The "Victor" Watch

I was telling my partner about my day researching in the city archives and suddenly he says, "You know my grandfather was at Vimy Ridge. I have his watch."
"You mean he survived?" I asked. I was shocked that somehow this piece of family history had escaped me.
"Yes of course, and he actually ended up living here in Vancouver before he died. His name was Herbert Burleigh Dowse. and he fought on Vimy Ridge. He was pulled out of the carnage after someone went by with a cart to pick up anyone he thought looked like they might survive. This was after he'd lain on the battlefield for seven hours."

He went upstairs and showed me the watch. It seems incredible that something so small and fragile could have survived the exigencies of trench warfare. Even thought it can't tell the time, as Peter held it against his wrist it was ticking loudly as if the plucky little watch was saying "I'm not gone yet! I've still got it in me!" The back is inscribed with the word "MOTOR" and a series of numbers, but by an uncanny trick of the light, to me the word looked like "VICTOR". Can you see it?


It seems a bit spooky that we have an object that was at the Battle of Vimy Ridge. I've always felt that objects carry memories with them, images and sounds that cling and can be seen by those with special gifts. We live in a house that has stood since before the First World War and whenever I dig up a piece of pottery or a rusty nail I keep it in a ceramic pot on the back steps. It's one of my superstitions. Each little fragment has its own story. The land throws up its artifacts and we try to read history with our fingers and a sixth sense inextricably linked to our dreams.