'The Anguish of War': Author keeping memories of fallen Windsor-Essex soldiers alive

Author Gene Lotz's book The Anguish of War. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor)

For Gene Lotz, the spark of curiosity to delve into the history of those who served in war only began when the answers became difficult to find.

The son of a veteran, Lotz said it wasn’t until after his father and father-in-law passed away that he began asking questions about those who were in combat.

“I probably should have asked them while they were alive,” Lotz chuckled. “I wanted to understand what could cause a young man or woman from this area to put themselves in harm's way on the other side of the world.”

This Remembrance Day will mark two years since Lotz finished one of his largest efforts to find an answer, which is the two-volume book ‘The Anguish of War.’

The book details the life and death of more than 1,600 people from the Windsor-Essex region who died in combat.

“That number just was mind-boggling to me, that's a substantial part of our history and I couldn't believe it was that many young people that were lost,” Lotz told CTV News.

Over more than 20 years, Lotz compiled leaflets, news clippings, and archived information.

In his effort to put a life and face to the war dead, Lotz said his book has prompted families to come forward with more stories of their loved ones.

In one instance, Lotz said his work helped a local family better understand their uncle’s death, “Well, I looked in the book and said, well, he didn’t die at Dieppe.”

He continued, “He was wounded at Dieppe, and he was taken by train back to Germany, and he passed away back in Germany in the hospital.”

On Monday, Lotz’s granddaughter Jane will bring his book to her class as part of Remembrance Day. While the stories inside detail lives lost in now-finished wars, Lotz feels many of the themes are still present.

“The Anglo-Boer War was the British Empire trying to reestablish itself and we're seeing that today in Ukraine, where the Russian Empire is trying to re-establish its dominance in the world,” Lotz said.

Reflecting on the book’s significance, Lotz said even decades or centuries later, there’s a need to remember the price that was paid.

“I was once asked, why didn't I call this book The Glory of War? I told that individual that there is no glory in war and the only person you have to ask is a veteran.”

As part of the next chapter in his life, Lotz said he’s working to detail the Battle of Windsor took place in the 1830s.