Long Lost Treasure Comes Home

Heritage

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(L) Curator, David Benson of Chatham-Kent, Historical President Karen Ribey and Society member, David Lennox

Todd's uniform is almost like new

When David Benson, Curator of the Chatham-Kent Museum, browsed through the antique store across the street from his home in Morpeth, he found what would turn out to be a treasure.

The store owner was trying to sell a uniform from World War I, some postcards and some photos - all separately. He had purchased them at an auction and Benson convinced him that everything should be sold together as a collection and he ended up purchasing the entire lot. "This was more than just memorabilia, it was the life of a man."

insignia denoting rank used to be on the sleeve not the shoulder as it is today

"From the insignia on the coat, I knew it had belonged to an officer," he explained, "and I thought it might be someone from Chatham-Kent." After purchasing the collection, he put it away for two years. Recently, when he brought it back out, he discovered a name inside the uniform jacket. It had belonged to Allan Peter Todd.

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25/04/2009 08:09 PM

After researching the name, Benson discovered that Todd had been a captain with the 160th Battalion of Bruce County that had gone overseas and the 32nd Militia in Bruce County.

"Since it didn't belong to Chatham-Kent, I got in touch with the Bruce County Museum because I felt it should be properly cared for in its rightful place where the 160th originated," says Benson. "It is invaluable as it is possibly the only existing officer's uniform of this batallion and it is in pristine condition."

Official photo of Captain Allan Peter Todd

Captain Todd, was born in Walkerton, the son of merchants. He married a local McFarlane girl whose father was the area registrar. After returning from the war, Todd got employment as a civil servant in London, Ontario where he eventully raised his family.

The Bruce County Historical Society purchased the collection from Benson and then donated it to the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre where it will be on display. Society President, Karen Ribey says that the organization is thrilled to see an entire collection in the amazing condition that the Todd collection is.

Anne Marie Collins, Museum Archivist says that the collection is very important. "It is a complete collection that tells the story of Captain Todd and the family. It's also very rare that we get something in as excellent a condition as this one is. We are very grateful to the Historical Society for this wonderful donation."

Benson says that he has been inspired to search out military artifacts by the work of Dave Thomson, who searches out military medals that are being sold in various venues such as e-Bay, buys them and then donates them to the appropriate museum. "I have to admit this is the first time I've done this kind of thing and the feeling one gets is almost overwhelming."