The visit of the Prince of Wales, October 10th 1919.
10/10/2009 at 11:18 AM
In 1919 Brandon had recovered from WW1 and had become a hub of specialized services, higher educational facilities, and many social amenities.
This was the back ground that caused city council to express its displeasure to Ottawa authorities who were in charge of planning the sixty day cross Canada itinerary for H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, Edward VIII.
To be allotted only thirty minutes to greet the youthful future King after this community had given so unreservedly of its resources of human and material during the above-mentioned war, surely they argued they deserved at least a two hour stop over.
Ottawa replied almost immediately: “His Royal Highness would spend two hours, and thirty minutes in Brandon on Friday, October 10th!”
City leaders began discussing arrangements for the visit while their wives besieged local fashion salons. War Veterans pressed their uniforms, and polished their buttons.
The local News Prints revved up patriotic emotions through a continuous barrage of articles, and images describing the Royal travellers progress aboard his special train.
On the appointed day the rail transport delivered the Prince of Wales to the Canadian Pacific Depot on a cool forenoon. Band music and the singing by three thousand flag waving school children were on hand to greet him.
The future King walked through double lines of Great War Veterans giving a hand shake to every man, and then continuing along banner draped, humanity packed streets to City Hall where he received an official civic welcome.
Grievingly he moved among the war wounded before presenting medals, and honours to Brandon’s Nursing Sisters S. P. Johnson, (Royal Red Cross – First class), Lieutenant E. C. Whitehead, (Military cross), Sergeant J. J. Jackson, (Distinguished Conduct Medal, Lieutenant C. G. Kerr, (Military Cross), and Elkhorn’s Major R. de Waller, (Military Cross).
Source: Brandon a City by G. F. Barker.
http://www.saintjohn.nbcc.nb.ca/heritage/royal/1919.htm