Bob Kennedy fonds. — 1928-2005. — 6.5 cm of textual records.
Biographical Sketch
Bob Kennedy was born on a farm in the Lake Saskatoon area and went to Hermit Lake School. In 1940, he joined the Royal Canadian Engineers and served overseas for over five years in Sicily, Italy and Holland. In his section of 13 men, he was one of three who survived the war. On May 7, 1945, he was one of the first soldiers to venture into Amsterdam after the surrender and be overwhelmed by hysterical crowds who considered the troops heros. Bob joined the Legion in 1941while still serving in the war and later became involved in Legion affairs wherever he and his wife, Vera, lived: first in High Prairie, then Peace River, then Grande Prairie. The Legion became their life. As Bob became involved, Vera took on many leadership duties in the Ladies Auxiliary to the Legion. They regularly attended provincial conventions; In 1989, Bob received the highest honor from the Legion – the Legion Meritorious Service Medal. Bob and Vera had three children: Patricia, Douglas and Donald. Bob passed away on December 13, 2006.
Custodial History
These records were donated to the South Peace Regional Archives by Bob Kennedy in 2005.
Scope and Content
The fonds consists of records documenting the history of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 54, Grande Prairie, the Royal Canadian Legion and Ladies Auxiliaries publications, and WWII publications and personal memories.
Notes
Table of Contents
| Series 280.01 | Royal Canadian Legion – Branch #54 |
| Series 280.02 | Royal Canadian Legion and Ladies Auxiliaries |
| Series 280.03 | World War II Memorabilia |
| Series 280.01 | Royal Canadian Legion – Branch #54. — 1928-2005. — 3 cm of textual records.The series consists of a copy of a Bob’s scrapbook documenting the history of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 54, Grande Prairie, including copies of newsclippings and pictures of veterans. The series also includes a leadership manual, programs from conventions and other events, proposed by-laws for Branch #54, certificate of title for the Legion Campsite, materials used for interviews and Remembrance Day presentations, and a copy of the Grande Prairie Regional College’s Student Awards booklet, 1992-93. |
| Series 280.02 | Royal Canadian Legion and Ladies Auxiliaries. — 1984-1986. — 2.5 cm of textual records.Included are two publications, “Diamond Jublilee Convention” and “50 Golden Years”, a history of the Alberta-Northwest Territories Command Ladies’ Auxiliaries. |
| Series 280.03 | World War II Memorabilia. — 1944–1984. — 1 cm of textual records.The series consists of a copy of a letter from Bob Kennedy to his mother, Mrs. Alex Craig, from Sicily in 1944, a Program Commemoration of Liberation, 1945, an order of Service and Thanksgiving conducted at Laren, 1945; a copy of a German propaganda leaflet, 2 booklets, “The Common-Sense of Re-Establishment”, and “D-Day”, a newspaper, “Operation Overload”, and a newsclipping “Germany Quits”. |