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| Private Alan
Pinn, left and Corporal John Caldwell
surprised Rhema students with
a visit to the school to answer
the student's questions about
uniforms, living conditions and
participation in battles at Queenston
Heights and Detroit. |
Mysterious
Guests Bring Wartime Insights to Rhema
Monday,
October 4, 2004 - Brian Lavender
Punctuated by the thunderous sound
of vintage flintlock muskets, students
of Rhema Christian School were recently
able to receive (almost) first-hand
accounts of the War of 1812.
It began when Brian Lavender's students
were alerted to the sudden presence
of two mysterious "time travellers."
The youngsters had their doubts. "I
thought it was going to be Mr. Hendriks,"
says Grade 6 student Nick Wierdsma.
Nick and others were in for quite
a surprise.
The visitors were, in fact, Corporal
John Caldwell and Private Alan Pinn,
two enthusiasts who regularly participate
in recreations of the War of 1812.
The gentlemen soldiers are part of
the 49th Regiment of
Foot, a living history unit that supports
the education and preservation of
the history behind the famous conflict
between American and British troops.
"Education is a big part of
what we do," says Corporal Caldwell.
He traces his interest in war history
back to a connection with the history
program at Norwood District Secondary
School.
For over 45 minutes the soldiers
answered questions about their uniforms,
living conditions and participation
in battles at Queenston Heights and
Detroit. Private Pinn described each
part of a soldier's uniform and Corporal
Caldwell demonstrated how to load
and fire a flintlock musket. Grade
6 student Leah Mostow was very direct
as she questioned Corporal Caldwell:
"Did you really know Sir Isaac
Brock?"
This highly interactive experience
was shared by students of Karl Nielsen's
Grade 7 students who are taking an
even closer look at historical events
that shaped our nation's birth.
The visiting soldiers are just one
highlight of the Grade 6 study of
pioneer life in Upper Canada. The
class concludes its studies with a
day in the South Lake School House
at Lang Pioneer Village.
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| Corporal
Caldwell demonstrates how to load
and fire a flintlock musket. |
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