The 1st branch meeting for
2018, is April 10th at 6:30 for 7pm at our NEW location, St Ansgar
Lutheran Church, located at 600 Lawson Rd (the corner of
Lawson Road and Wonderland Rd North, London).
Our guest speaker on April 10th will
be re-enactor Robert 'Bob' Rennie. Bob will be dressed in 1812 period uniform
and he will tell the story of Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Bostwick (please view
pictures attached).
Mr Rennie is coming from the
Kitchener area to speak to our London Branch. I hope that each and everyone of
you will be able to attend and show him how interested we are in our local
history. Bob's real career is Director of Risk Management for Manulife
Insurance. Bob is very passionate about being a living history re-enactor. He
portrays several different ranks from the War of 1812-15 era, as well as a
Revolutionary War Captain and as a Reverend. Whenever there is a shortage
of enemy soldier re-enactors to shoot at, Bob will wear the enemy uniform and
he has even portrayed an American Union Army soldier. Bob's favorite
roles are portraying his ancestors Captain Jonathan Williams UE and Lt Col
Henry Bostwick.
The past several 1812 re-enactment “war
years” kept Bob busy with over 100 days dedicated to events, video
documentaries, and speaking engagements. Henry Bostwick was a local
citizen soldier in the War of 1812. To quote military historian Glen Stott, “If we have a Canadian hero in the War of 1812 in our area,
it would have to be him”. Major-General Isaac Brock saw something in Henry that made him
think Bostwick had great potential – and Brock was correct. Henry was called
upon to lead the ground forces to Detroit at the beginning of the War of 1812.
He provided badly needed leadership throughout the war, and he was the
commander at the last battle of the War of 1812 on Canadian soil. Come and find
out how this regular local citizen became an unsung hero of the War of
1812.
Please mark on your calendar these following dates of our
up-coming meetings:
April 7th (Saturday) is our Central West
Regional Annual General Membership meeting in Ingersoll at the Unifor
Local 88 Hall, 364 Victoria St. at 9:00 a.m.
April 10th (Tuesday) our 1st branch meeting of 2018,
at St Ansgar Lutheran Church, 600 Wonderland Rd. N, at 6:30 for
7:00p.m.
April 18th (Wednesday) we are
invited to join the London Historical society at the Old Middlesex Court
House (Dundas St at Ridout St in downtown London) 7:30 p.m.
May 26th (Saturday) we are celebrating our London
& Western Ontario Branch's 45th anniversary. It will be a huge event,
with more to follow in a flyer.
I know it is not always possible, but please try to make as many
meetings as you are able. Your Board of Directors puts a lot of effort to make
these meetings happen and we appreciate the support shown by your attendance.
Loyally Yours,
Carol Childs
London Branch President
Home: 519-472-1088
Cell: 519-636-1262
