The Halifax Citadel

     In 1968, the Wilson family visited the Halifax Citadel on a vacation through the Maritimes. In 2018, I  returned to the Citadel to learn more about this well-known fortress.

     Four fortifications have been constructed on this site since 1749 with three different names. While never attacked, the Citadel was long the keystone to defence of the strategically important Halifax Harbour and its Royal Navy Dockyard. It is a Victorian-style fortress. During World War I, it served as soldier barracks and a command centre for Halifax Harbour defences. It remained a temporary barracks for troops in World War II. The story of the Citadel is told through exhibits and living history programs.

Here I am with my brothers Terry and Paul along with my Dad
standing at the entrance of the Citadel. Mom is taking the photo.

Here I am 50 years later standing in the same spot.

Al standing on guard in a sentry hole

Two women dressed in period costume sitting in the sun doing needle work.

The soldiers practice every day moving the cannon
to a new location.

Every day at noon this cannon is shot.

The overhead photo of the Citadel

     Click here to see the video on the restoration of the Citadel.

     One of the living history programs was life in the trenches during WWI.

A table model of the design of trenches. The zig-zag pattern was to
 protect the soldiers if an enemy soldier got in the trench.

Sand bags, wood and metal make up the trench walls and floors

A soldier uses the handmade periscope

Here is a example of the zig-zag in the trench.
You would look around the corner if you suspect an enemy in the trench.

I hope that they would know this.

Sleeping quarters

Nurse

Soldiers relaxing

The officer's desk with field radio

A Red Cross field hospital

     Today, this is what the Red Cross field hospital looks like which is part of the Emergency Response Unit (ERU). Many portable tents make up the hospital compound. Below is the inside of a surgical tent. Every spring for 4 or 5 years I spent assisting the Red Cross at the ERU training course recruiting volunteers to be dressed up for mass causality exercise. Many MDs, nurses, technicians and other personnel from around the world came to the training course. After the course, they would be on call for disaster situations where they would be deployed to major disaster areas such as Haiti.

     To me history is always interesting. It shows how we got to where we are today as a family, community and culture. Some is good and some not so much. Hopefully, we don't make the same mistakes. You can find history anywhere, even in your own back yard. Have you explored the history of your own community or family? You might find something interesting, mysterious or revealing.