Written by BERNICE TRICK
Citizen staff
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Tuesday, 02 December 2008 |
Marney Cloutier displays letters and cards from the First World War. (Citizen photo by Brent Braaten)
A Prince George woman has a mystery in her home that she'd like to turn into a "treasured Christmas gift to the rightful family."
For more than 30 years, Marney Cloutier has had a box of letters and cards in her possession, which date back to the First World War (1914-18), but she's never been able to locate anyone who might be connected to the writer.
"Many years ago I was given them by a school friend whose family had found them while cleaning up an old house on their property in the Prince George area. I don't know why she gave them to me, but I was interested and accepted them, and have been trying to return them to their rightful family without any success," Cloutier said Tuesday.
Her hope is that a Citizen reader will be able to identify someone to whom the historic material should be returned.
Cloutier senses from the writing that the letters were written by a woman.
Here are a few excerpts:
-- A letter dated June 1916 is to "My dear daughter. . . John enlisted." Another son Jack is mentioned. And "Willie Henderson is home from the front today."
-- Strichen, Scotland, 1916: "My dear daughter. I am sorry to say that your dear brother Willie has died of wounds received in France on Aug. 16. I am sorry for his wife and little ones. Your brother John is back to the front again."
-- 1917: "My dear daughter, I am sorry to inform you that your brother John has damaged his left hand picking up a German shell which exploded in his hand. He is now in a Canadian dressing station."
Greeting cards from Aberdeen, Scotland, Sept. 9, 1915. One saying, "A New Year greeting from across the sea from the Thomas Family," is addressed to Miss Nora Pirie of South Fort George, B.C., Canada.
A typed business letter, Dec. 30, 1925 is addressed to L.C. Gunn, POD 13, Prince George, from a Belfast, Northern Ireland, coat company contains a quote for a fur-lined coat.
"The three personal letters are handwritten and in fair condition," Cloutier said. "There is more information, but I don't want to misinterpret the handwriting, so I have only quoted passages of which I am sure."
Anyone who can help identify people who may be connected to the correspondence can call Cloutier at 250-964-8389 or e-mail:
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 02 December 2008 )
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