Canada At War At Home And In The World

This display case includes weaponry and gear typical of a British soldier of the War of 1812. The uniform jacket is specific, however. It belonged to the British general Isaac Brock, a hero of the war, and is the jacket he was wearing at the Battle of Queenston Heights in the Niagara area, where British regulars, local militia, and First Nations warriors drove out an American attack. Brock would be killed during the battle, and if you look carefully, you'll see on the jacket where the bullet that killed him entered his chest. 

There is a small tear below the collar line. Looking from the fourth button down at right, and moving your eye left, you'll see it. A panel about Brock is below. Today he remains entombed at Queenston Heights, with a memorial tower set above him.

The story of Canadian military history continues, touching on things like the rebellions of the 1830s or the Fenian Raids that followed the Civil War. It also addresses military actions in the Canadian West, particularly the resistance by the Metis under Louis Riel.

The next section of the War Museum addresses imperial wars, with Canadian soldiers heading abroad on behalf of the British empire. This happened at the end of the 19th century with the South African War, where Canadians went to serve in the fight against two Boer states in South Africa.

Note the hole near the top of the hat.

This is a field gun used at the Battle of Leliefontein.

It was the first time that Canadians served in another part of the world in warfare, but a few years later, another war would bring in the world at large. That is in the next part of this area of the Museum, which we'll start looking at after the theme day.