Lest we forget Museum By the Bay features unique story of Laurenceton soldier LEWISPORTE/LAURENCETON BY KAREN WELLS The Pilot

The X-ray that shows a German bullet sitting in the chest of Allan Tetford of Laurenceton. Photo courtesy of By The Bay Museum

LEWISPORTE/LAURENCETON – As people prepare to honour veterans and those who have lost their lives in military conflicts, remember that there were so many people from our own backyard who lost their lives or were wounded in serving their country.

            The By The Bay Museum pays tribute to the veterans of World Wars I and II through an exhibit that continues to grow as more information and artifacts are added to the collection.

            Barry Porter is the museum director and has a keen interest in seeing the memory of soldiers detailed through historical documents, photographs, interviews and artifacts.

            “I've tallied up almost 50 men who were killed from this area in WWI,” said Mr. Porter. “There are 11 (local) communities where soldiers came from and were killed – many more communities had sent soldiers.”

            The communities where soldiers who died in World War I have hailed from include Burnt Arm, Campbellton, Comfort Cove, Exploits Island, Horwood, Indian Island, Laurenceton, Lewisporte, Loon Bay, Norris Arm and Port Albert.

            “The goal of the exhibit is to give the WWI and II soldiers proper recognition and just to tell a part of their story to inform the public, the youth, the tourists of the contribution that Newfoundland made in the Wars,” said Mr. Porter.

Allan Tetford

            While Allan Tetford of Laurenceton was not killed in battle, he served with the First Newfoundland Regiment and was wounded in WWI. His story is an intriguing one that Mr. Porter has included in the exhibit thanks to a special effort by Mr. Tetford's family.

            Last year Mr. Porter was presented with an X-ray of Mr. Tetford's chest. Looking at the film it is immediately apparent that Mr. Tetford had a bullet in his chest. The bullet that hit him in France on April 12,1918 had lodged behind a lung near his heart. It was a German lead bullet. Doctors determined it was safer to leave the bullet in his chest rather than to try and remove it.

            Mr. Porter had a loan of the X-ray for one day. He contacted the Lewisporte X-ray Department who put him in contact with X-ray in Grand Falls-Windsor. The facility had gone to shooting X-rays digitally, but they still had old equipment on site that could process an X-ray film. A copy was made of the X-ray, along with a positive.

            “The staff there were fascinated by the X-ray,” said Mr. Porter. “They called in a doctor who examined the X-ray, identifying the spine, ribs, cloudiness of the organs and size of the bullet which measured about ¾ of an inch in length.”

            Mr. Porter recalled a story he was told in reference to Mr. Tetford. He needed an X-ray at some point after he had returned to Laurenceton. He went to Botwood by boat for the X-ray. Dr. Hugh Twomey took one look at the X-ray and immediately ordered Mr. Peckford back to get another X-ray, telling him to ensure he took his shirt off this time.

            “Dr. Twomey was upset that Mr. Tetford had the X-ray taken with something that looked like a bullet in his shirt pocket, not realizing it was actually in his chest,” said Mr. Porter.

            The exhibit information pertaining to Mr. Tetford also includes enlistment and medical documents Mr. Porter found through doing research at the Provincial Archives at The Rooms in St. John's.

            “You look up his name and number (#3549) and you get a reel number with any information that may be relative to him,” said Mr. Potrer. “Because Mr. Tetford was injured there are more references to him to be found.

            “His medical documentation shows he was wounded in the left arm, thigh and chest. So he could have been hit by more than the one bullet that remained in his chest.”

Growing the exhibit

            Mr. Porter is pleased to be able to include this unique piece of war history into the World War I exhibit at By The Bay Museum.

            “Not too many people get the opportunity to see this or even have a copy of it in their museum,” he said. “People comment on it – they are fascinated that he lived for many years after the war with this bullet in his chest.”

            It's unique pieces like this that act as calling cards for people to visit the museum and take in the whole picture of the exhibit and also the history of the area through everything the museum has to offer.

            In continuing his efforts to expand the exhibit Mr. Porter welcomes anyone who knows of a family member or resident from their community that served in WWI or WWII to contact him.

            “I'm more than willing to listen to any information and gather any names/documents/letters/artifacts from overseas during the Wars,” he said. “I'm hoping to get a WWI or II rifle for our exhibit. We have a bayonet, canteen, gas mask and uniform but we don't have a rifle and I want that to be the centerpiece of the exhibit.”

            A reminder that Remembrance Day ceremonies will be taking place in Lewisporte on Wednesday, Nov. 11. Everyone is welcome to take part in the parade from the Kinsmen Centre to the Lewisporte Town Hall. Those joining the parade should be at the Kin Centre around 10 a.m. Anyone interested in laying a wreath during the ceremony at the war memorial can contact Russ Moyles at 535-6908 or 535-8754.