Students from across Wellington County once again took part in Canada at War, the Guelph Wellington Experience.
New to this year’s presentation were members of the H.M.S. Charwell Royal Navy -Great Lakes Squadron reenactors.
The focus this year at the museum included the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Navy.
It all tied in with the museum’s exhibit HMCS Fergus: Life Aboard a WWII Corvette, which continues until Feb. 7.
During the Second World War, the Battle of the Atlantic was fought to keep vital shipping lines open between Britain and North America, providing essential supplies of food and materials. The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) commissioned small 200-foot auxiliary ships called corvettes, as anti-submarine escorts for the convoys.
Originally built in British shipyards, the early corvettes were named after flowers. However, as the need for corvettes increased and the RCN ordered vessels from its own Canadian shipbuilders, officials decided that the new ships would be named after Canadian communities, and local support was actively sought.
In 1944, the HMCS Fergus was the last RCN corvette commissioned. In honour of the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Navy, the exhibit explores life aboard a corvette and the namesake’s town that proudly supported it.
As well, there were exhibits and demonstrations regarding the American Civil War.
Despite it being an American war, there was a significant number of Canadians who took part in the conflict.
Andre Stewart Reed, of the H.M.S. Charwell, commented this year’s focus of the event was the naval military, in recognition of the 2012 bicentennial of the War of 1812.
Because of that, Reed said the federal government has come up with about $80-million worth of grants for Ontario the forts and programs.
Reed explained that during the War of 1812 a number of battles were fought in those same forts in what was then Upper Canada.
The majority of water battles were on Lake Ontario or Lake Erie, he said.
He said Fort York in Toronto will be building an interpretive centre.
He pointed out the Gardiner Expressway was not there at the time. “That’s where the lake was … they’ve filled all that in from the fort to the current lakeshore.
“We’re members of the H.M.S. Charwell, I’m their captain. The ship served on Lake Ontario during the battle of 1812.
“We’re a naval group on loan to the army, which is why we’re shooting an artillery carriage rather than a naval carriage.”
