Dusty Duffel Bag Found in Italy Revives Cape Breton Soldier’s Story

URGENT UPDATE: A dusty duffel bag uncovered in northwest Italy has rekindled the poignant story of Hector Colin McDonald, a Cape Breton soldier killed during World War II. On July 6, researcher Michele Facchini made the unexpected find while metal detecting near the Lamone River, an area where 10,000 Canadian troops battled to push back Nazi forces in 1944.

Facchini, typically immersed in reading soldier diaries and analyzing battle maps during the summer, felt compelled to explore the site where McDonald fought. His detector picked up remnants of war, and a farmer showed him the long-forgotten duffel bag, which bore McDonald’s name and regiment number. “It was covered in dirt, but I could make out letters that spelled a name and numbers of a regiment,” Facchini said.

The discovery sheds light on a story that remained largely untold for 81 years, reuniting McDonald with his family, who have always remembered him. McDonald, who enlisted at just 25 years old, was a lance-sergeant in the North Nova Scotia Highlanders. He fought in some of the fiercest battles of the Italian Campaign, including the invasions of Sicily and Ortona.

On December 13, 1944, just weeks before his 29th birthday, McDonald was killed by a landmine laid by retreating German forces. He was buried in the Ravenna War Cemetery in 1946. Although no photographs of McDonald exist, documents reveal he was a wiry man, standing 5 feet 9 inches and weighing 137 pounds.

“For me, it’s not about the object,” Facchini emphasized. “It’s about the men who suffered and sacrificed so much.”

McDonald’s great-grandniece, Kim Pyke, a veteran herself, was contacted after an extensive search by a network of researchers. “When I heard from the researchers, tears started flowing. Hector McDonald was my great-uncle,” she said. Family members are eagerly awaiting a chance to see the duffel bag, with Pyke’s daughter, Stacey Jordan, attending a ceremony in Russi to honor McDonald.

Jordan expressed the emotional weight of the discovery, saying, “A discovery like this is extraordinary on its own, especially being from a family with so many military connections.”

The ceremony included a piper and a gathering of McDonald’s relatives, highlighting the deep ties that still exist within the family today, many of whom live near his childhood home in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia.

This remarkable find not only reestablishes a connection to a soldier who gave his life for freedom but also serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by countless Canadians during the war. As the search for McDonald’s surviving family continues, researchers are determined to uncover more about his life and legacy, ensuring that his story is never forgotten.

Facchini’s find is being hailed as “absolutely one-of-a-kind,” emphasizing the importance of remembering soldiers like Hector McDonald, who traveled across an ocean to fight against tyranny. As the world reflects on the impact of the Second World War, this discovery serves as a powerful reminder of the human stories behind the statistics.