This Remembrance Day and Veterans Day we remember Captain Wynn Bagnall – a BMO banker from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia who served during World War I. Enlisting in 1914, he earned his commission as lieutenant in 1916, and in March of 1918 his admirable conduct earned his promotion to captain. During the Battle of Cambrai in 1918, Captain Bagnall earned the Military Cross for bravery, after his quick thinking led him to order an artillery piece from his battery to flank an enemy position; saving fellow Canadian soldiers from heavy machine gun fire. He survived the war and returned home in 1919.
1,414 BMO employees served in World War I, and 230 made the ultimate sacrifice. At times over half our company was enlisted in the fight. To commemorate their service, the bank commissioned two memorials: one at our Montreal head office; the other, modelled after Captain Bagnall, overlooks the legendary intersection of Portage and Main in Winnipeg.
On behalf of our BMO Team, in recognition of the courage and sacrifice of our veterans and all of those who continue to serve, I’ve dedicated a digital poppy to Captain Bagnall.
