Elrose Museum receives collection of family military items

The Elrose Museum was honoured to recently receive a collection of family military items from Brenda McCracken of Lacadena. The museum has now displayed the collection, which commemorates 22-year-old Private Ivan McDonald, who died September 21, 1944, from wounds suffered in battle following the Allied invasion of Normandy.

Ivan McDonald was an uncle of Brenda’s late husband, Dale McCracken. The centrepiece of the collection is a Mother’s Silver Cross given by the Canadian Government to Ivan’s mother, Caroline (Carrie), and a commemoration card addressed to his father Austin. The collection includes some of Ivan’s army gear, and personal effects returned to his family after his death. Among Ivan’s belongings were some undeveloped photo negatives of him that the museum had scanned for the display.

Private Ivan McDonald in British Columbia Canada while serving with the Rocky Mountain Rangers in 1943. Ivan was serving with the South Saskatchewan Regiment in France and Belgium at the time of his death.

Lyle McDonald, Moureen McDonald, Colleen McDonald, Brenda McCracken with the Ivan McDonald display.

On Friday, April 14, two of Private Ivan McDonald’s nieces, Colleen McDonald and Moureen McDonald, and their brother Lyle McDonald (all formerly of Elrose) met Brenda McCracken at the museum to view the display. Their father Cecil McDonald was a brother of Ivan’s and also served in the Canadian Army during WWII. Cecil was wounded in action and later imprisoned in a German prison-of-war camp for two very difficult months near the end of the war.

Elrose District Heritage Society President Carolyn Andreas and board members Roy Andreas and Doug Bone greeted the visitors. Carolyn and Roy’s grandchildren, Zaye and Roger Andreas, were also on hand at the museum.

The Elrose Museum feels fortunate to have this important collection of remembrance to add to their military section and welcomes visitors. Individual tours of the museum can be arranged by contacting Carolyn Andreas at 378-2889 or Doug Bone at 378-7490.