Miniature World

Miniature World

Miniature World

World War II - June 1944 - Normandy

Written below this display: Canadians taking the town of Caen . . . capturing the cemetery from the Germans. As technology advances, war sees many changes. Tanks take the place of Cuirassiers; Hussars fight not on horseback but in armoured cars; an army's transport is powered not by hay but by gasoloine - and still men die on their "Fields of Glory." It is to be hoped that in the 20th Century, war will become, and remain - history.

American war of Independence, 1775 - 1783

Written below this display: "Battle of Saratoga, October 6, 1777" - The Redcoats attacking the Rebel artillery: This battle was decisive in more ways than one - when word of the American victory reached Europe, both France and Spain decided to side with the Colonies. But years of fighting remained before peace came and the American Revolution was over; and in 1783, the independence of the United states was recognized at last - "by their Ancient Parent and recent enemy, England."

Courage of the Early Morning - Western France, August 1918

Written below this display: Napoleon believed that one of the rarest forms of courage was the "Courage of the early Morning." For these pilots of the British ROYAL FLYING CORPS, taking off in the dawn light from an airfield near Amiens France on August 8, 1918, courage will be essential. Flying Sopwith Camel aircraft, these pilots are about to take part in the BATTLE OF AMIENS. On the ground, Canadian troops will begin an advance that will signal the beginning of the end of the Great War. High above the trenches, hundreds of aircraft from both sides will engage in a fierce struggle to dominate the skies. In their tiny, frail aircraft, without benefit of parachutes, against a well armed and determined foe and in constant fear of these wood and fabric aircraft catching fire, it was indeed a matter of Courage when these pilots took to the air. The Sopwith Camel was considered by many to be the ultimate fighter aircraft of World War I. Agile, well armed and fast, it was a potent weapon in the hands of a skilled pilot. It is perhaps a fact worth pondering that less than 15 years earlier, the first powered flight was made by the Wright Brothers. Sadly, war often hastens the advancement of technology. [B]

Courage of the Early Morning - Western France, August 1918

Written below this display: Napoleon believed that one of the rarest forms of courage was the "Courage of the early Morning." For these pilots of the British ROYAL FLYING CORPS, taking off in the dawn light from an airfield near Amiens France on August 8, 1918, courage will be essential. Flying Sopwith Camel aircraft, these pilots are about to take part in the BATTLE OF AMIENS. On the ground, Canadian troops will begin an advance that will signal the beginning of the end of the Great War. High above the trenches, hundreds of aircraft from both sides will engage in a fierce struggle to dominate the skies. In their tiny, frail aircraft, without benefit of parachutes, against a well armed and determined foe and in constant fear of these wood and fabric aircraft catching fire, it was indeed a matter of Courage when these pilots took to the air. The Sopwith Camel was considered by many to be the ultimate fighter aircraft of World War I. Agile, well armed and fast, it was a potent weapon in the hands of a skilled pilot. It is perhaps a fact worth pondering that less than 15 years earlier, the first powered flight was made by the Wright Brothers. Sadly, war often hastens the advancement of technology.

Courage of the Early Morning - Western France, August 1918

Written below this display: Napoleon believed that one of the rarest forms of courage was the "Courage of the early Morning." For these pilots of the British ROYAL FLYING CORPS, taking off in the dawn light from an airfield near Amiens France on August 8, 1918, courage will be essential. Flying Sopwith Camel aircraft, these pilots are about to take part in the BATTLE OF AMIENS. On the ground, Canadian troops will begin an advance that will signal the beginning of the end of the Great War. High above the trenches, hundreds of aircraft from both sides will engage in a fierce struggle to dominate the skies. In their tiny, frail aircraft, without benefit of parachutes, against a well armed and determined foe and in constant fear of these wood and fabric aircraft catching fire, it was indeed a matter of Courage when these pilots took to the air. The Sopwith Camel was considered by many to be the ultimate fighter aircraft of World War I. Agile, well armed and fast, it was a potent weapon in the hands of a skilled pilot. It is perhaps a fact worth pondering that less than 15 years earlier, the first powered flight was made by the Wright Brothers. Sadly, war often hastens the advancement of technology.

Chelsea in June of 1815

Written below this display: A Courier has arrived in Chelsea, England with the new of the defeat of Napoleon and the French army by Lord Wellington and a combined English and Prussian army. The battle was the last time that Europe would see NAPOLEON BONAPARTE and was the crowning achievement in the illustrious military career of the DUKE OF WELLINGTON. Far from the horrors of the battlefield, towns all across England were receiving the news of the great victory and much like this scene in Chelsea, people listened to the courier to be the first to hear the news.

Chelsea in June of 1815

Written below this display: A Courier has arrived in Chelsea, England with the new of the defeat of Napoleon and the French army by Lord Wellington and a combined English and Prussian army. The battle was the last time that Europe would see NAPOLEON BONAPARTE and was the crowning achievement in the illustrious military career of the DUKE OF WELLINGTON. Far from the horrors of the battlefield, towns all across England were receiving the news of the great victory and much like this scene in Chelsea, people listened to the courier to be the first to hear the news.

Chelsea in June of 1815

Written below this display: A Courier has arrived in Chelsea, England with the new of the defeat of Napoleon and the French army by Lord Wellington and a combined English and Prussian army. The battle was the last time that Europe would see NAPOLEON BONAPARTE and was the crowning achievement in the illustrious military career of the DUKE OF WELLINGTON. Far from the horrors of the battlefield, towns all across England were receiving the news of the great victory and much like this scene in Chelsea, people listened to the courier to be the first to hear the news.

American Civil War, 1881-1865 – The Battle Rages . . .

The Battle of Bull Run, 1881 . . . To the South, it gave over-confidence – the feeling that the war was just about won. To the North, it called for a re-dedication, a shedding of illusions, to stop believing that the enemy would disappear once the United States flag was brought forward. There was much fighting before Gettysburg, 1863, and finally peace in 1865 when General Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House on the 9th of April. Civil war is the saddest of all wars when brother fights brother – each believing in the rightness of his cause – not realizing the wounds that each leave upon what is surely “their” country. [B]

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[B]

The Last Spike

On November 7th, 1885 at 9:22 am in British Columbia the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was put into the ground by the CPR railroad financier Donald Smith. the last spike was the end of the construction of the railway. There was other work that had to be done in other parts of the railway, so the Canadian Pacific Railway did not open until June 1886. The last spike is a symbol of national unity in Canada. The last spike showed the completion of the promise the Canadian federal government made to British Columbia which was that a railroad would be built to connect the Pacific province to Central Canada. This railway was a huge influence on British Columbia's decision of joining the Canadian Confederation. Usually last spikes for railway tracks are gold or silver but the last spike for the Canadian Pacific Railway was an iron spike, the same as other spikes that were used in building the railway. A silver spike was made for the Governor General to present to the CPR, but he had to leave to Ottawa before the finishing of the railway. After the official delegation left the last spike was taken from the railway because people thought that souvenir hunters would try to rip it up. A regular spike was put in its spot instead. The real spike was given to the son of the patent office president and it is still with the family but was made into a carving knife. [B]

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[B]

Miniature World

Toronto 1915

Toronto was situated too far South to be on the main Canadian Pacific rail-line but this thriving city generated too much business to be ignored by any important railway, so links were forged to join it to the mainline partly by the use of old local railways and partly by new construction. As a result, Torontonians gained access to the New West and also to the developing mining country of Northern Ontario. So, the road was open to its enterprising traders, financiers, mamufacturers and retailers. One Toronto retailer, the T. Eaton Company, was a striking example of empire building by mail orders. Their catalog and goods spread across the land by train from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Torontos new found prosperity almost went up in flames in 1904. Defective wiring started a fire that devastated much of its commercial buildings. Fourteen acres with eighty-six factories and warehouse went up in smoke. [B]

American Civil War, 1881-1865 – The Battle Rages . . .

The Battle of Bull Run, 1881 . . . To the South, it gave over-confidence – the feeling that the war was just about won. To the North, it called for a re-dedication, a shedding of illusions, to stop believing that the enemy would disappear once the United States flag was brought forward. There was much fighting before Gettysburg, 1863, and finally peace in 1865 when General Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House on the 9th of April. Civil war is the saddest of all wars when brother fights brother – each believing in the rightness of his cause – not realizing the wounds that each leave upon what is surely “their” country.

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[B]

Miniature World

[B]

Miniature World

Miniature World

[B]

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[B]

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