Welcome to the Fall 2025 edition of The Despatch, the Military Communications and Electronics Museum Newsletter
Message from Officer Commanding, Military Communications & Electronics Museum
Left to Right / LCol Amir El-Masry, Mr. Sean Hunter, General (Ret’d) Walter Natynczyk, Maj Scott Oikle opening the Mission: Afghanistan exhibit at the Military Communications and Electronics Museum September 9, 2025.
I wanted to take a moment to share some exciting updates and reflections from the C&E Museum. As your Officer Commanding, I am proud to be part of a team dedicated to preserving and celebrating the rich history of the Canadian Armed Forces and the remarkable people who have served our country.
This year, we are thrilled to highlight the Mission Afghanistan exhibit, which offers a poignant look at the experiences, sacrifices, and resilience of our service members during that challenging deployment. It serves as a place to remember the courage and commitment of those who served and to reflect on the broader impact of Canada’s contributions abroad.
We also look forward to C&E Week, a celebration of communications and electronics within the CAF, providing opportunities to learn about evolving technologies, past achievements, and the people behind them. Following this, Veterans Week and Remembrance Day allow us to honor all who have served, ensuring their stories, sacrifices, and dedication continue to inspire future generations.
As we navigate these events together, I am grateful for the hard work of our museum staff, whose dedication ensures our history remains vibrant and accessible. I also extend my thanks to the C&E Branch, Foundation and the Directorate of History and Heritage for their continued support and all who support our mission.
I encourage you to visit, participate, and reflect on the stories we proudly share here at CFB Kingston. Together, we honor the past, celebrate the present, and inspire the future.
v/r,
Maj Scott Oikle
Officer Commanding, Military Communications & Electronics Museum
Museum News and Events
As of October 14, 2025 the museum has moved to winter hours. Monday to Friday 1000-1530.
The summer of 2025 was a good one for us. To date over 2025 so far the museum has seen over 12,000 visitors (compared to 2024 with 9000 visitors), and we haven't even got into our busy Remembrance period. Part of this success was due to the Highway of Heroes Military Museums initiative, which saw 9 museums from Toronto to Kingston partnering on joint advertising and events. Our own Super Jimmy Day event on June 22 was extremely popular (with 450 people in attendance) with displays from CFJSR, CFSCE, 77 Line, 21EW, RCEME, CFSMI and cadet groups, along with our museum partners. Other Highway of Heroes sites noted a 16% increase in summer attendance over 2024, so this initiative is proving successful across the board. The partners have agreed to run this program again next year, shifting our focus to bringing more visitors out of Quebec. Several sites saw an increase in Francophone visitation this summer, starting in the middle of July, so we're looking to leverage that for next year. Next year the association should include several new partners as well. Obviously other factors affected our attendance over the summer, such as the weak Canadian dollar and the situation with cross-border tourism promoting more staycations for Canadians, but we're happy to have visitors however they come!
Mission: Afghanistan had a successful opening, and people are impressed with the exhibit. It closes after November 11, 2025.
The museum will be closed over the Christmas Holidays. Dates and times to be announced on the website in December.
Veteran’s Week Activities
Remembrance Day Activities
December Coffee With Veterans
Foundation News
The Foundation has a new Constitution and Bylaws that were approved on July 15, 2025.
The AGM is November 6, 2025 from 7pm until 830. All members and directors are invited to attend. Please contact the Chair, Geoff Priems for further information.
Mercury Shop News
The Mercury Shop will be at the CFB Kingston Craft Sale is on Sat 22 - Sun 23 Nov 2025, 10am-3pm at Thompson Drill Hall. Entry is $3 cash, kids under 12 free. All are welcome.
The Mercury Shop continues to provide premier medal mounting for the serving community. Please note that medals are done on a first-come, first served basis and there is a limit on the number of medals that be completed monthly.
Not Forgotten – L/Cpl George Geddes – 71160
Signature of George Geddes on his attestation papers
L/Cpl Rank insignia, Ribbons for the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal, and Victory Medal, which were presented to the father of George Geddes after his death.
George Geddes was born on 29 April 1893 in Banff, Scotland, to William and Mary Geddes. Later in his life, he had moved to Canada, and worked as a Carpenter. George was a member of the Militia, specifically the 79th Cameron Highlanders of Canada, prior to the First World War. George chose to attest for overseas service with the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) in Winnipeg on 25 October 1914.
Private Geddes deployed to England aboard the S.S. Carpathian on 17 May 1915. Upon arrival, he was posted to the Otterpool Camp with the 27th Battalion. While in the camp, he was Absent Without Leave (AWL) on two occasions. For his absence on 1-2 August 1915 he received 3 days’ Confinement to Camp (CC), 1 hour of professional development (PD) and forfeited 2 days’ pay. For his absence 1-6 September 1915 he received 7 days’ CC and forfeited 6 days’ pay.
On 17 September, Private Geddes departed for France with the 27th Battalion, and arrived in Boulogne on 18 September. In January 1916, he was transferred to the 2nd Division Engineers. On 9 February, he was admitted to the 4th Canadian Field Ambulance (Can Fld Amb), with his reason for admission listed as “scalded foot.” Private Geddes was transferred to the 6th Can Fld Amb, then back to the 4th, and was discharged for duty on 25 February.
On 14 April 1917, George Geddes was promoted to Acting Lance Corporal. On 2 May 1917, LCpl Geddes was admitted to 4 Stat (likely Stationary Hospital) Arques with Diffuse Alveolar Haemorrhage (DAH). DAH is a disease which usually presents with bleeding in/around the lungs, and is life-threatening (ref D). On 8 May, Lance Corporal Geddes was moved to 7 Convalescent Depot Boulogne, then to 3 Canadian General Hospital Boulogne on 11 May.
On 15 May 1917, Lance Corporal George Geddes was moved to the Edinburgh War Hospital, where he died on 17 May. His cause of death was stated as Tuberculosis (TB) Pulmonary. He is buried in Enzie Burial Ground in the United Kingdom. His headstone reads:
71160 LANCE CPL.
G. GEDDES
2ND CAN. DIV. SIGNAL COY.
17TH JUNE 1917 AGE 24
R.I.P.
References:
A. http://www.rcsigs.ca/index.php/Signals_Casualties_of_the_Great_War_-_Details#Geddes_George
B. https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Home/Record?app=pffww&IdNumber=409205&ecopy=B3460-S018
C. https://cmea-agmc.ca/sites/default/files/abbreviations_used_in_service_records.pdf
D. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3651925/
E. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/666945/george-geddes/
F. http://www.rcsigs.ca/index.php/File:Geddes,_George_grave_marker.jpg
Capt. Sean Maas Stevens