LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - A desire to learn more about his great uncles' service in the First World War has led a Fort Simpson resident to become a published author.

In late March, Ken Stewart received the first copies of his book Once We Lived. The 98-page work traces the military service of Stewart's great uncles William and Robert Fyfe.

Ken Stewart, left, presents a copy of his new book to Lorraine Ocko, the librarian at the John Tsetso Memorial Library in Fort Simpson, and Robert Byatt, the principal of Thomas Simpson School. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

The idea behind the book project evolved in November after Stewart watched a television program on how information about Canadian veterans can be researched on the Internet. Stewart began preliminary research and soon found William and Robert's registration numbers and information on the battles they fought in.

"Even being a relative I never knew," said Stewart.

While he was aware his great uncles served in the First World War, Stewart said he didn't realize what they did during that time. Robert was posted to the 13th Infantry Battalion of the 1st Division while William went to the 46th Infantry Battalion of the 4th Division.

Although they didn't fight together, the brothers both saw action at Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele, the Battle of Amiens, Drocourt-Queant and the Battle of Canal du Nord.

Stewart decided to write a book as a way to let the rest of his family know about the brothers. It's also a way to trick the grandchildren in to learning about history because they'll think they're just reading about their relatives, he said.

Stewart, who's originally from Richard's Landing in northern Ontario, has spent the past 30 years living in the North, including the last five in Fort Simpson where he's a finance officer for Dehcho Health and Social Services.

After coming up with the initial idea, what followed was months of mostly Internet research where Stewart scoured Canadian military sites, brigade sites, Veterans Affairs Canada's site and censuses.

"It was more difficult than I thought," said Stewart about the writing process.

"It's something I never expected I'd have something to do with, a book."

Stewart is dyslexic, a condition that affects the way he prints letters and his spelling. He said he has only read three novels in his life and they were all for a school English class because the other option was failing.

While researching the book Stewart was struck by the difference between the brothers from a farming town that he and his relatives remember and the violence of the battles they were in.

"(They were) two completely different people, two different worlds," said Stewart.

Robert, who was 27 when he enlisted, returned from the war and settled on a farm near Richard's Landing. Stewart doesn't remember him ever talking about the war.

William, who was 29 when he enlisted, didn't return. He was killed by machine gun fire at some point on Nov. 1, 1918, 10 days before the end of the war, during the Battle of Valenciennes.

Stewart said he is pleased with the finished book, which he self-published. The book can be purchased from a number of online stores.