Today, we remember.

In her book, Mary called him “K.” But his name was Sidney Joseph Unwin. He first came to Banff from England in 1901 and quickly established himself as a capable horseman, hunter, camp cook, outfitter and guide. He joined the 1907 and 1908 expeditions, as well as the 1911 Maligne survey, and it’s clear from Schäffer’s writings that he was a beloved member of their crew.

Sid Unwin with packhorses near the Endless Chain Ridge, 1907; V439 / PS - 17 WMCR.

There is much to say about Unwin, but today we tell you this story: Unwin was one of the first of Banff’s Boys to respond to the call when the First World War broke out. He was assigned to the 20th Artillery Battery at Lethbridge, and saw his first action in France in 1916. In that same year, he took three days to search the battlefield for Schäffer’s young nephew, Eric, who had fallen during the Battle of the Somme. He never found him. Among other injuries, Unwin lost his right arm in combat after ordering his men to leave and single-handedly manning an artillery battery. He later died of his wounds, in June 1917, at the age of 35. He was awarded the Military Medal for his service.

Unwin was also a poet, it turns out. His 1917 war journal is housed at the Whyte Museum and also digitized online. In it, he recorded daily activities and made lists of wounded and deceased soldiers (it’s quite tragic seeing how he switched hands after losing his arm). But he also wrote some beautiful poems. This is an excerpt from one of his poems, C’est la guerre:

“Though your heart be sad and weary
When from dear ones you must part
Though the tears will come unbidden
As you watch the transport start,
You must trample on your feelings,
You must hide your aching heart.
C’est la guerre.”

We talked a lot about Sidney during our forays near his namesake peak. Schäffer’s descriptions of him paint a picture of someone who was well-liked, positive, full of energy, and very determined. The Rockies community lost a great deal when they lost him.

You’ll find more resources throughout the web:

Remembering Sid Unwin

Sid Unwin - First World War

Sid Unwin - War Diary (1917)

Canadian Virtual Memorial - Sergeant Sidney Joseph Unwin

First World War Book of Remembrance (name listed)