Tuesday, November 29, 2022

Propaganda And Trench Warfare

 A set of displays looks at propaganda of the First World War. This particularly grisly poster of the time looks at the story of Edith Cavell, a British nurse executed by the Germans for helping the escape of POWs. This act outraged the Allies. In Canada, a mountain in the Rockies was named in her memory.


This work of art is based on a story that hasn't been conclusively proven. At Ypres, a story circulated that German soldiers crucified a Canadian soldier on a barn door. Canada's Golgotha is sculpted by Derwent Wood, dating to 1918.


Another act that outraged the Allies was the sinking of the passenger liner Lusitania, by a German U-boat.


The centrepiece of this display case is a porthole recovered from the wreck of the ship decades later.


Here we have a model of a typical layout of trenches of the war.


And nearby you can walk through one, typically dark, with accompanying sounds playing off unseen speakers.


The path takes us to this area that at its heart focuses on the Battle of Vimy Ridge.


A topographical model of the ground, held by the Germans from 1914 up until April 1917, and used in the planning of the attack, is here.

46 comments:

  1. I think many were left sick in their brains, cruel due to what they saw.
    And oh... would I brave up walking through there? It must be very, very scary.
    And to see all this repeats itself over and over again. Crazy.

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  2. So many dreadful happenings. I remember being taught about Edith Cavell and seeing her statue near Norwich cathedral when I was a child:)

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  3. we have a hospital Edith Cavel with her statue at the entrance here in Brussels.

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  4. It is a long time ago but always good to remember isn't it?

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  5. @Italiafinlandia: man's inhumanity to man.

    @Iris: shell shock, as they called it.

    @Rosie: it isn't surprising that there are tributes to her elsewhere.

    @Gattina: a hospital named for her is right.

    @Aritha: I think so.

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  6. ...trench warfare sounds brutal.

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  7. A very grisly poster .And I think I would give walking through those trenches a miss. What an awesome exhibit.

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  8. War is cruel and makes people do cruel things to others.

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  9. It is important to understand our history.

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  10. i may sound like a broken record because i say this every year (i enjoy your seasons so) but i am ready for some Canadian snow!! lol. i love the ice sculptures (all the special awesome events u do share with us). can't wait. hope you are ready as well? always enjoy my visits. take care. enjoy your week! ( ;

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  11. Propaganda was/is the key for hate

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  12. The trenches had to be a nightmare though better than outside them. Thank you for sharing!

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  13. I have been by Mt Edith Cavell many times but never climbed it.

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  14. No me extraña, lo del crucificado. La guerra saca a relucir el lado peor del ser humano.

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  15. It is scary to see how rumours and propaganda can ruin lives

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  16. Intriguing exhibit ~ quite the tension ~

    Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  17. Seems like we're reliving those days now in Ukraine.

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  18. oh what a terrible thing to happen, I can't believe all the monstrosities people have done to others over the years.

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  19. War is brutal and horrible.

    All the best Jan

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  20. Trench warfare sounds absolutely hideous.

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