In 2016, I had the opportunity to visit Belgium and tour sites related to the centenary of the First World War. As I prepared for the trip, a fellow journalist urged me to have a chat with Ken Hynes, a 30-year Canadian Army veteran who, at that time, was curator of the Army Museum at Halifax Citadel.

It was excellent advice. We’d never previously met, yet Ken graciously offered me an hour or two, which turned into an evening-long private master class about the war and how its effects, the terrible toll many Nova Scotians paid, continue to shape our province a century later. With his expert priming, I had a far richer, more meaningful experience in Europe than I would’ve otherwise, learning a great deal about the war, my province, and even my own family’s history.

So a decade later, I was thrilled to learn that Ken had written Service and Sacrifice: Extraordinary Nova Scotians in the Great War (Nimbus Publishing). Military history books are often weighty, turgid tomes, jammed with impenetrable jargon and minutiae, but Ken, no doubt drawing on his experience as museum curator, has crafted a book that’s accessible to a broad audience — a light, easy read that focuses on the human experience of the war.

He shares the stories of 10 remarkable Nova Scotians, reflecting the broad cross-section of folks who heard duty’s call during the First World War. Among them are Jerry Jones, a Black soldier whose heroism went undocumented for many years, nurse Minnie Follette, whose devotion to injured soldiers would claim her life, and George Price, the final Canadian casualty of the war, tragically shot just seconds before the conflict concluded.

A range of photos, some historic and others contemporary, complement the meticulous research that marries with the expertise of a man who spent three decades in uniform. With passion and skilled storytelling, Ken has made a vital addition to Nova Scotia’s historical record. Some of the stories may be familiar to readers. Many will be new. All have a fresh — and with war once again raging in Europe, timely — perspective.

“We have a duty to do all we can to be worthy of their legacy,” writes Ken. “This book is but one small effort to appreciate those who gave us so much to be thankful for. Murmuring ghosts still linger on distant, deserted battlefields — on the slopes of Vimy Ridge, at Passchendaele Ridge, and along the road to Mons. As long as we’re free, we owe these men and women a debt of gratitude that can never fully be repaid.”

While this book will resonate most strongly for devotees of local history, it’s a fine gift for anyone who cares about Nova Scotia and understands the need to make sacrifices for the greater good.