Life in the Talbot Settlement (1)

 

     On the weekend of September 26-27, The Backus Page House Museum in Wallacetown, ON hosted a historical event - the "Life in the Talbot Settlement" timeline. This may have been the only full reenactment in Ontario this year. Just about every possible precaution was arranged to prevent an spread of the pandemic virus, including social distancing, masking, hand cleaning, and COVID-19 tracing information. The number of guests was limited to 50 each half-day period. 

     For example, Saturday morning, the gates opened at 10:00am. At 11:00, an equestrian display by the WWI reenactors took place. At 11:30, a display of 1812-era cannon fire, of an American Civil War volley gun (although it did not take place Saturday morning), and a Spanish Civil War machine gun (all done by compressed air) took place. At 12:00 noon, a "raid" on the house by War of 1812 reenactors took place. At 1:00pm, the first batch of guests was to be gone and a second batch came in. The afternoon's activities mirrored the morning's.

     Reenactors were present for the American Civil War (55,000 Canadians volunteered in various units during that conflict), the War of 1812, WWI, the Spanish Civil War (the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion of the International Brigades), and WWII. All the assembled reenactors reflected a portion of Canada's military history. A small number of units withdrew prior to the event because of health concerns, especially since they were coming from areas with a much higher infection rate than our Elgin County.

     Now the photos, which say more than my words. (My thanks to Laughing Devil Photography, Steve Zronik, Beth Goldsworthy, Rob McGuire, and Kylee Lanigan for the kind permission to use their photos.)

Although anachronistic, masks were worn by reenactors (outside their camp areas),
guests, and staff. Health and safety first!!!

Here Raiffe repeats his mantra:
"Keep your distance, you filthy plague rats!"

Among the sutlers, the Toymaker and friend.

This fellow had the most amazing stock for sale!

The ACW camp - Confederate to the left, Union to the right.

Many of the reenactors helped the museum by monitoring traffic
in and out of the house. Here a WWII reenactor in Canadian kit
watches the front door.

This way to the BID's camp and display!

The American Civil War surgeon shows the tools of his trade.

Backus Page house with Gwen and Paul

The music was fantastic!

Angela, the museum's cultural director, unveils a display honouring Jim Waucaush of the Oneida
of the Thames First Nation, who was captured at Dieppe and survived the POW camp to return to
Canada at the end of the war. His son -seen here- was present for the event.

The "Mac-Paps" showed up for their first public reenactment and showed up in style!

 

That's a WWII ambulance hiding under the camo netting... in case you can't see it.

A Lewis Gun reproduction belonging to the WWI reenactors.

Reenactors of the WWI Canadian Mounted Rifles go through their paces.

You can see the detail on this WWI reenactor's uniform and equipment.

A Confederate reenactor shares a salute.

The Union's supply officer/store keeper works the books.

A talk in the Union Camp.

Loading the volley gun.

... and firing it!

"No Pasaran!!"  ("They shall not pass!")

Jordan and Brendan in Mac-Pap kit.

It's never fun... to haul the machine gun.

Jordan and his toy... which drew plenty of attention.

The Mac-Pap troops carried and fired both the Canadian Ross rifle and the Russian Moisan-Nagant.

Canada's volunteers for Spain!

Daryl as the chief machine gunner.

Peter as part of the Canadian Blood Transfusion unit.
These Canadian medics pioneered battlefield transfusions.

If I seem to have spent a lot of time and ink talking about the Mac-Paps, it is because I find the unit interesting. SCW reenactors are very few and far between. This is a period of history that is almost unknown to many and their fight is worth a remembering. The Spanish Civil War was an exceptionally brutal conflict, pitting Fascists/Nationalists assisted by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy against the Left-wing Republicans who were supported by the Soviet Union. Men from all over the world went to Spain to volunteer for the Republic's forces. Some volunteered for the Nationalist side but it was less so. Orwell's Homage to Catalonia and Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls are both written about the Spanish Civil War, Hemingway's a novel and Orwell's a first person account.

     This is getting lengthy, so I'll continue with a second blog shortly.

Latest Off the Painting Table

 

Despite the seeming inactivity forced upon me by the COVID-19 virus and the lockdown/continued aftermath, I have been painting... some. Not as much as I'd like some times but some.

First, I received the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse from Skull & Crown Miniatures. They are excellent castings and really catch the gist of the subject. I'm not much for "undead" but the quartet of Revelation inspired riders were worth while.

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (the Book of Revelation 6: 1-8)

I heard one of the four living creatures call out, as with a voice of thunder, “Come!” 
I looked, and there was a white horse! Its rider had a bow; a crown was given to him,
and he came out conquering and to conquer. (Pestilence)

When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature call out, “Come!” 
And out came another horse, bright red; its rider was permitted to take peace
from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another;
and he was given a great sword. (War)

When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature call out, “Come!” 
I looked, and there was a black horse! Its rider held a pair of scales in his hand, 
and I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying,
“A quart of wheat for a day’s pay, and three quarts of barley for a day’s pay, 
but do not damage the olive oil and the wine!” (Famine)

When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature call out,
“Come!”I looked and there was a pale green horse! Its rider’s name was Death,
and Hades followed with him; they were given authority over a fourth of the earth,
to kill with sword, famine, and pestilence, and by the wild animals of the earth.
(Death "on a pale horse") [I like the hourglass in his hand.]

Gruesome figures to be sure, but a great addition to my collection. I received these a while ago and they'd been sitting patiently awaiting paint and brush... and there were lots of others with them.

More Slovak infantry gifted to me by my friend, Ralph.
He told me they were originally Romanians, but someone took a file to their helmets.
I think they works well as Slovak "Light Division" troops on World War II's Eastern Front.
(The manufacturer is unknown.)

D&D Figures serving wench... usable for so many games!

Skull & Crown torch bearer... lighting the way for the Four Horsemen?
(This was a free-bee that came with the Battle Rabbits a while ago.)

Through a purchase from the Hamilton Tabletop Gaming group's "cyber bring 'n'buy", I got a hold of a few of Bob Murch's great Pulp Miniatures. There's so much character in these figs. I think these are from his set called "Femme Fatales."

She struck me as an armed RAF Auxiliary from WWII. 

A female explorer with hunting rifle, machete, and cool hat.

A little different angle and light.

Finally a paper model. I had done one of these as a WWI German A7V tank in 20mm and I thought that if I did up another one, it might be fine as some Epic Warhammer 40K Imperial behemoth tank. This one didn't go together as easily as the first one, but I'm satisfied. The pieces were inexpensive since I printed them on my computer on card stock. The "treads" were some abandoned balsa wood since the printed treads were very, very fiddly. It's not the best I've ever done but it'll do... and I could make another very quickly. My usual Epic 40K opponent may have something more to add to his Imperial Guard army, while I'll field my Tau equipment. I hope I can report on that in the coming months.

Crude, but effective... I hope.

Thanks for reading! Have fun... 'cause if it's not fun doing this, you might as well work! 

Talbot Day and the Teddy Bear Picnic

 

   One of the upshots of the COVID-19 virus and the necessary precautions was the cancellation of all reenacting events in Ontario and just about everywhere else in the western hemisphere.

Except for one...

    On Civic Holiday, the Backus Page House Museum scheduled a "Teddy Bear Picnic." (This was August 3 in Ontario - It really celebrates nothing in particular although some municipalities call it something, like "Simcoe Day" in Toronto; it's really an excuse to have a three-day weekend in August so each month of the summer has a three-day weekend!) St. Peter's Anglican Church is just down the road and had scheduled a day to celebrate or at least remember Colonel Thomas Talbot, a local leader in colonial times who arranged and distributed land to those he deemed worthy. More on that another time. The pandemic crashed the plans and Bishop Thownsend of the Anglican Diocese of Huron closed the churches of the diocese for any public event. Canon Nick Wells, the pastor and a member of our reenacting group, worked with the museum staff and the local health authorities to combine the events... and it was fun.

     Croghan's Company of Reenactors (reenacting Captain Croghan's company of the 17th Infantry, United States Army in the War of 1812) set up a display and did some musketry demonstrations while families ate their lunches amid a mass of teddy bears. They brought their own picnic baskets and their own teddy bears. One family brought a huge laundry basket of bears!

   Here's a gallery of images from the day:

Tyler, our First Sergeant, prepare for drill.

Yellow Jacket of the Unami Lenne Lenape with a new friend.

Kevin, serving as a sergeant of militia

Linda, who makes beautiful hats, in her outdoor millinery shop.

Steve the Frontier Painter, Linda's husband, working on his latest portrait.
That guy looks familiar somehow. Rod Steiger?

     Not a reenactment per se, but it was a display with proper social distancing maintained. We kept 6 feet/2 metres from the public and from each other. (Families excepted) Masks were available for all. We got to wear our funny clothes and fire a few rounds. As hot as it was, it was a good day.

At Linda and Steve's encampment, some explanations

Period firearms - musket, rifles, and a non-working pistol
(a really heavy piece of work)

Edged weapons and a powder horn, including a First Nations' war club.
In the rear, a small display of musket balls.
To the right, the "bottle shaped" item is a grenade discharger
for the British Brown Bess musket.

Parachute games for the families.

Linda with a bear who took proper precautions!

The Tea Party at the picnic

Steve and Linda's area.
Note the rope that enforced proper distance.

At the musket demo, Kevin fires his favorite Jager rifle.

Tyler, Kevin, Kaise/Yellow Jacket, and Marcus prepare the firing line
in the afternoon demo.

Make ready! Take aim! Fire!
(Crown forces use "Present!" rather than "Take aim!")

Nick dreams dreams of glory... or of iced tea.

Your Humble Blogger - now a lieutenant - checks with his First Sergeant.

More firing at the morning demo.

Beth, my wife, in historical finery

She makes the photo memorable, doesn't she?

Al, a member of the museum staff, fires a rifle.
She's fully insured due to a previous employment at another museum.
(She was wearing a lovely dress and we lent her a hunting frock to keep it clean)

A epaulet, a new sword, and a lovely wife.
Can it get better?

Speaking to the crowd just before the reenactor's salute
to the crowd

Yellow Jacket of the Lenne Lenape
aka my Delaware daughter

One last photo of a lucky man...

 

     If all goes well and the health situation remains stable in our area, we'll be part of a Canadian history/heritage time line in later September. More on that later.