Military invasion thrills Coe Hill
By Jim Eadie, Special to Bancroft This Week
Sunday, September 9, 2012 9:59:15 EDT PM
A two-day military invasion in Coe Hill brought out a large crowd of interested spectators, as well as serious military history buffs and equipment collectors.
The hamlet welcomed the largest Second World War military vehicle parade in Ontario, along with a day of static displays of current military equipment, and restored historical examples of military vehicles and equipment.
Called “Warriors’ Day,” this was actually a two-day show intended to introduce the younger generations to Hastings and Prince Edward counties’ military history, in the interest of preserving our Canadian military history.
Doug Bradshaw came from Belleville to see the show.
“I heard about it from my son,” he said. “He is in the Princess Patricia Light Infantry in Edmonton.”
Bradshaw was most interested in the Bren Gun Carrier on display, which belongs to the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment (HPER) museum.
“It was a lightly armored personnel carrier from World War Two,” said Bradshaw. “I have many parts for one of them, but not a complete one.”
Bradshaw would love to complete restoring the one that he has.
Many of these units were sold after the war to people who used them in more remote areas to access hunting camps, or to skid wood. He believes there must still be some abandoned in the forests of north Hastings county.
Frank Moore, a retired mechanic and teacher from Enniskillen, collects old military vehicles and radio gear and is a member of the Ontario Regiment Museum in Oshawa.
His Second World War era Jeep is completely outfitted with old command post artillery regiment radios, including the original carbon microphone, and Morse code key, which straps to the operator’s knee.
Moore also restores old tube radios, and is a licensed amateur radio operator.
One of the largest vehicles on display was a huge troop transport and cargo vehicle, which folds out to a gigantic flatbed.
Corporal Andrew Fleiler described the vehicle as brand new, and much more comfortable than the older vehicles used by HPE Regiment.
“We are sleeping in the back of the truck tonight,” he said. “No, we have no showers here, but we hear there is a nice lake that way,” he said, pointing towards Wollaston Lake approximately one kilometre away.
Takuya Koike, a visitor from Japan, was impressed with the restored Willies, especially one sporting a huge recoilless rifle for defense against tanks.
This vehicle also belongs to the HPE Regiment Military Museum in Belleville.
Brad Parliament and his 12-year-old son Thomas proudly talked about “Uncle Greg’s two Jeeps” on display.
They live in Orangeville where Parliament is an enforcement officer for the city of Mississauga.
“I’d like to restore a Jeep some day,” said Thomas.
For now he has dreams of a possible military career and builds model kits of military vehicles.
“We always have a great day here,” said Parliament.
“And we get to visit our relatives in Bancroft, Uncle Greg and Aunt Barbara.”
Greg and Barbara Anderson are their relatives.
Anderson is a retired lawyer, builder of model steam engines, and restorer of military Jeeps, among other things.
Groups participating in the weekend displays, and parade in Coe Hill included the HPE Regiment and museum, Ontario Regimental museum, Belleville Museum, Canadian Forces Trenton, and the Ontario Regiment Ferret Club.
The Ferret Club maintains the largest collection of operational military vehicles in Canada, from Jeeps to Sherman tanks.
Local collectors Edith and Dan McCaw had several restored vehicles on display including a 1945 ¼-ton Jeep made in Windsor, and a 1945 Dodge ¾-ton also made there.
McCaw is the current reeve of Wollaston Township.
On Sunday at 2 p.m. all of these vehicles and more formed a parade through the hamlet of Coe Hill.
Spectators were parked from one end of the hamlet to the other.
The parade was led by the HPE Regiment Pipe Band and closed by the North Hastings Highlanders Pipe Band.
Following the parade, a service was held at the fairgrounds.
Dinner was served at the Coe Hill Legion for parade participants and interested community person.
Judging from the large turnout of spectators, this was another very successful year for Warriors’ Day organizers.
Full Article
The hamlet welcomed the largest Second World War military vehicle parade in Ontario, along with a day of static displays of current military equipment, and restored historical examples of military vehicles and equipment.
Called “Warriors’ Day,” this was actually a two-day show intended to introduce the younger generations to Hastings and Prince Edward counties’ military history, in the interest of preserving our Canadian military history.
Doug Bradshaw came from Belleville to see the show.
“I heard about it from my son,” he said. “He is in the Princess Patricia Light Infantry in Edmonton.”
Bradshaw was most interested in the Bren Gun Carrier on display, which belongs to the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment (HPER) museum.
“It was a lightly armored personnel carrier from World War Two,” said Bradshaw. “I have many parts for one of them, but not a complete one.”
Bradshaw would love to complete restoring the one that he has.
Many of these units were sold after the war to people who used them in more remote areas to access hunting camps, or to skid wood. He believes there must still be some abandoned in the forests of north Hastings county.
Frank Moore, a retired mechanic and teacher from Enniskillen, collects old military vehicles and radio gear and is a member of the Ontario Regiment Museum in Oshawa.
His Second World War era Jeep is completely outfitted with old command post artillery regiment radios, including the original carbon microphone, and Morse code key, which straps to the operator’s knee.
Moore also restores old tube radios, and is a licensed amateur radio operator.
One of the largest vehicles on display was a huge troop transport and cargo vehicle, which folds out to a gigantic flatbed.
Corporal Andrew Fleiler described the vehicle as brand new, and much more comfortable than the older vehicles used by HPE Regiment.
“We are sleeping in the back of the truck tonight,” he said. “No, we have no showers here, but we hear there is a nice lake that way,” he said, pointing towards Wollaston Lake approximately one kilometre away.
Takuya Koike, a visitor from Japan, was impressed with the restored Willies, especially one sporting a huge recoilless rifle for defense against tanks.
This vehicle also belongs to the HPE Regiment Military Museum in Belleville.
Brad Parliament and his 12-year-old son Thomas proudly talked about “Uncle Greg’s two Jeeps” on display.
They live in Orangeville where Parliament is an enforcement officer for the city of Mississauga.
“I’d like to restore a Jeep some day,” said Thomas.
For now he has dreams of a possible military career and builds model kits of military vehicles.
“We always have a great day here,” said Parliament.
“And we get to visit our relatives in Bancroft, Uncle Greg and Aunt Barbara.”
Greg and Barbara Anderson are their relatives.
Anderson is a retired lawyer, builder of model steam engines, and restorer of military Jeeps, among other things.
Groups participating in the weekend displays, and parade in Coe Hill included the HPE Regiment and museum, Ontario Regimental museum, Belleville Museum, Canadian Forces Trenton, and the Ontario Regiment Ferret Club.
The Ferret Club maintains the largest collection of operational military vehicles in Canada, from Jeeps to Sherman tanks.
Local collectors Edith and Dan McCaw had several restored vehicles on display including a 1945 ¼-ton Jeep made in Windsor, and a 1945 Dodge ¾-ton also made there.
McCaw is the current reeve of Wollaston Township.
On Sunday at 2 p.m. all of these vehicles and more formed a parade through the hamlet of Coe Hill.
Spectators were parked from one end of the hamlet to the other.
The parade was led by the HPE Regiment Pipe Band and closed by the North Hastings Highlanders Pipe Band.
Following the parade, a service was held at the fairgrounds.
Dinner was served at the Coe Hill Legion for parade participants and interested community person.
Judging from the large turnout of spectators, this was another very successful year for Warriors’ Day organizers.
Full Article