Inspired by Mary Capling Hyde's diaries.

Matthew (Mat) and Mary Hyde came from Ontario to Edmonton Alberta Canada on April 29, 1911. On July 7 1915, Mat enlisted in the Canadian military. Mat was killed in action on 26 Sep 1916, near Courcelette, France on the Somme Front.

While Mary's husband Mat was serving overseas, Mary noted in her daily diary entries “Mat in England” or “Mat somewhere in France”. After Mat died in 1916, Mary wrote “Mat no more” every day in her diary passages until her last diary entry on December 28, 1944, shortly before she died. Mary never remarried.

City of Edmonton Archives Mary Capling Hyde fonds #MS253 #EA-806-1
Photo of the Hyde family. l-r: David, Matthew, Mary, and Alice; Robbie on Matthew’s knee, 1916