'A gem amongst the collection': Storied First World War jacket found in Lethbridge theatre
A jacket from the First World War belonging to a soldier with a storied link to Lethbridge, Alta. is now part of the Galt Museum's permanent collection after being discovered among costumes at the Yates Theatre.
Back in 2017, the Playgoers of Lethbridge invited Kevin MacLean, the collection technician at the Galt Museum and Archives, to look through old costumes tucked away at the theatre, which was undergoing renovations.
Representatives from the Playgoers thought they may have some outfits with cultural value — and they were right.
After carefully inspecting more than 100 pieces of clothing, collections assistant Kirstan Schamuhn identified a jacket with significant value.
It belonged to Maj. Alexander Boswell Stafford — the first Battery Commander of the 39th Battery, which was raised out of Lethbridge in 1915.
"The uniform helps tell the story of A. B. Stafford's life and military career. It's a valuable addition to the Galt's collection," said Glenn Miler, local historian and retired warrant.
"All of the artillery from World War One came from Lethbridge, but when you look at the Galt resources of archives and artifacts, it's hard to prove. There's lots of artifacts and stories still out there that remain to be discovered."
The military jacket from the First World War is now part of the Galt Museum and Archives' permanent collection.
This jacket once belonging to Maj. Alexander Boswell Stafford was found at the Yates Theatre.
Stafford fought in the battle of Vimy Ridge in April 1917, and was later critically injured by a German shell in June of the same year.
According to museum representatives, these types of First World War items are incredibly hard to find, making this jacket a massive piece of the region's history.
"This would definitely be a gem amongst the collection now," said MacLean.
"Most of those gems, you would think would have come in 50 years ago, but to have something come in, in 2021 that's this important, it made the hair on the back of my neck stand up."
The Playgoers of Lethbridge has been around for nearly 100 years, making it one of the oldest operating amateur theatre groups in Canada.
No one knows just how long the jacket was tucked away.
"People will give us things that they feel have some significance and they don't want to take it to the thrift shop, they don't want to throw it away, and they're hoping it can be used again," said Playgoers president Elaine Jagielski.
"To realize that this actually is part of the Stafford name, the Stafford family, which of course has significance in Lethbridge, was amazing."
The Staffords were among the first families to settle in Lethbridge in the late 1800s.
Alexander Stafford was one of 13 children of William and Jane Stafford, who moved to the southern Alberta region in 1883.
Today, you don't have to look far to see the Stafford name around the city.
Maj. Alexander Boswell Stafford's name etched on the tag of the jacket.
Adding this rare, significant tunic to the museum's collection is a huge step in the right direction when it comes to sharing the city's rich history and keeping its stories alive.
"Our mission as an institution is to engage in the human history of southwestern Alberta, together, preserving and sharing collections and stories," said Darrin Martens, executive director and CEO of the Galt Museum and Archives.
Stafford died in 1917, and his permanent resting place is in France.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.