The Great War Committee, based in Elliston, on the Bonavista Peninsula (NL), is a living history group formed to provide interpretation on Newfoundland's and Labrador's participation in the Great War (i.e. First World War) during the 2014-2018 centenary with a special focus on our home peninsula. We worked with the Royal Canadian Legion, Parks Canada, Discovery Shooting Club, historical societies, community groups, and schools. Our volunteers provided free interpretation at venues throughout the Avalon and Bonavista peninsulas dressed in WWI uniforms. Each year of the centenary, we updated our uniforms to match the appearance of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment until we reached late 1918 in 2018. Specifically, we are wearing 9th Scottish Division patches on the upper portion of our sleeves. It consists of a metal thistle pinned on a dark royal blue circle. The Newfoundlanders were transferred to the 9th Division in September of 1918 and prior to this we wore the red triangle of the 29th Division.
Over the course of time, we were able to acquire real period buttons, badges, insignia, puttees, and even cloth rank/service chevrons. Currently, we have two uniform sets that are the most accurate representation of WWI Royal Newfoundland Regiment soldiers you will find anywhere. This is further augmented through use of legally deactivated (safe for public display) but authentic rifles, one dated 1917 and the other 1918. We are quite proud of the level of authenticity achieved.
The conclusion of the centenary and the public's waning interest in the First World War resulted in the demise of the initial version of the Great War Committee. A second iteration was launched but the Covid-19 pandemic prevented public interpretation from taking place. The primary focus shifted to remembrance services with our two remaining volunteer interpreters. Setbacks aside we are still honoured to stand vigil at Clarenville’s Memorial Day service on July 1st and at Catalina’s Remembrance Day service on November 11th. We are still open to providing public exhibitions and demonstrations, but our reduced capacity severely limits what can be delivered.
A small seasonal First World War exhibit is maintained at the Puffin Souvenir Craft Shop in Maberly. Among the items featured is an artefact recovered from a tunnel beneath Beaumont Hamel (France) by the Durand Group based in the UK. This is the only such display in our entire region and it is free to view.
Joint Interpretive Event
The largest interpretive event in which we have taken part was “After Beaumont Hamel - Signal Hill First World War Encampment” organized by Parks Canada. It was held over the course of a weekend (August 12-14, 2016) on Signal Hill, in St. John’s, with several interpretation groups in attendance. There we along with The Signal Hill Tattoo, For King and Empire, 22nd Battalion CEF (Quebec), History Matters Association/Canadian Nursing Sisters (Ontario) and Halifax Citadel Regimental Association cooperated to put off a successful training camp event. It ended with a platoon attack demonstration involving pyrotechnics combined with rifle blanks (real working rifles were permitted for this special event) and smoke grenades. Our group combined with the 22nd Battalion CEF to portray a section of riflemen augmented with a single rifle bomber (see below photo). It was quite the experience for participants and spectators alike. Here is a link to a collection of photographs from that special event @ Signal Hill NFLD Photo Album.
Rifle Bomber interpreter launching simulated rifle grenades on Signal Hill (St. John's, NL). Note the discharger cup on the end of the rifle.
