As would be expected, most artifacts in a regimental museum relate to a regiment's war service -- uniforms, medals, photos etc. Occasionally, one receives a different sort of item. In April 2010, the museum received a package from Mr. Gerald Baker of Kent, England. Inside was a baseball, but a very special one. He had held off sending it thinking that there would be little interest in such an item because it was not military related.

But the story he told was heartwarming and one that tends to get lost in the fog of WW II. The TSR was billeted in homes in Kent in 1942 and two soldiers Norman Clute and "Mac" McBride taught a 12 year old English boy (Gerald Baker) the game of baseball. When the TSR shipped out, the soldiers left him with a signed baseball and Pte. Clute went so far as to buy young Gerald a Scout hat as he was now a Scout.

Fast forward 68 years and Mr. Baker's baseball arrives. Wow!! What a great item. Correspondence was returned acknowledging this wonderful artifact. Shortly thereafter a letter arrived from Mr. Baker's partner with very sad news that he had just recently passed. She wrote in part, "I know he would have been over the moon knowing that the baseball will be on display in your museum." And so it is.

A wonderful donation from a gentleman who never forgot the kindness of two Tor Scot soldiers.

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Toronto Scottish Regiment Pipes and Drums
Captain Bellenden Hutcheson VC Armoury,
66 Birmingham Street,
Toronto M8V 2B8, Canada
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