|
|
Living history group exhibiting equipment at a reunion of Canadian airborne soldiers at CFB Comox. Can you spot the original veteran? (Monty Marsden, B Company, 1 Canadian Parachute Battalion.)
1944 jeep and WWII paratrooper uniform displayed as living history in 1890s
Beatty Street Drill Hall for Remembrance Day display in November 1999..
Living History includes attempts to recreate the past, whether it is at a museum or a display for the public.
3 Parachute Brigade re-enactors in Washington State in 1999.
Re-enactment is re-enacting battles etc. Sometimes this is done as a display for the public, and sometimes mock battles are 'fought' (firing blanks) in private away from the public.
The above are sometimes combined, though not every military history enthusiast wants to fun around and 'play soldier'. Some are content to simply put on displays at veterans' reunions, parades, gun shows etc.
These groups are NOT military units and are not political. They are simply history minded individuals who admire the soldiers of the past and want to commemorate them - and have some fun doing so.
One does not have to have served in the military to join such a group. Many participants never served, though i believe that having served makes it much easier - though one often has to unlearn drill and learn a new one - but then if still serving, has to be able to switch back again!
The re-enacting movement became popular back East with Civil War and Revolutionary War re-enactors. It has now expanded to include WWI and WWII.
High standards of authenticity are usually sought, and participants spend a lot of time, money and effort to complete their outfits.
When someone cuts corners or otherwise does it inaccurately, they are called a FARB. :-( Farbs are not popular.
Sure some of the participants are overage and overweight, but their hearts are in the right place. So far I have heard only good reactions from veterans who appreciate the effort that these people go to preserve and tell the story of what the veterans went through. the veterans all too often feel ignored and forgotten, especially in Canada.
I was involved in living history depicting 1 Canadian Parachute Battalion for about a year and half. I had several friends in the original wartime battalion. We disbanded our small group, though I still do it solo for some events with my jeep and folding bicycle.
Colin Stevens with 1942 BSA airborne bicycle sitting in front of 1944 twin six
pounder gun turret at Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site at a living history
event in May 1999.