On a typical summer Sunday afternoon, Michele Facchini usually stays away from the hot, flat fields northwest of Ravenna, Italy, where he unexpectedly uncovered a connection to Cape Breton’s Hector McDonald, a soldier who perished in 1944. Facchini, a 49-year-old Second World War researcher and educator, typically spends his weekends immersed in reading Canadian soldiers’ diaries and studying battle maps. However, on July 6, taking advantage of cooler weather, he ventured to the outskirts of Russi, near the Lamone River.
His research indicated that in December 1944, around 10,000 Canadian troops were engaged in pushing Nazi forces out of northern Italy. Facchini’s metal detector detected remnants of bullets and shrapnel from high-explosive bombs, leading him to discover objects in a farmer’s warehouse. Among these objects was a duffel bag with a soldier’s name and regiment numbers inscribed on it, reigniting a story that had been dormant for 81 years.
Hector Colin McDonald, a lance-sergeant, was a young man from New Aberdeen, Cape Breton, who left school at 15 to work in the mines before enlisting in the Second World War in late 1941. He fought in significant battles in Italy, including the Allied invasion of Sicily, combat in Ortona, and the arduous advance to the Lamone River, where he tragically lost his life after stepping on a mine on a small bridge.
Despite the lack of surviving photographs, historical documents describe McDonald’s physical attributes and his devoted service. His duffel bag, marked with battles he survived, serves as a poignant reminder of his sacrifices. Facchini’s chance discovery led to the reunion of McDonald’s family, including his great-grandniece Stacey Jordan, who received the bag during a touching ceremony in Russi.
This unique find, occurring 81 years after McDonald’s death, holds immense historical significance, emphasizing the valor and sacrifices made by Canadian soldiers during the Second World War. Facchini emphasizes the importance of honoring these individuals and their stories, highlighting the bag’s symbolic value in commemorating McDonald’s courageous journey.