Seventy years ago, George Johnston fought in the Second World War as part of the North Shore Regiment’s B Company.
Johnston served from 1940 to 1946 and was one of thousands of Canadians who stormed Juno Beach in Normandy on June 6, 1944, better known as D-Day.
The helmet Johnston wore that day, which had protected him in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, was bent during battle and replaced with a new one.
Sometime after the war was over, Johnston lost his D-Day helmet.
When the phone rang at the Johnston's Norton, N.B. house on Tuesday, the war veteran’s wife Annie answered. On the other end of the line was a woman, asking if George W. Johnston lived there and if he was in the North Shore Regiment during the Second World War.
Annie replied “yes” to both questions and the woman replied that someone had his helmet and wanted to return it.
That someone was Jordan Chaisson, a history buff with a deep interest in war memorabilia.
“I didn’t know what to say, or what to do,” says Johnston.
Chaisson had bought the helmet at an Army surplus store in Moncton and noticed an Army ID number inside.
“At the beginning, I just wanted to see who it belonged to,” says Chaisson. “But, as soon as I found out he was alive, this got more personal. I had to give it to him. It’s not mine to keep.”
Chaisson tracked Johnston down using the Army ID 22694 and delivered his long lost helmet.
For both men, the meeting was a memorable one.
“Feelings you can’t explain,” says Johnston. “To have that hat back, I never thought I would ever see it.”
“The joy that was on his face and her face as well, was pretty remarkable,” says Chaisson.
The Johnstons say the helmet will remain in the family.
“I think he’s happy to have it back and his kids are too,” says Annie.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Sarah Plowman
