Paige Seburn
Niagara Now/The Lake Report

The sounds of fife and drum corps and infantry units echoed throughout the fields of the Fort George national historic site this past weekend.

The fort celebrated the 25th anniversary of its Fife & Drum Muster and Soldiers’ Field Day on Aug. 17 and 18 — and the music and drills of the War of 1812 era came to life for hundreds of spectators.

The Friends of Fort George and Parks Canada welcomed history enthusiasts and curious visitors for two days of informative and realistic demonstrations showcasing early 19th-century military traditions.

Families and history lovers alike gathered to witness firing demonstrations, drum performances and other entertainment.

Visitor Daniel Crack, a book designer with a passion for history, attended because he appreciates any dedication to preserving the past.

“I worked on a book, around 10 years ago, ‘Soldiers of the King.’ It was basically a list of all of the British soldiers that died during the War of 1812. It was all put together by historians and such,” said Crack, who has always had an interest in learning about this war.

Jennifer Chen, who also is interested in history, said she was thrilled to experience the field day in person.

She learned about it online and was instantly curious to go, she said, especially to see the firing demonstrations, since she’s never witnessed anything like that before.

One of the musket demonstrations was by the Grenadier Company, representing the 41st Regiment Foot, which actually had a significant presence at Fort George, said Frankie Reid, who was hosting the demonstration. 

Morgan and Michael Blum, visiting Canada from Texas, found the event to be a standout moment of their trip.

“We love learning about the War of 1812. In the U.S., no one really remembers it or talks about it. It’s kind of a niche interest,” said Morgan Blum. 

They said they especially enjoyed the Fort George Fife and Drum Corps performance.

The demonstration included duty calls and ceremonial music, such as “The Roast Beef of Old England,” used to signal mealtimes.

Peter Alexander, who conducted the performance, said it showed the drummers’ roles, which are sounding the duty calls, keeping cadence during marches and performing ceremonial music.

He educated the audience about the history of the instruments and practices in between musical demonstrations, including the historical significance of regimental uniforms and musical pieces.

The performances captured the essence of the era. For example, the drummers wore white coats rather than the regiment’s red, a distinctive choice that highlighted their role and adhered to historical practice, said Alexander.

The prominence of the War of 1812 in the annals of Canadian history meant great excitement for the Blums in their trip to Canada.

“We didn’t know that, for Canadians, the War of 1812 is really important. And you all really celebrate it and remember it,” said Morgan.