Mar 10 • 21:58 UTC 🇨🇦 Canada Global News

Partial remains of 12 Canadian WWI soldiers returned by U.S. museum

The remains of 12 Canadian soldiers from World War I have been returned from a U.S. museum after more than a century.

After over a century since the conclusion of World War I, the Mutter Museum and Historical Medical Library in Philadelphia, USA, has returned the partial remains of 12 Canadian soldiers to Canada. These remains were collected by American medical personnel at a military hospital located in Le Tréport, France, shortly after the war. The specifics regarding the nature of the remains have not been disclosed by Canada's Department of National Defence, which emphasizes the sensitivity surrounding the treatment and final resting place of these soldiers.

The Department of National Defence has confirmed that the remains are set to be interred in the graves of the soldiers, many of which are located in a cemetery in Le Tréport, a coastal town in Normandy. The decision to return the remains follows a broader review that has led the museum to dismantle its collection which included these war-related artifacts. The Mutter Museum is well-known for its display of medical oddities, and while it has housed these remains for over a century, it has now chosen to rectify this circumstance upon completing its assessment.

This return is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by Canadian soldiers during the First World War and highlights ongoing efforts by organizations to ensure proper respect for historical artifacts and the memory of those who served. The interment of these remains is not only a closure for the families of the soldiers but also an important act of remembrance for Canada's military history, reaffirming the commitment to honoring and preserving the legacy of those who fought for their country.

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