Alvin Hagar
Native Canadian, War Vet, 73 Years a Member of the L.O.L.
Alvin Hagar was born on the Alderville Reserve just north of Cobourg, Ontario on July the 4th, 1913. His father, William (also an Orangeman), had been killed in action on May the 8th, 1918 while serving with the 19th Battalion.
Alvin became a member of the Orange Association, joining Alderville L.O.L.1069 in 1936. He was working in the Toronto area at the outbreak of World War II and enlisted with the Canadian Army 1940. He was deployed overseas in 1941 and served at Normandy in 1944. Later that year he suffered a leg injury as a result of shrapnel from a V-2 rocket attack, the attack itself occurred east of Antwerp. Alvin spent the following year in various hospitals and suffered from his injuries for the rest of his life.
Following the War Alvin returned to Toronto and worked many years for the Imperial Optical Company. Alvin transferred to Coronation L.O.L.215, where he served as lodge Chaplain for several years. Upon the demise of that lodge Brother Hagar joined Toronto’s Birchcliff L.O.L.2856 and there remained a steadfast member up until the time of his passing.
A faithful and loyal member Brother Hagar did not miss lodge meetings or the Twelfth walk until the last couple years of his life. Brother Alvin Hagar passed away in March of 2009; at the age of 96 years and with 73 years service in the Loyal Orange Lodge.
Submitted by John Wells – County Secretary – Jan. 30th, 2010
Sources: Canadian Orangeism and the Military, Part III by Rt. Wor. Bro. Alec Rough
Interview with Alvin Hagar for the University of Regina Digital Collection
At http://dspace.cc.uregina.ca/dspace/bitstream/10294/1858/1/1H.OT.004.pdf
Personal Knowledge of the writer
Alvin became a member of the Orange Association, joining Alderville L.O.L.1069 in 1936. He was working in the Toronto area at the outbreak of World War II and enlisted with the Canadian Army 1940. He was deployed overseas in 1941 and served at Normandy in 1944. Later that year he suffered a leg injury as a result of shrapnel from a V-2 rocket attack, the attack itself occurred east of Antwerp. Alvin spent the following year in various hospitals and suffered from his injuries for the rest of his life.
Following the War Alvin returned to Toronto and worked many years for the Imperial Optical Company. Alvin transferred to Coronation L.O.L.215, where he served as lodge Chaplain for several years. Upon the demise of that lodge Brother Hagar joined Toronto’s Birchcliff L.O.L.2856 and there remained a steadfast member up until the time of his passing.
A faithful and loyal member Brother Hagar did not miss lodge meetings or the Twelfth walk until the last couple years of his life. Brother Alvin Hagar passed away in March of 2009; at the age of 96 years and with 73 years service in the Loyal Orange Lodge.
Submitted by John Wells – County Secretary – Jan. 30th, 2010
Sources: Canadian Orangeism and the Military, Part III by Rt. Wor. Bro. Alec Rough
Interview with Alvin Hagar for the University of Regina Digital Collection
At http://dspace.cc.uregina.ca/dspace/bitstream/10294/1858/1/1H.OT.004.pdf
Personal Knowledge of the writer
