Urge Speed in Work on Service File

URGE SPEED IN WORK ON SERVICE FILE

Citizens of Victoria and Haliburton Urged to Act Quickly in Completing Armed Forces Records.
 With the prediction in Ottawa this week that an early peace with Germany is not only anticipated but expected at any time now, those responsible for the District Service File at the Public Library feel the time is opportune to impress upon the people of Victoria and Haliburton Counties that they must act quickly to complete the records and insure that this Service File presents an accurate account of this district's part in the war to the returning service men.

  The file undertaken in May 1944 consists of clippings from local papers and whenever available a service record which includes name, rank, date of enlistment, training and moves since enlistment, date sent overseas, action-points, etc and if at all possible a snapshot. It is available to the public during library hours and an invitation is intended to all to examine it there.

  Unfortunately relatives of our service men and women have been particularly reticent to give the information that is required to complete the record. This apparent lack of interest has been discouraging but it has not curtailed the efforts of the workers to enter every clipping of interest that the librarian has clipped from the papers. This has enlarged the file to make it at least a record of this year of the war. If this work had been undertaken at the outbreak of the war and if everything of importance and interest had been recorded in the press it would not be essential to obtain the records directly. Four years of war had elapsed before the file was undertaken and to get the records of the men serving during this time we must have the cooperation of every serviceman's family. Visiting servicemen have shown an interest in this file and have on occasion spent many hours examining it. This may be an indication of the interest and pleasure that it will give our returning men if it is completed. The Inspector of Public Libraries, Major Mowat a distinguished author and a soldier, was in Lindsay in June of last year shortly after the file was commenced. His approval and delight in method and arrangement was encouraging.

  The local Library Board in sponsoring this record felt that it was a worthwhile project that deserved the time and expense necessary for proper organization. The Lady Hughes Chapter of the IODE has undertaken to enter the records submitted and the members volunteer to give their evenings to this work. With this approval of men whose opinion is welcome because they have been in action, and with the sacrifice the workers are prepared to make, it comes as a bitter disappointment that the people of Victoria and Haliburton refuse to submit the mere facts about their servicemen with a snapshot for this permanent record. With the exception of two communities Norland and Haliburton no entries have been secured from the district.

  Press notices have failed to attract the attention of the people and letters have brought no response. Personal requests to library members are likewise unwelcome and repeated appeals have been dropped by the librarians as it was felt it might be a disadvantage to the library.

  In the interval before Victory this file can be worked upon to become the complete record of this district's part in the war but this cannot be attempted unless it is considered an important matter requiring your attention NOW. Lindsay has not been slow to provide the names and addresses of its servicemen to organizations sending out parcels because these were voted worthwhile to the men. The men have approved this record and it is therefore just as necessary to see that your serviceman is not forgotten in it.

  Items are being inserted everyday of servicemen returning home whose record has not been written. Four years of silent service is the picture the tiny item tells. Come to the Library and check this file. Make your entry a credit to your serviceman.