 28 airplane crashes in Greenwood, resulting in 70 deaths, including those of the 27 aircrew buried in the Old Holy Trinity cemetery.
“Let us never forget,” said Langille, “that we have been given such a lifestyle at great cost. By and large, my friends, such a life is a gift of grace to us from those who gave their all, that we might live in such freedom.”
The Middleton Legion, 14 Wing and the community will never forget the sacrifices of the aircrew killed while serving at Royal Air Force Station Greenwood during the Second World War, nor the dedication of the I.O.D.E. members who assisted the families of the deceased servicemen by caring for their graves for many decades.
