Military Day a hit with visitors young and old

By Mike Anderson

The Georgina Military Museum’s Military Day went off with a bang last Saturday as hundreds of visitors witnessed a mock WW2 battle, complete with simulated mortar rounds and machine-gun fire.

Visitors could also pay $40 to shoot blanks with a WW2 Bren gun.

Still, there were lots of other less noisy attractions, including an incredible collection of military memorabilia, a walk through a WW1 trench, and rides in military vehicles, like the famous WW2 Willy’s Jeep.

“It’s great to see the turnout, the exhibitions and demonstrations, all the machinery, especially the military vehicles. My kids loved it. And it’s educating them on the past that schools don’t cover,” said Sheri Cryderman-Morton, from Orillia, who brought her two children, aged 9 and 10.

After taking a ride in a Hummer, she also had a newfound respect for people in the military.

“It’s tight in there, and to fit all those guys in with all their equipment on a hot day, and to have to go fast and get out quickly, the logistics of that, it’s overwhelming,” she said.

The event also attracted 12 groups of historical reenactors, a record for Military Day, including representatives from local regiments, like the 35th Simcoe Battalion, Barrie’s own infantry regiment, which saw active service during the Fenian Raids of 1866, the Riel Rebellion and the Boer War.

Susie Harold, from Willowdale, wore the uniform of a corporal in the Canadian Women’s Army Corps and relished her role as an embedded war photographer with the Hasty P’s (The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment) which fought in Sicily and Italy during WW2.

According to Harold, the CWACs started in the late 1930s and continued through WW2 to Korea.

“They enlisted to replace the men doing mechanics, communications, all that kind of stuff so that the men could go off to the front,” she said.

While most reenactors are male, Susie was happy to break the gender barrier on Military Day.

“Both my grandfathers were in WW1. And my father was a navy lieutenant in WW2. He was on the HMCS Trentonian,” she said.

“The interest in history is petering out. So doing this and seeing all these young children fascinated with what we’re doing, that’s amazing.”

“I do this to honour my family and the people who have given so much for us. I appreciate our freedom and everything we have because of their sacrifice.”

While Sid Giddings, the museum’s president, did not provide a head count before posting, he estimated more than 500 people came to Military Day.

“I expected a good turnout after two years of people being bottled up. A radio station, 88.5 FM, also sponsored us, and Georgina’s own radio station, K Country 93.7, has been plugging us too, ” Giddings said.

Military Day is the museum’s largest annual event, requiring several months of preparation by more than 20 volunteers. On the day, 13 air cadets also came out to help with crowd control.

The event also represents a significant fundraising opportunity, with each visitor paying a $10 entrance fee.

“A lot of the money goes towards expenses,” Giddings said. “The firearms alone cost $5,000. But any profits will go directly into the museum, as we have a major restoration program on some of this equipment.”