A letter written to a Canadian soldier who fought and died during the Second World War has returned home.
Peterborough resident Linda Dodson was notified a few days ago that the Canadian military would deliver a letter to her that was found on the body of her mother’s first husband, Pte. George Lyle Lamkie.
The letter, which has spent the last 60 years in a museum in Holland, was written by Lamkie’s sister, Evelyn.
On the yellowing pages, dated Oct. 4, 1944, the letter starts: “Dear Lyle, Here goes a few lines to you today.”
The letter goes on to describe family life, weather and work, and ends with a simple request: “Let’s hear from you real soon.”
Lamkie never got the chance to reply. He was killed in action on Oct. 31, 1944.
As Dodson read through the fragile pages, she told CTV Toronto how much it meant to her to have it back.
“You can just see back on history. My mother’s name is mentioned there, that she had been over to visit. And to think that he was killed right after that is unbelievable,” she said.
Dodson’s mother married Lamkie a few months before he went to war. After he died, she later remarried and has since passed away.
Dodson is planning on giving the letter to Lamkie’s sister Jean Green, as Evelyn -- the original author of the letter -- has also passed away.
The letter was brought back to Canada through the hard work and efforts of the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, who said they felt a special responsibility to see it home.
“You can never forget the people who served before us. And I see it as my duty and responsibility as the commanding officer of today to remember both our members and the families of our members who’ve served before,” said Lt.-Col. Rob Duda.
With a report from CTV Toronto’s Scott Lightfoot
