East Hants the story of us

My father, Captain Robert Redden,and I and our friend, Peter Ashley were part of an event to celebrate the launch of a movie made on the history of East Hants,
We pipes and drummed in our uniforms of the 2nd Battalion, 84th Royal Highland Emigrants.
Once I get some pictures I shall post them.

Private Ashley, Drummer Redden and Captain Redden

Fort Sackville, Bedford, Nova Scotia

Prescot house, built adjacent to Fort Sackville

where we set up our camp 

Back in the early 1990s, my regiment, 2nd Battalion 84th Regiment Royal Highland Emigrants had several encampments on this site. It was an interesting place to be and one of the few 18th century historic sites in the Halifax Regional Municipality.

The site is now a park, the ruins of Fort Sackville unfortunately were built over by a condominium complex. 

Edward Cornwallis 1749

This statue may be removed soon. I got a chance to take pictures before it was removed.

When i have more of a chance to put up some historical information, I will do so.

Due to the change of public perception and the wishes of the MikMaq people, this statue was removed and placed in storage. This will probably be an indefinite storage. 

French advance on Annapolis Royal 1757

Today, Ian and I decided to play an 18th century game. This one, I'm basing on a potential French offensive in 1757 in Nova Scotia.

The commander of Fort Anne sends out three regiments, the 43rd, 45th and a levy of New England troops on reports that a French army is advancing down through Nova Scotia/Acadia to divide the colony in two, isolating Halifax.

The French, from Louisbourg send elements of the Bourgogne and Artois Regiments as well as a battery of 6 guns on new field carriages. 

The French advanced their guns to fire on the assembled British ranks. The MikMaq warriors advanced and fired on Gorehams rangers. Their fire was well and true, which meant the rangers were taken down.

The French regiments advanced to smash the British line. The British gave a good account of themselves by reducing the French line to one battalion, while the British grenadiers charged the French guns. Two of them were taken out before the Cannonier-Bombardier could blast them apart. The remaining colonial units charged and took out another gun. Reduced to two guns, the French fired back taking them out. The remaining British fell back towards Annapolis Royal, the French won this round, but lost over half their artillery. 

Fort Edward- Nova Scotia

 Thanks to the author of this video. The regiment I was a part of as a reenactor had its headquarters at Ft. Edward. I've also visited this place many times as it was only about an hour from where I grew up.

 Fort Edward Blockhouse, one of the few original blockhouses left in existence. 

Nova Scotia 1750s campaign

View of Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, around 1753

This view from the water shows Annapolis Royal (formerly Port-Royal) a few years before the outbreak of the Seven Years' War and the deportation of the Acadians. At right can be seen Fort Anne, originally built in 1702 to defend the capital of the French colony of Acadie. Water-colour. (National Archives of Canada)

Soldier of the 40th British infantry regiment, around 1745

The 40th Regiment of Foot was the longtime British garrison in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. This common soldier firing a musket is shown in the dress of around 1745. For ordinary service, English soldiers wore brown gaiters instead of white, which easily got dirty. When the weather was chilly, they unhooked the turnbacks of their coats to cover their thighs and buttoned the lapels across the chest. Reconstruction by Gerald A. Embleton.


While the King George's War (1744-48) offically ended, an insurgency in Nova Scotia took shape.

Micmac warrior, around 1740

This Micmac warrior of circa 1740 carries a French-made musket and wears a European shirt. Reconstruction by Francis Back.

Micmac chief around 1740

This Micmac chief wears a mixture of Amerindian and European dress. Gifts of military clothing equipment were often made by the French colonial authories to allied leaders. Note the gorget around this man's neck - this small piece of armour was the symbol of an officer in European military fashion. Reconstruction by Francis Back.


Abble Le Loutre, the French priest, acted as the French agent in Nova Scotia to keep the situation destablised. This was one of the French strategic ways of keeping the New Englanders and British on guard, and at arms length.


As mentioned, previously, I will attempt to recreate some of these battles.

BBC's Tales from the green valley episode 1 FULL

Thanks to Maddie Gillett for posting these videos. It's a good reference to how life was in the 17th century. It also helps to open up our eyes to understand how English colonists would have fared in North American, and comparing how their experiences in England would not do so well with the climate in North eastern North America

1755 Campaign in Nova Scotia

 A typical British infantry soldier in garrison of Nova Scotia. This was also the uniform of the 47th Regiment in 1759. While the 47th was a white faced regiment, the 50th and 51st Regimentals were issued to the 47th as both regiments had been captured at the beginning of the war at Ft. Oswego. (www.cmhg.gc.ca)

Scene of daily life at Fort Beauséjour, around 1753

This view of the interior of Fort Beauséjour shows some of the activities that might be seen there during the years just before the Seven Years' War. In the foreground, men are moving supplies. In the centre, an officer talks with a missionary who is accompanying Abenakis. To the right, a detachment of French soldiers escorts an English deserter. Reconstruction by Lewis Parker. (www.cmhg.gc.ca)

 Grenadier of the 17th Regiment, 1750s while in garrison in Nova Scotia.
 The British force also consisted of Massassuchetts militia. The rank and file wore their civilian clothes while their officers would have worn a Blue coat faced red.

 Siege camp of the 43rd Reginent at Ft. Beausejour, 1755 (www.cmhg.gc.ca)
 Officer of the Royal Artillery which would have served the guns used against the fort.

The next few Seven Years War battles will focus on the situation in 1750s Nova Scotia.

 Acadian partisan after 1755. (www.cmhg.gc.ca)
 Colors of Les Compaignes Franches de La Marine
A Compaigne Frances soldier as they would have been in the Fort, 1750-55. (www.cmhg.gc.ca)
 and their uniform in the winter.

Christmas baking 2013

Just a month ago, a new shopping centre was rebuilt in Kamagaya. One of the shops is Kaldi! This shop is a coffee, foreign food import shop which sells things you usually can't find in Japan.

I found Lyle's Golde Syrup, which my Grandmother used to have. Molasses, which everyone and his dog back in Nova Scotia uses in the kitchen, cornmeal, canned pumpkin and betty crocker pastry mix.

So today is my baking day. Shots to follow

The Johnny Cake I made went over well. The molasses cookies everyone liked. Even the molasses cake was tasty.

I'll have to see if I can bake more tomorrow.

One must go home to refresh your spirit

I was finally able to take my wife and two younger children and myself back to Atlantic Canada from Sept 13-22, 2013. It was nine years, seven months since I was able to go home. And what a great time we had. I will post a few shots here on this site, but will also blog at length of my trip on my Maritime Union blog.

Ian holding his new to musket and wearing my first uniform coat made for me in 1985!

Outside my Dad's house.

enjoying the spectacular view.

the home we will move to in the future.

 

 

Tis Nova Scotia is my home

I love it as no other. Where man is free to ply his trade, and each to each his brother. The Hills and Glens that I love well. The rolling surf that charms me. The lakes with speckled trout lie still and all is peace around me. In summer warmth and winter cold. In fog and storm and sunshine, whater it's mood me heart is here and will remain for all time
(The Hills and Glens collected by Dr. Helen Creighton)
This song has a special place in my heart for I learned it as part of a school singing contest when I was a third grade student back in 1983.
My wife and I are preparing our trip to go home and were remembering all of the places we miss.

My hometown of Stewiacke, Nova Scotia, half-way between the equator and the north pole.

The old train station and the dayliners. This shot was taken in the 1980s. I found it on wikipedia

(courtsey of NS Tourism)

VIA Rail's The Ocean, the train which goes between Halifax, Nova Scotia and Montreal, Quebec.

Ketchup Potato chips

Poutine

and Donairs! (all photos were found with google search)

 

Back to Inzai, and preparing to return to Nova Scotia

My daughter was really upset that we didn't take her back on Wednesday, so we packed a tobbagan and went back.

We then went to Starbucks and had a Vanallia shake.
We came home and had gratin and garlic toast. Not a bad Sunday.
Then we began to plan our trip back to Nova Scotia.
(nsonline.com)

(reepedia.com)

Spring in Japan 2013

With the end of the school year, I've had a lot of half days. Consequently I've been able to have a lot of time to play with my son. It was 24c when we took this shot.

The first day of spring, I took Ian to a park out in Inzai-Shi, Chiba Prefecture. We call this Big Hill Park because we don't know the name. It is near Route 464 and the Big Hop Mall and Joyful Honda. It was about 21c in this park.

Later on, I took him to another park closer to our house where he wanted to climb trees.

I have to make a comparision between Japan and Nova Scotia.
 back home, they still need to use the snowblowersand cars are still sliding off the roads. (ctvnews.ca)
As much as I'm homesick, I DONT MISS THE WEATHER.