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Publication: Gazette (Montreal), The add link
Issue: 21 July 2010, page A8
Title: Poet-padre's war medals find a home
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Poet-padre's war medals find a home

Montreal soldier's story called 'an important part of our national heritage'

By RANDY BOSWELL, Postmedia News July 21, 2010

The Canadian War Museum has acquired an important collection of First World War medals awarded to the renowned Montreal-born military chaplain Frederick Scott, a poet-padre known for frequently risking death to comfort Canadian soldiers in the killing fields of Europe.

The set of 10 historic medals, including the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George as well as the Distinguished Conduct Medal, were bought at an Ontario auction for $28,000.

"Lt.-Col. Scott's story is an important part of our national heritage," the museum's director, Mark O'Neill said in a statement.

Scott was senior chaplain with the 1st Canadian Division during the 1914-18 war. He is said to have frequently defied orders by abandoning his position at the rear of the action and joining Canadian soldiers in trenches on the front line of battles like Vimy Ridge and the Somme.

Scott published a memoir, The Great War As I Saw It, and was an accomplished poet, the museum said.

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