Unraveling a Regina Soldier's Family Mystery Through Historical Photos
Lynne Anderson, a Regina resident with a deep appreciation for family history, recently found herself at the center of an unexpected historical mystery. The puzzle began when Ross Toller, a man from Kingston, Ontario, purchased a set of photographs at an auction last year. The images depicted Great War soldier Harry Brooks, taken before he left Regina for Europe in 1918, and Toller was determined to find the soldier's family to return them.
The Search for Connections
Harry Brooks was a talented musician who led the band that played wounded Saskatchewan soldiers into the Regina train station before being drafted in late 1917. His life was itinerant, spanning from England to Ontario, Saskatchewan, Washington, and Oregon. He had no children, which made finding family connections particularly challenging.
The photos were signed by Brooks himself, with "Royal Studio" pressed into the cardboard frame along with the location "Over Woolworth's. Regina, Sask." Toller quickly identified Brooks through Canada's First World War records, which showed he was the only Harry Brooks from Regina to serve in the Great War.
A Surprising Family Link
Anderson's connection to the story came when she read about Toller's quest in the Regina Leader-Post and Saskatoon StarPhoenix. She realized that Harry Brooks had married her great aunt, Gertrude, making him part of her family. Although she never met him, Anderson had already researched his life extensively due to her passion for genealogy.
"I come from a long line of people that really appreciate family history," Anderson says. "I have items all over my home on display that come from all sides of my family, and I just think it's really important to pass that to the next generation. I really enjoy searching for this stuff and kind of completing a person's story."
Reconstructing a Life Through Records
Unraveling the story of a man who died more than sixty years ago presented significant challenges. Large portions of his life remain unknown, but Brooks left behind a trail of evidence:
- Military records from the First World War
- Newspaper clippings from his career as a musician
- Findings from ancestry websites
- Census records showing his movements
Anderson describes Brooks as a "fantastic musician" who could play any instrument. She believes he and Gertrude likely met in Regina social circles, as she was a stenographer and both lived in the city at the time.
The Emotional Impact of Discovery
Anderson reflects on photos she has of the couple: "One photo that I have of Harry and Gertie is they're standing, I think, in front of an evergreen tree, and they're both older. They look happy. And in another picture, she's got her arm behind him. I think that they were just a happy couple."
The resolution of this historical mystery brings closure not just to Toller's quest but to Anderson's own genealogical research. Having these photos returned to family members ensures that Harry Brooks's story will be preserved for future generations, exactly as Anderson hopes to do with all her family artifacts.
"It's wonderful the way things worked out," Anderson says of the unexpected connection. The photos that once seemed lost to time now have a home where they're appreciated as part of a larger family narrative, connecting present-day Regina residents to their historical roots.
