My Canadian Military Hobbies

American Civil War re-enactment at Wildwood Conservation Ont. Canada

Stratford, The Beacon Herald ( newspaper ), story by Donal O'Connor, two years ago. Three paragraphs from a long story:

Area resident could find out all they ever wanted to know about the American Civil War re-enactors who set up camp during the weekend at Wildwood Conservation Area. ( 1/2 an hour from my home ).

As the Union and Confederate soldiers have done for the past few years, they had it out again with muskets and cannon fire on the banks of the lake.

Taking part in the re-enactments--- and making the point that some 50,000 Canadians were involved in the war.................

I have always had an interested in the Civil War, some of the movies I have watched are: Glory, Gettysburg, North and South and Gods and General.The past few years my daughter and I go to the Civil war re-enactment at Wildwood. Here are a few facts we learned:

Canadian in the Civil War best recent estimates are between 33,000 to 55,000 men from British North America served in the Union Army and a few hundred in the Confederate Army. Many of these men already lived in the States, some joined by recruiters.

Edward P Doherty born 1840 in Canada and went to New york in 1860. He was a Union Army Officer who formed and led the detachment of Union soldiers that captured John Booth.

We like to walk around and look at the displays, watch the Artillery, Cavalry and Infantry Demonstration. Medical Presentation was the most interesting, they talked about the gruesome emergency surgery, no-anaesthetic just medical alcohol. We were shown the medical kit saws, knives and sharp hooks. At Gettysburg roughly 60,000 surgeries were amputation. We learned alot at the medical station. Then we went to watch the North Battalion practice drill.

When we are finished for the day, we always leave with a bag of Kettle corn. Made in a cast iron Kettle, is popcorn mixed with a light colored refined sugar,salt and oil.

Note: Upper Canada Heritage Park in Morrisburg Ontario, also in the summer has an American Civil War re-enactment.

1953 Army Ambulance:

Close the the front lines M- Mobile A - Army S - Surgical H - Hospital units were places so the wounded can be treated sooner, seriously wounded soldiers that made it to a MASH unit alive had a 97% of survival, once they received treatment. MASH units started in 1945.

Our favorite movie and T.V. show in the 80's was M*A*S*H, we like the ambulances in the show. We saw an add in the local newspaper and bought a 1953 Army Ambulance, 4 wheel drive, 6 cyl eng 1989. There was some work to be done on it, a friend worked on it during that summer.

We used the Ambulance for the Fall Fair Parades and camping near our home.

1941 Royal Canadian Cadets ages 13 to 18, started to trained young men for duties in World War 2. When the war was over, it was to stimulate young males to have an interest in the activities of the Canadian Forces.

Now 456 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadrons across the country. Females started in cadets 1973.

When I was a Air cadet in the 70's I started collecting Military badges, below are a few badges I have collected over the years..

1970's Canadian Military Badges

Military badges are award for qualification, accomplishment in the field and identification. Medals - military decoration which recognize service and personal accomplishments.

Top Photo: 1970's Rank Badges for the Work Dress Uniform of the Canadian Force, Non-commissioned member rank insignia: Chief Warrant Officer: on the badge is the coat of Arms of Canada; Master Warrant Officer: on the badge is the St. Edward's Crown; Warrant Officer: on the badge is the St. Edwards's Crown with laurel wreath and inverted chevrons on top is the maple leaf.

Bottom Photo: 1970's Royal Canadian Air Cadets, Squadron Flashes are worn on both sleeves of jacket and greatcoat; top of badge 3/4" below shoulders.