Preserveing military history for our future

Our Mission Statement

 

 

Recognizing and understanding the importance of preserving and studying military history, our web site dedicates itself to the gathering and dissemination of world military history. This applies especially to the archiving and collecting of artefacts’, documents, and related materials that pertain to the unique military heritage of the United Kingdom, United states, Germany and its veterans who have maintained our freedoms and way of life. The web site will serve to educate our community about military history, the role of the Armed Forces, and through learning, promote their positive and vital role in our society. We feel this is more relevant than ever.

 

 

"Military history includes biography, battle narratives, memoirs, oral histories, treatises, scientific discourses, philosophy, economic studies, fiction - and more.... The study of history is not a great search for details in the pages of dusty books; it involves the discovery of knowledge in the broader sense and the enrichment of the intellect. Military history is history first and military second. Methods of studying it are invariably tied to individual goals and individual concepts of what military history is. If directed to prepare a list of the ten most important books of military history, ten different persons would probably draw up ten different lists, each list representing its compiler's values, priorities, and biases, although some titles would appear on more than one list...

    "Military history should be studied in width, depth, and most importantly in context. In this way, according to Professor Michael Howard, "the study of military history should not only enable the civilian to understand the nature of war and its part in shaping society, but also to improve the [soldiers] competence in his profession." Reading with a purpose to gain a better understanding of the nature of war and the practice of warfare sharpens the intellect and develops perspective to face current problems in an informed manner as well as to plan for the future."

From an article by Lieutenant Colonel John F. Votaw

 

 

 

 

The Shaunavon Museum recently unveiled a new display that honours those who served so valiantly during wartime periods.

The special display features a number of items from the museum’s collection of artifacts, although the bulk of the display is comprised of memorabilia from a young local collector.

Garret Glasrud is a 25-year-old Shaunavon area resident who has been collecting war-related items for more than a decade.

“I’ve had an interest since I was a child and collected my first item when I was probably about 12 or 13 years old,” said Glasrud. “I’ve always had an interest in building (car and plane) models and that sort of thing, and my dad was always interested in history. I would learn things from conversations I had with him and then it got to the point where I was researching a lot of it myself.”

“For the past couple of years it has grown to a pretty serious state - where I’ve been doing a lot of research,” he added.

Only a small portion of Glasrud’s collection is actually on display at the museum. In fact, his vast compilation fills one guest bedroom and spills out into other parts of his home.

“It has actually kind of gotten to the point where it has overwhelmed one side of my house,” laughed Glasrud.

Glasrud, who manages his family’s ranch west of Shaunavon, says he bought his first military item while living in Calgary. The piece - a U.S. World War II surplus helmet - was purchased from a nearby army surplus store.

“I always enjoyed roaming through the store, because it was like a big military second hand store where you could pick things up relatively cheap,” he said.

Garret admits his collection includes a variety of pieces, although it is limited solely to items that date back to either World War I or World War II. 

While many collectors focus on particular areas of military history - whether it is specific conflicts or military units - Glasrud’s collection features a wide assortment of material.

His collection features items from diaries to uniforms and everything in between. It also consists of objects from a variety of nations, including Canada, Japan, England, Germany, France and the U.S.

“The only thing I don’t have is ammunition,” he said.

Glasrud says he finds many of his items these days through an extensive internet community, where military collectors can buy, sell and trade material, while also exchanging information.

He says one of the more unique pieces in his collection is an SS typewriter that came from a German headquarters building. Another rare item is a U.S. medic’s badge from World War II.

Other interesting items include a Canadian gasmask, German gasmask, and WWI Canadian heliograph signal mirror and telescope, as well as a U.S. soldier’s WWII personal footlocker full of wartime items. The locker, complete with the soldier’s name and hometown identified on the lid, came from Winifred, Montana, about 125 miles south of Shaunavon.

He also owns a U.S. tank driver’s helmet from World War II, including earpieces and goggles, which visitors can check out at the museum exhibit.

“They are a rare piece and they look really neat when they are displayed,” Glasrud said of the helmet.

He also has a WWII Royal Canadian Air Force recruitment poster in his collection.

 

“The only other one I have seen like it either in person or online is at the military display in the Museum of Western Development in Moose Jaw,” said Glasrud.

While Glasrud’s first passion was in World War II history, his interest has more recently turned to the Great War after “digging up some family history on World War I.”

Glasrud had a Great Uncle who served with the 46th South Saskatchewan regiment based out of Moose Jaw. The 46th became known as the “Suicide Battalion” for its high casualty rate during the war. They were deployed in some of the conflict’s most deadly encounters.

“They were hardened men from the prairies - a fairly rugged group of country boys who more than held their own,” said Glasrud.

He says his interest in collecting took another turn after spending four years playing college football in Montana.

The defensive lineman - who was a star player for the Shaunavon Shadows and currently serves as an assistant coach with the team - says he was impressed with how Americans honoured and recognized their military personnel. Many citizens consider it their duty to serve their country in a military capacity. In fact, Glasrud estimates that about a half dozen of his teammates are currently serving overseas in either Iraq or Afghanistan.

It is his own desire to recognize the brave contributions of soldiers in important world conflicts that helps drive his interest in collecting memorabilia.

“I don’t want people to forget the freedom that we have now, thanks to the sacrifices that were made years ago,” he stated. “The more I’ve gotten into the hobby over the past 10 years, the more interest I’ve had in helping preserve that history.”

He acknowledges that he is among a very small group of young collectors in the field.

Most military collectors are in the 50s or 60s, who were children themselves of soldiers who served during the periods of world war.

“But when they move on, there won’t be too many left to maintain that history,” he commented. “I think it’s important for the next generation to help preserve this and make sure it doesn’t fall by the wayside.”

The war exhibit, located in the basement of the museum, is expected to be on display at the Grand Coteau Centre until the end of December.

 

 

Links:

 

Paul harding’s military flash patches:  http://www.militaryflashpatches.co.uk/index.php

 

This is a site dedicated to all things military.

http://www.militaryflashpatches.co.uk/index.php