HomeMy WebLinkAboutLucknow Sentinel, 2009-03-04, Page 12Page 12 - Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Goderich author aims for July 2 launch as
b o _ on Second World War nears completion
BY GERARD •
CRECES
Signal -Star Staff
Jim Rutledge's
book chronicling
Huron County's
fallen soldiers from
the Second World
War is nearly com-
plete.
Rutledge, of
Goderich, plans to
launch the book,
called The Men Of
Huron: A Book Of
Honour And
Remembrance
'1939-1946, at a
kiosk set up at the
corner of North
Street and The
Square on July 5.
In addition to all
of the research he
received co-opera-
tion from fellow
researchers over-
seas.
He has pictures
of the cemeteries
where many of
Huron County's
soldiers are buried,
which he plans to
include in the
book.
Having inter-
viewed over 1,000
people, Rutledge
says he is very
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"This is a big part of our
history, remembrance.
These guys shouod be
honoured and remembered."
Jim Rutledge
k;;.< .. >...*
proud of what he
has accomplished
and that he had a
lot of fun compil-
ing the informa
tion.
"I have always
been interested in
this history. I was
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pretty surprised
when I found out
there wasn't a book
of this kind for
Huron County.
Surprised and
angry. This is a big
part of our history,
remembrance.
These guys should
be honoured and
remembered," he
said.
Over 200 of
Huron County's
soldiers perished in
the Second World
War and Rutledge
says there is
approximately• one
page dedicated to
each of them, in
addition to infor-
mation on their
regiments, the
cemeteries and 10
stories from Huron
County soldiers
who made it back.
safely.
Rutledge's work
on the book began
back in 2005 when
he first went to the
Huron County
Library and found
there wasn't a book
of this kind avail-
able.
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"With something
like this, I'm really
disappointed that
no one had made
the effort," he said.
Rutledge's
father, Lorne,
served a in the
Canadian armed
forces, and after
Rutledge began
doing research, his
curiosity for the
stories of these
men began to grow.
In , 2005 there
were two Large cel-
ebrations to com-
memorate the 60th
anniversaries of
VE Day and VJ
Day, which is
where this project
began to take
'shape.
In Goderich
there were over
800 veterans, sev-
eral bands and mil-
itary vehicles to
Markthe occasion.
After partnering
up with the
Bayfield Historical..
Society and receiv-
ing a Trillium grant
for $15,000, the
project was well on.
its way.
In his first two
trips to the archives -
in Ottawa,
Rutledge was sur-
prised to find the
information that
was available
there. On many of
the soldiers' forms,
there were lists of
hobbies, jobs
before they enlist-
ed and educational
information. With
these profiles and
the interviews,
Rutledge says he
feels he has crafted
a detailed ' portrait
of every soldier
Huron County sent
to the Second
World War who
didn't come back.
In addition to the
launch plans, the
book has also gone
on-line, with a
website developed
by two high school
students from
Goderich, at
www.menofhuron3
9-46.ca
Rutledge says he
has already
received just under
20 pre -orders for
the book.
The first printing
of the book will
yield 500 copies,
then proceeds from
the sales of the first
printing, will go to
finance the second
printing.
Rutledge says he
hopes the book will
be printed and in
his hands by the
end of April. After
the launch, he will
tour each munici-
pality in Huron
County, visiting
every Legion.
At the launch, in
addition to infor-
mation on the
book, there will be
military vehicles
and flags, music
from the era and
significant press
coverage, and
hope fu11y,
Rutledge says, a
significant amount
of guests, as the
launch will take
place on the popu-
lar arts and crafts -
show weekend in
Goderich.
After the promo-
tion for the book
has concluded,
Rutledge • then
plans to take one
year off and start
the process all over
again, beginning a
similar book, in the
same style, compile
ing . Huron
County's fallen
soldiers from ' the
First World War.
It will be diffi-
cult, however,
Rutledge says,'' due
to the time frame
and the fact that he
estimates Huron
County sent at least
double the soldiers
to that war.
He is, however,
excited to take on
the project, looking
forward to digging
back into Canada's
historical records.
Only the newspaper ... at your
convenience. Only in the newspa-
per does the news "keep" until
your work is done - when you
are ready for it. Take it to
work and to the store.
Read it Later. Clip it and
post and file it and mail it.