by Jessica Knapp
Is it possible to fit the War of 1812 and First World War into eight hours? On March 28th, 2014 the “Marching Through Time” annual Living History Symposium achieved exactly that in its dual commemoration of the bicentennial of the War of 1812 and the centennial of the First World War. In its 18th year, the committee decided to do something different than spotlight the traditional military focus. This conference highlights histories of the home front, the lives of women, the stories of individual soldiers, and of course, forms of commemoration.
The symposium’s dedication to public outreach in the London-Middlesex County was apparent with the numerous re-enactment soldiers and civilians from the early 19th and 20th centuries, as well as a variety of 21st century audiences.
Rob McGuire, Media Liaison, explained that with a dual commemoration, “We not only honoured our history from two different eras but also hoped to draw in registrants who might not have attended a symposium dedicated to only one of those eras.”
The speakers and attendees ranged from university professors and students, museum curators and directors, to non-fiction writers, re-enactors, and medical doctors. It may have been the dual commemoration, or the treasures from the merchants, but it was clear that the attendees have a passion for learning and sharing histories.
The morning keynote, Dr. Jane Errington captivated her audience with her talk "Keeping Hearth and Home During Peace and War: Women in Upper Canada 1791 to 1815."
Errington shared stories of the experiences of Canadian women just prior to and throughout the War of 1812. She explained not all women were ‘the angel in the household’ or identified with the ‘true woman.’ Errington reminded her audience there is a history that has been ignored for years and we are capable of bringing it to the surface.
The afternoon keynote, R.H. Thomson, talked via Skype about his current collaborative project to commemorate the fallen from the First World War: "The World Remembers: A Remembrance for the Millions Who Lost Their Lives." Thomson made it clear to his audience they must “be aware of the frames that are put on memory and put on history”.
This documentary is intended to be created without a frame, since it will include the names of all the fallen soldiers -- not just Canadians and the Allies -- but all those who lost their lives in the First World War. Thomson removed the frame because “people are equal in death, and equal in memory.”
Rob McGuire, Media Liaison, explained the importance of “Marching Through Time” on the commemoration of the First World War: “When the registrants return home, they'll talk about how marvelous this day was. That will spread the word about the centennial of WWI and hopefully, generate public interest and attendance when local events are held to commemorate “The Great War.”’
Commemoration is, and will continue to be, on the minds of historians and the public. As the bicentennial of the War of 1812 comes to a close, the centennial of the First World War begins. Today Canadians have an opportunity to break traditional frames and discover histories that have been lost, hidden, and never told.
Starting the day in 1791 and ending in 1922 made for a lengthy learning experience, but most attendees were not ready to surrender; it’s just not in our Canadian nature. An evening ball, led by Regency and Edwardian dancers, made for a fitting end to a remarkable day of history.