Wetaskiwin District Heritage Museum Centre & City of Wetaskiwin Archives

This week the Heritage Museum is proud to share with you a military artifact. This pin belonged to Dr. Johnson while serving in World War II where he served as a Capitan. The pin represents the Order of the Bath, which dates to 1725 and would be worn by British Army Officers. Only twenty-four of these specific pins were made at the time of Johnson’s donations. It is unclear how the pin got into his possession. These pins signified his rank and would be worn on the military uniform epaulets. The Most Honorable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry that was founded by King George the first on May 18, 1725. Members would take a bath and dress in a special robe to get admitted. Members would be made knights and belong to either the civil or military division, typically senior military officers or civil servants. Women began to be admitted to the order in 1971, with Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, being the first Dame Grand Cross. King Charles III was the Great Master of the Order from 1975 until his accession to the throne in 2022. There is a military exhibit at the museum on our second floor that you may come and appreciate during our hours of operation.