MILITARY EXHIBIT
Our Military Exhibit introduces visitors to one of Carleton County’s families who proudly served their country through numerous wars and conflicts, and how the tradition of military service was passed down from generation to generation. The exhibit includes 1000 lead toy soldiers, several historic uniforms, a number of military themed pictures and military memorabilia. See the slideshow below for a preview.
Vince Family – Brief History
Robert Vince, was a veteran of the Crimean war(1853–1856).
Son of Robert Vince – Lieutenant-colonel Donald McLeod Vince (1848 – 1912) was most known for forming the 1st (Brighton) Field Squadron, Royal Canadian Engineers (Militia); the pioneer military engineer unit in the Atlantic Provinces.
Son of D. McLeod Vince – Colonel A. Neville Vince, was killed in action March, 1918, while commanding the 12th Bn., the King’s (Liverpool) Regiment.
Son of D. McLeod Vince – Colonel Edward Raban Vince (1887 – 1955) enlisted as a bugler on June 1st, 1895, at the age of eight. He served during WWI and WWII at the Western Front in France and in Flanders, and he was decorated with the Military Cross for gallantry. He was also the District Engineer Officer, during the restoration of the Halifax Citadel, and he was responsible for planning and constructing the encampments, fortifications and aerodromes at the HMCS Shearwater Naval Air Station, as well as the airfields at Dartmouth, Yarmouth, Sydney, and Stanley in Nova Scotia, and one at Debert in Newfoundland and Labrador. He was also responsible for the harbour fortifications of Halifax, Sydney, Louisbourg, Canso, Shelburne, Yarmouth and Goose Bay; the huge camps of Debert and Windsor, and scores of smaller installations.
Col. Edward Vince purchased the toy soldiers from England for his son Donald Vince, (seen on display) as Christmas presents over several years. Donald Vince proudly carried on the family tradition of military service; he worked for the Canadian Armed Forces and taught at the Royal Military College in Quebec.
