Keeping It FUN!

by Judi McWilliams

Fort Mackinac and Nancy Island

Mr. David Brunelle, currently the Project Director of the Southern Georgian Bay War of 1812 Bicentennial Committee, invited us to visit this year’s Wasaga under Siege in July, 2011. It was an exciting re-enactment of a portion of the Relief of Fort Mackinac, portraying events that occurred February to April 1814. The Upper Nottawasaga River is basically the same way it looked like in 1814 and was/is a great opportunity for those hearty re-enactors to experience the environment and hardships soldiers and sailors experienced firsthand on this historical journey. This river excursion was not a leisurely float down the river, as all participants were expected to pull their weight on an oar, potentially cut paths through fallen trees and log jams and get their feet wet, as low fast running water may dictate the guiding the boat by hand and feet. Naval groups got to experience some real first hand river negotiating experience! In 1814, from February to April, the Relief of Fort Mackinac took six officers, 130 men of the RNR (virtually all who remained fit for service), 11 artillerymen, and a naval party of 21. They marched overland, with supplies, during the winter from Kingston to the Nottawasaga River. Moving to re-supply the starving garrison at Fort Mackinac, in a remarkable operation, that demonstrated their capability and determination both ashore, and on the water. They felled trees to build 29 bateaux, and then rowed from the Nottawasaga River across Lake Huron to the fort at Michilimackinac (some 360 miles). They lost only one boat that was crushed in the ice choked waters. What is exciting for us today is, that we can visit Nancy Island, located within Wasaga Beach Provincial Park on the Nottawasaga River. The river flows into Georgian Bay, which, of course is part of Lake Huron. The Island is the resting place for the British Schooner HMS Nancy. Wasaga Beach was the scene of a dramatic battle during the War of 1812. Nancy Island is a great place to enjoy history - the War of 1812, Naval Nostalgia, beautiful landscape, water and pak excitement!

War of 1812 - Interview Series

by Judi McWilliams

Anne Brooks - Part Eight (Continued)

The 1812 Grand Tactical...

The following is a continuation of last week's article...
Here is an excerpt from their website … “The 1812 Royal Scots Grenadiers are a recreated re-enactment unit of the War of 1812 created by the Upper Canada Military Re-enactment Society. The Royal Scots are the oldest, and therefore most senior, infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, having been raised in 1633 during the reign of Charles I of England. During service in France in the 1630s the Royal Scots earned the nickname “Pontius Pilate’s Bodyguards.” The French Regiment of Picardy asserted that their regiment was the older regiment, having been on guard at the Crucifixion. The Royal Scots claimed they were there too, as bodyguards to the governor! The First Battalion of the Royal Scots sailed from the West Indies to Canada in the summer of 1812 and landed at Quebec City. Because of the years spent in service in the Islands nearly everyone was suffering from one sort of sickness or malady to the extent that the Regiment was unfit for duty until the following January. The Royal Scots 1st Battalion was very active in Upper Canada in the War of 1812, being present in eight major engagements and many minor skirmishes against the forces of the United States. These included Sackett’s Harbour, the capture of Fort Niagara and the burning of Buffalo in 1813, and the Battles of Longwoods, Chippewa, Lundy’s Lane, and Fort Erie in 1814. The campaign in Upper Canada earned the battle honour “Niagara” which is displayed on the Regiments colours”.

War of 1812 - Interview Series

by Judi McWilliams

Anne Brooks - Part Eight

The 1812 Grand Tactical...

Although Anne is not a member of any re-enactment group, she has worked with the Upper Canada Military Re-enactment Society (UCMRS) since 2008 at Fanshawe Pioneer Village. She has also kept busy with the Upper Thames Military Re-enactment Society (UTMRS) since 2009, on a volunteer basis. She has helped plan such as a living history conference and the Bicentennial activities for 2012- 2014. In conjunction with the Upper Thames River Conservations Area, these groups will be gathering on the weekend of October 1st & 2nd, 2011 at Fanshawe Pioneer Village for the Fanshawe 1812 Grand Tactical: The Invasion of Upper Canada. Here they invite you to experience the life and battles of a soldier during the war of 1812. There will be artillery explosions and Napoleonic demonstrations of warfare as hundreds of British and militia troops line up shoulder to shoulder to defend their country. My favorite will be touring the military encampments, where they offer 1812 shops, entertainment and great conversations with the re-enactors. On the October 1st - 2nd weekend the Royal Scots Grenadiers will be taking part. I thought it would be of interest to tell you a little about these folks. I found, my research most interesting and informative. I also found, with a little insight, that I will have a greater understanding, while visiting on the weekend at Fanshawe Pioneer Village, for their 1812 Grand Tactical!
(To Be Continued)

War of 1812 - Interview Series

by Judi McWilliams

Anne Brooks - Part Seven

This now leads me to another favourite question … I shared with Anne that Volunteers are a huge part of all Ontario’s festivals, events, and fundraising activities for many worthwhile causes. Part of our volunteer base, in Ontario, is made up of the youth of today. I recently discovered that approximately 5 million volunteers, in Ontario alone, are helping our economy. They are not only increasing revenue into our communities and decreasing personnel costs, but adding a work force that would cost 8-10 billion dollars in time alone! I was wondering if Anne, with her current roles, encouraged today's youth to participate in re-enactments? Anne answers … “I don’t know if I encourage youth to participate in re-enactments but I encourage them to learn about their history and I think re-enactments and living history are good ways to go about this. It is a lot more interesting to go to a re-enactment to learn about a battle during the War of 1812 over reading a chapter or two in a text book. I know that I enjoyed going to the old forts and re-enactments at a child so I hope that other children feel the same way.” Over the course of the year, I am collecting some anecdotes to publish in our THE INSIDE SCOOP special “anecdote” edition? With this Anne thought to share this with us … “Many of the War of 1812 Groups are spin offs of the Upper Thames Military re-enactment Society. There were not as many re-enactment groups until the mid to late 1980s. The Upper Thames Military re-enactment Society started out when one guy put an ad in the pennysaver.”
(To Be Continued)

War of 1812 - Interview Series

by Judi McWilliams

Anne Brooks - Part Six

I feel that it is important to share the insights of the leaders in the industry of events and festivals and with the organizers/participants that will be leading us into exciting activities for the upcoming War of 1812 Bicentennial Celebrations.

I left off my last article talking with Anne Brooks, Marketing and Communications Coordinator at Fanshawe Pioneer Village in London. I asked her one of my favourite questions about why “living history” is important to us today. I also wanted to know if Anne could tell us what the importance of “living history” is, in her opinion, and in Fanshawe’s philosophy! It is interesting to share Anne’s insight here … “Fanshawe Pioneer Village uses the technique of living history to convey the message of what it may have been like to live between 1820 – 1920. We provide third person interpretation most of the time and then we have first person interpretation for certain special events such as our dance weekend and our War of 1812 weekend. Many adults respond well to third person interpretation because they can ask a lot of questions about what could have happened. Children respond better to first person interpretation, so when we have our War of 1812 or WW1 Ed days the kids tend to absorb a lot more through this type of learning experience by War re-enactors. I personally tend to think that certain people learn better by different ways, no matter what their age is. Although I am a good reader, and spend a lot of time reading, there are many times when it is a lot easier for me to understand what is going on by seeing it actually happen. I do think there is great importance in projecting “living history” because it is a different way to learn about the past and really understand what could have taken place.”
(To Be Continued)

War of 1812 - Interview Series

by Judi McWilliams

Anne Brooks - Part Five

What better person to ask than Anne to help us learn what advice she would give to someone wanting to participate in re-enacting? “Visit a re-enactment and talk to numerous people and different groups. Each group is very different, different personalities and different values for what they do in the community and how their group runs. Ask a lot of questions.” I find this to be every sound advice. I received similar advice from teacher/re-enactor Mr. Chris Robins. He too suggested that you borrow the period clothing, take part and make sure you really enjoy re-enacting, before you start investing lots and lots of money. As some of you may know, I have been on a quest to understand why “living history” is important to us today and why the Celebrations of the War of 1812 were important also. Anne said … “I think it is important for people to learn about their history. The war of 1812 was a very large part of Canadian history and I really feel like people do not know a great deal about what happened. It is important to celebrate the heroic actions of the soldiers who lived and died in the War of 1812. You can’t move on to the future until you learn from the past.”
(To Be Continued)

War of 1812 - Interview Series

by Judi McWilliams

Anne Brooks - Part Four

Anne was kind to share with us a little about some of the challenges that the “audience” does not see during the re-enactments. … “One of the biggest challenges is safety, what we can do to make sure that not only re-enactors but also visitors are safe, what looks cool, but is still safe. Visitors want to get close and see everything and the biggest challenge is making sure everyone is safe. Battle plans are drawn up ahead of time. The area is mapped out months in advance and the scenarios are discussed at least a day or so in advance and re-enactors are told what the scenario involves”. I was curious how someone would overcome some of these challenges. Anne shares with me … “Patience, and asking lots of questions. I will ask anything and everything from re-enactors so I know what is going on. I need to be aware of what their plans are for safety reasons, so visitors can be made aware of what is going on, and what re-enactors expect from me as a site. I need to be able to please re-enactors, visitors, staff and volunteers so there are a lot of people I have to talk to and organize with to make sure everything happens and that everyone is happy.”
(To Be Continued)