Featured "Bertha's Boy": WW1 love token on 1916 French franc, from a fallen Canadian soldier to his mother

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Well done! Fascinating research, Lord Marc! It took me a couple of visits to the forum to take it all in.

 

What are you trying to do? Make me cry before I've even had my first cup of coffee?
Seriously, what a marvelous job you've done turning that hunk of metal into something transcendental.
My hat is off to you, sir.

 

May the souls of the 18 million men, women, and children (soldiers and civilians) who died in that terrible war find peace!

Hard to believe the fields of France, Belgium and Germany are such heavenly places today, but just under 100 years ago they were literally hell on Earth.

 

Loved reading your research again, LordM! Not sure if you have done so already, but I'm hopeful you'll post your other love tokens here on CT. I'm certain everyone will enjoy and appreciate your research immensely.

PS - My personal favorite was the "Big Binge" token. Going to go see if you've already posted that one here right now...

 

That was a great research article and an interesting story, LM.

 

When I was in that area not too long ago, two places I found particularly interesting: The museum In Flanders Fields in Ieper (Ypres), Belgium and the Anneau de la Mémoire in Northern France. The latter is a memorial that, unlike all the others in the world, merely lists all the names of soldiers who died in the region during WW1, regardless of nationality or military rank.

Christian

 

Very neat

 

Just read this thread. What a great story ,piece of history, and you should feel proud! THANK YOU

 

I love coins that tell a story and yours really takes the cake!!

 

That's just fantastic @lordmarcovan thanks for sharing!

 

This would make a fantastic article in the CN Journal (Journal of the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association)...

 

I dont know where I was when this thread was newer, but wow. Amazing piece there. This is why I love coins.

 

I would happily do that - but I would want you to PM me, so that you are given the proper authorship of the article...

 

From findgrave.com, memorial #175523449

Birth: May 21, 1893
Ontario, Canada
Death: May 19, 1918, France

Born in Aultsville, Osnabruck Twp., Stormont County, Ontario, son of Simeon T. Shaver and Bertha Wiggins.

Theological student before the war.
Canadian Army Medical Corp.
Etaples Military Cemetery (Memorial 30719601)
Memorial: Woodlands West Cemetery, Farran's Point, Osnabruck Twp., headstone now located: St. Lawrence Valley Cemetery, Long Sault.


Family links:
Parents:
Simeon T. Shaver (1856 - 1942)
Bertha Wiggins Shaver (1859 - 1929)

Note: Original memorial with his parents : Woodlands West Cemetery, Farran's Point, Osnabruck Twp., a Lost Villages Cemetery.

Burial:
Saint Lawrence Valley Cemetery
Long Sault
Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry United Counties
Ontario, Canada