Milton Ontario Canada Commemorative Gold Watches WW1

[rlaughton]

This past spring I completed a major research study on "Milton's Commemorative Gold Watches" from the Great War (WW1):

http://www.miltonhistoricalsociety.ca/Research/Web%20Sites/Milton%20Soldiers/Gold%20Watches/

The purpose of this review is to provide documentation of what was available to prior researchers, what is available now, and an analysis of the possible 118 candidates to receive the watch. The ultimate goal was to arrive at an authoritative list of the most likely candidates for those 118 positions. With the existing watches and that list, a memorial to the Great War Soldiers who received these mementos could finally be created.

So far the research results have been "spot on" as new reports are arriving on families that have seen the report and were aware of grandfather having been presented with a watch.

It has come to my attention that one or more of the watches are in the UK, as many of the CEF soldiers returned to the UK after the war.

Do any members have family on the list and if so do you know of the watch mystery?

You are welcome to use the lists and details in the report for your own research use, for which a credit would be appreciated. The more people that know of this search, the better the chance more watches will be uncovered.

[J.J.]

Wonderful thread. Likely should be on the Military board of the forum...I'll see if it might be moved
Also suggest modifying subject line to read Milton Ontario Commemorative WW1 Watches.
I also suggest a writing on here: a brief physical description of the watch, including the wording inside for those searching...

Here is a direct link to the list of men from Milton thought to have received watches... rlaughton wants to hear from you, to help confirm the list.
http://www.miltonhistoricalsociety.ca/Research/Web%20Sites/Milton%20Soldiers/Gold%20Watches/report.pdf

also a question. It was stated that the watch was for returning solders, so none were given out posthumously to family?

[rlaughton]

also a question. It was stated that the watch was for returning solders, so none were given out posthumously to family?

Good question, all of which is explained in the report. It was one of the most confusing parts of the research - probably consuming 100 hours or more of research time alone! Initially the watches were given to the wives and/or families of those killed in action. That plan changed back and forth over time. See section 4.1 starting on page 18 of the report "Candidates Who Paid the Ultimate Sacrifice". Prior to July 1917 the deceased were included. After that they were not.

I posted here as the most significant part of the research was the hunt through records to find out if the men were "local boys", so that meant a lot of time reviewing historic atlases and census records. The Milton census for that period was created and posted on the MHS site as a result of that work. You will find that on a separate web page on the MHS site that I operate:

http://www.miltonhistoricalsociety.ca/census/

I have explained there the process I used to create the census spreadsheet as well. Now that it is complete, it is being used on many other projects.

I have changed the title as you requested.

If you do move the topic/post, please let me know where it goes!

I tried several times to put in a photograph of the watch but it would not accept my image. I will come back later and put in some HTML links to the images that are on-line.

The link you posted is to download the PDF version. You can also read it on-line here if FLIP FORMAT on the ISSU site:

http://issuu.com/cefmatrix/docs/miltonscommemorativegoldwatches

Thanks for the comments and the reply.