Dale Gervais
For years I had been wanting to follow a lead I had come across, for a listing of a camera at the Canada Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa, claimed to have been used on D-Day. This was after my initial visit back in December, 2006 to view a Bell & Howell 35mm Eyemo donated to the Museum by Alex Stirton, former combat photographer of the Canadian Army Film & Photo Unit.
Many years had passed, and before I could arrange to view the D-Day camera, the Museum had started construction for the new Ingenium Centre in 2017. Staff then moved into the building in 2019, and the collection followed, ending in 2023. The new Ingenium Centre would open to the public this year in 2024.
Once access to the vaults was granted in March, I was able to arrange to view for the first time, a 16mm Bell & Howell FILMO motion picture camera claimed to have been used in Korea AND on D-Day.
The video I made about the camera was originally meant to feature just the camera, but in a timely twist, included a special guest to the museum; Donald McDougall, the donor’s son. Donald will tell the tale of how he became familiar with the camera, and how his father came to be directly involved in retrieving motion picture film footage shot on D-Day in 1944. Donald will also tell how he and I first met many years earlier.
It goes without saying that this video would not be possible without the help and support of many friends and colleagues. As well, for their dedication and hard work; the staff at Library & Archives Canada (LAC), and Museum of Science & Technology.
Many, if not all the documents and films presented here in the videos, and posts from this website are culled from the many collections, deposits, and records stored within LAC vaults and Museums. Without the expert care and knowledge of the people that safeguard this material, none of these ‘discoveries’ would be possible. I thank you all.
I am also including a video to some of the films that are mentioned in the Ingenium video and these can be viewed here;
Research films: Invasion of Europe / With the 25th Brigade Korea / D-Day
© 2024 Dale Gervais
Thank you Cedric and all the staff at the Ingenium Centre for your help in the making of this video. I look forward to studying more of the other cameras in the museums vast collection and learning more about them. Many thanks! Dale.