Canada; The metal box was found in a wall during the demolition of a house in Toronto, Canada. British War Medal (2498451 A. CPL. J.H. RODGERS. C.F.C.); and Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (2701 SERJT. J.H. RODGERS. SCOTTISH RIF.). Naming is officially impressed. Mounted to a suspension with a large safety pin attachment, as worn by the veteran, original ribbons, dark patinas, the BWM reverse-mounted, very light contact, near extremely fine. Accompanied by multiple handwritten letters (most of which are in addressed envelopes, between Rodgers and his love, Lydia Coleman, written in the 1890s); a 5th Battalion The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) No. 6 Company Dance Card (embossed Cameronians insignia on the front cover, the two inside panels entitled "Dances" and "Engagements", the former twenty dances listed below, the latter with blank spaces designed for entries below, the dance held at Headquarters on March 1, 1912, with music supplied by the Walter C. Anderson Orchestra, printed in emerald green and hunter green inks, on an off-white linen card stock, 61 mm x 107 mm, pencil attached via a string fed through a die-hole on the reverse, along with a table card inscribed "Captain & Mrs Eric S. Girdwood. / 20 Kensington Gate, Glasgow, W.", printed in black ink on an off-white card stock, 60 mm x 92 mm); a Lock of Braided Hair that is tied with a Pink Ribbon (from Rodgers love, Lydia); and the original tin box that the items were found in (magnetic metal, with a green-painted finish, floral designs on the front panel, the two side panels and the exterior and interior of the lid, black-painted bottom, 75 mm x 147 mm x 62 mm in height, with paint chipping and denting evident on the exterior).
Footnote: John Hubert Mitchelmaw Rodgers was born on October 2, 1872 in London, England. He joined he Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) as a Private in 1888, at the young age of 15 and served with them for twenty-three years, later achieving the rank of Sergeant. He later married the love of his life, Lydia Coleman, in 1905, after an eleven year romance. The two later immigrated to Canada sometime after 1911, where Rodgers joined the Canadian Engineers, serving with them for three years. He was a resident of Toronto, Ontario when he signed his Attestation Paper (2498451) with the York & Simcoe Foresters Construction Battalion, at the Railway Construction & Forestry Depot in Toronto, on September 4, 1917, at the age of 44, four weeks shy of his forty-fifth birthday, naming his next-of-kin as his wife, Lydia Rodgers, stating that he had twenty-three years' previous service as a Sergeant with the Scottish Rifles (The Cameronians) and three years as a Sergeant with the Canadian Engineers, that he was Married and that his trade was that of Carpenter. He also stated that he had been previously turned down for military service, as he had an "overlapping toe" on his right foot. During his medical examination, the doctor noted that he had tattoos on his chest and left wrist. Although no records are posted online, it is assumed that he served overseas with the Canadian Forestry Corps, definitely surviving the war. The medal pair were found within this tin box, along with the lock of hair, the dance card, the letters and their corresponding envelopes. The box was discovered behind a wall in a residence located at 448 Main Street, in east end Toronto. The walls were being torn down, in preparation for renovations, when workers found the box. It was subsequently shown to a local collector, who immediately recognized the historical interest of the contents. The numerous letters between John "Jack" Rodgers and Lydia "Biddy" Elfrida Coleman began in 1894, while Private Rodgers was stationed at the Victoria Barracks in Portsmouth, England, following him to Bombay, India and back. All of the letters from Lydia to John were written before they were married, the letters reading like a romance novel based during war times. There is drama, longing and uncertainty and above all, there is a pure love between the two young lovers, who are miles and worlds apart. Each letter is addressed to "My own true darling Jack" and signed "Your ever true loving sweetheart, Biddy, till death". The letters often speak of wishing they were together and staying cheerful: "Oh! how I long for you my darling Jack. I feel as if I must see you. I wish you were just coming home my sweetheart, wouldn't it be delightful, but there, it is no good wishing, is it my darling, the years will soon fly, my own Jack then we will have brighter days". They were very much in love but only told a few people of their relationship. Lydia comments that her father does not know for sure but might have a suspicion. The letters give a sense that John is quite a few years older than Lydia. In one letter, she states, that in a couple of years, she will be of age and will be able to make her own decisions. This could be the reason for keeping their love a secret, for fear that her father would disapprove. This did not stop them from writing whenever they could and expressing a love that was undeniable. Lydia wrote "Yes, my darling Jack, I do love you, more fondly, than the first day, you took me by surprise, I wasn't prepared my darling, not knowing what love was...Real love grows fondly every day, my sweetheart." She endearingly refers to John as "Mr. Spooner", claiming once they are finally together, "they'll spoon all day". That kind of sassy language is all throughout the letters, along with secret notes inside of envelopes and a secret code language that the two had created together. John proposed marriage to Lydia while on a pass home from Portsmouth, with the two becoming officially engaged in December 1894. They were married eleven years later, in November 1905, on the Isle of Wight. It is unclear whether they had any children and what exactly brought them to Canada. Their love and marriage remained intact, until John Hubert Mitchelmaw Rodgers' death, on August 17, 1947, at the age of 74. Lydia Rodgers soon followed her loving husband to the grave, passing away on April 9, 1949.