It’s been a mystery for staff at the Galt Museum and Archives in Lethbridge for over 50 years. A tunic from the First World War was donated to the museum but information about the soldier who wore it was lost.
Collections Assistant Ruthann LaBlance did a little investigating and found the tunic belonged to John “Jack” Shield.
The uniform was actually donated by Jack Shield himself in 1965, but records of the donation were lost resulting in a 50-year mystery.
“It helps people imagine and put themselves in the shoes of who the uniform belonged to and get the story behind it,” LeBlance said.
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It was a proud moment for Edith Moyes. Jack Shield is her dad.
“I have seen the uniform before, never knowing it was part of me,” she said.
Shield’s grandson, Michael Stonhouse, didn’t know the uniform existed. He made the trip from Lloydminister to see it in person.
“Photographs are great but to have something tangible, to have the actual uniform that my grandfather actually wore, that is so wonderful,” Stonhouse said.
Shield grew up near Fort Macleod.
He enlisted in the army in 1915. During his service, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his efforts in 1918 during the Battle of Ameins, where he was shot in the leg.
His actions were reported in the London Gazette: “When about 80 of the enemy were cut off by his platoon and attempted to break through, he strenuously opposed them, killing four before he was wounded. He continued in the attack until the objective was reached. He showed absolute disregard for danger, and set a fine example to his men.”
“He never did talk about his World War experience and really it was quite horrendous,” Stonhouse said. “The First World War (in) the trench warfare… I’ve got his medical records and I mean it’s quite horrendous what he went through, the fact that he was gassed.”
He re-enlisted in 1941 and served with the Veteran’s Guard until the end of the Second World War.
Shield passed away in 1975 at the age of 79.
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