The Glenbow Museum > Collections & Research > Museum Collections > Military & Mounted Police

The collection relating to Canadian military history is the largest, with specific emphasis on southern Alberta and primarily Calgary. All major conflicts are represented, including the North-West Rebellion, the Boer War, the First World War, the Second World War, and the Korean War in addition to peacetime military material culture.

Calgary Highlanders leaving for training, May 24, 1940.
Glenbow Archives/Calgary Herald, NA-2864-3431E

Chest of Medals, Major-General Huntly D.B. Ketchen

(L-R) Queen's South Africa Medal; 1914-14 Star; British War Medal; Victory Medal with oak leaf emblem for Mention in Dispatches; George V Coronation Medal; George V Jubilee Medal; George VI Coronation Medal; Officer's badge, Legion of Honour (France); Croix de Guerre (Belgium) with palms for Mention in Dispatches

Glenbow Museum's collection includes over 2100 medals concentrating primarily on Canadian orders, decorations and medals from the 19th and 20th centuries. There is a particularly strong representation of Canada General Service Medals and North-West Canada Medals. Awards such as the Victoria Cross, the Distinguished Service Order, the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the Military Cross and the Military Medal are also present.

Chest of Medals, Private John Pattison
Victoria Cross, British War Medal, Victory Medal
50th Canadian Infantry Battalion
1917

The Victoria Cross is the highest decoration for bravery that it is possible to receive in Commonwealth countries. Only 94 have ever been awarded to Canadians. Glenbow Museum has the honour of caring for three of these, all dating to the First World War. You can see all three on display in our Warriors gallery.

Selection of pilot, bomb aimer, navigator and observer's wings
Roy Thompson Wings collection
Second World War

The Wings collection is a comprehensive representation of Canadian air force insignia from 1914 to the present. By far the largest part of the Canadian military history collection is comprised of badges and buttons. There are over 7200 in the collection with a nearly complete representation of all past and present Canadian cap badges, collar badges, shoulder titles, buttons and other insignia.

Model of the Bluenose
Made by German Prisoner of War
Lethbridge Internment Camp
1945

One of Alberta's main contributions during the Second World War was the establishment of several prisoner of war camps. Material related to these camps is rare but Glenbow Museum has a sizeable collection which includes crafts (like the model here), escape tools and other objects. There are also artifacts illustrating the life of Canadian POWs held overseas.

Officer's Full Dress Uniform, Captain E.S. Sales
103rd Regiment (Calgary Rifles)
ca. 1910-1921

The uniform collection is the core of the Canadian military history collection. It covers all of the major units that originated in Southern Alberta including land, sea and air services. All dress orders are represented, from full dress to mess dress, patrol dress, service dress, battle dress and more for both officers and other ranks.