WWI Remembrance Project

December 12, 1918

I have taken my first steps back on
Canadian soil. It's freezing here but I

could weep with how good it feels to be

home. Maggie and I have found a small

apartment in the city and I will be

settling into my new routine with the

Reserves here shortly.

December 20, 1918

Reserve duty is hard on my body. I am

coming home at the end of each day

swollen and in pain; I cannot keep up with

the other men. I was told today that they

will consider me for discharge after the

holidays.

December 27, 1918

As of this morning I have officially been

medically discharged from further service.

It's no wonder - my legs and feet are

mangled with scars, my heel swells after

being on my feet for too long, any sudden

movements of my ankle makes me go limp,

and I can no longer run. All this on top of

the random choking fits I find myself

having make me unable to perform any sort

of military duty.

I am grateful to have my life - so many

good men I knew never came home. Maggie

and I will move to Missouri - we have a

baby on the way and I want my parents

to know him when he's born.



I found this journal in my grandfather's things and

feel like I should add one final entry. Evander Kane,

my great-grandfather, died June 21, 1920, from

ongoing medical problems as a result of his injuries

in the war. He was surrounded by his wife and son

who remained in Missouri.

It's strange reading through this knowing what we

know now about medicine, PTSD, and the war

itself. You can hear him struggling even with the

declining frequency of entries. I plan on donating

this book to the military museum so his words and

his experience can live on.

I think I would've liked to have met him...