WW I Commemorative Spoon

This spoon belonged to an Great Uncle, the 196 th (Western Universities) Overseas Battalion formed in 1915-1916, and trained at Camp Hughes in south central Manitoba, Canada. During the War more than 38,000 troops trained here. Many of the soldiers who trained at Camp Hughes were later involved in the infamous Battle of Vimy Ridge in France on April 9, 1917. Future Prime Minister John Diefenbaker served as a lieutenant in the 196 battalion 1916-1917.
Although very eroded after over 85 years, the original trench system at Camp Hughes is still intact and is the only World War One era trench system remaining in North America.