LCS Military History Project

Honouring the generations of Lakefield alumni and families whose service shaped our school and contributed to Canada’s history.

Download the Booklet

LCS Military History Project

Honouring the generations of Lakefield alumni and families whose service shaped our school and contributed to Canada’s history.

Download the Booklet

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LCS Military History Project

A History that Lives in the Heart of Our Community

For more than a century, members of the Lakefield College School community have contributed to Canada’s military history—often quietly, and always with humility.

In 2014, a group of Old Boys set out to preserve these stories before they were lost. What began as a single alumni reunion conversation grew into the LCS Military History Project: a collaborative effort to document the experiences, memories, and service of alumni and their families across generations.

This page introduces the project, honours those who built it, and provides access to the archival booklet.

How the Project Began
The LCS Military History Project began at a 1950s Decade Reunion in 2014, when Old Boy Hugh MacDonald ’55 asked a simple question: “Are you related to Admiral Hugh Pullen?”
That moment sparked months of research and conversation—and ultimately revealed how deeply connected Lakefield families were to Canada’s wartime history.
With Hugh’s leadership, and the support of fellow Old Boys and the LCS Archives, volunteers gathered stories, letters, photos, and memories. Their goal was straightforward: use the collective memories of their generation—and the tools of today—to preserve a part of Lakefield’s history that had rarely been spoken about, but had shaped many lives.

A Community Effort
Dozens of alumni contributed to the project, offering family histories, photographs, and research.
Led by Hugh MacDonald ’55 and supported by School Archivist Kate Ramsay, the volunteer group grew quickly as classmates reconnected and unearthed new leads. Their work revealed connections to eleven Admirals and many other branches of the armed forces—each story adding context to the lived experience of the students and families who came before.
“More important, attention turned to the actual stories that gave context to their lives.” - Tony Pullen ’63

Archival photograph of students sailing in naval dress

Cadets and School Life in the 1940s–60s
For students in the 1940s through 1960s, cadet training was woven into school life alongside academics, sports, and chapel.
Cadets culminated each year in spring inspection and festivities that marked the end of the school year. These memories became a shared touchpoint for many Old Boys whose families had served during the war.

Archival photograph of Lakefield students in naval uniform

From the Chair of the Project
"The stories are many, the history rich."
"The project will never be complete—we continue to gather information and ask for your help to share your family stories, memories, and experiences.”
- Tony Pullen ’63, Chair, LCS Military History Project, led the committee supporting Hugh MacDonald’s ’55 work, helping gather stories from across generations.