Burlington carpenter doing reno. unravels hidden history of fallen Vimy Ridge soldier

Whilerenovating a 100-year-oldhome in Burlington just days before Remembrance Day,Greg Johnson found a message from the past the scribbled signature of a youngcarpenter who may have been killedat the battle ofVimyRidge.

"It looks like he was practicing writing," Johnson said,"probably his cursive signature."

The name was scrawled on the back of a board hidden under grey, cedar siding Thomas DouglasDrever signed into the wood along with the date:Aug 19, 1913 in Burlington Ont., Canada.

Johnson was curious.

He researched and found a man named Thomas DouglasDrever,fromBurlington,who fought and died, just 21-years-old, atthe Battle ofVimyRidge.

Dreverwasone of 3,598 Canadians killed atVimyin 1917, a three-day battle at which more than 7,000 more Canadians were wounded.

Military records showDrever, like Johnson,was a carpenter before heenlisted in June 1915, Johnson says, less than two years after working on the Burlington home.

Even though he died at 21, he had a life, a short life, but he had a life, and he was a Burlington boy and he left his mark literally and figuratively.-Casey Pope-Lyster, homeowner

Drever was stationed inEngland before being sent to France. His story,and his sacrifice, meanalot toJohnson.

"He was a carpenter, I am a carpenter and we ended up working on the same house, just in the exact same spot. I just found it very interesting," said Johnson. "Even the fact that he cut those pieces of wood that are up there and drove those nails in, I just find it cool to be part of that."

Johnson says he even grew up just down the street from the Greenwood CemeterywhereDreverhas been laid to rest. His name can be found thereon aheadstoneandatthe Burlington cenotaph.

A piece of history

NowhomeownerCaseyPope-Lystersays her home holds a piece of history.

"We don't even know this young man, but we felt proud that even though he died at 21, he had a life, a short life, but he had a life, and he was a Burlington boy and he left his mark literally and figuratively," saidPope-Lyster.

Pope-Lysterand her husbandhave lived in their Burlington home for24 years and were renovating when the board was found.Pope-Lystersays the home, completed in 1917, is on the list of heritage homes, but they've never designated it.

"We've put a lot of time, energy, and money into restoring this old house and it actually felt very heartwarming to know that we didn't rip it town," saidPope-Lyster. "It's just made us feel like it has a history and that was really moving for us that it had a history and that we've tried our best to keep the old girl standing"