Goulbourn's 100th war dead honoured at memorial service

Photo by Kurt Johnson
Military and civilian representatives break ground Saturday for a War of 1812 memorial monument to honour the war dead from the 1813 Battle of Sackets Harbor.

We could feel the emotion of the moment all the more strongly as a Canadian piper played a lament Saturday for the war dead from the Battle of Sackets Harbor. The names of those 49 Canadian and British soldiers who were killed in the War of 1812 raid and buried on the battlefield were read aloud during the special memorial service attended by military re-enactors, regular armed forces and civilian representatives.

Grenadiers of Goulbourn’s 100^th Prince Regent’s Regiment of Foot had participated in the May 29, 1813 raid on the strategic military target. The 100^th soldiers killed in action included Sgt. William McGarry, Pte. John Carvin, Pte. James Murphy, Michael O’Brian, Pte. Michael Quinn and Pte. John Short. Goulbourn Museum sent me as our representative while William Sinka represented the Friends of the 100^th, a proposed living history re-enactors group.

Other regiments include 1st Regiment (Royal Scots), 8^th Regiment, 104^th (New Brunswick) Regiment, Glengarry Light Infantry, Royal Newfoundland Fencibles, Voltigeurs Canadiens, Nova Scotia Fencibles and Royal Navy.

Saturday’s memorial service was very much an international affair, between friends across the border, as officials from Canada and United States attended the event organized by the Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site; the Sackets Harbor Battlefield Alliance Inc. and the community of Sackets Harbor. A ground-breaking ceremony was also held to mark commencement of the construction of a granite monument and individual soldier’s stones to honour the sacrifices of the Crown Forces in the battle.

Standing at the site in a farmer’s clover field, I was struck by the solemn nature of the service that paid tribute to the sacrifice of these soldiers for king and country. I was also touched by the congeniality of the Americans and Canadians who have shared 200 years of peace.

#MuseumOlympics

Today the #MuseumOlympics are trending in Twitter, so we decided to take part in the fun! Do you think this surveyor's chain (aka Gunter's Chain - in the tall skinny cabinet in the centre) could be used in a fun version of  a relay game in the #PioneerOlympics? We think so! In fact, we may design a scavenger hunt style game using a modern replica of this tool.

New travelling exhibit: the 100th Regiment of Foot

Today we installed a new bilingual and portable version of our exhibit all about the 100th Regiment at the Stittsville Library. This exhibit features a life-size silhouette of a soldier so you can see if you "measure-up" and meet one of the enlistment requirements, as well as information about the War of 1812 and the soldier's transition from Northern Ireland to Canada. And just to make sure the panel was working, we asked a few children (and staff) to pose with the silhouette :) On display at the Library from August 1-31.

After checking this exhibit, why not stop by the Museum and learn the rest of the story - we have a new exhibit about the Exceptional Women in the War of 1812 on now, as well as an exhibit called Voyage of Goulbourn's 100th Regiment :)

Archeological dig in Richmond

Earlier this summer, Paul Thibaudeau of Intermesh Enterprises invited the Museum Board, staff and Friends out for a tour of an archeological dig site that his team is working on in Richmond. His team has been working around a well and foundation on property that once belonged to Captain George Lyon, who fought in the War of 1812 with the 100th Regiment and was a later a local businessman and politician. To date, they have found more than 8000 artefacts. Our group really enjoyed the tour, so we though we'd share some of our photos from the day.

Majic 100: Museum of the Week, part 2

Here is the ad you will hear on Majic 100 (today only!) for our Bicentennial Celebration event tomorrow. We have a lot of fun activities planned, including a craft called Mako a Shako, a game called Find the Shilling, and a photo booth where you can dress in period costume and pose for pictures. We also have two new exhibits about the War of 1812 launching, a presentation planned, a silent auction with tons of local goodies, a book sale and even a BBQ.

The Ottawa Museum Network has set up a contest with the station so listeners have a chance to win the new Connexion Card, an annual family pass to nine local museums in Ottawa, with tons of great benefits!

Enter the Museum of the Week contest here.
Check out the Ottawa Museum Network here.

LAURA SECORD: A heroine forgotten in her lifetime

War of 1812: Bicentennial Celebration

Laura Secord was taken by native scouts to tell her news to British soldiers on June 22, 1813. Image from Canadian Military Heritage Gateway website.

Laura Secord is our most celebrated heroine. But after the war, people of Upper Canada paid little attention to the heroic act of this Loyalist woman who lived in virtual obscurity, struggling to make financial ends meet. In 1860, the Prince of Wales learned of Laura’s wartime heroism and gave a gift of 100 pounds. It was her first public recognition. But it would be nearly a century until a monument was raised to pay tribute to this brave woman. 

Discover more about Laura Secord at the Exceptional Women exhibit at the Goulbourn Museum on Sunday, June 17, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Our War of 1812 Bicentennial Celebration has something for all ages, including historical re-enactors and presentations, War of 1812-themed crafts, new exhibitions and even an old-fashioned photo booth.

We're Majic 100's Museum of the Week

We're proud to say that Goulbourn Museum is the Museum of the Week on the radio station Majic 100. The Ottawa Museum Network has set up a contest with the station so listeners have a chance to win the new Connexion Card, an annual family pass to nine local museums in Ottawa, with tons of great benefits!

Enter the Museum of the Week contest here.
Check out the Ottawa Museum Network here.

And most importantly, visit the Museum this Sunday, June 17 for our big War of 1812: Bicentennial Celebration! We have a lot of fun activities planned, including a craft called Mako a Shako, a game called Find the Shilling, and a photo booth where you can dress in period costume and pose for pictures. We also have two new exhibits about the War of 1812 launching, a presentation planned, a silent auction with tons of local goodies, a book sale and even a BBQ.

LYDIA BURKE: A strong woman beside the successful man

War of 1812: Bicentennial Celebration

 

Copy of the couple’s 1817 marriage licence obtained from St-Gabriel Presbyterian Church in Montreal

by descendant Barbara McCourt.  

She was Lydia Grant, an Irish woman who married a career officer, George Thew Burke, a captain in the 100^th Regiment of Foot, who fought with Sir Isaac Brock at Queenston Heights and with Wellington at Waterloo. This devoted couple raised their nine children in Richmond where he was superintendent of the military settlement, a colonel in the militia and a MP in the Parliament of Upper Canada. She died at 37 years of age.

Discover more about Lydia Burke at the Exceptional Women exhibit at the Goulbourn Museum on Sunday, June 17, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Our War of 1812 Bicentennial Celebration has something for all ages, including historical re-enactors and presentations, War of 1812-themed crafts, new exhibitions and even an old-fashioned photo booth.

AGATHE NOWLAN: Love letters from the war front

War of 1812: Bicentennial Celebration

 

Credit Maurice Nowlan’s letters from the war front were cherished by Agathe, “my Dearest jewel.” Letters from Bibliotheque et Archives Nationales du Quebec.

Montreal’s high society was the setting for romance as the dashing Irish officer from the 100^th Regiment of Foot wooed the wealthy French-Canadian woman. Lieut. Maurice Nowlan went off to guard the Canadian borders so the young couple wrote copious letters -- he in various forts, and she at her parents’ home. Prior to a night attack, Lieut. Nowlan’s final letter is a poignant tribute to their love.

Discover more about Agathe Nowlan at the Exceptional Women exhibit at the Goulbourn Museum on Sunday, June 17, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Our War of 1812 Bicentennial Celebration has something for all ages, including historical re-enactors and presentations, War of 1812-themed crafts, new exhibitions and even an old-fashioned photo booth.

JANE VAUGHAN: A lady in love with an Irish soldier

War of 1812: Bicentennial Celebration

Her family was fleeing the troubles in Ireland when a shipboard romance changed a young girl’s life. The image is the front cover of Jane Barrett’s 1976 novel, Woman of Ireland.

Lady Jane Copeland fell madly in love with the handsome passenger on the tall ship heading for the Canadian colonies. But her Irish mother was not happy at the intention of her teenaged daughter to marry this red-coated soldier from the 100^th Regiment of Foot, especially during a war with the United States. But the headstrong girl married William Vaughan without her mother’s blessing.


Discover more about Jane Vaughan at the Exceptional Women exhibit at the Goulbourn Museum on Sunday, June 17, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Our War of 1812 Bicentennial Celebration has something for all ages, including historical re-enactors and presentations, War of 1812-themed crafts, new exhibitions and even an old-fashioned photo-booth.