Camp X artifacts to a better home...

The Star and Oshawa This Week recently published an article detailing the fate of several Camp X artifacts belonging to the Robert Stuart Aeronautical Collection housed at the Oshawa Airport. It was a follow-up to an article written in March, when it was expected that the private collection would be sold to the highest bidder, likely someone in the US. As of this week, 15 artifacts, including a suitcase radio, some clothing, trench art, and a helmet, from the Second World War spy training school near the Whitby-Oshawa border, have been purchased by the Canadian War Museum.

I think the history of Camp X, and certainly the artifacts, will be better served at the War Museum in Ottawa than they ever were in Oshawa. Lynn Phillip Hodgson, author of many *interesting* books about Camp X wrote to Oshawa This Week saying that the collection belongs to Oshawa. He goes on to say that, 'Tens of thousands of GTA school children have visited the museum over the past 33 years and now must journey to Ottawa to do so.' I was a GTA student, in fact I attended school in Oshawa, in the 1990s and I never once saw these artifacts. Even as an adult and someone who is interested in history and local history, I didn't find the Camp X artifacts to be terribly accessible, although I have seen the collection.

I don't think that the artifacts belong to Oshawa. Camp X and its history belong to all Canadians. In Ottawa, some of the artifacts will be publicly displayed and enjoyed by all Canadians and tourists and Oshawa's role in the Second World War will be featured. Similarly, the objects will receive proper care and storage at the Canadian War Museum. Isn't that better than the objects languishing in an old building that nobody knows about?

Remembering

Today, Remembrance Day, I'm thinking of all the men and women who have served or are currently serving, in any capacity, for Canada's Armed Forces. I think it's important to commemorate their sacrifices. More specifically, I'm remembering my grandpa Colman and my great-uncle Don. I wrote about their experiences during the Second World War last week here and here. I'm wearing my poppy with pride today and will take some time at 11:00 to bow my head in remembrance.

Colman Ferencz in Vancouver, c.1943.

McCrea family at the family farm, c.1940.

The Forgotten Battle

Yesterday's post got me interested in my grandfather's participation in the Second World War. He served in Alaska, part of the Aleutian Islands Campaign fought primarily between the United States and Japan. Sometimes known as the Forgotten Battle, the events that took place in the Aleutian Islands pale in comparison to other Pacific campaigns like Pearl Harbour, Japan, and Hong Kong.

My grandfather, Colman, was a member of the 6th Canadian Infantry Division and participated in Operation Cottage in August 1943. The goal of Operation Cottage was to invade Kiska and reclaim the island from the Japanese who had occupied it since 1942. Allied troops, consisting mostly of Americans, landed unopposed on the island only to discover that the Japanese had abandoned the island two days prior.

While it isn't the most exciting story, I never had the chance to talk to my grandfather about his war experience. He died when I wasn't yet interested in history and family history and, being a Canadian-Hungarian, he wasn't confident in his English language skills to communicate what I can only imagine would be complicated feelings.

As a young girl (I was about 12 or 13 when he died), I couldn't have imagined him as a soldier carrying a Bren gun. To me he was my silent grandpa who just nodded when I asked him to play baseball, push me on the swing, or watch me do magic tricks. Now that I know more about his war experiences, I am more proud than ever.

Check back next week for Remembrance Day photos of my grandpa and great-uncle!

Helping Us Remember

With Remembrance Day in the very near future, the Historica-Dominion Institute's The Memory Project is particularly relevant. The Memory Project is a digital archive of the stories and experiences of Second World War veterans. It's a nationwide bilingual initiative that provides the opportunity for veterans to share their memories through oral histories and artefacts.

I spent some time on the site yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed reading the transcripts and listening to the interviews. You can search for stories by battle, name, theatre, operation, etc. My great-uncle, Don, served in Caen-Falaise and was killed in action in August 1944. While I will never be able to hear about his experiences from him, I was grateful for all of the other servicemen and women who have shared their stories about Caen-Falaise. My family has always been proud of Don but the stories at The Memory Project help us to realize even more the courage and the bravery within him.