What's Happening in Calgary, AB…

With the centennial of the first world war upon us, a recent find has helped one Calgary family to put a face to the soldiers who took part on both sides of the conflict.

Michael Hilton, who is a student at the University of Calgary in the Canadian Studies program, discovered a scrap of cloth in a box of items from his great grandfather. It’s believed that that material came from the wing of a German biplane that was shot down towards the end of the war near Cambrai in France.

There was a letter penned on it, which was written to his great grandmother and their daughter. It spoke of a hope that the conflict was almost over and a desire to be home.

The box also contained photos and other mementos. There were also two pocket watches, which had likely belonged to two German airmen from the plane. Mr. Hilton had hoped to rerun at least one of them to their gunner’s descendants, but the records of the family’s current location are no longer available.

The letter and other items will be on display at the Military Museum as part of an exhibit outlining the role that soldiers and other personnel from Alberta played in the Great War.

Poster printing companies can create enlarged versions of the old photos, which can help the public to see them more clearly and develop an appreciation for the sacrifices made by the older generations.