This year marks 100 years since the start of the First World War,
Parks Canada in St John’s Newfoundland wants to give citizens a chance to experience what it was like for new recruits in 1914
It’s called “The Camp of Instruction”
Glenn Keough is Visitor Experience and National Historic Sites Manager with Parks Canada.
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The Great War as it was known, and later the war to end all wars. It was a horrific war, and it left a profound mark on Canada’s Atlantic province of Newfoundland.
At the time the island was still a colony of England, and when England declared war, the colony too was immediately on a war footing.
Sadly history is not extensively taught in Canadian schools, and as such many young Canadians don’t know enough about the country’s history.
In this 100th anniversary year of the start of the war, Parks Canada has initiated a pilot programme to teach people about this aspect of the island’s history.
In this pilot project there will be one-day sessions for a limited number of people. They will be “signed on” and given the period battle dress, and webbing, along with the appropriate actual SMLE rifle of the time.
They will be given drill instruction, calisthenics, eat the food, and fire the rifle (with blanks).
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Glenn Keough says interest has been good in the “Camp of Instruction” and after analysing the pilot project, it may be expanded in coming years
The important thing he says, is to provide people with a better knowledge and understanding of their history.
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