KIT, MESS

Description: BOTTOM PIECE IS OVAL, ALUMINUM BOWL WITH A STEEL HANDLE ON ONE SIDE THAT SWIVELS AND CLIPS ON TO OPPOSITE SIDE. HANDLE IS HELD ON BY 3 RIVETS. TOP OF HANDLE IS IMPRESSED WITH "U.S." AND "L.F. & C. 1918" VERY FAINTLY. ALSO "I 60" ON HANDLE. TOP PIECE IS A SHALLOW PLATE, OVAL SHAPED. BACK SIDE OF PLATE HAS AN OVAL RING RIVETED TO IT. PLATE FITS JUST INSIDE TOP OF BOWL AND IS HELD ON BY HANDLE. MULTIPLE DINGS, SURFACE SCRATCHES AND BLACK MARKS THROUGHOUT. HANDLE IS WORN. MINOR RUST AROUND RIVETS INSIDE BOWL. ACCRETIONS AROUND EDGE ON UNDERSIDE OF PLATE.

History: USED BY DONOR'S FATHER GEORGE G. MCLEAN (AKA "BUD"). KIT WAS ORIGINALLY A WWI U.S. ARMY ISSUE. BUD MCLEAN WAS BORN NEAR EDMONTON, ALBERTA IN 1930 AND GREW UP IN LETHBRIDGE, ATTENDING ST. BASIL'S SCHOOL. THE SON OF A RAILROAD MAN (GEORGE MCLEAN SR) AND ONE OF THE FIRST LADY CUSTOMS OFFICERS, (ELLEN MCLEAN - SEE OTHER DONATIONS IN COLLECTION), BUD STARTED WITH THE CPR IN 1946, WORKING HIS WAY UP TO ENGINEER IN 1955. HE WAS THE LAST STEAM LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER TO JOIN THE ROSTER. ONE OF HIS CHARGES IS NOW ON DISPLAY AT HERITAGE PARK IN CALGARY, ANOTHER IS AT THE HEALTH UNIT IN LETHBRIDGE. HE RETIRED FROM THE CPR IN 1986. BUD MET AND MARRIED HIS WIFE MARJORIE IN LETHBRIDGE IN 1952. THEY HAD 2 CHILDREN, DARLENE AND GRANT MCLEAN. BUD WAS DESCRIBED AS A FAMILY MAN, PARTY TRICKSTER, AND GREAT LOVER OF SPORTS. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE ELKS AND A LONG TIME SUPPORTER OF THE MINERS' LIBRARY CLUB, SERVING ON ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR SEVERAL YEARS. HE PASSED AWAY IN LETHBRIDGE ON JUNE 14, 2003 AT THE AGE OF 73 YEARS.