Harold Saunders spent six years looking for a way to replace his war medals that went missing during a move into a long-term care facility.
Saunders, now 93, served in the Canadian military in Britain, Italy and Sicily during the Second World War.
On Jan. 21 Arthur Legion member Malcolm McCulloch, Arthur Legion Sergeant at Arms James Dingman and Guelph Legion veteran services officer Ken Budd presented Saunders with replacement medals at his home in the St. Joseph’s Long Term Care Facility in Guelph.
McCulloch is a dominion command outreach and visitation volunteer, which actively seeks out veterans in long-term care facilities to address unresolved issues.
He was able to find replacements for Saunders’ medals from Veterans Affairs.
Saunders received the 1939-1945 Star, Defence Medal, Italy Star, War Medal 1939-1945 and Canadian Volunteer Service Medal.
“Everybody told me I could never get them back,” said Saunders.
“I spent six years snooping around, finding how to go about it. I met someone in the Legion and he said he knew how and I said, ‘Okay, let’s go for it.’”
McCulloch said it felt “good” knowing it worked out.
“It was obviously something that was eating away at him,” he said.
The medals bring back memories for Saunders.
“That’s about the best way to explain that … as soon as you look at (the medals) you think of the people you were with during those times,” he said.
According to Veterans Affairs, 5,900 Canadians were killed in the 20-month Mediterranean campaign in Italy and Sicily.
Another 20,000 were injured.
Saunders was born in Morrisburg and lived in Montreal before signing up to serve.
He completed his basic training at the armory in Guelph in 1941 before moving on to Camp Borden and then shipping off to Europe.
