In Their Own Voices goes live, thanks to donor support
Sergeant (Ret’d) Russell Kaye and Flight Lieutenant (Ret’d) Dr. William H. Novick served during the Second World War, including on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Decades later, Colonel (Ret’d) Howard G. Coombs served in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Croatia.
Like many veterans, all three say their service shaped the rest of their lives. Kaye’s and Coombs’ wartime experiences shifted their outlook on life. Novick benefitted from Canada providing many veterans with access to a university education. The impact of their service continued long after they changed into their civvies.
They all report that transitioning from military to civilian life was difficult. Yet they believe it’s essential that people, especially schoolchildren, learn what happened. Colonel Coombs explains, “If we stop talking about these people, we stop remembering, and they truly die at that point.”
Howard Coombs as a civilian counter-insurgency advisor in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, 2011.
Photo: Courtesy of Howard Coombs.
Now there’s a new resource to help people learn what happened, directly from those who were there. The Canadian War Museum’s permanent online exhibition In Their Own Voices: Stories From Canadian Veterans and Their Loved Ones, went live on October 30, thanks to your donations and support.
In Their Own Voices was created by a team of dedicated Museum professionals. Project historian Dr. Michael Petrou interviewed more than 200 veterans and their loved ones. These veterans served in the Second World War as well as in more recent conflicts, such as in Afghanistan and Iraq.
When you visit https://www.warmuseum.ca/in-their-own-voices, you’ll meet 52 veterans or their loved ones through video and audio clips. The recordings offer reflections on their service, the transition back to civilian life, and how their service shaped the years to come.
And there’s a section with educational resources. Teachers and students are guided to reflect on interview clips and learn how to discuss difficult topics.
Most importantly, explains Ashlee Beattie, Learning Specialist, students will learn that veterans “had hobbies, jobs, families and dreams. The scope of their military experience transcends any one battle, deployment or task while in uniform. Veterans were shaped by their experiences, affecting the rest of their lives, their families, their communities and Canada.”
This project is generously supported by the A. Britton Smith Family, Azrieli Foundation, Arthur B.C. Drache, C.M., K.C. and Judy Young Drache, The Royal Canadian Legion, Legion National Foundation, Friends of the Canadian War Museum, the Crabtree Foundation, Robert Stollery, in honour of his service in the Second World War, Colonel (Ret’d) Stanley A. Milner, OC, AOE, MSM, CD, LL.D. and individuals from across Canada.
