Lethbridge Military Museum display examines impact of PTSD
By Steffanie Costigan - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on August 22, 2023.
Prior to the First World War, soldiers suffering from mental illnesses and nervous conditions as a result of war were believed to have weak minds or character. This evolution of conflict resulted in an understanding and treatment of what became known among soldiers as “shell shock.” We now recognize this to be post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).The Lethbridge Military Museum is bringing more awareness of soldiers suffering from PTSD with their new temporary display entitled Shell Shock: The Long Road to Recovery.
Commanding Officer 20th Independent Field Battery RCA Major Robert Mein on Monday shared the story the new temporary display tells and described PTSD symptoms that were known as shell shock.
“It tells a story of what we now know as post-traumatic stress disorder, which originally when it was first recognized as a thing, it was called shell shock because it coincidentally started happening with mass artillery barrage, and they’d see these soldiers who were just completely gone senseless. And the extreme cases, they were just not even able to function. There didn’t appear to be anything physically wrong with them, but there was something wrong,” said Mein.
The display was loaned to Lethbridge Military Museum by the Canadian Centre for the Great War in Montreal; the travelling display is being rotated through museums around Canada.
Ray Romses, Chairman of the Lethbridge Military Museum, noted the museum is a part of a Canadian military museum organization, and they are informed of temporary displays being made available.
“It’s museums all across Canada that have a military bank, that we get together at a meeting at a conference annually to discuss issues related to that are unique to military museums, if you will. It’s a great association. We’re proud to be a member of it. And indeed, that’s one way where we’re able to find out what are other temporary displays are being created.”
Mein related PTSD as if someone is choking and they instinctively run to another room instead of seeking help.
He talked about the importance of not hiding away but instead getting the needed assistance. He expressed the awareness the display shares of understanding PTSD and what soldiers have gone through.
“The instinct is to run away and to hide to be alone, but that’s not what we need to do. And so, by telling that story, we arm our soldiers and arm ourselves to deal with this kind of thing in advance to help us have greater chance of success when confronted with that kind of stress. That’s the value I think of this display. And it’s one of the reasons we really look forward to it coming and an encouraging people to come.”
Alongside Mein opening the display was 20th Independent Field Battery Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel Dory Rossiter.
Battery Sergeant Mayor 20th Independent Field Battery RCA, Anthony Lapthorn, said it was his first time seeing the display.
“This is the first time I’ve actually seen this display.. . . It’s a very informative display for the simple reason it covers all aspects from not knowing what PTSD is. And it is for everyone. That doesn’t mean just the military guys are first responders and the general public. It is a form of emotions. It’s all to do with emotions. Your emotions dictate what you do in life,” said Lapthorn.
The display will be at the Lethbridge Military Museum until Oct. 4. Mein noted the display begins with World War One and goes through to the present. He said the display can be relatable, and people who come and read the stories will take away more of an understanding on how to identify PTSD.
“It’s very comparable to what a soldier might go through. So anybody that comes here and reads the stories,” that will resonate with them, he said.
At least they will be will able to identify with what some of these soldiers went through in the past “And we see that the same thing that’s happened to their brain happens to our brain,” he added
The display will be available for viewing every Wednesday from noon until 4:00 p.m.
Lapthorn said different triggers can set someone off.
“Everybody has a trigger. If you’re scared of a spider, you’re going to react, it’s these little things have actually developed throughout over the years. And I mean, it’s not a matter of like, ‘oh, this is the last 10 years.’ We’re talking the last 100 the development of it all – it’s taken time people understanding each piece of it.”
Mein said the military museum is wonderful with a first-class display.
“We do have a great military museum here. And to have a real first-class display that’s telling the story, I think it’s a bit of a big deal, especially if you’re in the museums, and you really want to see some neat display. When you come to the museum, you’ll see this display. So, it’s the first kind of big impression we’ll have. And then you get to go through and see the rest of the museum.”
Lapthorn said people deal with mental stresses in different ways and display gives an education about PTSD.
“We all have some way we deal with different stresses. . . We are very complex animals, human beings. …this display here actually gives you the explanation of how they (soldiers) figured what life is like.”
Private booking can be made to see the display for groups for special occasions or to view the display on a different day arrangements can be made by calling 403-892-6531.
Mein said healing begins with discussion and awareness, which is what the display does.
“The number one thing we can do to start making this giving some healing to the problems is to have a discussion and start actually talking about it. And that’s it this display does.” 2
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