Today is Canada Day – our 150th birthday in fact. Something I didn’t know until this year is that, in Newfoundland, it is also Memorial Day. You see, on July 1st. 1916, about 780 men of the 1st Newfoundland Regiment… Read More
Travel
Western Front Battlefields – Then and Now
When I travelled to Europe in April 2017 to tour the Western Front battlefields of both World War One and Two, it wasn’t my first visit. Back around the turn of this century, we took a couple of day trips… Read More
Aurora's Bookshelf
Vimy by Pierre Berton: Book Review
One month from today – April 9th, 2017 – will mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. I will be there in France, along with my aunt and about 20,000 of our closest friends, to mark the… Read More
Travel
My Experiences in Gallipoli, Turkey
I’m going to make a confession: Before 2015, I had no idea that both the World War One Gallipoli battlefields, and the ruins of ancient Troy, were both in Turkey. My memory’s pretty vague on where I thought they were…. Read More
Aurora's Bookshelf
Empires of the Dead – Book Review
My most recent book finish is Empires of the Dead, by David Crane. It discusses the formation of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission from it’s first inklings to the 1920s with a focus on its founder, Imperialist Fabian Ware. I… Read More
News
Battlefield Trip and Exhibit Crowdfunding Campaign
Today, I am officially launching my newest crowdfunding endeavour. I am running a battlefield trip and exhibit crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo. I could really use your support! If you could share this information, that would be awesome. If you can contribute, that… Read More
Travel, Wanderings
Canadian Sniper Exhibit – Kings County Museum
The Kings County Museum is located in Kentville, Nova Scotia’s old courthouse. It is currently hosting a temporary Canadian Sniper exhibit. With my interest in Canadian military history, I had to check it out.
Aurora's Bookshelf
Vimy 100 Reading List
As we approach yet another important World War I battle centenary – Newfoundlanders at the Somme on 1st July, 1916 – I am looking ahead to another. It is, perhaps, one of – if not the – most famous. Next year, 9… Read More
Travel
Sanctuary in the Wood
I spent one of the most memorable, reflective, hours of my life ankle-deep in mud. In April 2001, I visited the D-Day landing beaches of France and the World War I battlefields of Flanders, Belgium. Over the course of that… Read More
Travel
Luke Goes on Vacation
So, SURPRISE!, I recently returned from a month long trip to Turkey and Morocco. I brought a friend along! Tatooine Luke Skywalker (a Lego Mini-Fig) joined me for my travels and we took a selfie of him each day…. Read More
