WWI reenactors from The Canadian Military Heritage Society along with several members of The Kings Company combined their efforts and held a WWI themed Education Day in September 2009.  The event was hosted by Fanshawe Pioneer Village of London, Ontario, and was very successful.

The day began with 300 Grade 10 students forming up in Victoria Park (the heart of the Village) for opening exercises.  The new recruits received a welcoming address by the unit’s Commanding Officer.  The old Canadian Red Ensign was raised on the flag pole to the sound of the bugler playing “Reveille” - the camp wake-up call.

The Obstacle Course was sub-divided into three sections.  Grenade Toss (in which the object was to “take out” a fortified machine gun nest); Bayonet Practise (against sandbag targets); Barbed Wire (students had to successfully navigate through barbed wire obstacles and learn how to choose the right path through hazardous areas).

From this point the students went off to one of ten initial starting point stations. Throughout the day everyone experienced being able to participate in ten separate stations each of which directly related to the First World War.  The particular stations featured were as follows:

The Trench (a 140 foot long reconstructed WWI style trench complete with duckboards, corrugated sheet metal walls, sandbags, overhead cover, knife rests, barbed wire obstacles, a shell hole, rats, ration tins with period-correct labels, a grave site, and more).  The new recruits were cautioned to keep their heads down and to be wary for sniper activity.  Trench periscopes were utilized to maintain watch.

The Regimental Dressing Station featured a Stretcher Bearer, a Medical Orderly, and a walking wounded casualty.  Plenty of details.

The Role of Women in WWI placed emphasis on those women back on the home front and how they contributed in their own ways to the war effort.

The Military Chaplain related stories from the life of Canon Frederick Scott who served as Senior Military Chaplain to the First Canadian Division during The Great War.

Work Detail emphasized the need for maintaining stealth while working at repairing the trenches and barbed wire in No Man’s Land at night.  Any sudden noise could cause the enemy to send up flares which would illuminate the battlefield and present possible targets for snipers.

Marching Drill equipped the recruits with some much needed basic training and the rudiments of discipline.

Uniform & Equipment Demonstration featured a close-up look at how the Canadian soldiers of WWI looked and what they carried with them on a day-to-day basis.  Many personal items were featured along with the standard issue of uniform and equipment.

The Art of the Trench Raid as developed by the Canadians presented the objectives of and tactics employed in trench raiding.

German Soldiers were also present as part of our Education Day experience.  They were able to demonstrate their uniforms and equipment and to share thoughts based on their perspective.

The end of the day featured an all out Assault on Vimy Ridge.  Realistic battlefield sound effects were employed which provided a preliminary artillery bombardment followed by a walking barrage.  Next there was a 5-round “rapid-fire” demonstration by the reenactors and the troops surged forward in two waves.  Obstacles littered the field.  German soldiers were taken captive and served as Stretcher Bearers to convey a Canadian casualty off the field to safety.

Following the assault on Vimy Ridge all of the students formed up in column and were marched back to Victoria Park for final dismissal.  An excellent day was had by all.