Personal Tales Of The War

The Battle of Britain remains one of the most consequential campaigns of the Second World War. Canadians served throughout.

One of them was Bill Sprenger, who would lose his life during the Blitz.

Some of his letters and his Memorial Cross are displayed here.

The Battle of The Atlantic lasted from the first day of the war to the very last day, the longest of the war.

Faces from that era look back at us through time.

In the foreground here is a rocket launcher called a Land Mattress.

This is the life jacket of a German pilot who was shot down in France in July 1944. He ended up a POW, and Canadian officers went from foe to friend, treating him well, signing the jacket.

Alex Campbell was an officer who sought to follow the example of his father, who had served and died in the First World War. He served in North Africa, Sicily, and on the Italian mainland, proving to be courageous under fire and more than capable of leading his men. He would die in the line of duty.

A look at the next space.

Not that many Canadians served in North Africa, but some officers were brought along for combat experience, including Campbell.

It was in the Italian campaign that many Canadians would start to show their merit.

Tank At Crossroads is the title of this 1943 painting by William Ogilvie.

Courage And Sacrifices

 Elsie MacGill was Chief Aeronautical Engineer at one of the Canadian war plants making planes for the war- in fact she would be known as the Queen of the Hurricanes for her innovations to that fighter.

George Reynolds spent his war as an instructor, teaching new pilots the skills they needed to fight in the air.

Twin brothers- Grant and Roy Campbell. They served in the air war and died a month apart. Imagine the impact on the family at home: both of them. And yet countless families would suffer enormous losses, with young men who would never see home again.

Roy's uniform jacket is here, along with items belonging to Grant.

Even at home you weren't safe. Munitions worker Albert Soque won the George Medal for civilian bravery saving the life of a co-worker in a fire.

Minnie Gray would go to war as part of the Canadian Women's Army Corps, getting opportunities she wouldn't have had at home as an African-Canadian woman.

This is her uniform.

This quilt was made by a London woman on her nights in bomb shelters during the height of the Blitz.

George Boyer served at sea, starting in the Pacific but ending up in the dangers of the Atlantic campaign.

Gwendoline Green met her husband, a Canadian serviceman, by chance in England. Later she would marry him.

And here's the suit she wore on their wedding day.

I close out today with a book that was distributed to British war brides who would end up accompanying their husbands home after the war, explaining how life in Canada had some differences with what they had known in Britain.

Lives Forever Changed

I paid a visit to the Canadian War Museum earlier in the month, for two reasons. First was to renew my yearly membership here and at the Canadian History Museum, as a membership gets you into both. Second was to attend the temporary exhibit there, as it closes in early September.

Forever Changed tells the story of Canadians impacted by the Second World War, both at home and abroad. It is deeply personal, using artifacts, art, personal items, letters, and the stories of the people themselves. 

One of the first things we see is this display; Polsten anti-aircraft guns are accompanied by other items and displays behind.

They include this fundraising pennant.

Edith Vollrath went to work in wartime industry. Among her jobs were making shells.

This is a model of H.M.C.S. Runnymede, a Canadian warship, with a photograph of her crew beneath. The Runnymede took part in the Battle of the Atlantic.

When Runnymede was launched in 1943, Annie Laing was the guest of honour in the ceremony. This souvenir book and silver plate was given to her. She had eight sons serve in the war. One of them came home with PTSD. Another never made it home.

Finale For A Gallery

Today I bring this series to a close with some final items of world art from the collection. I slipped into one of the side corridors and found this painting by British artist Stanley Spencer. Landscape With Magnolia, Odney Club is a 1938 work.

Spencer also painted Marsh Meadows, Cookham, a 1943 painting.

Paul Nash painted this, A Night Bombardment, in 1919-20- a legacy of the Great War.

The Second World War provided inspiration for this dramatic painting by Richard Eurich. Dunkirk Beaches, May 1940 dates back to 1940-41.

Sappers At Work: A Canadian Tunnelling Company is the title of this 1919 canvas by David Bomberg.

T.E. Lawrence As Aircraftman Shaw is the title of this portrait by Augustus John, depicting the famous Lawrence of Arabia following the Great War, when he re-enlisted under an assumed name.

Departing from the galleries, I took the stairs down to the main level. This statue is halfway down. Young Woman Bathing dates to 1919-21, and is a sculpture done in limestone by Aristide Maillol.

The ramp beckoned me down.

Views out the windows looked towards the American embassy and Major's Hill Park.

As well as towards Parliament Hill.