Sunday, August 8, 2021

The Finest Group Of Men

Night Target, Germany is the title of this 1946 painting by Miller Brittain. 



Another profile of a trail blazer. Mary Greyeyes Reid joined the Canadian Women's Army Corps, the first indigenous servicewoman in Canadian history. 


For those at home, news reels brought the war home if they went to a theatre. These posters were part of that.


Winnifred Burwash spent the war as a nurse, first in England and then on the continent.


The push through Europe alongside other Allied forces would take nearly a year after D-Day for Canadians.


One of the men who saw it through to the end started the war as a junior officer, and by the end of it had been promoted to a brigadier: James Roberts. This is his uniform coat and medal set. The quote honouring his men in the panel I close off with today speaks volumes of his character as a commander and general: "I had commanded, in battle, the finest group of men I had ever known."

32 comments:

  1. A lot of Canadian airmen were stationed near here. According to my parents they made a lot of friends here.

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  2. And now we have the first indigenous Governor General, too. Perhaps as a nation we have made some progress!

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  3. A fine and brave group of men and women! Great exhibit.
    Take care, have a happy day and a great new week ahead.

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  4. Las mujeres , como los hombres eran unas buenas patriotas y contribuyeron mucho en la contienda.

    Disfruta del domingo, que mañana ya será lunes.

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  5. @John: bonds were forged.

    @Italiafinlandia: you're welcome.

    @David: any progress is good.

    @Gemel: very much so.

    @Francisco: thanks.

    @Eileen: thank you.

    @Ventana: thanks.

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  6. ...progress often comes in small steps.

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  7. The night target is a poignantly beautiful picture.

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  8. A visit to the Museum of History would be top of my list William and seeing as that's not likely I'm thoroughly enjoying this exhibition vicariously through your lens. Have just been back to enjoy missed weekend posts ✨

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  9. Thanks for this tour, William.

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  10. Many different types of people made huge contributions to the war effort.

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  11. Yet there were many who made great contributions and yet were never recognized or even known because of their secret service behind enemy lines.

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  12. Thank you for sharing the stories of Mary and Winnifred.

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  13. It seems strange for me to admire that "Night Target" painting because of the war subject, but I do like it.

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  14. @Tom: quite true.

    @Magiceye: it's haunting.

    @Maywyn: that it is.

    @Grace: thank you.

    @RedPat: you're welcome.

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  15. @Red: true indeed.

    @Revrunner: secret service was vital.

    @Linda: definitely.

    @Marie: you're welcome.

    @Sharon: as do I.

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  16. I was two when WWII ended, and was oblivious. The Korean War was another matter. How I remember the newsreels, and once my parents hushed me during the news, "Don't you know there's a war going on!"

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  17. A beautiful and clearly expressive painting of the bombing of Germany.

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  18. i enjoy the medical bag ... i bet it was very useful. ( ;

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  19. Great photos of great exhibit ~ wonderful tribute ~

    Living in the moment,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor

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  20. This really does show the variety in those who served so bravely.

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