Vimy artifact tells great tale

[Fade]

Vimy artifact tells great tale
Eldon house: Historians think the shell casing was brought home by Edward Harris

By KELLY PEDRO

The London Free Press

Perhaps the shiniest of the baubles at Eldon House is a shell casing Edward Harris brought back from the bloody battle at Vimy Ridge.

The shiny casing is tucked on a glass display shelf, brought back as a souvenir from the nation-defining battle. The inscription on it reads "Vimy Ridge, April 9, 1917."

Nearly 3,000 Canadians died in the Battle for Vimy Ridge in the First World War and though local historians aren't positive, they assume John and Amelia Harris's grandson Edward fought there -- and survived.

"We assume that's why he had that (the shell casing) engraved when he got the case back home, but we don't know," said Cathy Luke, a historical interpreter at Eldon House, which is celebrating its 175th anniversary.

As part of the celebrations, the city and Museum London are holding a monthly lecture series about the home John and Amelia Harris built and moved into in September 1834.

On Sunday, Claus Breede, curator of the Royal Canadian Regimental Museum, will give a lecture at Eldon House at 2 p.m. entitled From Victoria Park to Wolseley Hall -- the establishment of a new London garrison."

The shell case from Vimy Ridge is one of three on display at Eldon House. The other two are short and squat and are from a German battleship, said Luke, though historians have no idea how the Harris family got them.

Edward Harris had been in the Canadian military for several years before he signed up for duty overseas in December 1914 at age 34.

"He was what you would call a career army man," said Luke, adding he was the only Harris grandson to fight in the First World War.

Article continued at http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2...53786-sun.html

[James]

Cool story. I've got a piece of souvenir shrapnel from A'Stan myself.

[Fade]

Originally Posted by James

Cool story. I've got a piece of souvenir shrapnel from A'Stan myself.

Glad ya like it! Is your souvenir encased in scar tissue in your body or on a shelf somewhere too

[Connaught Ranger]

"It's all sort of an interesting tale of the time," she said. "Off he goes and he survives, which is in itself unusual.



We have no idea if he was wounded. We know he performed some act that got him to be mentioned in dispatches . . . you're only mentioned in dispatches if you did something quite particularly brave."



His other service medals are also on display, she added.

Mr. Edward Harris medals undoubtedly have his army number inscribed on the rim

along with his rank and unit, with this information it is quite easy for the family to

research his military history.

Immediate post WW1 there was a booming (no pun intended)

trade in what is known as "Trench Art" where all manner of items,

including all varieties of shell casings from various nations military forces

were worked upon to sell as souvenirs to the soldiers on the way home.

Connaught Ranger.

[James]

Originally Posted by Fade

Glad ya like it! Is your souvenir encased in scar tissue in your body or on a shelf somewhere too

I was only abraded, not penetrated. So it's on a shelf.

[goat89]

Originally Posted by James

I was only abraded, not penetrated. So it's on a shelf.

HAHA! Nice. Ye got yourself a victory room/shelf then?