For years, Jenny Mizzoni has treasured a link to her family’s history.
It’s the death certificate of Private William McBryde, her grandmother’s first cousin, who was killed in action on Sept. 28, 1918 – just weeks before the Armistice ended the First World War.
Originally from Victoria, B.C., McBryde was part of the 47th Division, serving in the Machine Gun Corps. In addition to the framed ornate death certificate, issued the year following his death, Mizzoni also has her relative’s dog tags, and a rare Memorial Cross, all of which she keeps in her bedroom.
“It’s special,” she said.
In fact, it’s so special, that Mizzoni insisted on coming out to the Remembrance Day ceremony and wreath-laying at the Bradford Legion on Nov. 11, marking the 100th anniversary since the end of World War I – and of her relative’s death.
Despite the weather, the chilly temperatures and an icy wind, Mizzoni and her mother stood by the cenotaph with her treasures, ready to share the history of a soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Great War.
The Memorial Cross is also known as the “Silver Cross” and would have been presented to McBryde’s mother or next of kin upon his death.
The family doesn’t have a photo, or details of his service, noted Violet Mizzoni, Jenny’s mom. More importantly, she said, “We don’t know where he’s buried,” something the family is hoping to find out.
Jan Coward, member of BWG Local History Association, was intrigued by the story
Coward, who will be the guest speaker at the Nov. 24 meeting of the Association at the Bradford Library, offered to do some research and possibly identify McBryde’s final resting place.
Coward will be speaking on “Local Veterans of World War I,” at the Library Boardroom, at 2 p.m. on the Nov. 24.
