A POSTCARD FROM THE WAR MUSEUM OTTAWA ONTARIO

When Adolph and I travelled to Ottawa on our anniversary trip two years ago, one of our stops was the War Museum.

At the museum there is an incredible history of all the wars that Canada participated. If a school age child does not know our history, then he or she will by the end of a visit. The art collection is enormous. Most of it is the Beaverbrook Collection of War Art. The poster postcard are self explanatory. The men on horses is by Alfred Munnings- Fort Garrys on the March, around 1918- from World War One.

These postcards depict the woman's role in war.  The top card by Henrietta Mable May- Women Making Shells, 1919 and the bottom one depicts a painting by George Agnew Reid- Women Operators, 1919.

Top left- Maurice Cullen- Tents at No. 4 Casualty Clearing Station, 1918, middle one is the statue of  Breaking of the sword- by Walter Allward 1925-1930 and the bottom one is by Arthur Lismer- His Majesty's Transport Olympic in Colours of Peace, 1919.

The top postcard is by A.Y. Jackson, 1914- A Copse,Evening and the bottom one is by J.W. Morrice- Canadians in the Snow. Do you see a pattern? Isn't  it interesting how art tells a picture and a reality of war? These are not depictions of photos but an artist's view of what has happened. Do they stand the test of time? Before digital and tweeting, art really tells a story, doesn't it?

The postcard of the original headstone of Canada's unknown soldier, 1920 is very typical of the headstones of our armed forces that were buried in Europe. I visited the cemetery in the Cassino Italy area and found the headstones with our maple leaf to be very endearing. It lets us know who the Canadians who died in Europe were and from what region/city/ or area of Canada.  The bottom  postcard is by C.R.W. Nevinson- The Roads of France 'C'. 1917.
The visit to the War Museum does not glorify war. It reminds us and makes us reflect on the campaigns  throughout the ages and many generations of the sacrifices made to have the peace we experience here in Canada.. Ottawa has many museums and galleries and tourist attractions. The war museum is sure worth a visit.