What’s good in St. Thomas-Elgin? Vimy Lecture honours the sacrifices of local soldiers while preserving their stories

The 13th annual Vimy Lecture will be held Wednesday evening at the Elgin County Heritage Centre.

It’s an opportunity to honour the sacrifices of local soldiers and preserve stories of the past.

This year’s lecture will be delivered by Pete Sheridan, president of the Elgin Historical Society.

myFM spoke with him on the origins of the lecture series.

The lecture is held on the anniversary of the first day of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

Sheridan has titled his talk, Elgin County and World War 1, and he will explore the impacts of the war to end all wars on St. Thomas and Elgin, from challenges on the home front to the bravery of the young men who served overseas.

Among those stories is that of Wallacetown native Lance-Sergeant Ellis Wellwood Sifton, who volunteered for service in the Canadian Expeditionary Force on Oct. 23, 1914 in St Thomas.

His courage at Vimy Ridge earned him the Victoria Cross, the highest military honour at the time.

Sheridan will also reference what became known at The Elgin Sock.

Elgin County Warden Grant Jones observed, “This lecture is an opportunity for our community to come together in remembrance and gratitude. Events like the Vimy Lecture ensure that their legacy continues to inspire future generations.”

Sifton’s actual Victoria Cross will be on display that evening to view.

The Vimy Lecture is 7 p.m. April 9 at the Elgin County Heritage Centre, 460 Sunset Drive. Admission is free.

Written by Ian McCallum