Marauder
4 March 2002, 02:54
Well lads, just returned from a few days of frolic in Montreal and along the Rideau, and one of the highlights was visiting the War Museum in Ottawa. Great place with lots of interesting relics and info that I didn't know about some of our earliest mil history. I snapped a few pix of me and some exhibits that I might post once the film is developed and I get them scanned. Stupid me, I forgot to get any pictures of Hitler's car (cool story with that) and the fantastic D-Day diorama they set up. Or of the feature exhibit they had about the Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry that fought in the Boer War. Really interesting exhibit. I would highly recommend a visit if you get around the capitol region.
One of the most moving parts for me was a letter written home by one of the Canadians defending Hong Kong who was taken prisoners by the Japs and held in squalor in a POW camp. The letter was written to his mother {the display even has the original handwritting} to explain why he was chosing to try and escape. Very practical and to the point (he had "had jolly enough of this"), talked a bit about how he knew his mother shared a disdane of fatalism with him, but that if anything happened, he would see her the life after next. He was caught after he escaped, and was summarily beheaded. Shows how much some reservists paid when called up to do their thing.
Also got to the Parliment buildings, the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier, the Peacekeeping Monument, the NDHQ Jr Ranks and Sr Ranks Mess (next to the building where the Camerons and another Res regiment parade), the American Embassy, and {drumroll please}..... NDHQ. Looks like any other government building filled with civil servants. The buggers even have a covered passage into the mall that's basically right next door. :rolleyes:They can stroll right on over to Second Cup and Timmy's without getting a chill. :p Oh, made a stop in Trenton to 2 Air Movement Sqdn, saw a couple of Herky birds buzzing in and out. And got to gaze upon the CPC. Enjoyed seeing it (probably the only time I ever will LOL).
Unfortunately, I didn't get to swing out by Dwyer Hill to say hi to the lads. Ran out of time getting outta the city this morning, you see. LOL
One of the most moving parts for me was a letter written home by one of the Canadians defending Hong Kong who was taken prisoners by the Japs and held in squalor in a POW camp. The letter was written to his mother {the display even has the original handwritting} to explain why he was chosing to try and escape. Very practical and to the point (he had "had jolly enough of this"), talked a bit about how he knew his mother shared a disdane of fatalism with him, but that if anything happened, he would see her the life after next. He was caught after he escaped, and was summarily beheaded. Shows how much some reservists paid when called up to do their thing.
Also got to the Parliment buildings, the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier, the Peacekeeping Monument, the NDHQ Jr Ranks and Sr Ranks Mess (next to the building where the Camerons and another Res regiment parade), the American Embassy, and {drumroll please}..... NDHQ. Looks like any other government building filled with civil servants. The buggers even have a covered passage into the mall that's basically right next door. :rolleyes:They can stroll right on over to Second Cup and Timmy's without getting a chill. :p Oh, made a stop in Trenton to 2 Air Movement Sqdn, saw a couple of Herky birds buzzing in and out. And got to gaze upon the CPC. Enjoyed seeing it (probably the only time I ever will LOL).
Unfortunately, I didn't get to swing out by Dwyer Hill to say hi to the lads. Ran out of time getting outta the city this morning, you see. LOL