Antiques and Collectibles With Amazing Provenance, George Tuke

The iron toy soldiers that belonged to the Tuke family from the end of the 1800's.

FAMILY RELICS THAT SHOW BIOGRAPHY IN A MORE ILLUMINATING LIGHT

I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST INTRODUCE YOU TO "DOCTOR GEORGE MONTAGUE TUKE," OF "THE LIMES"

     I WAS AWOKEN THIS MORNING, PLEASANTLY ENOUGH, BY THE CHIRPING OF BIRDS, FLITTING FROM BOUGH TO BOUGH, IN THE OLD MAPLE OUTSIDE THE BEDROOM WINDOW. IT WAS ONE OF THOSE BRIGHT SPRING DAYBREAKS, THAT BECKONS ONE TO RISE TO THE OCCASION. I TRIED TO IGNORE THE BIRDS CHATTER, AND BLOCK MY EYES FROM THE BRIGHTNESS STREAMING INTO THE ROOM. I WANTED TO DRIFT BACK TO SLEEP, BECAUSE IT WAS STILL AN HOUR BEFORE THE ALARM WAS SET TO GO OFF. BUT I JUST RECLINED THERE, THINKING ABOUT WHAT I WAS GOING TO WRITE ABOUT, LATER IN THE MORNING. I ALWAYS PREPARE WELL IN ADVANCE, FOR THE NEXT DAY'S BLOG, AND EVEN THOUGH I HAD IT SET, IN MY MIND, WHAT I WAS GOING TO USE AS SUBJECT MATERIAL, I BEGAN TO FIXATE ON HOW I WAS GOING TO PRESENT, WHAT IN ESSENCE, WAS A STORY ABOUT A FAMILY THAT I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT. ENOUGH, BUT HISTORIANS ALWAYS FRET ABOUT THESE PERCEIVED SHORTFALLS, IN RESEARCH MATERIALS. THEN THE WRITER-ME, STARTS DOING THE SAME THING, BUT INSTEAD OF WORRYING ABOUT A SHORTAGE OF INFORMATION, A TREPIDATION ARRIVES WITH A DISTINCT TREMBLE, ABOUT HOW I SHALL WRITE THE PIECE AS A MEMORABLE STORY. SO I WILL START WORDSMITHING THE OPENING FEW PARAGRAPHS, AND ESTABLISHING A FLOW TO THE CHRONOLOGY, THAT WILL MAKE SENSE TO READERS. IN OTHER WORDS, IF ALL I WAS DOING, LAYING THERE IN BED, WAS LISTENING TO THE CHARMING CHIRPS, OF THE RESIDENT BIRDS, OF BIRCH HOLLOW, IT WOULD BE MORE SOOTHING THAN IRRITATING. WHEN I BEGIN COMPOSING IN THIS STATE, I MIGHT AS WELL GET UP AND PUT ON A POT OF COFFEE. I HAVE CEASED, AT THAT POINT, TO BE RELAXED.

     THERE IS A CHAPTER IN THE BOOK, "BRACEBRIDGE HALL" WRITTEN BY WASHINGTON IRVING, THAT IS ALL ABOUT THE FAMILY RELICS, KEPT ON DISPLAY AT THE COUNTRY ESTATE OF SQUIRE BRACEBRIDGE, AND OBSERVED BY IRVING'S CHARACTER TRAVELLER, GEOFFREY CRAYON ESQ., AS HE TOURED THE GREAT ENGLISH HALL, IN THIS FICTIONAL FORAY INTO OLD ENGLISH WAYS. THERE WERE ALL TYPES OF FAMILY POSSESSIONS, DATING BACK CENTURIES, REPRESENTING ARTIFACTS, AND SOLEMN FAMILY PORTRAITS, OF ALL THE VENERABLE FAMILY MEMBERS OF PAST GENERATIONS. IT'S NOT THAT THEY POSSESSED A GREAT MONETARY ADVANTAGE TO THE FAMILY, BUT WERE ON DISPLAY AS IF THEY WERE PRICELESS. A LITERAL FAMILY MUSEUM, PRESERVED, AND ON DISPLAY, FOR ALL HOUSE GUESTS TO ENJOY; EVEN THOUGH MOST ADMITTEDLY PAID LITTLE OR NO ATTENTION, WHEN PASSING FROM ROOM TO ROOM DOWN THE LONG HALLWAYS.

     I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS CHAPTER, WRITTEN SO LONG AGO BY IRVING, WHENEVER I'VE BROUGHT OUT THE COLLECTION OF FAMILY HEIRLOOMS, FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES, THAT WE, ONLY RECENTLY, PURCHASED FOR DISPLAY PURPOSES ONLY, AT OUR GRAVENHURST ANTIQUE SHOP. WHICH I'M TOLD NOW, BY ASSORTED PATRONS, HAS THE DISTINCTION OF BEING, NOT ONLY A RETAIL OUTLET FOR LOVERS OF OLD MUSIC RELICS, AND ANTIQUES, BUT AN IN-PART MUSEUM; I SUPPOSE, MUCH LIKE SQUIRE BRACEBRIDGE'S GRAND HALL. EXCEPT THE PICTURES AND DOCUMENTS ON DISPLAY, ARE NOT FROM OUR FAMILY. WHEN YOU DEAL WITH AS MANY ESTATES, AND ARCHIVE COLLECTIONS AS WE HAVE, IN OUR OWN STORIED PAST, LET ME TELL YOU, ALL OF THESE COLLECTIONS ALSO, BY STRANGE FUSION, BECOME PART OF OUR FAMILY LIFE AND TIMES. HONESTLY, WE HAVE COME TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE FAMILIES OF COLLECTIONS, WE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED, THAN WE KNOW ABOUT OUR OWN KIN-FOLK. IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS, WE HAVE BECOME INTIMATE WITH THE RELICS OF THE TUKE FAMILY OF ENGLAND, AND CANADA, AS CLOSE AS OUR OWN HOMETOWN, HERE IN SOUTH MUSKOKA. THE OFFSPRING WASN'T TOO INTERESTED IN ACQUIRING THE SMALL ARCHIVES, AND THE OWNERS JUST WANTED IT TO GO TO SOMEONE WHO WOULD APPRECIATE THE HERITAGE BURIED WITHIN. THEY CAME TO US, WITH THIS AMAZING LITTLE CHRONOLOGY, AND WE ARE SO DELIGHTED THEY DID. BUT WE MADE IT CLEAR TO THEM, THAT IT WAS A COLLECTION WE SIMPLY COULDN'T PART WITH, BECAUSE OF THE INTEGRITY OF THE BIOGRAPHIES, IN BITS AND PIECES, STRETCHING BACK TO AN HEIRLOOM SILVER TRAY, DATING BACK TO THE EARLY 1700'S. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THAT OFTEN, THAT WE CAN ASCERTAIN AND HIGHLIGHT, SUCH A CONTINUOUS, SIGNIFICANT LINE, TO TRACE BACK AND, WELL, WRITE ABOUT, AS I AM TODAY. FEELING SUDDENLY IN THE COMPANY OF THE FASCINATING DR. GEORGE TUKE, OF KENT, ENGLAND. I AM SO PLEASED TO HAVE BEEN AFFORDED THIS OPPORTUNITY, BY THE SAME FAMILY, THAT ALLOWED SUZANNE AND I ACCESS TO A MEDICAL CORP SWORD, FROM ANOTHER ANCESTOR, WHO HAD SERVED WITH THE FEDERAL ARMY, DURING THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR. AS THAT WAS A REMARKABLE OPPORTUNITY, TO EXPERIENCE HISTORY, THIS ONE TODAY, IS JUST AS SPECIAL AND ENDEARING. AT LEAST TO THE LOVERS OF HISTORY. OF COURSE, WHEN YOU ENGAGE ALMOST ANY OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE HISTORY, FROM DOCUMENTS AND ARTIFACTS LIKE WE HAVE ACQUIRED, WORK IS NEVER REALLY WORK. I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS BRIEF EXAMINATION, OF WHAT FEEDS OUR AMBITIONS, IN THE ANTIQUE AND HISTORY PROFESSION. HERE NOW IS AN INTRODUCTION TO OUR STORY. THE ARTIFACTS AND DOCUMENTS WILL EVENTUALLY BE PUT ON DISPLAY AT OUR SHOP, SHOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THEM CLOSE-UP.

     "IN AUGUST LAST, (1977), IN SEARCH OF RELATIVES, WE WENT TO SUTTON VALANCE, KENT, (ENGLAND) AND HAD A MOST DELIGHTFUL DAY THERE. WE WERE SHOWN OVER THE OLD HOUSE, 'THE LIMES,' BY THE PRESENT OCCUPIERS. BUT TO THEIR REGRET HAD CHANGED THE NAME OF THE HOUSE. THE LIMES ARE STILL THERE, LOOKING VERY OLD, AND THERE ARE STILL MANY THINGS THERE, THAT GRANDFATHER USED IN HIS SURGERY.

     "IT MAY BE OF SOME INTEREST TO YOU, THAT GRANDFATHER'S MODEL T FORD, THE FIRST IN THAT PART OF KENT, IS STILL IN EXISTENCE, LOOKING BRAND NEW, IN A CAR SHOWROOM IN MAIDSTONE. WE HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY OF GOING TO SEE IT YET, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE ORIGINAL PAPERS, LIKE THE BILL OF SALE ARE STILL WITH THE CAR. I WAS AMAZED TO FIND SO MANY PEOPLE, IN SUTTON VALANCE, WHO KNEW GRANDFATHER. HAVE YOU BEEN TO SUTTON VALANCE IN THE PAST?

     "I AM ENCLOSING A PHOTOSTAT FROM A MAGAZINE (OF AN ARTICLE) ON GRANDFATHER, WHICH MIGHT INTEREST YOU. I DO NOT KNOW WHEN IT WAS PUBLISHED."

     THE ABOVE, WAS INCLUDED IN A LETTER, FROM ONE FAMILY MEMBER TO ANOTHER, REGARDING A MATTER OF INHERITANCE, WHICH STRETCHED BACK TO THE ESTATE OF "DOCTOR GEORGE MONTAGUE TUKE," THE FORMER OWNER OF "THE LIMES," IN SUTTON VALANCE, KENT, ENGLAND, AND THE GRANDFATHER REFERRED TO IN THE PASSAGES ABOVE. THE ARTICLE THAT IS REFERRED TO, IS ENTITLED "FIELD, COVERT AND ROADSIDE," BY HOPLEAF, AND IS SUBTITLED, "THE OLD DOCTOR." THIS IS THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE FEATURE ARTICLE I PROMISED, EARLIER LAST WEEK, REGARDING A FAMILY COLLECTION OF ITEMS, WITH A LOCAL TIE, CENTERING AROUND THE MILITARY ACCOMPLISHMENTS, OF THE DOCTOR'S SON, CAPTAIN S. M. TUKE. FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO BEGIN THIS SHORT SERIES, WITH A LOOK BACK AT CAPTAIN TUKE'S WELL KNOWN, AND RESPECTED FATHER, DOCTOR GEORGE MONTAGUE TUKE.

     THE UNDATED ARTICLE IS AN INTERESTING RETROSPECTIVE OF DOCTOR TUKE, AND HIS SURGERY, IN THE ENGLISH COMMUNITY OF SUTTON VALANCE, IN KENT, AND WAS WRITTEN BY AN AUTHOR, KNOWN ONLY AS "HOPLEAF," AND AS YOU'LL SOON DISCOVER, IT DID HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH "HOPS."

FIELD, COVERT AND ROADSIDE - THE OLD DOCTOR

     "SHORT AND STOCKY IN BUILD, WITH A GRUFFNESS OF MANNER THAT WAS BELIED BY THE KINDLY LITTLE EYES, THAT TWINKLED BEHIND HIS SPECTACLES, A  COUNTRY MEDICO OF THE OLD SCHOOL, WHOSE RULING PASSION WAS FOX-HUNTING. SUCH WAS THE OLD DOCTOR I KNEW FOR MORE YEARS THAN I CARE TO REMEMBER.

     "A PRODUCT OF THE 80'S (1880'S MEDICAL SCHOOL), I DOUBT WHETHER HE HAD OPENED A MODERN TEXTBOOK SINCE SETTING UP HIS PLATE IN A CERTAIN KENTISH VILLAGE, SET ON A KENTISH HILL, SOME FORTY YEARS PREVIOUSLY. THROUGHOUT THAT TIME, HE HAD TENDED HIS PATIENTS, EXCEPT ON HUNTING DAYS, BY THE OLD FASHIONED METHODS IN WHICH HE FIRMLY BELIEVED, AND WITH A SUCCESS AT LEAST EQUAL TO THAT ACHIEVED BY THE HIGHLY PRESSURIZED HEALTH SERVICES, WHICH WE NOW ENJOY. UNKIND PEOPLE WOULD SAY THAT HE CARED MORE FOR A FOX THAN A PATIENT. AT ANY RATE, MOST OF HIS PATIENTS SEEMED TO DIE OF OLD AGE, AND IT WAS HIS BOAST THAT HE HAD 'NEVER LOST A BABY.' HE WAS WELL AWARE, THAT IN THE EYES OF THE SIMPLE-MINDED COUNTRY FOLK, OF THOSE DAYS, 'A BOTTLE OF MEDICINE FROM THE DOCTOR,' WHATEVER ITS CONSTITUENTS, POSSESSED ALMOST MAGICAL PROPERTIES.

     "FOR ANY SORT OF SPRAIN, WHETHER IN HUMANS OR HORSES, LEAD LOTION WAS ALWAYS THE SPECIFIC. WHILE FOR ANY OTHER MINOR AILMENT, THERE WAS A STANDING PRESCRIPTION KNOWN AS 'THE MIXTURE,' WHICH WAS STORED IN BULK, AND KEPT IN A STONE JAR IN THE SURGERY; THE FORMULA BEING, I BELIEVE, 'MAG-SULPH, TINCT COCH, WHICH, AS A CHEMIST WILL TELL YOU, IS EPSON SALTS COLOURED WITH COCHNICAL. NEVERTHELESS, IT SEEMED TO WORK, ESPECIALLY IF WELL SHAKEN BEFORE TAKEN. AND IN CASES OF SERIOUS ILLNESS THERE WAS NO ONE MORE FASTIDIOUS, THAN THE OLD DOCTOR. HE HAD A FLAIR FOR DIAGNOSIS, AKIN TO THAT OF A VET, AND NEVER FAILED TO CALL IN A SECOND OPINION. HE LOVED CHILDREN AND WAS AT HIS BEST WITH A SMALL PATIENT, ALL OF WHO ADORED HIM.

     "THE OLD MAN WAS A BORN HORSEMAN AND HAD USED HORSES FOR HIS PRACTICE ALL HIS LIFE. ALTHOUGH LATTERLY HIS GROOM, JESSUP, HAD BEEN TAUGHT TO DRIVE A MODEL T FORD, WHICH WAS USED FOR NIGHT WORK, HE HAD NEVER TAKEN KINDLY TO THE MOTOR CAR, WHICH HE REGARDED AS A NEW FANGLED NUISANCE. WHEN I KNEW HIM, HE HAD A BIG CHESTNUT MARE, 'MOLLY,' OF WHOM HE WAS INORDINATELY PROUD. SHE WAS A GOODISH SORT OF MARE, AND A USEFUL HUNTER WHEN SHE GOT WARMED UP, BUT INCLINED TO PEEP ABOUT A BIT, AND WAS SHY ON THE ROAD. THIS, THE OLD DOCTOR, RATHER ENJOYED. HE RODE AS A NATURAL HORSEMAN, WITH LONG LEATHERS AND A LONG REIN, LOOKING 'ONE WITH HIS HORSE.' AND ALTHOUGH HE NEVER APPEARED TO HAVE HOLD OF HER, HE WAS NEVER CAUGHT NAPPING BY HER ANTICS.

     "WHEN I RODE WITH HIM ON HIS ROUNDS, AS OFTEN AS I DID, I WOULD LISTEN TO AN ENDLESS FLOW OF ANECDOTE AND REMINISCENCE, TOLD WITH PUNGENCY, AND SOMETIMES RABELAISIAN WIT, THAT WERE TYPICAL OF HIS CHARACTER. EVERY FIELD, FENCE OR COVERT, RECALLED SOME PAST HUNTING EXPLOIT, OR EXPERIENCE, WHICH, I IMAGINE, LOST NOTHING IN THE TELLING.

     "YOU SEE THAT PLACE OUT THERE,' HE WOULD REMARK, POINTING WITH THE WHIP INTO THE DISTANCE. I SAW A FIELD SLOPING DOWN TO AN OLD LOOKING, OVERGROWN HEDGE, OF ENORMOUS PROPORTIONS. 'NASTY PLACE, THAT....VERY NASTY. DITCH ONE SIDE AND A BIG DROP THE OTHER; REGULAR BECHERS, COME ALL OVER A TREMBLE WHEN I THINK OF IT! I REMEMBER WHEN BILL RIGDEN HAD THE HOUNDS, AFORE YOUR TIME. ONE DAY THEY RAN THIS WAY, AND WE CAME TO THIS VERY PLACE GOING LIKE MAD. BILL WENT OVER, BUT ALL THE OTHERS WENT CRYING FOR MOTHER! THERE WAS ONLY JACK COVENEY AND ME LEFT. JACK WENT FIRST AND GOT STUCK IN THE MIDDLE. CALLED OUT TO ME TO GIVE HIM A PUSH. I WAS RIDING ON OLD THUNDERER; COULDN'T HAVE STOPPED HIM IF I'D TRIED. WE RAMMED HIM IN HIS BEHIND AND HE AND HIS HORSE WENT SPRAWLING INTO THE NEXT FIELD. NEVER EVEN SAID THANK YOU.

     "WONDERFUL SPORT BILL USED TO BE. BEST WOODLAND HUNTSMAN THAT EVER WAS, WHEN HE HAD THE TICKHAM. KILLED ANY NUMBER OF FOXES; BUT A FOX KILLED HIM IN THE END. HE'D BEEN DIGGING AND THE FOX BIT HIM THROUGH THE BOOT. BLOOD POISONING; DEAD IN A WEEK, POOR CHAP. LORD, WHAT TIMES WE USED TO HAVE TOGETHER. DINED WITH HIM UP AT WREN CROSS, WHENEVER THERE WAS A MOOTE TWO BOTTLES OF PORT. 'MIND HOW YOU GO, GEORGE,' HE'D SAY, WHEN HE PUT ME UP IN MY TRAP. 'KEEP BETWEEN THE HEDGES, AND YOU'LL BE ALL RIGHT.' BUT THE OLD MARE KNEW HER WAY HOME. GOT PAST THAT SORT OF THING NOW. DRINKING AND WENCHING IS A YOUNG MAN'S WORK. PUT AWAY THE BOTTLE, TAKE DOWN THE TEAPOT. CARPET SLIPPERS AND NURSE THE CAT. THAT'S WHAT WE ALL COME TO.'

     "IN HIS CAPACITY OF MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH, FOR THE HOLLINGBOURNE DISTRICT, THE OLD DOCTOR, DURING THE HOP PICKING SEASON, WOULD RIDE ROUND THE HOPPERS' ENCAMPMENT, WHICH WERE ABOUT AS PRIMITIVE AS THE DENIZENS OF HOXTON AND LAMBETH, WHO CAME DOWN TO OCCUPY THEM. THE SAME FAMILIES CAME TO THE SAME FARMS EVERY YEAR, AND THE OLD MAN WAS A FAVOURITE WITH THEM ALL. THE CHILDREN, FOR WHOM HE ALWAYS HAD A BAG OF SWEETS, CLUSTERED AROUND HIM, AS HE SAT ON HIS MARE EXCHANGING CHAFF WITH THE WOMENFOLK, WHOSE BAWDIER SALLIES, WOULD PRODUCE SHRIEKS OF APPRECIATIVE LAUGHTER. THE DOCTOR USUALLY GAVE AS GOOD AS HE GOT.

     "HULLO LIZZIE,' TO A BOLD EYED WENCH, WITH AN INFANT IN ARMS, AND SEVERAL MORE TRAILING AT HER SKIRT. 'GOT ANOTHER ONE? UPON MY WORD, THEY'RE AS REGULAR AS AUTUMN BLACKBERRIES. DIS-GRACE-FUL! NEVER HEARD SUCH A THING; AND ME A MAGISTRATE,' GRUMBLED THE OLD MAN AND RODE OFF IN HIGH GLEE.

     "ALWAYS INTERESTED IN PEOPLE, HE WOULD SIT ON A SUNNY DAY AT HIS OPEN BOW-WINDOW, WHICH LOOKED ON TO THE STREET, WATCHING THE LIFE OF HIS BELOVED VILLAGE, AND READY TO HAIL THE PASSERBY FOR A BIT OF GOSSIP. DESPITE HIS OUTWARD RIBALDRY, HE HAD A SHREWD COMMONSENSE, AND SYMPATHETIC UNDERSTANDING; THOSE WHO CAME TO HIM FOR HELP OR COUNSEL, IN THEIR TROUBLES, WOULD NOT GO AWAY EMPTHY. AS A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, HE DISPLAYED A SYMPATHY FOR THE UNDER-DOG, LENIENCY OF SENTENCE, BEING TEMPERED WITH A BRISK HOMILY, ON THE CHRISTIAN VIRTUES. THE OLD DOCTOR WAS A CHARACTER, AND KENT WAS THE POORER FOR HIS PASSING."

    AT TIMES DURING THIS RESEARCH, AND HAVING READ THE ABOVE PASSAGES NUMEROUS TIMES NOW, IT'S AS IF I HAVE BEEN INVITED TO RIDE ALONG IN THE GOOD DOCTOR'S BUGGY, RATTLING ALONG, OVER HILL AND LOWLAND, WITH A TRAILING DUST CLOUD, TUMBLING BEHIND, DOWN ALL THE RELEVANT COUNTRY LANES IN KENT, TENDING TO HIS MANY PATIENTS.

    ACCORDING TO A COPY OF THE TUKE FAMILY TREE, WHICH GOES BACK MANY CENTURIES, DOCTOR GEORGE TUKE'S FATHER WAS FRANCIS EDWARD TUKE, OF BORDEN VICARAGE; CLERK IN HOLY ORDERS. BORN 16TH, APRIL, 1825. DIED AGED 73 AT MAIDSTONE, COUNTY KENT. HIS WIFE, AND THE DOCTOR'S MOTHER, WAS 'HELEN,' DAUGHTER OF MAJOR BURRIDGE, OF THE 11TH HUSSERS, MARRIED CIRCA 1850. DR. GEORGE MONTAGU TUKE, WAS BORN ON THE 11TH OF APRIL, 1854, AND DIED IN 1930. THE SUBJECT OF THIS SHORT SERIES, IS THE DOCTOR'S SON, CAPTAIN SHIRLY MONTAGUE TUKE, BORN TO GEORGE AND HELEN IN 1894.

     THE IRON TOY SOLDIERS AND BANDSMEN, WE BELIEVE, ONCE BELONGED TO CAPTAIN TUKE AS A CHILD, AND WERE PASSED DOWN TO THE PRESENT, IN THE TUKE FAMILY, TO MEMBERS WHO STILL LIVE HERE IN SOUTH MUSKOKA.

1914 General Map showing European frontiers at the beginning of the First World War.

Captain S. Montague Tuke

COMING UP TO THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY; THE COMMENCEMENT OF WORLD WAR ONE - A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF CAPTAIN TUKE

WHAT A WEALTH OF HISTORY HAS BEEN STORED AWAY IN TRUNKS

     FATHER HEFFERNAN PROBABLY WOULDN'T AGREE WITH ME, THAT JUST BEING HANDED A SIGNED COPY OF HIS RECORD, A FEW MOMENTS AGO, COULD BE CONSIDERED ANY KIND OF HEAVENLY SIGN, TO THE UNSUSPECTING RECIPIENT. WELL, HE'S ENTITLED TO HIS OPINION. SINCE I MET FATHER ON THE PLAYING FIELD, OF BRACEBRIDGE PUBLIC SCHOOL, BACK IN 1966, WHEN HE WAS THE PRIEST AT ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH, WE HAVE HAD MANY HAPPENSTANCE MEETINGS THAT ALWAYS MEANT A LOT TO ME. PRETTY MUCH FOR THE SAME REASON. I WOULD BE ANGRY OR FRUSTRATED, WORKING ON A PROJECT, AND SOMETHING OUT OF THE BLUE, MAYBE HEAVEN, WOULD MAKE ME THINK OF FATHER, AND HOW HE WOULD HANDLE A SIMILAR SITUATION. BY THE WAY, I'M NOT CATHOLIC, AND I NEVER ATTENDED EVEN ONE OF HIS SERVICES. JUST BEING EXPOSED TO HIS KINDNESSES OF ONCE, DID IT FOR ME OVER A LIFETIME.

    HE USED TO COME OVER TO THE NEIGHBORING SCHOOL EVERY RECESS AND SOMETIMES AT LUNCH, TO PLAY FOOTBALL WITH US. HE WAS AN AMAZING SPORTSMAN, WHO INSISTED ON INVOLVING AS MANY KIDS IN RECREATIONAL EVENTS AS POSSIBLE, INCLUDING HOCKEY. I CALLED HIM "ELBOWS" BECAUSE I TASTED HIS MANY TIMES, ESPECIALLY IN HOCKEY; HE WAS ROUGH IN THE CORNERS, BUT HE ALWAYS APOLOGIZED, AND HELPED ME BACK TO MY FEET AFTER KNOCKING ME DOWN. I HAVE FOLLOWED HIS YEARS WITH THE CHURCH, A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE MANY OF US, THE FOLKS FROM THE OLD DAYS, THAT HE INSPIRED, STILL CONSIDER HIM OUR OWN FATHER O'MALLY, FROM. OF COURSE, THE PORTRAYAL OF THE CHARACTER-FATHER, BY BING CROSBY, IN MOVIES, "THE BELLS OF ST. MARYS," AND "GOING MY WAY." FATHER HEFFERNAN'S INSPIRATION SURFACES AT THE STRANGEST POINTS IN MY LIFE, AND TODAY, AT THE PEAK OF FRUSTRATION, WHEN I WANTED TO THROW THIS LAPTOP INTO THE STREET, TO BE RUN OVER. AND WITHOUT KNOWING IT, REACHING OUT AND ACCEPTING A FREE RECORD FROM MY SON, THAT JUST CAME IN THE DOOR, WITH A BUNCH OF OTHER BOXED VINTAGE VINYL, HERE IT ARRIVED AT MY SIDE ONCE MORE. THE RECORD IS ENTITLED "RADIO AND T.V. REFLECTIONS." "I KNEW YOU WOULD WANT THIS ONE DAD," ANDREW SAID, WITH A BIG SMILE ON HIS FACE, BECAUSE HE HAS HEARD EVERY ONE OF MY FATHER HEFFERNAN RECOLLECTIONS. AND BY GOLLY, IT'S SIGNED. I'M GOING TO GET SON ROBERT TO PLAY IT FOR ME, LATER THIS AFTERNOON. I NOW HAVE TWO COPIES. JUST SEEING HIS BIG SMILE ON THE RECORD COVER, AND I'M GOOD TO GO ANOTHER THOUSAND MILES.

    DID I EVER TELL YOU ABOUT THE TIME, I GOT A CALL FROM FATHER, ON A SNOWY CHRISTMAS EVE, ONE YEAR, VIA A PHONE BELONGING TO A NEIGHBOR BUSINESS; JUST A SECOND BEFORE I WAS HEADED OUT INTO THE STORM THAT NIGHT, TO INCH MY WAY HOME TO GRAVENHURST FROM BRACEBRIDGE. FATHER HAD HEARD OUR SHOP WAS LOCATED BENEATH MARTIN'S FRAMING, ON MANITOBA STREET, SO HE PHONED IT ON THE HUNCH, BARB MARTIN, WOULD ADVISE ME OF THE CALL. AS I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF WISHING BARB A "MERRY CHRISTMAS," SHE GOT THE CALL, AND I JUST DECIDED TO WAIT A FEW MORE MINUTES, TO FINISH MY FAREWELL. THAT'S WHEN SHE YELLED DOWN TO ME, STANDING AT THE DOOR, WITH HER HAND OVER THE MOUTHPIECE, "TED, YOU MAY NOT BELIEVE THIS, BUT FATHER HEFFERNAN IS ON THE PHONE FOR YOU." WHAT A NICE CONVERSATION WE HAD, AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, I WAS ABLE TO THANK THE MAN, FOR KEEPING SO MANY OF US YOUNGSTERS BACK THEN, PLAYING SPORTS, INSTEAD OF MISCHIEF. AS ALWAYS HE WAS HUMBLE. HE WAS OUR FATHER O'MALLY. I FEEL UPLIFTED BY THIS MOST RECENT, INADVERTENT ACT OF GENEROSITY. ONCE AGAIN, AND CALL IT WHAT YOU WILL, FATHER HAS INSPIRED ME TO FINISH TODAY'S WORK, NO MATTER WHAT ADVERSITY THIS LAPTOP THROWS AT ME. I FEEL REFRESHED. THANK YOU, WHOEVER IT WAS, WHO KINDLY BROUGHT THIS RECORD INTO THE SHOP, AND THANK YOU, FATHER HEFFERNAN, ONCE AGAIN.

     IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AS OFTEN AS I WOULD LIKE, BUT THERE ARE FOLKS WHO DROP INTO OUR SHOP, WHO GENEROUSLY OFFER, AND EVEN DONATE, (FOR DISPLAY) INTERESTING AND EVEN UNIQUE HERITAGE ITEMS, SUCH AS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE RECENT MEDICAL OFFICER'S PRESENTATION SWORD, (YOU CAN ARCHIVE BACK TO CIVIL WAR SWORD IN THIS BLOG COLLECTION) USED IN SERVICE, BY ONE OF THEIR KIN, WHILE HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE MEDICAL CORP, OF THE ILLINOIS REGIMENT, OF THE FEDERAL ARMY, DURING THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR. WHILE WE DIDN'T PURCHASE THE SWORD, BECAUSE IT IS AN HEIRLOOM, BEING PASSED ALONG IN THE FAMILY (WHICH IS WHAT WE WANT TO HEAR), WE WERE OFFERED THE RARE OPPORTUNITY TO PHOTOGRAPH IT, HANDLE IT, PLUS RESEARCH ITS LEGACY, AND BEST OF ALL, WRITE A FEATURE STORY ABOUT IT (AND WAVE IT AROUND IN THE SHOP FOR A FEW MOMENTS); AND TO VIEW UP CLOSE, THE DOCTOR'S CIVIL WAR BUTTONS, FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES, REMOVED FROM THE SOLDIER'S "GREAT COAT." WE KNOW THERE ARE CIVIL WAR BUTTONS OUT THERE, BUT, BEFORE THIS, WE HAD ONLY SEEN THEM IN PUBLISHED PHOTOGRAPHS. WE EVEN HAD THE CHANCE TO MEASURE THEM, JUST IN CASE WE CAME UPON SOME, DOWN THE ROAD, AS WE ARE ALWAYS BUYING JARS OF BUTTONS FROM YARD SALES. THE ANTIQUE BUSINESS, AS WE OPERATE IT, IS A STRANGE BUT ENJOYABLE MIX OF BUYING AND SELLING, AND EXHIBITING ITEMS WE WANT YOU TO SEE. MANY ANTIQUE DEALERS CRINGE AT THE VERY IDEA OF HAVING ANYTHING IN THEIR SHOP THAT ISN'T FOR SALE, AS THEY BELIEVE HAVING "NOT FOR SALE," AND "FOR EXHIBIT ONLY" SIGNS, ON ARTIFACTS, SCARE CUSTOMERS AWAY. FUNNY THING THAT, BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY KEEP CUSTOMERS IN OUR SHOP LONGER, BECAUSE OF OUR DISPLAYS, DUE TO THE FACT, THEY USUALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PIECES IN THE EXHIBIT. WE TALK HISTORY HERE, FROM MORNING UNTIL NIGHT. WORKS FOR US. AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEND A CENT. NOW THAT'S A BARGAIN.

     CHRIS THOMPSON, A FAMILY FRIEND, AND HOBBY FAMILY HISTORIAN, (DID I MENTION COLLECTOR OF NEAT ARTIFACTS), BROUGHT US IN, FOR DISPLAY, AN ENGRAVED 1960'S PRESENTATION TRAY, RECEIVED BY THE FORMER OWNER OF WINDERMERE HOUSE RESORT, ON LAKE ROSSEAU, FROM THE CANADIAN ALBACORE SAILING ASSOCIATION, TO ACKNOWLEDGE MARY ELIZABETH AITKEN'S HOSPITALITY TO THE GROUP, DURING THEIR ANNUAL RACES. THIS IS A NICE RELIC OF MUSKOKA MEMORABILIA, IN GREAT CONDITION, AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE IT ON DISPLAY IN THE SHOP. WE ARE ALWAYS RECEPTIVE TO EXHIBITING MUSKOKA COLLECTABLES, WHENEVER WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY.

     THERE ARE MANY OF US, WHO HAVE IMPORTANT RELICS, WITH STORIES ATTACHED, TUCKED AWAY IN KEEPSAKE TRUNKS, IN ATTICS AND CLOSETS, INCLUDING WAR LETTERS AND PIONEER JOURNALS, THAT ARE VIEWED, IN SOME REGARDS, AS BURDENSOME, BECAUSE IT IS ASSUMED, NO ONE WILL WANT THEM WHEN THEIR ESTATE IS FINALLY SETTLED. THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SENSITIVITY OF THE MATERIAL OF JOURNALS, DIARIES AND LETTERS, AND IT IS OFTEN THE CASE, BUNDLES OF IMPORTANT CORRESPONDENCE, ARE BURNED OR RUN THROUGH A SHREDDER, INSTEAD OF CONSERVED AND SHARED WITH THOSE OF US, WITH A KEEN APPRECIATION FOR THESE SMALL, BUT IMPORTANT PIECES OF THE GIANT PUZZLE OF WORLD HISTORY. I REMEMBER TALKING TO A DESCENDENT OF A WELL KNOWN MUSKOKA FAMILY, WHO SHOWED ME A THICK FAMILY JOURNAL, (HANDWRITTEN) WITH MANY PAGES REMOVED, BECAUSE ONE OF THE OTHER SIBLINGS, HAD DECIDED, ON HER OWN, THAT THE MATERIAL WITHIN WAS TOO PERSONAL TO SHARE WITH OTHERS. HAVING WORKED WITH ALL KINDS OF SENSITIVE MATERIAL IN THE PAST, I COULD HAVE SAVED THOSE PAGES, WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE GOOD STORY WITHIN. AT LEAST THE FULL INTEGRITY OF THE JOURNAL WOULD HAVE BEEN CONSERVED, FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS, TO BENEFIT FROM; AND NOT JUST IN THE FINANCIAL SENSE. I DON'T SELL IMPORTANT MUSKOKA DOCUMENTS WE HAVE UNCOVERED, BECAUSE I USE THESE MATERIALS FREQUENTLY, IF NOT FOR SPECIFIC CONTENT, FOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION, AND YES, POTENTIALLY FOR DISPLAY PURPOSES. SOME MATERIAL I WOULD NEVER RELEASE FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION, BECAUSE OF THE SENSITIVE NATURE OF WRITTEN MATERIAL, WHICH COULD, MOST DEFINITELY, HURT THE FEELINGS OF KIN, ADVERSELY NAMED IN THE TEXT. IT HAPPENS. THE JOURNAL WRITERS NEVER THOUGHT THEIR HANDIWORK WOULD EVER BE PUBLISHED. IT REMINDS ME OF THE JOURNAL OF MUSKOKA ARTIST, ADA FLORENCE KINTON, WHO WAS ALSO A MEMBER OF CONSIDERABLE ACCOMPLISHMENT, WITH THE SALVATION ARMY. WHEN SHE PASSED AWAY, EARLY IN THE 1900'S, HER SISTER, SARA RANDLESON, DECIDED TO PUBLISH HER HANDWRITTEN JOURNAL, UNDER THE HEADING,

"JUST ONE BLUE BONNET," AND IT'S A PRECIOUS, HIGHLY IMPORTANT BIOGRAPHY, WITH MANY REFERENCES TO THE DISTRICT OF MUSKOKA, AND HUNTSVILLE SPECIFICALLY; WITH OBSERVATIONS ABOUT HUNTSVILLE IN THE 1880'S UP TO AN INCLUDING THE PERIOD JUST BEFORE SHE DIED IN THAT COMMUNITY.

     AS AN EXAMPLE, I KNOW OF A BOOK THAT WAS WRITTEN, AS A FAMILY HISTORY, THAT REFERRED TO AN IN-LAW'S KIN, BEING A NO GOOD HORSE THIEF. THIS, I KNOW FOR FACT, HAS NEVER BEEN FORGIVEN, AMONGST THOSE KIN WITH LONG MEMORIES. THIS KIND OF REFERENCE AND TESTIMONIAL, SHOWS UP MORE THAN YOU MIGHT THINK. IN A RECENT COLLECTION WE ACQUIRED, THERE ARE MATERIALS, PRINT ITEMS, RELEASED BY GROUPS DENYING THE HOLOCAUST. SOMETIMES YOU GET THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE TO WHAT YOU EXPECT, WHEN ACQUIRING ESTATES. WE OF COURSE, SHREDDED THESE OFFENSIVE DOCUMENTS. WE KNOW WHAT GOES AND WHAT REMAINS. AFTER A LOT OF YEARS, BEING UP TO OUR EARS IN OLD PAPER, KEPT BY WELL INTENTIONED HOARDERS, WE KNOW THAT YOU CAN FIND THE STRANGEST ITEMS, WITH AMAZING IMBEDDED CONTRADICTIONS, AND CORRECTIONS, TO WHAT WE HAD, AS PRIOR EXPECTATION, KNOWN OF THE PEOPLE WE THOUGHT WE KNEW. IT'S ALL THE SAME TO US, BECAUSE OF OUR FIRM COMMITMENT TO CONFIDENTIALITY. EVEN IF WE ARE GIVEN PERMISSION TO USE THIS MATERIAL, WE JUDGE WHAT FALLS BENEATH OUR BYLINE, OR IS ON DISPLAY AT OUR SHOP. CALL IT CENSORSHIP, BUT WE ARE LOYAL TO SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBERS. IT'S SURPRISING WHAT INFORMATION CAN HURT THESE UNSUSPECTING FOLKS, SO IT'S OUR JOB, ABOVE AND BEYOND, TO MAKE SURE IT REMAINS UNDER WRAPS.

     ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE'VE HAD ACCESS TO A SMALL BUT SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FIRST WORLD WAR ARTIFACTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS, WHICH IS PERFECT FOR OUR PLANS, THIS SEPTEMBER, TO HOST A MINOR BUT HEARTFELT EXHIBIT OF MATERIALS, COMMEMORATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR. AS A MEMORIAL TRIBUTE, OF COURSE.

     IN THE HISTORY GAME, THERE SEEM TO BE A LOT OF COINCIDENCES, BUT WHEN YOU'RE ALWAYS ON THE LOOK-OUT FOR CONTINUOUS THREADS, WEAVING THROUGH MANKIND'S CHRONICLE, RESEARCHERS BY DUE DILIGENCE, FIND RELATED HERITAGE SEAMS, BECAUSE THEY'RE IN THE RIGHT VEIN FROM THE BEGINNING. AND LIKE VEINS, THERE ARE MANY INTERSECTING ARTERIES, THAT LEAD TO OTHER JUNCTIONS AND LOW AND BEHOLD, SO MANY MORE DISCOVERIES. THERE ARE TIMES HOWEVER, AND MOST OF US DON'T OVER-ANALYZE THESE THINGS, WE SCRATCH OUR HEADS, AS TO HOW IN THE WORLD ALL THESE SOURCES CAME TOGETHER, AND WHAT, FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, ARRIVED AT THE PERFECT TIME. THERE ARE OTHER TIMES, WHEN LIKE THE PUZZLE-MAKER, WE DRIVE OURSELVES NUTS TRYING TO SPLICE-IN PIECES THAT SEEMINGLY DON'T EXIST, OR CAN'T BE FOUND. WHETHER THEY ARE STUCK TO OUR SOCK-BOTTOM, OR HAVE SLIPPED DOWN A HEATING DUCT, ON THE LIVING ROOM FLOOR, WE START FEELING REAL BAD, ABOUT THE FACT WE CAN'T FINISH THE PUZZLE. EVEN BEFORE WE COMMENCE SUCH A PROJECT, WE ALWAYS KNOW THIS "MISSING" PIECE SYNDROME, COULD HAUNT US, WHEN WE GET TO THAT POINT OF RESEARCH EXHAUSTION, WHEN NOTHING ELSE CAN BE DONE, AT THAT POINT, TO MAKE A COMPLETE PICTURE THAT OTHERS CAN VIEW WITH SENSIBLE CONTINUITY. WHILE THERE WILL ALWAYS BE UNTURNED STONES, AND MISSING INFORMATION FOR HISTORIANS AND BIOGRAPHERS, WE CAN GET TO A POINT, WHERE WE HAVE AT THE VERY LEAST, WHAT WE CALL A PROPORTIONAL OVERVIEW, DONE TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY. IT'S A PICTURE, A PROFILE, AN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE THAT WE CAN LIVE WITH, BECAUSE IT COVERS THE MOST IMPORTANT POINTS OF THE STORY. SO IF WE GO BACK TO THE PUZZLE-MAKER, IF WE HAVE MISSING PIECES IN RESEARCH, WE WOULD HOPE THEY WOULD BE WELL DISTANT FROM THE FOCAL POINT OF THE PROJECT. NOT A BORDER. WE HATE NOT HAVING OUR WORK PROPERLY FRAMED. BUT IF A PIECE, OR PIECES, WERE MISSING FROM, SAY, THE BOTTOM, AND IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT WOULD DETRACT FROM THE REST OF THE PICTURE, WE COULD LIVE WITH THE SHORTFALL. IT'S WHEN THERE ARE MISSING DETAILS IN THE CENTER OF THE HISTORY, OR BIOGRAPHY, THAT KEEPS US AWAKE AT NIGHT.

     THIS IS PRECISELY THE CASE OF THE EVER SO BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF CAPTAIN SHIRLEY JOHN MONTAGUE TUKE, SON OF DR. GEORGE MONTAGUE TUKE, A DOCTOR FROM KENT, ENGLAND. (IF YOU MISSED THE FIRST COLUMN REGARDING THE TUKE FAMILY, YOU CAN ARCHIVE BACK TO YESTERDAY'S STORY). WE HAVE REALLY JUST BEGUN OUR RESEARCH ON CAPTAIN TUKE, BASED ON A COLLECTION OF FAMILY HEIRLOOMS, JUST RECENTLY ACQUIRED, FOR EXHIBITION PURPOSES IN OUR GRAVENHURST SHOP. WE DECIDED TO KEEP THE COLLECTION TOGETHER, BECAUSE IT IS RARE TO HAVE SO MANY CONNECTED ARTICLES, EVEN WHEN WE HAVE PURCHASED ENTIRE ESTATES IN THE PAST. MOST OF THE INTIMATE KEEPSAKES, INCLUDING LETTERS, DOCUMENTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS, ARE KEPT BY SURVIVING FAMILY; AND OR DESTROYED, AS WE HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF MANY TIMES, BECAUSE THE FAMILY DID NOT WANT THE MATERIAL FALLING INTO THE WRONG HANDS. IN THIS CASE, THE FAMILY OF CAPTAIN TUKE, LIVING HERE IN SOUTH MUSKOKA, WANTED THE ITEMS TO GO TO PEOPLE WHO APPRECIATED THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE THREAD, PASSING THROUGH THE GENERATIONS, WHICH IN THIS CASE, DATED BACK TO THE EARLY 1700'S. DUE TO THE CONNECTEDNESS OF THIS PARTICULAR COLLECTION, AND THE UPCOMING RECOGNITION OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY, OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR, IN SEPTEMBER, OUR FAMILY DECIDED THAT WE HAD TO PRESERVE THE ITEMS FOR DISPLAY, AS PART OF THE COMMEMORATION. AND WE HOPE, BY SEPTEMBER, TO HAVE EVEN MORE INFORMATION ON CAPTAIN TUKE, AND HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMONWEALTH'S WAR EFFORT.

     IN TODAY'S BLOG, WE WANTED TO SHOW READERS THE SILVER "SALVER" THAT WAS PASSED DOWN IN THE COLLECTION, HAVING BELONGED TO THE MONTAGUE FAMILY ORIGINALLY, (A PRESENTATION PIECE), AND BECOMING A FAMILY RELIC (HEIRLOOM), WHEN THE MONTAGUE, AND TUKE FAMILIES, MERGED IN MARRIAGE, IN THE LATE 1800'S. THERE IS ALSO AN IMAGE OF AN ORIGINAL 1914 MAP OF EUROPE, FOLLOWING OUTBREAK OF WORLD WAR I, AND A POST CARD IMAGE OF CAPTAIN TUKE. THERE WILL BE OTHER IMAGES OF THE CAPTAIN, IN THE NEXT SEVERAL BLOGS THIS WEEK. WHILE ADMITTEDLY, AT THIS POINT, WE ARE EARLY IN THE RESEARCH OF CAPTAIN TUKE'S MILITARY CAREER, WE HAVE SOME DOCUMENTS TO SHARE, THAT GIVE US INFORMATION ABOUT HIS ADVANCE THROUGH THE RANKS OF THE BRITISH MILITARY.

     IT IS, TO AN OLD HISTORIAN, LIKE ME, A BREATHTAKING MOMENT, TO BE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOLD A DOCUMENT, SIGNED BY "KING GEORGE THE FIFTH," BESTOWING HONOR ON CAPTAIN TUKE. BUT HERE IT IS, IN MY HAND, FOR PURPOSES OF THIS FEATURE COLUMN. (IT WILL BE PHOTOGRAPHED AND PUBLISHED IN FUTURE BLOGS THIS WEEK). IT'S LIKE CHRISTMAS YOU MIGHT SAY BUT BY GOLLY, IT'S ONLY MAY.

     IT READS AS FOLLOWS: (SIGNATURE OF THE KING ON THE TOP)

     "GEORGE THE FIFTH, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN, AND IRELAND, AND OF THE BRITISH DOMINIONS, BEYOND THE SEAS, KING DEFENDER OF THE FAITH, EMPEROR OF INDIA AND SOVEREIGN OF THE MOST EXCELLENT ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE, TO OUR TRUSTY AND WELL BELOVED 'SHIRLEY JOHN MONTAGUE TUKE, ESQUIRE, LIEUTENANT ACTING MAJOR IN OUR ARMY,' GREETING, WHEREAS WE HAVE THOUGHT FIT TO NOMINATE AND APPOINT YOU TO BE AN OFFICER OF THE MILITARY DIVISION OF OUR SAID MOST EXCELLENT ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE.

     "GRANT OF THE DIGNITY OF AN OFFICER, OF THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE, TO LIEUTENANT (ACTING MAJOR), SHIRLEY JOHN MONTAGUE TUKE. WE DO BY THESE PRESENTS GRANT UNTO YOU THE DIGNITY OF AN OFFICER, OF OUR SAID ORDER AND HEREBY AUTHORISE YOU TO HAVE AND ENJOY THE SAID DIGNITY, OF OUR AFORESAID ORDER, TOGETHER WITH ALL AND SINGULAR, THE PRIVILEGES THEREUNTO BELONGING OR APPERTAINING. GIVEN AT OUR COURT AT SAINT JAMES'S UNDER OUR SIGN MANUAL AND SEAL OF OUR SAID ORDER, THIS THIRD DAY OF JUNE, 1919, IN THE TENTH (KING'S) YEAR, OF OUR REIGN. BY THE SOVEREIGN'S COMMAND, EDWARD P., GRAND MASTER."

     THERE IS AN IMPRESSED EMPIRE STAMP, "F O P' FOR GOD AND EMPIRE," ON THE TOP LEFT CORNER, OPPOSITE THE SIGNATURE.

     INCLUDED IN THE ARCHIVES COLLECTION, ARE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS FROM THE WAR OFFICE. THE FIRST ONE READS AS FOLLOWS:

     "THE WAR OF 1914-1918 ROYAL ARMY SERVICE CORPS, LT. T. CAPTAIN S.J.M. TUKE, WAS MENTIONED IN A DESPATCH FROM LIEUTENANT GENERAL W.R. MARSHALL, K.C.B. K.C.L.J., DATED 11TH OF NOVEMBER, 1918, FOR GALLANT AND DISTINGUISHED SERVICES IN THE FIELD. I HAVE IT IN COMMAND FROM THE KING, TO RECORD HIS MAJESTY'S HIGH APPRECIATION OF THE SERVICES RENDERED." THIS DESPATCH CAME FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR, FROM THE WAR OFFICE AT WHITEHALL, AS ISSUED MARCH 1ST, 1919.

     A SECOND DESPATCH, WITH A DIFFERENT DATE, BEING THAT OF THE 7TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, WAS ISSUED WITH THE SAME WORDING, ON BEHALF OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL SIR W.R. MARSHALL.

     THE WAR OFFICE ALSO ISSUED ANOTHER DESPATCH, DATED THE 9TH OF SEPTEMBER, 1921, WHICH READS AS FOLLOWS:

     "MESOPOTAMIA, 1920. ROYAL ARMY SERVICE CORPS, LT. (A./MAJ.) S.J.M. TUKE, O.B.E. WAS MENTIONED IN A DESPATCH FROM LIEUTENANT-GENERAL, SIR J.A.L. HALDANE, K.C.B. D.S.O., DATED 7TH, FEBRUARY, 1921, FOR DISTINGUISHED AND GALLANT SERVICES IN THE FIELD, I HAVE IT IN COMMAND FROM THE KING, TO RECORD HIS MAJESTY'S HIGH APPRECIATION OF THE SERVICES RENDERED." IT IS SIGNED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR.

     IN ANOTHER DESPATCH, DATED 1936, THE FOLLOWING IS NOTED OF THE CAREER SOLDIER:

     "OPERATIONS IN PALESTINE 1936. CAPTAIN S.J.M. TUKE, O.B.E. ROYAL ARMY SERVICE CORPS, WAS MENTIONED IN A DESPATCH FROM THE GENERAL OFFICER OF COMMANDING, THE BRITISH TROOPS IN PALESTINE AND TRANS JORDAN, DATED 4TH, DECEMBER, 1936, FOR GALLANT AND DISTINGUISHED SERVICES IN THE FIELD. I HAVE IT IN COMMAND FROM THE KING, TO RECORD HIS MAJESTY'S HIGH APPRECIATION OF THE SERVICES RENDERED," AND WAS SIGNED BY 'DUFF COOPER,' SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR.

     ALSO INCLUDED IN THE SMALL COLLECTION OF DOCUMENTS, IS A SPECIAL MEDAL PRESENTATION TO THE CAPTAIN, FROM BUCKINGHAM PALACE, WHICH READS:

     (BENEATH THE RAISED RED SEAL OF BUCKINGHAM PALACE) "BUCKINGHAM PALACE, BY COMMAND OF HIS MAJESTY THE KING, THE ACCOMPANYING MEDAL IS FORWARDED TO CAPTAIN S.J.M. TUKE, O.B.E. (ORDER OF BRITISH EMPIRE), TO BE WORN IN COMMEMORATION OF THEIR MAJESTIES' CORONATION, 12TH MAY, 1937."

     IT ARRIVED IN A PACKAGE IDENTIFIED, AS "ON HIS MAJESTY'S SERVICE," AS SENT BY THE WAR OFFICE, IN WHITEHALL, TO CAPTAIN TUKE, WITH THE INVITATION TO ATTEND THE CORONATION CEREMONIES.

     I HAVE TO TELL YOU, FROM THIS HISTORIAN'S ROLE, IN THE MINI BIOGRAPHY, HOLDING ONTO THESE OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS, IS AN EXCEPTIONAL HONOR, HAVING FULL APPRECIATION OF THE INCREDIBLE SERVICE TO HOME AND COUNTRY, PROVIDED BY CAPTAIN TUKE. SO HERE NOW, IT WINDS UP IN THE HANDS OF A MUSKOKA HISTORIAN, HERE IN GRAVENHURST, ONTARIO, ON THE CUSP OF THIS WORLD WAR ONE COMMEMORATION, OF A CALAMITY THAT OCCURRED ONE HUNDRED YEARS EARLIER. THIS WILL BE PART OF OUR OWN WORLD WAR ONE EXHIBITION, TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ANNIVERSARY, WHICH WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED IN OUR MAIN STREET, GRAVENHURST ANTIQUE SHOP, OPPOSITE THE OPERA HOUSE. POSSIBLY YOU CAN FIND A FEW MOMENTS, TO DROP IN FOR A CLOSER LOOK AT OUR PLANNED DISPLAY, SCHEDULED FOR THIS COMING SEPTEMBER.

     IN ADDITION TO THE DOCUMENTS, ARE A FEW SPECIAL ARTIFACTS, AND KEEPSAKES, PRESENTED TO CAPTAIN TUKE, BY HIS FELLOW LEADERSHIP OF THE ROYAL ARMY SERVICE CORPS. THERE ARE TWO ENGRAVED SILVER PIECES, INCLUDED AS PART OF THIS COLLECTION, THAT I WILL DETAIL IN TOMORROW'S PART THREE, OF THE MINI-BIOGRAPHY, PLUS IMAGES OF OTHER ITEMS CAPTAIN TUKE OBTAINED, WHILE ON SERVICE, IN WHAT WAS ONCE KNOWN AS "MESOPOTAMIA" WHICH INCLUDES THE PRESENT COUNTRY OF "IRAQ," TERRITORY BETWEEN THE "TIGRIS," AND EUPHRATES" RIVERS. THERE WILL ALSO BE ADDITIONAL IMAGES PUBLISHED, THIS WEEK, OF MEDALS AND FAMILY ITEMS, THAT BELONGED TO MEMBERS OF THE EXTENDED TUKE FAMILY. IT IS WITH SINCERE REVERENCE TO CAPTAIN TUKE, THAT WE PUBLISH THIS TRIBUTE.