Material Type

Artifact

Other Name

CLASP KNIFE

Date Range From

1916

Date Range To

1918

Materials

STEEL, ANTLER

No. Pieces

1

Height

2.4

Length

10.4

Width

2.7

Description

FOLDING KNIFE WITH STAG ANTLER HANDLE. SHORT CAN OPENER BLADE WHICH IS SHARPENED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BLADE. PEG EXTENDS OFF BACK OF BLADE. SECOND LONGER BLADE WITH MANUFACTURE’S MARKING IS PARTIALLY REMOVED BUT REMAINDER SAYS, “LSON....FFIELD”. BACK OF BLADE HAS GROVE WHICH IS VISIBLE WHEN CLOSED. INSIDE OF KNIFE IS RUSTY AND CORRODED. MISSING LOOP AT BASE.

Subjects

PERSONAL GEAR

Historical Association

MILITARY

History

AT THE TIME OF DONATION, DONOR JIM BETTS SAID THE ITEMS CAME INTO HIS POSSESSION WHEN HIS BROTHER ED “SOLD OUT” ON NOVEMBER 3RD, 2010. THE DONATED MATERIALS WERE PREVIOUSLY ON ED’S FARM SITE. THE FARM WAS LOCATED ON SECTION 21 - 114 AND DONOR’S FATHER CLARENCE BETTS “MOVED THERE IN 1929-30, BUT KEPT ORIGINAL HOMESTEAD.” EAST QUARTER SECTION 4 – 214. DONOR’S FATHER CLARENCE HAD 12 BROTHERS AND SISTERS. EARL’S EFFECTS HAD BEEN SENT TO CLARENCE AND EARL’S MOTHER (JULIA BETTS) BUT HOW THEY ENDED UP WITH CLARENCE IS UNKNOWN BECAUSE JULIA’S PLACE BURNT DOWN. ED BROUGHT THE TRUNK OVER AROUND NOVEMBER 3RD, 2010 AND SAID, “TAKE IT” BECAUSE THERE WAS NO PLACE FOR IT IN LETHBRIDGE. EARL WAS BESIDE HIS BROTHER CLARENCE WHEN HE GOT SHOT. “DAD WAS SHOT THROUGH THE CHEEKS, LOST THUMB. HE ALWAYS SAID IT WAS SO COLD OVER THERE UP ON THAT RIDGE. UNCLE REED SAID THE TOUGHEST BUGGERS IN RAYMOND LOVED TO FIGHT, AND EARL DID; ALTHOUGH HE WOULDN’T DRINK COFFEE BECAUSE OF THE CHICKERY (RATION COFFEE). DAD WAS UP TO 220 LBS IN THE ARMY WITH THE GOOD FOOD EATEN. THEY LIVED ON HOMESTEAD IN LITTLE SODDY. DAD PASSED AWAY ON DECEMBER 4, 1969. HE JOINED THE WAR EFFORT BECAUSE IT GOT TO HIM THAT GUYS (ALLIED COUNTRIES) WERE BEING PUSHED AROUND” CLARENCE BETTS WAS BORN ON AUG 10, 1889, WAS A FARM LABOURER FROM COUTTS. ACCORDING TO BETTS’S ATTESTATION FORM TO THE CANADIAN OVER-SEAS EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, HE ENLISTED ON ARIL 4TH 1916 AT LETHBRIDGE ALBERTA. HE WAS ISSUED THE SERVICE NUMBER 736821. HE SERVED WITH THE 113TH LETHBRIDGE HIGHLANDERS AND THE 16TH (CANADIAN SCOTTISH) BATTALION. HIS UNIT SAILED SEPTEMBER 25, 1916. IN OCTOBER OF 1916 HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE 17TH BATTALION AND IN NOVEMBER HE TRANSFERRED TO HIS FINAL UNIT, THE 16TH BATTALION. HE SERVED IN ENGLAND FROM OCTOBER 1916 TO NOVEMBER 1916, AND IN FRANCE FROM NOVEMBER 1916 TO OCTOBER 1918. HE WAS SHOT ON AUGUST 15, 1917 AND TREATED AT THE 4TH GENERAL HOSPITAL ETAPLES. BETTS WAS WOUNDED AGAIN ON OCTOBER 1, 1918 BY A PIECE OF SHRAPNEL. HE WAS DISCHARGED ON APRIL 4, 1919 AFTER THREE YEARS OF SERVICE. FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE BETTS’ BROTHERS’ MILITARY SERVICE IN ADDITION TO BACKGROUND FAMILY INFORMATION, PLEASE SEE THIS DONATION’S PERMANENT FILE.

Catalogue Number

P20110006008

Acquisition Date

2011-02

Collection

Museum

Less detail