Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2025.52.02.01 |
Object Name |
Case, Display |
Features |
Mounted case containing cap badges, buttons and patches from Royal Canadian Air Force, attributed to Harry Babcock. Objects are mounted in wooden frame with two brass latches at bottom, hinges to lid at back, glass top. Parts attached to dark blue backing. |
Object Story |
Harold "Harry" Leroy Babcock was born on December 12th, 1896 to Simon Babcock and Elizabeth Shultz in Yarker, Ontario. At age 19 Harry enlisted into the 146th Battalion on December 10th, 1915 and attended training until around 1917. Between April 1917 and May 1918, Harry served in the 20th Battalion (Toronto) Canadian Expeditionary Force (C.E.F.) on the front lines. In May 1918 he was recommended for a commission to the Royal Air Force and after acceptance, served in the force as a 2nd lieutenant until December of 1918. He was officially discharged on July 7th, 1919 and returned to Canada. In between the wars Harry first served as a cadet leader in the 45th Napanee Collegiate cadets between October 1919 and December 1920. He then became a 2nd Lieutenant (December 1920) in the Frontenac Regiment later being promoted to a Lieutenant (December 1923), Captain (July 1924), Major (June 1928) and finally Lieutenant Colonel as the commanding officer of the regiment (May 1933 to December 1936). It is also in this period that he married Ruth Kerr Wright, a school teacher from Dufferin County, on August 5th,1926 and had their 3 sons Harold (1930-2007), Richard (b.1935) and Neil (b.1937). During World War Two Harry remained in Canada and taught at Canadian Artillery Training Centers for the duration of the war. By the end of the war Harry was ranked as a Lieutenant Colonel and had served for a total of 40 years and 11 months. Across these 40 years he was awarded 5 service medals including (as pictured from left to right): The British War Medal (awarded for a Canadian's service in WWI), the Victory/ Inter-War Allied Medal (awarded for a person's service in WWII), a Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (awarded for 18+ months of service during WWII), the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal which was awarded on the occasion of the 25th year of the accession of King George V to the throne and finally a Canadian Efficiency Decoration (awarded for 20 total years of military service). Beyond his military service, Harry was a participant of the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment Officers Association, a member of the Royal Canadian Legion and owned a general store in Conway, Ontario with his wife, Ruth. He was such a devoted member to the Royal Canadian Legion that the Napanee Branch of the organization is named after him. Harry passed away on July 20th, 1980 at the age of 83 and was buried in the family burial site in St. Paul's Anglican Church Cemetery in Sandhurst, Ontario. In 2000, his wife Ruth was buried beside him after she passed away at the age of 94. |
People |
Babcock, Harry LeRoy, Col. |
Subjects |
World War One World War Two Royal Canadian Air Force Cap Badge |
Search Terms |
World War One World War Two Royal Canadian Air Force Cap Badge |