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Courtesy: Alex Luyckx The Friends of Fort York’s major contribution to the fort every year is the funding and operation of the Fort York Guard and Drums, ensuring that the fort is properly animated for visitors. The Friends can take satisfaction in knowing that 2007 has been a very good year for the Guard. Although reduced to 17 members from about 25, the Guard’s esprit de corps remained high, with 11 students returning from last year. This enabled both units to hit the ground running. The drill was crisp and the music was sharp. The Guard and Drums visited a number of the historic forts along the Niagara Frontier and the compliment was returned. These away-events raised Fort York’s profile and hopefully attracted even more visitors to Toronto. At Fort Niagara in Youngstown, NY, both the Guard and Drums triumphed. During the re-enactment of the 1814 surprise attack, the Guard stormed the western artillery, silencing its gun. As the final assault carried the day, the Drums played “St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning,” just as was done 193 years ago. The Guard was asked also to perform exhibitions of light infantry and close order drill; the Drums provided a musical demonstration. Their skills were appreciated by all re-enactors present. The Guard participated also in the re-enactment of the Siege of Fort Erie. Both units visited Niagara-on-the-Lake for the Fife and Drum Muster at Fort George, where they shone and the Guard won the squad competition for the third year running. On Simcoe Day, units from Fort George and Fort Erie returned the favour, joining the Fort York Guard and Drums in a demonstration of multi-unit tactics and infantryartillery cooperation at Fort York.
Courtesy: Daniel Tobias Like any real military unit, the backbone of the Guard is its cadre of leaders. This year’s success is due to the strong leadership of 2nd Lieut. Ewan Wardle, Drum Major Ned Gallagher, Fife Major Yvonne Moir, Light Company Sergeant Phil Edwards and Light Company Corporal Connie Purvis.
Volunteers have been important too. A number of our student guard, for example three of our present leaders, started out as volunteer members of the Drums. These are young people aged 10 to 14 years of age who are taught play either the fife
Courtesy: Balazs Szilagyi or drum during weekly winter classes. In the summer, they spend two days a week at the fort appearing on the field with the Drums. Not everyone who wants to “take the King’s Shilling” and help animate the fort is so young. Older volunteers are recruited in one of three ways. On special occasions recent alumni of the Guard are being recalled to don their old uniforms and serve as volunteers. Others choose to join a volunteer company of the 3rd York Militia, shoulder a musket and fall in beside the Guard. And for anyone who really wants to get a bang out of life, we are raising a crew to man our Barclay, a 3-pounder battalion gun. Anyone interested in volunteering for the Fort York Drums, students looking for summer employment in the Guard or Drums, or those interested in serving either in the 3rd York Militia or the crew of the Barclay, should contact Michael Manning at <michael.manning@rogers.com>
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