Two Events Mark Armistice Centenary

Remembrance Day is a time when those who have served and are serving in the Armed Forces are honoured and remembered.

To mark the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended hostilities between the Allies and Germany in 1918, the Millbrook & Cavan Historical Society is holding two special events, the first on November 6, and the second on Saturday, November 10.

There were just under eight million people in Canada during the First World War, and about seven per cent of the nation’s population was in uniform at some point during that time. But none of those veterans remain.

However, there are many local families who can claim a relative who served in either the First or Second World War or in other conflicts.  There are also many local stories about experiences during wartime here at home, and there is no better time than now to share some of those with one another.

On Tuesday, November 6, as part of Cavan Monaghan Libraries’ Toonie Tuesday Movie series, the docu-drama Black Watch Snipers will be presented.

Black Watch Snipers tells the epic story of five Canadians armed with just their wits and their rifles, who fought their way through WWII as a team of snipers and scouts.  Their mission: to clear towns of German troops that that would decimate advancing Allied soldiers. This is a “Band of Brothers” story as told by the men who experienced it: the surviving members of a sniper unit from Canada’s most storied Regiment – the Black Watch. They tell vivid, but chilling stories of their deadly solo attacks and encounters with the enemy.

Robin Bicknell, a former resident of Millbrook, and the film’s director/producer, says, “It’s a story of heroism, as well as a powerfully emotional story of men who literally depended on each other for their lives. And it’s an extremely fitting program for Canadians to watch, and honour them, this Remembrance Day.”

The film received a Canadian Screen Awards nomination for Best Documentary Program or Series, and Robin was nominated in the Best Direction, Documentary Program category.

On Saturday, November 10, the Historical Society invites all ages to come and share stories and gain insights from those who have experienced war and overseas conflict.  This gathering will take place at the Legion Hall, 9 King St.E. in Millbrook, in collaboration with Branch 402, Royal Canadian Legion.   Our Legion’s exhibit of memorabilia and artifacts will be on display, as well as a local Signature Quilt from the Historical Society’s collection.   The people whose signatures are embroidered into this quilt made a donation towards the war effort, and then, probably, the quilt was auctioned off – two sources of funds from one quilt.

Bring photographs and other memorabilia to show, and bring, too, your stories.  The reception runs 2:00-4:00 pm, and refreshments will be available.   Students are encouraged to come and find out more about why we pause every November 11 to remember.

By Celia Hunter

Tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Comments are closed.