I went to the Military Museums this morning. I don't think I have ever been to museums that were focused mostly on units as opposed to battles or countries. So, the first hunk of the building is dedicated to the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. PPCLI was formed at the outset of World War I and has played a significant role in pretty much every Canadian engagement since.
The memorial room demonstrated a few basic truths about the larger Canadian efforts:
- that Canadian soldiers got killed doing peacekeeping. We tend to forget this, but it is important to remember that the blue helmet was no magical shield.
- that Afghanistan was almost as costly for the PPCLI as Korea, and given medical improvements, the slightly lower KIA probably can be read as a higher number of wounded in action than in Korea.
- that WWI really sucked. Most of the room's walls are covered by markers to those lost in the "war to end all wars." Such poor strategy, such poor leadership. Amazing that anyone would be willing to serve under the British again...
The afternoon will be spent at other kinds of museums and checking out the city itself.
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