Monday, December 12, 2022

The Great Crusade

The entrance to the Normandy portion of the World War Two gallery at the War Museum is through a short passage, with a projection of footage of the landing on D-Day at the end. 


On June 6th, 1944, while Americans stormed Omaha and Utah Beach, and the British took Sword and Gold Beach, Canadian soldiers landed on and took Juno Beach. It was the great turning of the tide of the war in the west.


Two extraordinary paintings are together. Invasion Pattern Normandy is by Eric Aldwinckle, dating to 1945, depicting things from above the beaches with the aerial assault on German positions. D-Day- The Assault is by Orville Fisher, the only war artist to land at any of the beaches on that day. Fisher was with the landing Canadians, and ditched most of his art gear, understanding that he'd drown with them. He reached the beach with what he had kept- pencils and waterproof pads- and started sketching what he was seeing, later transferring to paintings.


Some of you may remember this.


As is so often the case at this museum, individual stories are highlighted.


Many families received such telegrams.


A nearby balcony allows the visitor to look out over the Lebreton Gallery, where a large collection of military vehicles and equipment are displayed.

48 comments:

  1. I would find all these exhibits very emotional. Brilliant work William. Once again documented beautifully.

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  2. Well exhibited. Memories of victory and sacrifices.

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  3. These tank exhibits are not guarded? These windows look like a relaxed security to me

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    1. Oh, they're thick windows. And there are docents around in case someone decides to climb on a tank despite all the signage. Plus a security department.

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  4. It must be scary to stand in front of those tanks. I can´t help myself, I would want to pluck a flower into one...

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  5. D-Day was a terrible day. Too bad there were so many casualties on the first day of the beginning of the liberation of Europe.

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  6. The tanks exhibit is impressive. Take care, have a happy new week!

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  7. ...there sure have been many crusade throughout history. How about trying a peace crusade?

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    1. The religious connotation of a crusade is a negative one, but this one was entirely justified.

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  8. Some artist don't let a little thing like war get in the way of their need to capture scenes. Thank you for sharing these old memories with me.

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  9. A telegraph arriving must have been a horror for the families.

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  10. No hay que olvidar, esos grandes hechos que han quedado reflejados en la historia de este gran país.

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  11. Surprising how low tech this equipment was. The jet is from another age.

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  12. Telling the human stories is a good way to do it.

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  13. An excellent exhibit and one my husband would enjoy.

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  14. It's good that individuals are recognized for their contributions.

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  15. Informative and great exhibit ~

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

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  16. Agree with the others amazing museum!

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  17. The painting of the bomb dropping is a sobering work.

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  18. D Day was terrifying to me. It was often the subject of my father's stories after dinner.

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  19. I cannot imagine taking such a risk to make sketches for paintings.

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    1. That's what they did. I imagine he must have had a sidearm though. Imagine being a chaplain. Going into that, and by your very vocation not able to go in armed.

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  20. I love how they mash up so many things together in this museum -- art and vehicles and clothing and weapons. It could go so wrong -- and it works so well.

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