War veteran honoured with display at Lethbridge Military Museum

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on February 21, 2024.

Herald photo by Delon Shurtz Adrienne McLennan proudly shows her father's war medals next to a banner displayed at the Lethbridge Military Museum at the Vimy Ridge Armoury.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

Adrienne McLennan figures if her father could travel across the globe to fight for freedom, twice, she could travel across the country to help honour him.

McLennan is the daughter of William Edward Frame, who was a principal of Galbraith School, and a member of the first militia unit in Lethbridge, the 25th Battery.

Frame was honoured Monday during a ceremony at the Military Museum in the Vimy Ridge Armoury at the Lethbridge Airport, and McLennan, who lives in the Toronto area, travelled to Lethbridge to honour her father during the official opening of the temporary display simply entitled, William Frame Citizen Soldier.

“William Edward, ‘Bill’ Frame, would be so pleased to be remembered all these years later,” McLennan said as she spoke affectionately about her father.

Frame was born Sept. 12, 1892 in Lethbridge. After attending Normal School, he became principal at Galbraith School and enlisted in the 113th Battalion (Lethbridge Highlanders) as a Machine Gun Officer. Before that he had been in the militia with Lethbridge’s 25th Battery Canadian Field Artillery and a Cadet Instructor.

Frame served overseas in the First World War, during which he was wounded, and in 1919 received the Military Cross from King George V. Upon his return to Canada he resumed teaching and eventually became a high school inspector.

He enlisted in the Second World War in 1941 and served as a Major with the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps.

After the war he again worked in education and was named Alberta’s Chief Superintendent of Schools in 1947. Bill was married with two daughters and died in Edmonton August 6, 1959.

Frame’s two grandsons, Bill Yates of Lethbridge and Kemm Yates of Calgary, also attended the opening of their grandfather’s display, which comprises several photographs, a banner adorned with his picture, numerous medals and several war artifacts temporarily donated by the family.

“Each in his own way has treasured and shared his grandfather’s military history and experience, and that makes me extremely proud, and I know that my father would have been so pleased to know that his history has been shared in that way,” McLennan said.

Glenn Miller, retired warrant officer, military historian and founding member of the military museum, explained that following Frame’s position as principal of Galbraith School, he joined the Kings Colours as an officer with the 113th Lethbridge Highlanders and was put in charge of the machine gun section.

The 113th was disbanded for reinforcements, and Frame was transferred to the Canadian Machine Gun Corps, with which he served with distinction, Miller noted. Toward the end of the First World War, he was injured in the leg and discharged as medically unfit after the war ended in 1919.

He wasn’t done serving, however, and he joined the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps during the Second World War, retiring as a major after serving in England.

Frame’s banner and war memorabilia will remain on display at least until the summer, or until it is replaced by another display, Miller said. He pointed out the goal of the temporary display is to foster the importance of keeping the memory of military service alive within families, which can be passed on for generations.

The museum is open every Wednesday from 12-4 p.m. Anyone who wants to visit the museum at a time or day other than Wednesday can make arrangements by calling: 403-892-6531 or e-mail: r_c_romses@hotmail.com .

To encourage viewing and knowledge of the Museum, admission is free, but donations are accepted.

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