Below we have artifacts: a Canadian rifle and a distinctive scarf. Canadian Private Richard Thompson was the only Canadian recipient of the Queen's scarf; Queen Victoria knitted eight of these over the course of the South African War in honour of battlefield bravery.
Here we have a veteran of that war, a 12 pounder field gun used at the Battle of Leliefontein.
Georgina Pope was a nurse who signed up for duty in the war, and would later do it again in the First World War.
The South African War ended in victory after a prolonged but doomed guerrilla effort by the Boers. 7000 Canadians fought in the war, which is so often overlooked, if only by the fact that just a few years later the entire world would be drawn into the abyss of the Great War.
In its wake new challenges arose in the country as the Canadian government asserted more of a role in national defence. This included the establishment of the Navy and more building of military installations.
Here we have two editorial cartoons going back to the time of the debates over the establishment of the Navy.
I was fascinated by the Queen's scarf. I had not heard of Queen Victoria's knitting skills before.
ReplyDeleteNo, I'd never heard about Victoria being a knitter either.
ReplyDeleteInteresting with the scarf.
ReplyDeleteHenry, though... a bit sad.
That is a beautiful scarf.
ReplyDeleteA crafty Queen, I like that.
ReplyDelete@fun60: it makes sense to me.
ReplyDelete@John: many women of the era were.
@Iris: I think so.
@Nancy: yes it is.
@Gemel: so do I.
Seems quaint to think of a queen knitting scarves, doesn't it?
ReplyDelete...the contribution of women is often unappreciated.
ReplyDeleteGood to know the Queen knitted the scarves!
ReplyDeleteI never heard that about the Queen's scarf. Very interesting.
ReplyDeleteThe scarf is a surprise!
ReplyDelete@David: it does.
ReplyDelete@Tom: definitely.
@Magiceye: yes it is.
@Sharon: I thought so.
@RedPat: that it is.
Fascinating! And I have never heard about Queen Victoria knitting her eight scarves before. I enjoyed learning that bit of information. Thanks William, great post as always!
ReplyDeleteWe've spent much time at war...too much.
ReplyDeleteI love that the Queen knit the scarf! That had to be an honor. And the political cartoons intrigue me.
ReplyDeleteA scarf from the queen, that's something different than such a cold, hard medal.
ReplyDeletewat een mooi idee wat zal hij trots geweest zijn
ReplyDeleteDidn't know that Queen Victoria knitted !
ReplyDeleteWell, who knew she knitted?!!
ReplyDeleteQueen Victoria spent so much time on wars, so probably she needed to relax with something, so she knitted!
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to imagine Queen Victoria being a knitter.
ReplyDeleteThe contribution of women is often silent.
ReplyDeleteNice to know Queen Victoria was a knitter. :)
ReplyDeleteDebió para el soldado, portal el regalo que le envió la reina.
ReplyDeleteSo good that Queen Victoria was a knitter :)
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
@Denise: you're welcome.
ReplyDelete@Red: we have.
@Jeanie: thanks.
@Jan: definitely.
@Bas: thank you.
@Gattina: I suppose it makes sense.
@Michelle: I should hope those who wrote biographies!
@Klara: I understand it is relaxing.
@Bill: and yet she was.
@Italiafinlandia: indeed.
@happyone: it humanizes her.
@Ventana: thank you.
@Jan: I agree.
I wonder when that show about young Queen Victoria will return. Perhaps we'll see her knitting one of those scarves
ReplyDeleteI have not seen it. I have seen a series.
Deletea scarf knitted by a queen--seems incredibly anachronistic but also quite fascinating...
ReplyDeleteI agree.
DeleteI like the cartoons!
ReplyDeleteMe too.
DeleteIntriguing about the Queen knitting scarves for the military ~ Great post.
ReplyDeleteHappy Wednesday,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Thanks.
DeleteI look at the equipment they had back then and wonder what they would think about what we have today, lethal forms of destruction.
ReplyDeleteThe world changed.
Delete