Elgin Military Museum facts for kids

The Elgin Military Museum is a special place in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada. It's a museum that helps us remember the brave people from Elgin County who served in Canada's military. It opened in 1982 and shows exhibits about important events like the War of 1812, the First World War, the Cold War, and the War in Afghanistan.

Discovering the Museum's Past

The Elgin Military Museum was started in 1982 by military veterans. They wanted to honor the people from Elgin County who helped in Canada's military history.

The museum shares stories of people from Elgin County. These stories cover many conflicts, from the War of 1812 to the Afghanistan War. Inside, you can see amazing models made by skilled artists. There is also a collection of about 600 badges from the United Nations and NATO. The museum also has cool exhibits outside. You can see two large M113 armored personnel carriers on display there.

Jumbo the Elephant's Story

The Elgin Military Museum has a special area for an elephant named Jumbo. He was the biggest elephant ever kept in captivity. In 1985, a life-size statue of Jumbo was placed near the museum. This was to remember 100 years since his death. This statue was the start of a special collection. It also includes statues of kangaroos and dolphins.

Exploring the HMCS Ojibwa Submarine

In 2012, the Elgin Military Museum got a real submarine! It's a former Oberon-class submarine called HMCS Ojibwa. This submarine is the biggest item the museum owns. Since St. Thomas is not on the water, the Ojibwa is located in Port Burwell, Ontario. It sits on the shore of Lake Erie. The museum won awards for its tours of the Ojibwa. It received both provincial and national tourism awards in its first year.

The Vimy Poppy and Its Meaning

A very important item at the museum is the Vimy Poppy. A soldier from St. Thomas picked this poppy. He found it on Vimy Ridge a few weeks after the battle started. The battle began on April 9, 1917. He picked it to remember his friends who died there. One of these brave soldiers was Lance Corporal Ellis Sifton. He won the Victoria Cross that day but lost his life. The museum has a tiny box that held his belongings. This box is part of a display honoring him.

Images for kids

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  Lewis gun and Lee–Enfield No 1. Mk 2

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  German U-boat escape lung

See also

• Base Borden Military Museum
• Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
• National Air Force Museum of Canada
• Organization of Military Museums of Canada
• The Military Museums
• The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada Museum
• Virtual Museum of Canada

Affiliations

The museum works with several important groups: CMA, CHIN, OMMC, and Virtual Museum of Canada.