My interest in history started at an early age as my grandmother showed me photographs and passed down family history stories as we began touring our local graveyards and historic sights.

Consuming myself in all those old photographs sparked my interest in art of photography which led to a lifetime passion and as it seems, my parents, grandparents and great grandparents all had a flair for taking pictures. Our family albums include everything from tintype, glass plates, right on up to modern day digital. In the last few years I must admit that I have a totally re-energized interest into the world of analogue photography and darkroom processing.

Family vacation time was always spent travelling across our great country and connecting with those who made an impact on what we call Canada today.

I come from a long line of military family members who served not only during wartime, but also during peace time right back to the American Revolution in 1775. Later in life I served with the Canadian Forces - Army and in doing so ignited an even greater passion of remembrance for those who served.

World War one became another passion and having a great uncle, Charles Arthur Parkes, who served with the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles brought my connection even closer. After many trips overseas to the battlefields of France and Belgium I was honoured along with Joseph Papia in April of 2017 to lay a wreath at the 100th Anniversary of Vimy Ridge on behalf of Canada Post Corporation - Canadian Postal Corps. During this same year we respectively petitioned Canada Post Corporation to become part of The National Remembrance Day Ceremony in Ottawa, Ontario Canada and on November the 11th of 2017, we became the first employees on behalf of the corporation to lay a wreath at the ceremony.

On November the 11th, 2018 for the 100th Anniversary of Armistice Day - Remembrance Day, we were honoured once again to lay a wreath at the St. Symphorien Military Cemetery in Mons, Belgium. World War One ended for Canada in the City of Mons, Belgium.

For myself these three accomplishments became a life changing personal honour!

In 2019 my foreseeable future travel plans became abruptly interrupted when Covid came along and reared its ugly head across the world.

Throughout my time visiting the battlefields over the years it has also brought along another devotion for me as I became interested in the 23 Canadian soldiers who were Shot at Dawn.

In 2001 the Canadian Government acknowledged these 23 Canadian soldiers who were executed for alleged desertion and cowardice in France and Belgium during World War One. Finally their names were added to the Book of Remembrance housed in Canada’s Parliament Buildings.

In September 2023, I travelled the battlefields, visited their graves and photographed historical sites.

My aim is to light a “Pathway of Recognition and Acceptance” for these men leading to permanent memorials to be situated in France and Belgium.

Regards,

Garth Wetherall

Waterdown, Ontario