2018/19 VOLUNTEER-OF-THE-YEAR AWARD - MR ERIC BROWN
We congratulate Mr. Eric Brown the 2018/19 Friends of the Canadian War Museum (Friends’) Volunteer-of-the-Year.
Mr. Eric Brown has been a loyal Friend for more than two decades. Often seen about the Book Room in the course of his research activities, Eric’s major and signature contribution has been his service to the Military History Research Centre (MHRC) where he develops responses to public inquiries. In this regard, his dedication, competence and commitment have been exemplary. The following are the comments of the Director of the MHRC:
“Eric has been generously volunteering his time in the MHRC on Tuesdays and Fridays for 21 years, primarily assisting the librarian in digging through MHRC resources to find the best information to answer public inquiries. The time he spends goes well beyond what the museum staff would otherwise be able to provide: he spends hours digging through potential sources looking for the exact piece of information or best reference for the particular inquiry. His work and dedication is invaluable; many researchers are unfamiliar with military sources or unable to physically visit the museum to conduct the research themselves, and Eric’s efforts enable the museum to offer a level of research assistance which would otherwise be impossible to provide. His tendency to approach each challenging inquiry as a puzzle waiting to be cracked and sense of humour make him a pleasure to work with, and a much loved member of our team.”
We, the Friends, consider support to the Canadian War Museum (CWM) to be in the forefront of our strategic objectives. Additionally, the Museum Corporation’s mandate embraces the need to enhance Canadians’ knowledge, understanding and appreciation of events, experiences, people and objects that have shaped Canada’s history. In this regard, the MHRC contributes directly to this mandate and Eric Brown’s volunteer research in 2018/19 and for many years prior is, accordingly, a valued and vital service both to the MHRC and to Canadians.
Eric Brown’s volunteer contribution is meritorious, of fundamental importance to the CWM and a credit to the Friends.
Robert Hamilton President FCWM
The May 2019 edition of the Torch is now available. Click the front page thumbnail below left for a realistic "flip book" presentation. If you wish to download a pdf version, click the info icon within the presentation.
If you would like to submit an article for publication, you can forward it to , attention: Torch Editor.
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The 18-pounder Field Gun
The 18-pounder Field Gun in Canadian Service by Doug Knight relates the career of the 18-pounder gun in the Royal Canadian Artillery, from the first order from Vickers in 1903 until its retirement during the Second World War. The emphasis in the book is on the gun and, in addition to its service overseas, describes its service in Canada during the First World War, mechanization in the 1930s, and traces the individual history of some of the surviving guns. The text is well illustrated by colour and black and white photographs.
Click here to view The 18-pounder Field Gun in Canadian Service
The "Friends-Only" Adopt-A-Book Campaign
After a successful 2018 campaign, Friends are again sponsoring the Adopt-a-Book campaign for 2019.
The titles the MHRC Library wishes to acquire are listed below. Interested Friends are invited to indicate on the form below the title they wish to sponsor, together with a second and third choice. The form should then be forwarded to the Friends office with a cheque.
Alternatively, sponsors may leave the title selection to the Library if their first, second and third choices have already been adopted. They may also simply leave the selection of the title to the Library in the first instance.
The Library will then acquire the books and inscribe the name of the sponsor on a bookplate in each volume.
It is requested that Friends be cognizant of the desire of other Friends to adopt titles, and thus to restrict their initial adoption to no more than one or two titles. If all titles are not taken up, then the remaining titles to be adopted will be published in the next edition of The Torch.
If the form is not already visible, click READ MORE below to see it.
Getting it Right - Optimizing FCWM Support to The Museum
In supporting the War Museum, it is vital that the Friends limited financial resources be invested where most needed. To this end, integrated planning led to a contribution agreement setting out the needs and expectation of both parties; this agreement embraces support to the Mons Autocar Project (https://www.warmuseum.ca/collections/artifact/1035821/ ), the January 2019 Historical Conference ( https://www.warmuseum.ca/event/country-shaped-by-war-canada-1919/) and the Supply Line 2 Project – WW2.
The Mons project is behind us now and was by all accounts an unmitigated success. The Friends investment supported actually getting the Autocar from Canada to Belgium and its presence in the parade in Mons in running condition was a credit to the Museum and to our support. This success reinforces the importance of co-operative planning and putting our financial support where it is most likely to strengthen reputation and build constituency.
Pictures of the Autocar and Autocar in Mons, Belgium below.
Looking ahead we are confident that the Historical Conference and the Supply Line 2 projects will reinforce the benefits of this approach and the importance of the Friends support to the Museum. It is vital that we remain an essential resource and to this end strengthening the Friends financial resource base is vital. We need your support; indeed, without it we will fail in our mission! Click here to donate to this worthwhile cause and enjoy a charitable receipt.
Read more: Getting it Right - Optimizing FCWM Support to The Museum
Attention all book lovers with an interest in military history! You are invited to visit the Friends of the Canadian War Museum “BookRoom” where hundreds of lovingly used titles covering the full spectrum of military subjects are offered for sale at very reasonable prices.
Often referred to as a little-known treasure, the “BookRoom” is a significant fundraiser for the Museum and is staffed by a team of volunteers whose knowledge of the collection is only surpassed by their motivation! The “BookRoom” is open daily between 1100 and 1500 (except Sunday) and is located adjacent to the Museum Research Library - just follow the signs!
For those delivering donations to the FCWM used military Book Room, the CWM now affords courtesy underground parking. Parking vouchers are available through the Book Room staff or the Friends' Office Supervisor.
LeBreton Gallery Catalogue
Experience the LeBreton Gallery and the Canadian War Museum’s superb collection of military technology. Get an up-close view of imposing tanks, artillery and other machines of war, and learn about the military technology used by and against Canadians in times of both peace and conflict.
Contact Change?
Changing your address or phone number? Please Login and click on “Manage Contact Details”. Don’t forget to click “Save”. If you do not have an online account, please notify the FCWM Office by telephone at (819) 776 8618 or by e-mail at
