Kent Spencer of The Province has a lot more luck than me in solving a WWI history mysteries.
On the weekend, through Kent’s work, the family of Private Walter Ryles, killed on day one of the First Somme offensive (for want of a better word), was reunited with Ryles death penny.
It turns out Ryles and two brothers were killed in the war, with one brother surviving to keep the family line going. He moved to Canada and never spoke of his loss.
Good work Kent.
As an update on this post, the Belgian fellow who found the 47th Battalion lapel pin has offered it to me. I’ll attempt to catch up with him in person when I am in the field this September.