War Games

Today I found an animated game on the website of the Canadian War Museum called "Over the Top: An Interactive Adventure." Listed under the Games and Fun section of the War Museum's website, I was skeptical at first. The story unfolds as a kind of "choose your own adventure" narrative and the introduction reminds you that: "A poor decision might mean mean trouble, or worse yet, disaster. But don't worry you can always start over and try a new adventure." My first reaction was that, even for educating youth, treating the experience of war like an adventure sends the wrong message. Trench warfare was not an adventure.

Before I made any judgements I decided to try out the program. And it was impressive. Nothing will ever be able to "recreate" the experience of the trenches but "Over the Top" nicely illustrates the day-to-day existence of young Canadian men on the Western Front.

When starting the game you are promoted to enter your name, your place of birth, and a friend's name. You are then taken into the story: morning Stand-to, breakfast, artillery fire from the Germans, the deaths of fellow soldiers, even a chlorine gas attack. On my first "adventure" I decided to make the rash decision to run into No Man's Land to rescue a group of fellow Canadians who, as it turns out, had all been killed by German fire. I too, was killed in action. The program even generated a notice of death telegram to my fictional parents. I was surprised at my sadness.

Along with the program there are classroom resources such as maps, questions about the War and the story, a glossary of era-specific terminology and information on war poetry. Anyone can use the materials though they are directed at more youthful students.

Conflict, especially on such a large scale-- and from seemingly so long ago-- can be difficult to teach to students. It is hard to convey the bonds of friendship, the fear, loneliness, boredom, danger, exhaustion, the damp, mud and poison gas that made up on the Western Front. "Over the Top" is at least a way to introduce students to World War One.


THE REAPER

Bill Caddick

So now it’s done
Once more the shining field
Has gone to feed the reaper’s blade
All silent now
The stubble it lies still With blood-red poppies overlaid

“Where are my sons?” the mother cries
“Justly barely grown, yet gone away.”
“Away, away,” the reaper sighs
“Cut down like corn on an autumn day”

And so once more
The Seed of life is sown
And in the loving earth is laid
But it’s never done
Once more the young men all
Must go to feed the reaper’s blade.

Visit the Museum!

Hello Everyone!

The First Hussars Museum is now open for visitors! Stop by and learn about local history and the history of some of London's veterans. We look forward to seeing you.
Hours: Monday to Friday 9-4 and Saturday 1-4. Our phone number is 519-661-5724.

Old Photographs

This summer one of the tasks the Museum hopes to accomplish is re-organizing and scanning the photograph collection. (Or at least what we can get through! It's quite extensive!)

Though we have some fantastic artifacts in our collection, we also have photos and war diaries we want to make more accessible for research purposes.

Photographs and diaries are significant and often irreplaceable resources for understanding the past and it is fascinating to explore the files. Most of the photos I've seen today are not directly related to the First Hussars but they capture some unique moments from World War One. One of my favourite images so far is the one below of "Togo" the Persian Cat, official mascot of the H.M.S. Dreadnought: a picture that is both whimsical and poignant.

Why not visit the Museum?

Hello Everyone!
Summer is almost upon us and that means nice warm days to fill with fun activities. Why not come out and learn more about the history of London's oldest Regiment: The First Hussars?

We are located at 1 Dundas Street, London Ontario (by the Forks of the Thames, behind the Old Courthouse). Our collection includes artifacts, photographs, and ephemera illustrating the history of the Regiment from their participation in the Boer War (South Africa, 1900-1902), to Post-World War Two Peacekeeping missions.

We are open Monday to Friday 9AM to 4PM and Saturday 1PM to 4PM. We will be updating displays throughout the summer so there will always be something interesting to see!

Check back for more updates, join our Facebook page ("First Hussars Museum") and follow us on Twitter (@1stHussars).