A decorated southwestern Ontario Indigenous soldier will be honoured with a museum exhibit in the Netherlands.
It will coincide with the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
Cpl. Welby Lloyd Patterson died in action in 1945.
His niece, Maidy Keir of London, Ont., retains bulletins and telegrams informing his family of his death.
They were discovered in a cigar box following the passing of her father in the 1980s.
Until then, she knew little about the story of her lost uncle.
Her father rarely spoke about the war or the loss of his brother.
“I had known I had an Uncle Welby. I knew he died in the war. I actually even named my son Welby,” she said.
With the initial help of her daughter and, recently, a Dutch researcher, Keir has begun to unravel the puzzle, learning her uncle had been awarded the prestigious Military Medal for helping to halt a German attack in 1944.
“He kept the enemy at bay single-handedly,” she learned from new documents.
Wounded, Cpl. Patterson spent weeks recovering in a military hospital. After rejoining his unit, he fought to liberate Holland before advancing into Germany.
“And that’s where he was hit by a sniper, just a few days before the war ended,” Keir stated with sorrow.
Yet, he has never been forgotten by those he served with. His commanding officer even wrote a lengthy letter to his family.
But Keir explains it would take 80 years and an overseas exhibit for her uncle to receive the recognition he never received in Canada.
“He fought under a flag that, you know, mistreated them. And he still fought,” said Keir.
As part of celebrations to thank Canada for its liberation, the Freedom Museum in Groesbeek will open an eight-month exhibition telling Cpl. Patterson’s story and those of other Indigenous soldiers who served.
Keir, her daughter, and her son-in-law will be there on opening day, May 2.
The trio will then visit Cpl. Patterson’s grave in Holten.
Keir expects emotions will fly, “Just looking at it, and knowing he’s there, why he got there, and how proud I am of what he did.”
Now she is hopeful others will feel the same, “It’s about time people thought about it and appreciate his service and those of other Indigenous soldiers.”
