Guelph
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McCrae House is the home where famous Col. John McCrae was born. Now a museum, the institution hosts Canada Day with a historic military point of view.
Colonel John McCrae penned the famous poem,
In Flanders Fields, during the Great War or World War I. Born in Guelph McCrae received his medical degree from the University of Toronto. John had joined the Highfield Cadet Corps when he was 14, at 17 joining the Militia field battery. When Canada joined the fight in World War I, McCrae volunteered for service.
The front of the McCrae House showing a portion of the extensive gardens.
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With such a strong connection to military history, it is only fitting that McCrae House would host a Canada Day celebration with a historical military flavour. The grounds of McCrae House lend themselves to a certain amount of intimacy, fitting for contemplation of Canada's history, particularly deeper discussions about war.
A reenacter representing an armorer on board an 1812 naval boat, the HMS Charwell. explains how the grenade launcher worked.
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Amanda and Greg, volunteers with the Museum of Applied Military Heritage, were representing soldiers from WWII. Amanda said she became a part of the Museum of Applied Military Heritage because she loves history. Greg, who is heavily into reenactment, said he got into reenactment because his grandparents were survivors of WWII, and he wanted to honour their experience, said
"I think it's very beneficial for kids and every day citizens to see this first hand and get a feel for it ... to get an appreciation for a certain time period. But also it takes things beyond the textbook."
When asked if he thought WWII helped to shape the Canada of today, Greg said,
"I believe so. I personally think it helped to spur on the eventual evolution of modern-day society. I am a strong believer that if it hadn't been for the Second World War, I wouldn't be here..."
Greg added that putting on a WWII uniform and helping people learn about aspects of the war was his way of paying tribute to not only his forefathers, but also the soldiers of WWII.
"I'm the descendant of post-war immigrants, so like I said, I do this as a tribute to them. I'm also doing this as a tribute to the men that were overseas and that did sacrifice their own personal youth to preserve personal rights and freedoms."
When asked what lessons could be learned from WWII, Greg said
"I think one of the greatest lessons from the 2nd World War is what a financial crisis can actually produce. If you think about it, the 2nd World War was actually a by-product of the Great Depression; and what we've just encountered in terms of the recent Recession, if it could have gone worse, God only knows what we'd be doing in the next five years. So, if there's anything to be learned from the 2nd world war, is if people don't have work, people start to lose a sense of themselves and you get extremists, like ideological extremists who put a spin on history and a spin on current events, and basically what you get is something like the 2nd World War. That's something I don't think many people take into consideration, and something Canadians should take into account."
Reenactors representing WWII soldiers with guns used in the war, both German and Canadian guns.
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Amanda, who had explained the role of women in WWII, said she was very happy to have sexual equality in the military today.
"I personally am happy with the way that women have established themselves so that they're equal with the men. In day-to-day life, I actually work as a mechanic, so there again, a female in a technically male trade. So, the females being considered equal to men to me is very important because it's something that I deal with every day. And I think women could have fought in the war."
Amanda stands at a display showing what a WWII soldier would have carried in his kit.
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Ron, who heads up the Museum of Applied Military Heritage/20th Infantry Battalion, who specializes in WWI, said WWI was the end of the romance in war.
"... the people in the Great War were raised on Victorian novels of derring-do, India, chums together; buddies going off to war ... that ... would ... be over by the proverbial Christmas. I think after it became a stagnant war in the trenches, all of that sense of adventure [was lost], the horror came to people; and I think that was why when the 2nd war came just 21 years later that fathers were quite reticent about having their sons run off immediately to join up. Canada did participate, and quite proudly with distinction in both world wars, but there was that loss of innocence."
Ron said the people involved in with the 20th Infantry Battalion reenactment are mainly social historians, although one reenacter present Thursday was a member of the Canadian Forces. Other members are attached to the cadet corps.
Rob (left) and Ron (right), WWI reenacters, standing at the rear of McCrae House.
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Ron and Rob said the volunteers take their living museum to many different events like Thursday's Canada Day celebration at McCrae House. Besides the Billy Bishop Museum, they've brought their reenactment to the Canadian military, various Remembrance Day ceremonies, including Ottawa's ceremony; and even country fairs. This is the 15th year in a row they have attended McCrae House for Canada Day.
Rob said his interest in reenactment came from his family history.
"My great uncle was in the first war, my father was in the Army Service Corps in the second war, so keeping both their heritage alive, it's just become a passion. I joined with Ron when he was doing displays for McCrae House, it's my second year now... It's a great experience to learn from him (Ron) and everybody else I've come across. You get out and see people and educate people. A few weeks ago I was here with another gentleman from the 20th Battalion and we had 300 Grade 8 students come through. We talked about Canada's involvement in the Great War, and they really don't know anything. When we can, [we] ... explain what we did and how we did it, and be proud of your heritage."
Ron added
"I suppose in a way it's a little like missionary work. It's trying to teach Canadians about their own history. Because, in schools today if its taught a little bit, that's huge; a lot of it isn't taught. There are some schools that are very big on teaching students as they go through, such as Fanshaw has a WWI weekend with the kids, and Lakefield College School out by Peterborough has a Great War weekend just to try to teach the kids about the war and their own Canadian history."
File photo: The 41st Regiment of Foot shoot their rifles.
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Rob said in terms of lessons to learn from the world wars, there were a lot of lessons. "
All I can say is that ... Canada really became a country when it was recognized for its achievements on Vimy Ridge. That was kind of the turning point where Canada became a nation -- a united nation, where people ... forged both an army and a country."
Both men were concerned that today's children are not learning enough about Canadian history. Ron said
"I think the thing about Canadians is that we don't tout or brag about our heritage. We tend to be very quiet about things and we don't speak of the good things or the things that have gone to create this nation. I think in the younger generations, as we continue to move further away from what were truly global conflicts ..., we've moved away from the grandfathers and the fathers, the younger generations are just that much further removed. I was asked by one school child last year in Grade 8, 'Canada was in a war?' ... "
Rob added,
"All I could say in addition to that is to take the time to look up your history. You might be surprised where some of your family have been and some of the accomplishments they've done."
But when speaking with a elderly decorated WWII veteran named Steven, the ugliness of war was pounded home, even if only for a brief second.
"Wars have been around forever. Abel and Cain is an example, if you go to the bible. There'll always be friction, but it's an awful thing. The devastation, the loss of life, the little gain when it's over, to be honest about it. It was necessary (WWII) but unfortunate. I was in Germany after the war as an interpreter and the devastation in the cities was horrible. And England when I was there, London, Liverpool, Coventry, they were all hammered up. My wife, they were bombed out and had to ship out. But everybody went through the same thing. It's necessary, but why? Why?"
Two modern-day medics, Dale and Corporal Rust. Dale is helping a young man put on some of the gear a medic carries when out in the field.
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Social historians take their reenactment seriously, no matter what era they have chosen. The men who make up the
41st Regiment of Foot, otherwise known as 'Military Living History Group,' are no different. These men reenact events from the war of 1812, and they welcome new recruits who have a passion for history, a love of the outdoors and two strong opposing teeth. The 41st Regiment put on a musketry demonstration, which included shooting a canon.
A crowd follows the 41st Regiment of Foot over to the banks of the Speed River, just across the road from McCrae House.
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The history-soaked grounds of McCrae House also provided Highland and Irish Dancing, musical performances and stories by Doug Larson, who played his "
Guelph Guitar." McCrae House provided free cake and lemonade for the event, as well as historically accurate games for the early 1900s, such as stilts, quoits and croquet.
Doug Larson (front) plays the Guelph Guitar, providing entertainment at the McCrae House Canada Day festivities.
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For those interested, there are re-enactments everywhere in North America. The 20th Infantry Battalion, along with many other groups, recreate history with an eye towards accurate portrayal. They are made up of volunteers who supply their own equipment and undertake to learn about the period, as well as learning "proper drill procedures and deportment."
The 20th Infantry Battalion does not have a website, but if interested in learning more about the group, or to request an appearance, call Ron Atkins at 905-853-0324.
July 1, 2010 marked Canada's 143rd anniversary as a nation.
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