Son of Newfoundland soldier retraces his father's footsteps – all the way to England
Where once his father stood in 1941, last week Ian Kelly stood on the grounds of the Ashford School in Kent, England.
The school across the Atlantic Ocean has a special connection to the 59th (Newfoundland) Heavy Artillery Regiment. Its students moved out temporarily in 1941 so it could serve as a barracks while the soldiers defended the coast of England during the Second World War.
Kelly said his father Lewis Kelly was stationed there until 1943, where he was then sent to France, followed by Holland and Germany.
"It's been an amazing experience… to walk in the footsteps of not only where my father's been, but the soldiers of the 59th who gave so much during the war," Kelly told CBC Radio's On the Go.
More than 80 years later, the school is commemorating that connection. A monument to the regiment was erected near the old barracks and gun sites in 2024. It also celebrated its second Newfoundland Memorial Day on Saturday.
"They intend to do this every year," said Kelly.
Memorial Day in Newfoundland and Labrador falls on July 1.
Kelly is currently touring the south of England with the help of Judith Holloway and the school's chaplain Rev. Richard Bellamy, who live in the area.
"Judith just gets a tremendous amount of credit," said Kelly. "She is an amazing researcher."
Holloway has been digging into Newfoundland's war history for several years now. It started when she found the headstone of Walter Pike, the only Newfoundlander buried in Ashford. He died while stationed at the school.
"Although he was so far away from home, he wasn't forgotten," said Holloway.
She found out Pike was a gunner with the 59th Regiment, and travelled to St. John's in 2019 to meet his brother Frank, who did not have the chance to visit the grave site in Kent.
Holloway has launched a project with Bellamy called History Around Us, with Ashford School students working to locate people connected to the men who spent time on the very same grounds.
"We're trying to help our young people to appreciate the sacrifices that were made in the interests of justice and peace in the European conflict," said Bellamy.
"This story is close to home — you know — this is on our doorstep."
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CBC
a day ago
- CBC
Son of Newfoundland soldier retraces his father's footsteps – all the way to England
Ian Kelly's father was a member of the 59th (Newfoundland) Heavy Artillery Regiment Where once his father stood in 1941, last week Ian Kelly stood on the grounds of the Ashford School in Kent, England. The school across the Atlantic Ocean has a special connection to the 59th (Newfoundland) Heavy Artillery Regiment. Its students moved out temporarily in 1941 so it could serve as a barracks while the soldiers defended the coast of England during the Second World War. Kelly said his father Lewis Kelly was stationed there until 1943, where he was then sent to France, followed by Holland and Germany. "It's been an amazing experience… to walk in the footsteps of not only where my father's been, but the soldiers of the 59th who gave so much during the war," Kelly told CBC Radio's On the Go. More than 80 years later, the school is commemorating that connection. A monument to the regiment was erected near the old barracks and gun sites in 2024. It also celebrated its second Newfoundland Memorial Day on Saturday. "They intend to do this every year," said Kelly. Memorial Day in Newfoundland and Labrador falls on July 1. Kelly is currently touring the south of England with the help of Judith Holloway and the school's chaplain Rev. Richard Bellamy, who live in the area. "Judith just gets a tremendous amount of credit," said Kelly. "She is an amazing researcher." Holloway has been digging into Newfoundland's war history for several years now. It started when she found the headstone of Walter Pike, the only Newfoundlander buried in Ashford. He died while stationed at the school. "Although he was so far away from home, he wasn't forgotten," said Holloway. She found out Pike was a gunner with the 59th Regiment, and travelled to St. John's in 2019 to meet his brother Frank, who did not have the chance to visit the grave site in Kent. Holloway has launched a project with Bellamy called History Around Us, with Ashford School students working to locate people connected to the men who spent time on the very same grounds. "We're trying to help our young people to appreciate the sacrifices that were made in the interests of justice and peace in the European conflict," said Bellamy. "This story is close to home — you know — this is on our doorstep."
Global News
2 days ago
- Global News
Cellphones mark 40 years in Canada. A look back since the 1st call
Pierre Robitaille remembers feeling embarrassed in 1985 when he made his cellphone calls from a bulky device that came with its own carrying case. Now 86 years old, Robitaille was one of the first people in Canada to sign up for a wireless plan when they became available 40 years ago, on July 1, 1985. As an electrician, Robitaille wanted a way to keep in touch with colleagues and clients while on the road at various construction sites. First came a car phone, then came the early hand-held versions, which included a mobile device and a suitcase in which to carry it. 'It wasn't very heavy but it was embarrassing, it was big,' Robitaille said of the mid-80s cellphone, in an interview from his home in the western Quebec town of St-André-Avellin. The first wireless call in Canadian history took place 40 years ago on July 1, 1985, when then-Toronto mayor Art Eggleton used a 10-pound mobile phone to call his Montreal counterpart, Jean Drapeau. Story continues below advertisement Telecommunications company Rogers says that in the first month, mobile networks in Canada handled 100 calls per day. Today, that number has risen to 100 million calls, as well as 6.5 billion megabytes of data on the Rogers network alone. Oakville, Ont., resident Peter Kent was another early mobile phone adopter — though the initiative came from his boss rather than himself. His car phone had to be installed professionally and cost around $3,500, he recalled in a recent interview. At first, he was unsure if he should be grateful for the new connectivity. 'I said, 'why are we doing this?' And then (my boss) said, 'well, when I want you, I want you.'' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Kent, however, soon started to enjoy his new phone. He recalls driving with his wife to his mother-in-law's home and making a call from her driveway. 1:39 Youth and technology: Cellphones in schools 'She said, 'where are you?' And I said, I'm in your driveway,' Kent recalled. 'She couldn't believe it. She ran to the door with her cordless phone and she could see me talking in the car.' Story continues below advertisement Eric Smith, the senior vice-president for the Canadian Telecommunications Association, said the early commercial cellular services were limited to voice calling in select urban areas and involved 'very large, bulky devices' with limited battery time. Users were charged by the minute. 'If you flash forward 40 years, people really have more than just the capability of calling, and they have a kind of a computer in their pocket,' he said. Today, some 99 per cent of areas where people live and work in Canada have some form of mobile coverage, he said. Smith said that initially, there was skepticism about whether cellular service would be widely adopted. 'It requires a large investment by companies in a country that's very large geographically with a widely dispersed population,' he said. 'And some people thought that the companies who were investing in this were taking a very big risk.' Over time, the cellphones evolved from offering calls only, followed by text messaging, early internet connectivity and later a range of features from cameras to GPS. 'It's hard to think of things you can't do on your mobile device,' Smith said. Smith says there are still hurdles that remain for Canadian telecommunications, including poor connectivity in rural areas and 'regulatory challenges' that he says can discourage investment. In recent years, there have been questions around cellphone use, especially among children. Several jurisdictions have banned phones in classrooms, while Quebec has gone a step further in prohibiting them on elementary and high school grounds. Story continues below advertisement Robitaille sees both the good and the bad. He believes their widespread use among children is problematic because of the type of sensitive and vulgar content they have access to. On the other hand, as a senior who lives alone, his phone is an important tool to stay in touch with his friends and his children. Kent, meanwhile, is convinced that cellphones have made life in Canada easier — despite the pressure to remain always connected — although he says he's happy he only got one as an adult. Smith says the mobile industry is still evolving. ly, connectivity is expanding beyond phones to other devices: everything from cars to appliances are Increasingly connected to the internet, while internet-enabled sensors monitor conditions in the agriculture and mining industries. He says it's hard to know what the future will be, as people continue to adopt different forms of technology, enabled by increased computing power and innovation. 'I'm excited to see what happens, but I don't think anyone really knows what it's going to look like 40 years from now,' Smith said.
Toronto Sun
4 days ago
- Toronto Sun
Letters to the Editor, June 29, 2025
Sunday letters Photo by Illustration / Toronto Sun MOISE WITH NOTHING BUT TIME This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Re 'What's in a name?' (Justin Holmes, June 16): Chris Moise must have a lot of time on his hands. Maybe his ward doesn't really need a councillor as he seems to spend a good deal of time renaming things. Does he not have other important issues to tend to? Karen Benz Mississauga (Good question – other than obsessing about this, what has Moise done to contribute to the improvement of our city?) WAR TORN I was born at the beginning of the Second World War and since that time there's been continual wars with billions of dollars spent for weapons and millions of people killed. Sadly, today's drones and supersonic missiles make a nation's soldiers and its citizens no more than fodder during a war. It's an unending story for mankind who after gaining technical knowledge uses it for warring rather than people's betterment. Today, with war in Ukraine and the Middle East, one wonders when the hell will mankind ever learn. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Peter J. Middlemore Sr. Windsor (History keeps repeating itself and it would seem we never learn) HAHN A BLEEDING SCAB Re 'CUPE Ontario embraces madness with pro-Iranian protest' (Warren Kinsella, June 17): Totalitarian, murderous regimes do not now, or ever, deserve the support of rank-and-file Canadians or their enforced 'support' through our public unions: Full opt-out rights should be made available to all CUPE locals in Ontario. Fred Hahn is like a bleeding scab on the wound to the quality, coherence and integrity of our society, creating deep divisions and infecting a deep wound by now that CUPE Ontario has chosen to chronically reopen. Hahn does not in any way represent Canada's best values or advance workers fundamental rights or improve working conditions here. CUPE Ontario locals should receive materials to allow them to vote to disassociate — through members' free, democratic, unpressured secret-ballots — from this fascistic, grown-toxic, spoiled-rotten public service union. It is an embarrassment to thinking Ontarians. R.H. Bredin Toronto (Hahn appears to be quite comfortable with these insane positions because his membership isn't doing anything about it) Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs NHL Columnists Columnists
