KNIFE, PAPER

Description: COPPER COLOUR. HAND MADE FROM SHELL FRAGMENTS. ENGRAVED ON CURVED BLADE: "HILL 60 YPRES".

History: THIS LETTER OPENER WAS MADE DURING W.W.I AT HILL 60 YPRES WHERE WINTOUR ADAMS DIED. THIS TYPE OF BATTLEFIELD SOUVENIR IS USUALLY IDENTIFIED AS TRENCH ART. *UPDATE* IN 2014 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT JANE EDMUNDSON CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF MILITARY OBJECTS. BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION FOR WINTOUR ADAMS, UNCLE OF THE DONOR, WAS FOUND IN ADAMS' MILITARY RECORDS, DEATH NOTICE IN THE DECEMBER 15, 1916 ISSUE OF THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD, AND THE LETHBRIDGE CENOTAPH COLLECTION VIA THE UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES. WINTOUR ADAMS WAS BORN IN 1889 IN CINDERFORD, ENGLAND. ADAMS IMMIGRATED TO CANADA AND MOVED TO LETHBRIDGE IN 1913, WHERE HE WORKED AS A FIREMAN FOR THE CPR BEFORE ENLISTING WITH THE 31ST BATTALION CEF IN NOVEMBER 1914. THE BATTALION ARRIVED IN ENGLAND IN MAY 1915 AND ADAMS WAS PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF LANCE CORPORAL. IN SEPTEMBER 1915 THE BATTALION MOVED TO THE FRONTLINES IN FRANCE, WHERE ADAMS WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE 3RD CANADIAN TUNNELING DIVISION ENGINEERS AND PROMOTED TO CORPORAL. THIS UNIT FOUGHT IN FRANCE AND BELGIUM, WHERE ON NOVEMBER 28, 1916 ADAMS WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY A GERMAN SNIPER. HE WAS BURIED AT BERKS CEMETERY EXTENSION, AND AWARDED THE 1914/15 STAR, BRITISH WAR WEDAL, AND VICTORY MEDAL. HIS MEMORIAL CROSS AND DEATH PLAQUE WERE ACCEPTED BY HIS MOTHER, MARIA. SEE PERMANENT FILE FOR HARDCOPIES OF ADAMS' SERVICE RECORDS AND RELATED ARTICLES.