The Unexpected Return of Pte Clifford Robinson Oulton’s Medals | Pickle Planet Podcast S9E6
Clifford Oulton was just 14 when signed up to fight for Canada, though of course he claimed to be 18. It was February 1, 1916 and Canadian soldiers had been fighting in World World I for 546 days. The teenager from Bridgedale (Riverview) would spend more than a year in Europe, taking part in the Battle of the Somme, the Battle of Vimy Ridge, and the Battle of Passchendaele, where he would be fatally wounded. He died on November 1, 1917, two months shy of his 16th birthday.
Clifford Oulton was the youngest Canadian soldier to fight and to die during the First World War.
Nearly 100 years later, in June 2019, Janet Clouston would accept Pte. Oulton’s British War Medal on behalf of the Albert County Museum – just after she started in her role as Managing Director of the museum. The medal, which was given to every Canadian soldier who served overseas in WWI or in a theatre of war, had been found in a home in Bathurst. Pte. Oulton’s information was etched on the edge of the medal and the finder was able to connect his name with the museum’s WWI County of Heroes exhibit.
RELATED: More on the Albert County Museum’s WWI County of Heroes exhibit.
The chance discovery and sharing of Pte. Oulton’s medal is incredible – but what happened next will give you goosebumps. Janet shares how a second chance discovery revealed another of Pte. Oulton’s military medals, his Silver Memorial Cross, in a vacant lot in downtown Moncton. A tale perfect for the telling as October’s spooky vibes shift to November’s sombre beginning.
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The Pickle Planet Podcast is a local Moncton, New Brunswick podcast created & co-hosted by Jenna Morton & Tosh Taylor. The podcast is recorded and aired by Rogers TV New Brunswick, with audio production by Tosh Taylor and video production by Charles Vienneau.
Season 9 features the theme “Now Go Play,” composed and performed by Moncton musician Vimal. Discover more music by Vimal at Music by Vimal.
Explore the complete Pickle Planet Podcast archive, with episodes dating back to 2018, when Jenna Morton and Tosh Taylor started recording in Tosh’s attic.