Imagine being on the front lines during one of history’s most defining moments and documenting it as it unfolds around you.
For Sgt. John Beattie Murray of the 20th Overseas Battery, that is exactly what he did.
And on Nov. 6 at 1 p.m., a total of 90 letters he wrote while serving in the First World War will be displayed at the Galt Archives.
During his time in England and France from 1915-1919, Sgt. Murray wrote 90 letters to his mother and family members; those letters were stored in a shoebox until Murray’s grandson, Jim Keiver of Lethbridge, wanted them to be displayed publicly.
Retired Warrant Officer Glenn Miller was tasked with transcribing each letter.
“Not only do the letters give insight into how one man experienced the first World War, they also give an eyewitness account of some of the significant activities the Lethbridge Battery underwent during the war,” said Miller.
While the letters proved difficult to decipher for Miller, they provided a lot of insight into the emotional state of Murray.
“You could tell by the state of his penmanship when Sgt. Murray had frayed nerves or when he was shell-shocked.”
The importance of holding onto keepsakes like the letters was not lost on Miller.
“I strongly recommend people contact the Galt Museum before throwing something out.”
For more information on the Galt Museum and Archives, visit www.galtmuseum.com or call 403-320-3954.