WATCH: A mysterious trunk belonging to a soldier from the First World War has weighed heavily on a Qualicum Beach woman’s mind for years. Now after a search that spanned provinces, she finally reunited the piece to the soldier’s family. Skye Ryan reports.
Maureen Drazic could never let go of an old metal trunk she inherited from her late husband.
A soldier’s name (Sgt. Watson) and a Saskatchewan address was inscribed on it and she often wondered who he was. Unfortunately, the address was half wiped away.
“I wanted to start searching the name right away,” Drazic said.
Without a first name or anything in the trunk to go on, she went online and found names starting with W in Saskatchewan. She also found a newspaper willing to tell her story and was overwhelmed with responses.
“As soon as the paper came out I was flooded with phone calls from people who either lived in Wishart Saskatchewan or were from the area and knew the family. They knew the Watsons,” Drazic said.
And soon she had a name and face to go with the trunk: Edward Watson. He was a veteran of both the First World War and the Second World War, as well as Dory Watson’s grandfather.
“To go to all that effort to reconnect someone with their past is just, I can’t put it into words,” Dory said.
“The family can’t thank her enough. Such a wonderful lady for going through all this effort.
Drazic learned Edward Watson was a beloved man, known for his kindness throughout the community.
“I never knew my grandfather,” Dory said.
“He passed away two years before I was born, so this just gives me an even stronger connection to who he was and a part of him. It’s a relief. I feel like I’ve had something lifted off of my shoulders.”
Drazis is in the process of returning the trunk. She said she never really rightfully owned the precious piece.
Alexa Huffman
