Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2002.06.01.01 |
Object Name |
Tunic, Dress |
Date |
Abt. 1943 |
Year Range from |
1939 |
Year Range to |
1945 |
Features |
Dress tunic has a square stand-up collar & gold artillery insignia piping on both sides of collar. Single breast that closes with 5 silver buttons embossed and artillery insignia; 2 breast pockets with single pleated front and pointed flaps, that fasten with a single silver button embossed with artillery insignia; left breast pocket topped with service ribbons; 2 lower pockets & pointed flaps; 2 shoulder straps & rank & regimental insignia. 1 belt loops on each side of waist. Left sleeve - appliqued pointed stitchery on tip of sleeve, accompanied with 2 silver artillery buttons. Right sleeve- appliqued pointed stichery with 2 silver artillery buttons; Back - 2 vents at base of tunic skirt opening along the 4 darted back seams; Inside - lined with black silk, right side pocket with makers patch. " Bell & Moore Personality Clothes Napanee, Ontario" |
Object Story |
This jacket was made by Bell-Moore Personality Clothes in Napanee, Ontario. The uniform type is considered "Dress Blues" which indicates their use for official events rather than the battle dress that would have been worn during warfare. The dress blues uniform was worn by artillery personnel until the military services amalgamated in 1968 after which a standardized uniform was made. Included above the left breast pocket are the undress service ribbons earned by its wearer. These ribbons include (in order from top left to bottom right): a "1939-1945 Star", a "France and Germany Star", the "Defense Medal", the "Canadian Volunteer Service Medal" including a Silver Maple Leaf, the "War Medal 1939-1945" and a "Canadian Efficiency Medal". This dress blues jacket was worn by Wesley Mackinnon Alkenbrack during WWII overseas. Wesley was born the youngest son to Claude E. and Flora Alkenbrack on September 9th, 1918 preceded by his older brothers Almonte Douglas Alkenbrack (b. 1912) and Robert Bruce Alkenbrack (b. 1914). Sometime before 1940, Wesley enlisted and served in the 47th Field Battery militia in Napanee. In 1940, Wesley married Elizabeth "Beth" Gibson (b. 1923) and then enlisted in the 34th Field Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA). He was then shipped overseas for the duration of the war in the RCA's 34th Field Battery, 14th Field Regiment. On June 6th 1944, now known as D-Day, Wesley landed at Berbieres-Sur-Mer as a part of Juno's first assault on the beaches of Normandy. Between 1945 and 1946 he stayed in Europe with the Canadian Army Staff Lines of Communication posted in Ghent, Brussels and Paris. He was officially discharged on June 19th, 1946 ranking as a Captain. Beyond the war Wesley became a partner in R. W. Kimmerly Lumber Company in Napanee. He also had two daughters with his wife, Catherine and Betsy. In 1993, Wesley became the chairman of a committee founded by the Lennox and Addington Historical Society that was tasked to document the experiences of World War Two veterans from Lennox and Addington County. In 1999, this research was handed off to historian Stephan Fochok who compiled the stories into a manuscript called "Remembering: Lennox and Addington Veterans of World War II and Korean Conflict" where Wesley's accounts are documented. In his spare time, Wesley began writing and researching about a wide range of topics including publishing a manuscript on the history of the Napanee River called "River Journey: Personal Recollections of the Lower Napanee River" as well as writing another manuscript, this time left unpublished, called "Murdoff's Tavern". In 2002, Wesley was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Golden Jubilee Medal for his contributions to his community and Canada as a whole. Wesley passed away at the age of 90 on January 2nd, 2008. His wife Beth then moved to British Columbia to be with her daughters and grandchildren. Beth passed away in 2016 at the age of 93 in BC. Both Beth and Wesley's ashes have been spread at the Alkenbrack family cottage on the Bay of Quinte. |
People |
Alkenbrack, Wesley MacKinnon, 1918-2008 Alkenbrack, Wesley Mackinnon Alkenbrack, Wes Alkenbrack, Beth Alkenbrack, Betsy Alkenbrack, Catherine |
Subjects |
Uniform, WWII Tunic 1940's Uniforms Costumes Clothing & dress Military Military personnel Military uniforms Militias People associated with military activities World War II Veterans |
Search Terms |
Lennox and Addington Historical Society 47th Field Battery RCA 47th Field Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery 32/34 Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery 32/34 Royal Canadian Artillery Field battery Napanee Normandy Uniform Uniforms World War Two World War Two, Royal Canadian Artillery World War Two, soldiers World War Two, D-Day D-Day Bay of Quinte Paris Royal Canadian Artillery British Columbia Military |