The Elgin Military Museum has a fine collection of model ships that have been handmade by exceptionally talented craftsmen. The Battle of Lake Erie took place in September 1813. This display is one of the most attractive in the museum. HMS Detroit and USS Niagara are fine examples of the modeller's art.
Ron White Model Ships
Mr. Ron White of Tillsonburg, Ontario, brought three ships into the collection in 2008. The three ships are HMS Ark Royal, (whose 'obsolete' Swordfish aircraft launched the torpedoes that crippled Bismarck-an attack that was carried out without loss), HMS Lion, Vice Adm. Beatty's Flagship, at the battle of Jutland in 1916 and SMS Scharnhorst, the First World War German commerce raider sunk in the Falklands, December 8, 1914. He has generously added more brilliantly executed models to the collection over the years including: HMS Liverpool (D92) and Minotaur. The Liverpool participated in Operation Unified Protector, the NATO naval blockade of Libya in 2011 where she was actively engaged in firing on targets on August 11th 2011. Every piece of the models has been hand done. They are a must see when you come to visit the Museum.
Joseph Vella Model Ships
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Navy in 2010, the Museum commissioned four models from master boat model craftsman Joseph Vella of Rimouski, Quebec. The Castle Class Corvette HMCS St. Thomas, the German submarine U-877, HMCS Edmundston and HMCS Sea Cliff are now part of the permanent collection of the museum and help to illustrate the tale of what happened on December 27, 1944 when fate brought them all together.
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St. Thomas Times Journal, July 29, 2010
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