Sunday, July 27, 2014

Courage Under Fire

I have more of The Valiants today. Pierre D'Iberville was a French naval commander who served with distinction during the New France era, most notably in 1697 when fighting against three British ships, he sank one, boarded another, and captured their outpost.


Joseph Brant was a renowned Mohawk warrior and chief who fought on the side of the British during the American Revolution.



Major-General Sir Isaac Brock was a leader of the War of 1812, a British officer leading regular troops, Canadian militia, and First Nations warriors against American forces. He was killed at the Battle of Queenston Heights.



34 comments:

  1. Fascinating! And I love the sky in your photos!

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  2. I always love a place that appreciates it's own history. Nice photos William!

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  3. Things would be quite different in Ottawa today if the War of 1812 had turned out differently. These guys changed the course of history.

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  4. I love these themes. I like very much to know the history of the city where oneself live.

    Tomás.

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  5. Fascinating statues of great men, very well captured, William !

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  6. Hmm, let's see. Which side would I have been on, I wonder? Go, Pierre! :-)

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  7. I remember Joseph Brandt...well, I don't "remember" him 'cause I was too young when he was fighting...well, I wasn't really even born yet, if you can believe that. But I did teach about him in my American history class. :)

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  8. I'm amazed that statues of Brant and Brock are in Ottawa as they are heroes of Southeastern Ontario and not so much Ottawa, which wasn't even founded during the War of 1812. Hmmm. Something for me to ponder today.

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  9. Thanks for t his little lesson. I always enjoy learning about history this way.

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  10. I must have seen these sometime. We were always downtown for Feb. PD days.
    I never seem to have time to just wander downtown these days. We're always there for a purpose, like the show the other day. It's a long drive to the city, parking is hard, drivers can be aggressive. I guess I'm turing into an old fart! :-)

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  11. Lots of statues. The local pigeons must be thrilled!

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  12. "BOOOOOOO" to the guy who sunk the British ships (we sailors hold a grudge).
    Jane x

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  13. I love the first one. What a costume.

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  14. You really got plenty of interesting historical statues!

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  15. Thanks for this tour, William! I've quite enjoyed it.

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  16. That's quite a line up behind PD in your first shot there William and very impressive backdrop in the last.. perfectly composed series of images.

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  17. @Linda: it was a day that looked stormy as I recall, but nothing really came of it.

    @Pat: thank you very much!

    @Stuart: Brock, certainly, was a key figure in our country's history before it was a country. And even the American Revolution had profound impacts on us, including on our own soil.

    @Tomas: thank you!

    @Karl: thanks!

    @Revrunner: Pierre does certainly have the bearing of a navy man!

    @Lowell: he made an impact on both countries.

    @EG: I think it's because of their impacts on the nation's history. And they certainly do belong here.

    @Bibi: you're welcome!

    @Luis: thank you!

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  18. @Jennifer: they've been here a few years now. If you're in town on the weekends, park at the World Exchange. Free on the weekends, and close to everything.

    @Hilary: thank you!

    @Norma: I don't often see evidence of pigeons on these things.

    @Tex: he looks noble.

    @Jane and Chris: Pierre was just doing his job!

    @Sharon: he really does stand out.

    @VP: we certainly do.

    @RedPat: my pleasure.

    @Grace: thank you.

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  19. So nice that the city puts these historical statues out there for everyone to see and hopefully learn about!

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  20. Isn't it great to see the facial expressions.

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  21. Great photos, great statues and a wonderful bit of history too. Thanks William!

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  22. Quite stirring, William!


    ALOHA from Honolulu
    ComfortSpiral
    =^..^= . <3 . >< } } (°>

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  23. We have had the same kind of sky for two days. Sometimes without sun. Love the sculptures. Since 29 Palms is a "new" city in the scheme of things our sculptures are mostly modern. Just the sculptures on National Park Dr. actually look like people and animals. I prefer those and the ones you have photographed. Metal arms going upward mean nothing to me.

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  24. @Cheryl: they certainly do draw attention.

    @Marleen: the sculptors did great work in rendering those details.

    @Denise: you're most welcome!

    @Cloudia: thank you!

    @Mari: I do prefer sculptures that look like what they're supposed to look like, but every once in awhile, modern art can be surprising.

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  25. These statues are terrific, William. I would love to spend some time wandering around here.

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  26. J. Brant looks very British to me!

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  27. Very interesting! I am learning so much history. And my brain will survive. MB

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  28. I've heard of Joseph Brant; he was profiled in a book about American colonial history. I don't think he was held up as valiant therein.

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  29. @Jack: you'd enjoy it.

    @Kate: he does, yes.

    @Whisk: a bit larger than life.

    @MB: thanks!

    @Linda: here he's well regarded.

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