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| The Gang |
When the CO of the 2nd Field Regiment asks for 3BAM to participate in something, we proudly shout “Ubique” and do as he asks, no matter how difficult the task. Saturday July 19th, 2014 was that type of occasion. Lcol Garon who lives in Levis, 3BAM a while ago if we would be so kind as to participate in a reenactment / reconstruction of the Levis-Lauzon military camp that he was organizing. This is where much of the militia training was done in Quebec before the opening of the Valcartier military base in 1914. Now this mission would require us to get up really early on a Saturday morning, (03.00AM in my case) leave CDN around 05.30-06.00AM with a gun and tractor on a flatbed, drive out to Levis, set up, spend the day there before packing up late afternoon and returning to Montreal. It was about 21.15 when I got home....
That’s one long, hot day for 3BAM and a lot of work, but we just couldn’t refuse the CO who does
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| Salute at flag lowering ceremony. |
the commute between Levis, Montreal and back once or twice a week in order to perform his duties. It was also an excellent opportunity to make contact with Quebec-based reenactment groups. Although we aren’t reenactors in 3BAM, we have a lot in common with them, including a commitment to teaching living history and frankly, the need to obtain authentic period equipment. This event gave us the opportunity to make useful contacts. It’s also 100% consistent with our stated aims of honouring our war veterans, teaching artillery history and maintaining artillery tradition.
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| Reenactors representing the 22nd Bn, CEF. |
I have to say that I enjoyed the occasion very much. To begin with, things went pretty well according to plan. There were no major SNAFU’s or problems encountered. We left the armoury a little later than planned, but that’s about all I counted. As always, 3BAM was THE crowd-pleaser, making the biggest bang. I’m not knocking the various reenactment groups present; they all did their parts and frankly, their dress and kit is significantly more period accurate than ours, but when it comes to making noise and smoke, which is what people like to see, a 25pdr gun with a half-pound charge of black powder is hard to beat.
I have to admit though, that the reenactors did have some cool stuff and were kind enough to let
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| Lsgt Denis Dumas shoulders a Bren Gun |
3BAM members pose for photos with their Bren Gun and PIAT, or to pose themselves for my photos. I could frankly, not fault them on their appearance and uniforms, which looked super and yes, much less comfortable in the stifling July heat than 3BAM’s lightweight Italian Campaign-style uniforms. I felt the heat plenty while dressed in a khaki-drill bush jacket with sleeves rolled and lightweight trousers so I shudder to think what the poor blokes wearing long-sleeved wool uniforms with buttoned collars might have been feeling like and even that must pale compared to having to fight a battle in those uniforms in summer weather. Blechhh! Doubtless this is why in so many photos, gunners are stripped to the waist while manning the guns in battle.
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| 3BAM in action, pleasing the audience. |
I want to mention here that there was one unexpected perk to participating in this mission; the long
drives to and from Levis gave those of us riding up in Sunray’s
vehicle the opportunity to share in some rollicking good laughs along
the way, especially along the way back. Despite being tired, everyone
knew we’d accomplished our mission with the collective certainty that
3BAM was the star of this event (not to denigrate the others) and there
was much discussion about lessons learned and how we could improve our
performance if we were ever asked to do this again, or even at our next
public event.
Now for a few weeks of well-earned rest and summer vacation for all of us!
Ubique!
Gary Menten,
Photographer
