HMCS Uganda 5 Colonel Cosgrave 7 Book review 9 Vera Lynn 12 August 2020 Volume 31, Number 3 PASSING THE TORCH by Paul Manson pride on their instrumental role in the and others on the grounds that the Having lived a blessed life with many creation of a new museum that gave refurbished museum was not the right high points, I must say that nothing Canada’s military history the recog- place for an exhibition not directly matches the excitement and satis- nition it so richly deserved. A vital related to Canada’s military history. faction experienced on May 8th, part of the Friends’ contribution was This and other issues became 2005, at the official opening of the the fundraising campaign conducted very public and subject to parlia- new Canadian War Museum. And I under their auspices, appropriately mentary scrutiny, giving rise to a am sure that my sense of exhilara- named PASSING THE TORCH. growing conviction that what was tion was shared by the 2500 people Without that involvement, the new really needed was a brand-new war gathered at LeBreton Flats in Ottawa Canadian War Museum could not museum, one that could effectively that beautiful spring day for what was have been built. tell the full story of Canada’s military both a historic and historical event, it As the chairman of the PTT history. A significant step in that dir- also being the 60th anniversary of VE campaign, I was privy to much of what ection was the appointment, in 1998, Day. In attendance were countless happened during my seven years of of Dr. Granatstein as the Director and veterans, senior politicians, bureau- full-time volunteer service in that task. CEO of the museum. crats and members of the general On accepting the invitation in early Of course, creating a new facil- public. Her Excellency the Governor 1998 to lead the fundraising effort, I ity meant spending a lot of money. It General, in her opening remarks, inherited a campaign that had its origin was estimated that a new museum set the tone by stirring up a sense back in 1993, and which by that time worthy of the challenge would cost of joy in what was a truly remarkable had raised about $2 million in support more than $100 million, which in national accomplishment, while com- of a plan to refurbish and expand the turn raised the question of where the plimenting the numerous Canadians old War Museum on Sussex Drive in money would come from. It was here whose dedication helped to make the Ottawa. The story from this point is that the Honourable Barney Danson new facility a reality. well known. A surge of controversy took charge. A highly respected vet- A few weeks ago, the 15th arose over the utter inadequacy of eran and former Defence Minister, Anniversary of that memorable the existing facility. Canadians, having he exercised his diverse talents and occasion was widely celebrated. been forcefully reminded by eminent political experience in convincing To be sure, because of the COVID-19 historian Dr. Jack Granatstein that the the Prime Minister to agree that the pandemic, the celebration was sub- nation had forgotten and neglected Federal Government would commit jected to severe physical limitations, its military history, increasingly under- to providing sufficient funds to allow but that didn’t dampen the happy stood that repairing the old facility was the project to proceed. But there was recollections of the official opening the wrong way to go. There followed one key condition: that $15 million be back in 2005, and of the wonderful much disagreement surrounding a raised from the private sector. achievement it represented. In this, proposal to add a holocaust gallery To our small PTT team, that num- the Friends of the Canadian War to the old museum, this being strenu- ber was stunningly beyond what we Museum can look back with great ously opposed by veterans’ groups continued on page 3 2 The Friends of the President’s Remarks Canadian War Museum Dear readers, welcome to the August 2020 issue of the Torch. 1 Vimy Place Ottawa, ON K1A 0M8 In this issue you will enjoy an excellent contribution from Gen Paul Tel: 819.776-8618 Manson reflecting on the thrill of the opening 15 years ago of the new Fax: 819.776-8623 Canadian War Museum (CWM) and the enormous developmental and www.friends-amis.org fundraising effort in support. Gen Manson chaired the Passing The E-mail: [email protected] Torch campaign; in this regard we owe him an enormous debt of grati- Patron tude. Also, in this edition we will recognize the 75th anniversary of Vic- Her Excellency the Right Honourable tory over Japan (VJ) Day. Julie Payette As I write, we continue to face the difficult health and wellness chal- CC CMM COM CQ CD lenges imposed by Covid19; nevertheless, the number of cases in the Governor General of Canada country continues to drop, if unevenly, and in parts of the country the relaxation of restrictions is apparent. I am advised that the CWM is in President Cmdre (Ret’d) R. Hamilton the planning stages for a return to operations although I expect the new Vice-President normal will be materially different from the past. In any case, vigilance and caution must remain front of mind. Past President Throughout the period of the pandemic, the Friends board of dir- BGen (Ret’d) L. Colwell ectors (BOD) has met regularly through electronic means and items of Secretary important business have been addressed. The project to renew the web- Brenda Esson site and to establish it as the flagship carrier service to support outreach, Treasurer constituency building and strengthening financial position continues to Cdr. (Ret’d) John Chow move forward. I anticipate that by the time you read these remarks we Director at Large will have reached the initial trial stage. Douglas Rowland On the governance front, the BOD has appointed the 2020 slate of Directors directors; there have been some departures, many renewals and 3 new Mr. Robert Argent, members. The new directors will soon join their colleagues on the BOD Mr. Allan Bacon, and at the annual members meeting (AMM) all appointments will be sub- Mr. Thomas Burnie, ject to ratification by the membership and the BOD will appoint its offi- Mr. Larry M. Capstick, cers. We are planning to conduct the AMM on Wednesday 16 September Mr. Stephen Clark, Mr. Larry Diebel, using a combination of physical presence and electronic outreach. We Ms. Deanna Fimrite, intend to remain fully compliant with restrictions and with requirements Maj.(Ret’d) Gerald Jensen, of the Not for Profit Corporations Act. In the event that the CWM is not Mr. Sean McGrath, available, we have an alternate site in mind. M. Wayne Primeau, As we struggle in this difficult period, we must reflect on the role of Ms. Elizabeth Reynolds, the Friends as a registered charity existing solely to support the CWM. Capt (N) (Ret’d) Louise Siew, Our strategy must be anchored in broadening our outreach, fostering Mr. Ray Stouffer, Mr. Scott Widdowson donation and encouraging sponsorship. This is more easily said than done; resources are scarce and competition is intense. Many like-minded organizations are suffering and in this challenging environment we must The Torch (ISSN 1207-7690) think deeply about what differentiates us from the competition and attracts Editor/Content: Ed Storey support. This is a complex matter but I believe the answer rests in the Editor/Layout: Ruth Kirkpatrick particularly Canadian nobility of our cause in supporting a museum which never glorifies war but honours our history for a better future. I would be grateful for your comments or suggestions at Ce Bulletin est aussi disponible [email protected]. en Francais Yours aye, Robert Hamilton President August 2020 3 thought was achievable. But Barney, candidate sites - the old railway sta- joined by Alex Rankin and his Ottawa- in his inimitable and irresistible way, tion across from the Chateau Laurier based architectural firm. Moriyama, a quickly convinced us that our new tar- Hotel, and the former Ottawa City world-renowned Canadian architect, get was not up for discussion. It was Hall on Sussex Drive - were care- produced a captivating design based a huge challenge, but we got to work fully inspected, but both were found on the theme “Regeneration”, which immediately to make it happen. This to be totally inadequate. Then, to added greatly to the appeal of our naturally involved a big increase in the consternation of many, direction campaign. Then came the enormous the size of the fundraising team, and was received in 2001 that the new job of building the structure and out- we brought together players from the museum be built at LeBreton Flats, fitting it. While all of this was going staffs of both the War Museum and just west of Parliament Hill. A century continued on page 4 the parent Museum of Civilization, before, the Flats had been an active plus an army of volunteers from the industrial centre until it was devasted Friends of the Canadian War Museum by the Great Fire of 1900. In the 1960s and veterans’ organizations, from the the rebuilt community was expropri- business world, plus those who sim- ated and levelled by the Government, ply wanted to help meet the challenge. whose ambitious plan to develop a Overall direction was provided by the federal building complex at LeBreton Museums’ Board of Trustees and sen- Flats came to naught, and the area ior management staff, with guidance was left abandoned to the elements from a large PTT Steering Commit- since then.