COE HILL’S WARRIORS’ DAY by BARNEY MOORHOUSE

It has been a tradition since 1989 when Dan McCaw answered the call and said “Let’s do it!”

In 1989 Frank Van Rosenteil, then President of the Ontario Military Vehicle Association, wanted to escape the confines of Toronto to show off the old military vehicles, not unlike classic car gatherings. That’s when Dan McCaw said “I know just the place.” And a Labour Day tradition started with the OMVA gathering at the Hamlet of Coe Hill, a 2 1/2 hour drive from Kingston, Ottawa and Toronto in Wollaston Township. They set up their displays of vintage military vehicles and associated paraphernalia on the fair grounds where many of the exhibitors camped out for the long weekend.

In 2001, McCaw was running out of energy and preparing to retire when a new committee was struck, Warriors’ Day was incorporated as a not for profit organization and new blood such as retired shop teacher and Reserve Lt. Colonel (Ret’d) John Sherry became McCaw’s Co-Chair. Sherry said, “Our mission is to introduce our younger generation to Hastings’ and Prince Edward’s military history in the interest of preserving our Canadian military heritage.”

The exhibits displayed included authentic tanks, Jeeps, Bren gun carriers, a mule (motorized), transports, communication radios, and a W.W. 1 nursing station. Heather Caldwell, from Westwood (near Norwood) and Barbara Monk from Odessa (near Kingston) were historical re-enactors representing the WW1 Canadian Nursing Sisters. Their goal was to educate, commemorate and honour the women that they represented. They explained that wounded soldiers were brought to their stations and treated for their wounds before “returning them to action, sending them away for further medical attention – or buried.” 

Co-Chair Sherry, Curator of the Hasty P Museum, hosted exhibits from the museum with attendants on hand to answer questions. He explained that all of the Hasty P transports went down with their torpedoed ship en route to Italy for the Sicilian campaign.

While talking to exhibitor Alan Duffy about his two Alvis Scorpion British Desert Storm tanks a pre-teen came by asking how he could obtain a Centurion tank. During the course of his answer, Alan explained that the lad would need $250,000 for starters as there aren’t a lot on the market.

The Scorpions were Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (tracked) tanks featuring a 76 mm gun that was de-activated but by using an oxygen/propane mix could simulate firing. (Imagine a supper sized potato cannon.)

In fact they fired off three blank rounds waking anyone who may have still been dozing. That certainly got everyone’s attention.

Using the tanks’ VRN number (like your vehicle’s VIN) and the British Freedom of Information Act, Duffy was able to connect via Facebook with the Irish tank crews in the Queen’s Royal Irish Hussars. In 2014 he flew the crews in for the Oshawa Museum show and under police escort shuttled them to the museum in the two tanks. “They were waiting outside the hotel expecting a bus,” said Duffy. “When they saw the tanks they lost it.” Their signatures now adorn the tanks.

McCaw said that the biggest challenge is to find truckers to transport tanks. “Freymond lumber is the backbone of this sending a truck to Oshawa and Wollaston councillor Michael Fuerth and Richard Earle Excavating shared transporting a rare vehicle from Cornwall.”

McCaw reminisced about the number of WW2 vehicles that found their way to the bush. “A lumberman could buy a new vehicle for $400.00,” he said. “They could maneuver on horse trails and carry unbelievable loads.” He added that the Wollaston Township Board of Education had the first school bus in North Hastings in 1946. A military truck of course.

Bill Widger of Trenton spent 32 years in the Hasty P reserves. It wasn’t until he took a battlefield tour that he experienced one of those “aha” moments and became inspired to tell part of their story. His 1943 Ford Willys MB and camp set up showed how during the Italian campaign the troops “first dug in, defended their position and re-supplied.” A tent, in which he camped overnight, mannequins in uniform, and a box containing daily rations for 14 men rounded out his display. He readily endorsed Stanley Scislowski’s book “Not All of Us Are Brave.”

Sgt. Scott Ryan retired “just two weeks ago” after “36 years, 7 months” in the army. His last posting was to 8 Wing, Trenton. He has served in the Middle East, Afghanistan, Germany, Norway…He was wearing a British issue summer uniform. “During the Sicilian campaign the Canadians didn’t have the appropriate summer wear so they received British issue.” Inspired by participating in a documentary of the Del Amo campaign he and a group of reservists were on hand to preserve, display and educate the public about Canada’s role in the Italian campaign.

“Since The Band of Brothers it has become expensive to collect WW2 memorabilia,” he added.

A highlight of the day was the O.G. Anderson Memorial trail ride led by Wilfred Alexander of Bailieboro.

“When Greg Anderson, a Bancroft lawyer, military afficionado and a very special person called and asked if I would take over this role from him, I felt really honoured,” said Alexander. “Two weeks after that call, Greg died.”

Wilf, as he is known to many, is a mechanic, Captain of his volunteer fire department and holds down a regular job. “I should be four people,” he told me.

Wilf had pre-scouted the backcountry route varying from pavement to gravel, to snowmobile trail. The convoy, including Jeeps, an Ilsa and a tractor (as in tractor-trailer), certainly turned heads as we passed. The tractor driver, a transport driver by profession, expertly navigated the challenging terrain. During a break to visit and exchange stories someone asked the Ilsa owner if he had been lucky and found his vehicle in such good condition.

“Yes, and yes to both questions.”

Of course that was the kiss of superstition for as we prepared to leave the Ilsa failed to start and needed to be towed back to base.

At the campground, when a master mechanic approached to have a look as soon as he touched the vehicle it started. The owner just threw his hands in the air as if to say “I have no idea.”

Wilf drives a 1952 M38 Canadian Jeep, “built in Windsor by Ford by permission of Willys during the Korean war.”

 I don’t think there is a nut or bolt with which Wilf is not acquainted. When he purchased the vehicle it was full of leaves. Perhaps the previous owner burned them to power his engine?

Wilf has added an overdrive providing him with 14 forward gears and 4 reverse. The benefits to his 60 hp jeep have been more than worthwhile he said. He has driven it on major highways as far a New Jersey for military exhibitions.

“I never want Warriors’ Day to stop,” he enthused. “We are like one big family that knit, joke and bond. I look forward to it each year. I’m one of the first here and the last to leave.”

Whether it’s nurture or nature, upbringing or DNA, the participants share a sincere feeling of camaraderie and appreciation for the men and women who preceded them. And, for added excitement, the Canadian Armed Forces parachute team, the SkyHawks, dropped in, literally, from the sky to precede the Sunday parade.

NOTE: On February 5, 2016, Bancroft This Week reported that the annual Warriors’ Day at Coe Hill will not be taking place this summer.  2016

 

Photos – mine