In Flanders Fields – Part 12: The Battle of Vimy Ridge Part 2: Tactics & Strategies

By Joe Corrigan

When General Julian Byng was developing the battle plan for the coming assault on Vimy Ridge he sent General Arthur Currie to the Somme and Verdun to learn from the British and the French what went wrong with those battles and make his recommendations. Currie was a stickler for detail and the information he came back with was pivotal in the success achieved by the Canadian Corps during the attack on April 9-12, 1917. Some of the resulting tactics were new and some were refinements of things that had been tried at the Somme and Verdun but needed to be tweaked. The following is a summary of the innovations that the Canadians implemented in the attack:

·         Counter Artillery Barrage – The traditional role of the artillery was to focus on attacking infantry. Both sides traditionally followed this approach. The Canadian Corps’ head of Artillery was a 29 year old professor named Andrew McNaughton. McNaughton would become the commander-in-chief of the Canadian Army at the start of World War II. At Vimy Ridge he spearheaded efforts to develop artillery tactics. The idea of the Counter Barrage was to pinpoint the location of enemy artillery and, during the attack, target the German guns to knock them out so they couldn’t focus on the Canadian infantry. McNaughton used aerial reconnaissance and gun flash spotting along with microphone listening posts on the ground to determine the location of the enemy’s batteries. This work was all theoretical as the Canadians couldn’t try it out for fear of tipping their hand before the actual day of the attack. That would have allowed the Germans the opportunity to re-position their guns, spoiling weeks and months of detailed calculations. The gunners tried to isolate and elimination one gun position prior to the assault to test their theory but they missed. Despite the skeptics, McNaughton’s team was confident of their methodology and calculations and prepared for the attack.

Vimy Artillery

·         Creeping Barrage – This tactic was tried at the Somme with limited success. The idea was for infantry to follow closely behind an artillery barrage that was designed to keep the enemy in their trenches until the moment the attacking troops would be on top of them. The barrage would then be directed to the next line of trenches. It wasn’t successful at the Somme because of lack of coordination between the infantry and artillery. Troops got too close to the barrage and were killed by friendly fire or they lagged behind and the Germans had time to man their defenses before an attack could be launched. At Vimy Ridge the barrage would be timed and the infantry was given specific instructions as to how fast they should move. The result was something known as the “Vimy Glide”. The troops moved forward at a pace of 100 yards every three minutes. This pace proved fast enough to stay out of harm’s way but close enough behind the barrage so that the Germans had no chance of mounting an effective defense.

·         The “Week of Suffering” – Prior to the Battle of the Somme, British artillery pounded the German lines with millions of shells. The theory was that this much artillery fire would destroy all the barbed wire and eliminate all the Germans from the front line trenches. The problems were that the shells used, either high explosive or shrapnel, were ineffective at clearing away the barb wire which was still intact when the British troops went over the top on July 1st. They also didn’t have the desired effect on the German troops who, with their strategy of defense in depth, weathered the barrage reasonably well and had time enough to collect themselves and man their guns to meet the attackers. The result was over 50,000 casualties on the first day of battle alone. The Canadian’s 1,000 artillery pieces also let loose a million shell barrage of their own in the week prior to the assault on Vimy Ridge. The difference was in their use of explosives that detonated on contact with the barbed wire resulting in a clearer path for the troops to advance during the attack.

·         Indirect Fire – At the start of the war, Canada had more machine guns than their British counterparts. The machine gun battalions at Vimy Ridge added their fire power to that of the artillery shells. At long range the machine guns bullets added an extra element of devastation to the bombardment. This tactic, introduced at Vimy Ridge, was adopted in widespread fashion by both sides for the rest of the war.   

Vimy Machine Guns

  

·         Infantry Training – One of the problems at the Somme was that the British troops did not have a firm idea of their objectives. If their leaders were killed or put out of action, the survivors had no idea where to go. To ensure that this didn’t happen at Vimy Ridge, Byng and Currie set up models of the ridge in the rear areas and had the attacking battalions practice on them. The Canadian troops were let in on the secret plans for the attack and knew what they had to do every step of the way. The troops were given maps and, other than not knowing the actual date of the attack, were as well informed as their officers as to the strategies. Their platoons were re-organized into integrated fighting units. In the past, infantry, grenadiers and machine gunners fought in separate units. These divisions were eliminated and the platoons had elements of all three types of weapons so, when they came upon an enemy stronghold, they had the resources to effectively deal with it. Coupled with this was the independence of movement that allowed the platoons flexibility as opposed to having to walk towards the enemy in long lines that were easy targets for machine gunners.      

General Byng

Vimy Map

The next installment of “In Flanders Fields” will deal with the actual attack itself. The British and French were skeptical that the Canadians could take the ridge; a defensive strong-point that had cost those two armies over 160,000 casualties in the years prior to 1917. The Canadian Corps would cement its reputation as an elite fighting force as a result of the battle of Vimy Ridge.  

Joe Corrigan has been Museum Manager at Lang Pioneer Village since February of 2003. He has been a lifelong student of history. His specific areas of interest are Canadian and world political, military and sports history with a particular focus on biographical works. Joe has been interpreting Sir John A. Macdonald at the Museum's Historic Dominion Day event since 2007.              

Kiss Me, I'm Irish

By Elizabeth King

Well, don’t really. And truth be told, I’m Scottish. I’m more likely to throw stones, than kiss them…which is where this famous and oft proclaimed little axiom comes from.

I bet you’re curious now, aren’t you?

So, we’re almost at that day. You know the one I mean! The day that everyone pretends to be, wishes they were, and parties like, the Irish. They also wear green, eat green, and drink green. March 17th, is St. Patrick’s Day. This is the feast day that marks the death of a Christian missionary named Patrick, who ironically – is credited with converting the Irish to Christianity (and in the 400’s, probably would have turned green if he knew what goes on today to mark this anniversary!)

If you leave your house at all around March 17th you are likely to hear or see “Kiss Me, I’m Irish” – uttered from little old grannies to young college bros, adorning socks at the Dollar store or on banners in restaurants. These four little words, are hard to miss. But where did they come from…what do they really mean? And is it really appropriate to utter them, if you aren’t Irish? (There are alternate versions available as well – Kiss Me, I’m Not Irish, Kiss Me, I’m Half Irish, Kiss Me, I’ll Pretend to Be Irish…you get it.)

So it all revolves around kissing a rock. A ROCK. Not a rock star…an actual R-O-C-K!  It is said to bring luck, although, if you’d put those two things together for me before now, I would not have thought of the connection being possible! If I was thinking about kissing a rock I would not be thinking I was lucky, but in fact, quite sad…!

But “Kiss Me, I’m Irish” is really a proclamation of “Kiss me, I’m Irish…and as such you’ll be lucky, because my luck is contagious, and kissing me is just as good as kissing the Blarney Stone (which is also Irish, and believed to be a good luck charm!)” Phew. A mouthful (no pun intended!)

So here is the deal…

The Blarney stone is a piece of limestone built into Blarney Castle (in Cork, Ireland). For hundreds of years it has been believed that if you kiss the stone, you will be granted the power of elocution, as well as flattering and persuasive speech.

There are a few stories credited with being the source of this rumour…all of which revolve around the luck of the MacCarthy’s of Blarney Castle, between the 1400’s and 1600’s. In all stories, after kissing the stone, a MacCarthy is able to use their gift of the gab to sway their favour in matters of legal importance and land title. Most famously, it is Clíodhna (the Irish goddess of love and beauty) who is said to have suggested to the builder of the castle that by kissing the rock, luck would be had in a lawsuit he was fighting at the time. In another, a mysterious, old woman on the road suggested the same to a later MacCarthy who was embroiled in a land scandal with Elizabeth I. In both cases, the suggestions proved fortuitous, and the lucky charm tale has spread like wildfire ever since.

So…if you’re feeling a little down on your luck, or a little less than eloquent with your words, grab an Irish person on March 17th, and lay one on them.

Or not.

I think you’d have better luck with the stone.

Check out the Castle Page for some real Irish eye-candy!

http://www.blarneycastle.ie/

Elizabeth King is the Administrative/Volunteer Coordinator at Lang Pioneer Village Museum.  She has been working at the Village since May of 2009.  Elizabeth is passionate about history, costuming, reading, vegan culinary crusades and environmental pursuits. When she isn’t in the middle of a project at Lang, she is often found with her head in the clouds.

In Flanders Fields – Part 12: The Battle of Vimy Ridge Part 1: Logistics

By Joe Corrigan

The Canadian Corps first came together in the early months of 1917. The four divisions moved into the line opposite Vimy Ridge and began making preparations for the coming spring offensive which would be known as the Battle of Arras. The ridge they faced had already been assaulted by British and French troops resulting in costly failures with over 100,000 casualties sustained by the allies. In order to prepare for the battle and give themselves better odds of success, a tremendous amount of preparation had to be undertaken and a stunning amount of infrastructure put in place.

General Byng

The Canadian Corps commander at the time was British General Sir Julien Byng. He was a skilled and popular leader as attested to by the fact that his Canadians referred to themselves as “Byng’s boys”. The four divisions of the corps consisted on 97,184 troops. This was augmented by a British Division in reserve along with support staff and services bringing the total population of this 6 km wide by 10 km deep section of the Western Front to 170,000 people. To put this in perspective, the total population of this concentration of troops was only exceeded by that of the cities of Montreal and Toronto back in Canada at the time. Every day these 100,000 troops, 50,000 horses & mules and their 1,000 artillery pieces needed to be supplied with ammunition, food, water, clothing, equipment, transport, medical services, communications, engineering, training facilities, billets, entertainment and other forms of general infrastructure.

Ammunition supplies by horse

To meet these needs, the Canadian Corps built 50 kms of plank roads. These roads were subject to wear and tear from usage and shelling and required daily maintenance. They also created 20 kms of tramways to bring artillery shells to the big guns and evacuate casualties from the front. They constructed 13 “subway” tunnels that covered a collective distance of 12 kms. These passages, which were 8 meters below the surface, extended right up to the front lines and protected the troops as they massed for the attack. Most tunnels were outfitted with telephones and electric lights. There was also one with a water main that supplied the 600,000 gallons of water required on a daily basis. This system required 21 pumping stations to keep the liquid flowing through almost 70 kms of piping. Portable sawmills were set up by the forestry companies to produce the 30,000 metres of rough planking needed each week to support the building of the roads and tunnels. In addition to that, there were 1,800 kms of telephone wire laid on the surface and underground. All of this was built up over the course of six months. Once the Battle of Vimy Ridge was fought, all of this infrastructure would have to be recreated behind the new front line.

Although the front line troops get most of the credit for the tremendous victory that took place from April 9 – 12, 1917, if not for the combined efforts of the Service Corps, Ordinance Corps, Engineers, Signals Corps, Medical Corps, Forestry Companies and work Battalions the casualties rates at Vimy would have been much greater than they were.

The source for information provided in this blog comes from “The Great War” YouTube channel’s episode entitled “The Great War by Numbers” which can be accessed through the following link: https://youtu.be/QxuOxdbK-BI . The next installment of “In Flanders Fields” will deal with the tactics developed to help reduce casualties and improve the Canadian Corps chances for victory at Vimy Ridge.

Joe Corrigan has been Museum Manager at Lang Pioneer Village since February of 2003. He has been a lifelong student of history. His specific areas of interest are Canadian and world political, military and sports history with a particular focus on biographical works. Joe has been interpreting Sir John A. Macdonald at the Museum's Historic Dominion Day event since 2007.                  

           

            

Medical Tools in the 1800s

By Laetitia

Seemingly nightmarish, medical tools from the 1800s are something that you’d think would only come from the wildest imaginations. However, many of them, when you learn what they are used for, lose their nightmarish qualities, and you can actually see similarities between modern tools and their ancestors.

Given the opportunity to return to Lang Pioneer Village, I was excited to say the least. One of my most vivid childhood memories involves wandering the streets of the village, awestruck at the history surrounding me. It was like Disneyland, but even better, because it was real.

Poking through the archives, I stumbled upon a pair of forceps, and due to their strange shape and similarity to modern tools, was fascinated. After taking a couple of pictures and spending time researching, I discovered that they are the bullet removing forceps. A subcategory of hemostats, they were used to control bleeding and remove bullets. They became popular particularly in North America during the American civil war.

The 'toothed' edge of the clamp allowed a firm grasp on tissue, however, the cupped end allowed grasping of the bullet for removal

Scissor-like operation made them easy to manipulate in surgery

The second tool I found was odd, to say the least. Its purpose unknown to the staff at Lang, it was surrounded by speculated uses. Due to its odd shape, it took much research to discover what it could possibly be. It was discovered to be a bullet probe, used by doctors to locate and manipulate the position of a bullet in surgery to allow removal.

Bullet probe

The tool had interchangeable heads, allowing the doctor to determine the best possible size and shape for the situation and bullet in question.

Interchangeable 'heads' of the probe, which could be stored in the handle

The use of the bullet probes first really became popular during the American civil war, and the tool likely migrated north. Some were designed particularly for use with lead bullets, as the heads were made of porcelain, which would be left marked by the lead for more precise understanding of the location of the bullet.

Porcelain-tipped bullet probe

The final tool I discovered was the one that seemed the most innocuous, but upon research was revealed to be possibly the scariest instrument; the “tonsil guillotine”. Used to complete tonsillectomies, these had a sharp, changeable end that could be used to sever the infected tonsils. This appears to be the reusable part of a push blade tonsil guillotine, which was first invented in 1827 by doctor Philip Syng Physick.

Partial tonsil guillotine

Tonsillectomies can be traced all the way back to 1000 BC, however became much more popular in the 1800s. Unlike today, only part of the tonsil were removed. This frequently led to further obstructions and problems. However, towards the close of the 1800s, doctors discovered ways to handle post-operative bleeding and the complete removal of the tonsil became much more popular. Today, some of the tools used during tonsillectomies are believed to be modeled after the tonsil guillotine.

A complete tonsil guillotine
Source: http://object-ivity.com/collection/function/cutting/tonsil-guillotine-2/

Medicine in the 1800s certainly wasn’t what it is today, however it was revolutionary for its time. A shift into modern ideals and scientific reasoning, it, being the procedures, tools and doctors medicine was comprised of, is the reason that medicine is what we know today. Without the discoveries and inventions of the medical field in the 1800s, we would not be as cutting edge as we are today. 


Laetitia is a grade 11 student at Trinity College School and guest writer for the Museum.

Christmas

By Danielle

The wind is cold but the time is right,

Christmas is here; it’s a marvelous sight

Snow up to my ankles, flakes falling on my cheeks

Ready to skate somewhere near the creek

After a day of fun and games, the night comes

Family and friends gathered inside their homes

A feast is served where everyone enjoys

Laughter, music, chats and toys

All around a Christmas tree

People stare at the ornaments and see

Hanging metal birds, golden pinecones too

The night is almost over there’s only one more thing to do

To 19th Century Canada I say adieu 

The Miller's Cabin at Lang Pioneer Village- Photo by Hans Fischer

Danielle is a grade 11 student at Trinity College School and guest writer for the Museum.

In Flanders Fields Part 11 - "A Corner of A Foreign Field" Great War Poetry

By Joe Corrigan

I would hazard a guess that most Canadians are familiar with Lt. Colonel John McCrae's immortal poem "In Flanders Fields". That's the reason I chose it as the main title for this series of blogs on the history of the First World War. As noted in a previous segment, McCrae was inspired to write his poem during the aftermath of the 2nd Battle of Ypres in April 1915 following the death of a fellow officer and friend. It became famous following its publication by the British press shortly thereafter and is quoted to this day at Remembrance Day ceremonies across Canada and around the world.

John McCrae

In November I was in Toronto on my way to an Ontario Museums Association conference in Mississauga when I stopped to have dinner with my son. After dinner we dropped in at the Book City store on the Danforth, a favourite spot of both my son and I. On the shelves I came across a Daily Mail commemorative publication entitled "A Corner of a Foreign Field - The Illustrated Poetry of the First World War". The book contains close to 200 Great War era poems from professional and amateur poets alike. It represents a view from the trenches as well as from loved ones on the home front. In addition to McCrae's "in Flanders Fields" which is the first poem listed, the book includes works by  W.B. Yeats, Siegfied Sassoon, Wilfred Owen, Robert Frost, Laurence Binyon and a host of others.

Although these works are not generally as well known as "In Flanders Fields", I am familiar with some of these other works, in part due to their mention at remembrance ceremonies or in cinema. Here are just a couple of examples.

Portrait of  W. B. Yeats

An Irish Airman Foresees His Death by W.B. Yeats

I know that I shall meet my fate

Somewhere among the clouds above;

Those that I fight I do not hate,

Those that I guard I do not love;

My country is Kiltartan Cross,

My countrymen Kiltartan's poor.

No likely end could bring them loss

Or leave them happier than before.

Nor law, nor duty bade me fight,

Nor public men, nor cheering crowds,

A lonely impulse of delight

Drove to this tumult in the clouds;

I balanced all, brought all to mind,

The years to come seemed waste of breath,

A waste of breath the years behind

In balance with this life, this death.

I first encounter a reference to this poem when watching the movie "Memphis Bell" back in the early 1990's. It is the story of a World War II US Army Air Force B17 bomber crew embarking on the final mission in their tour of duty. While waiting for the mission to begin, one of the airmen recalls the poem in contemplation of whether or not he will survive the upcoming air battle.

Sopwith Triplane

This next poem is a reflection of the sudden terror troops in the trenches were often faced with. My grandfather was gassed during the later stages of the Great War and the experience impacted his physical and mental health for the rest of his life. The following poem brings graphically to life the horrors of chemical warfare that my grandfather and countless others on both sides endured on the Western Front.

Portrait of Wilfred Owen

Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,

Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,

Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs,

And towards distant rest began to trudge.

Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots,

But limped on, blood shod. All went lame; all blind;

Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots

Of gas-shells dropping softly behind.

Gas! Gas! Quick boys! - An ecstasy of fumbling,

Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time,

But someone still was yelling out and stumbling

And floundering like a man in fire or lime...

Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light,

As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.

In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,

He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning. 

Ors Communal Cemetery- Wilfred Owen

If in some smothering dreams you too could pace

Behind the wagon that we flung him in,

And watch his white eyes writhing in his face,

His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin;

If you could hear at every jolt, the blood

Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,

Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud

Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues, -

My friend, you would not tell with such high zest

To children ardent for some desperate glory,

The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est

Pro patria mori.

The final line of the poem is taken from the Roman poet Homer and translates as "It is sweet and honourable to die for one's country". Owen's mother had the poem published posthumously as her son did not survive the war. Tragically, Lieutenant Wilfred Owen was killed in action on November 4th, 1918, almost exactly one week before the end of the war. He was leading his troops in an attack on the Sambre-Oise Canal when he fell, an action for which he received the Military Cross. His mother learned of his death on the 11th of November, the day the guns fell silent across Europe.   

Gassed British 55th Division Troops

One stanza that is always quoted on November 11th (below in italics) comes from the poem "For The Fallen" although I never knew the poem's name until I read this book. One of the things that surprised me about this poem was the fact that it wasn't written after years on the front line. It was published in September of 1914 following the "Old Contempables" fighting retreat from the Belgian city of Mons. The "Old Contempables" was the name the British Expeditionary Force took for itself following the Kaiser's comment upon Britain's entry into the war in August 1914 that the professional British Army was a "contempable little army". 

Portrait of Laurence Binyon

For the Fallen by Laurence Binyon

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,

England mourns for her dead across the sea.

Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,

Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal

Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.

There is music in the midst of desolation

And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,

Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,

They fell with their faces to the foe.

Laurence Binyon by William Strang

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn,

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;

They sit no more at familiar tables of home;

They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;

They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,

Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,

To the innermost heart of their own land they are known

As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,

Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain,

As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,

To the end, to the end, they remain.

Coming up in the series:

One hundred years ago, in November 1916, the Canadian Expeditionary Force disengaged from the fighting at the Somme after sustaining 24,000 casualties in just over two months of combat. They moved north to occupy a 6 kilometre long section of the line facing a German stronghold known as Vimy Ridge! In the months to come, we will examine the logistics, tactics and the events of the battle that marked Canada's coming of age on the world scene.

Joe Corrigan has been Museum Manager at Lang Pioneer Village since February of 2003. He has been a lifelong student of history. His specific areas of interest are Canadian and world political, military and sports history with a particular focus on biographical works. Joe has been interpreting Sir John A. Macdonald at the Museum's Historic Dominion Day event since 2007.    

In Flanders Fields – Part 10: “Hello Canada and hockey fans in the United States and Newfoundland!”

By Joe Corrigan

Those of us of a certain age can remember that signature sign on from legendary hockey play-by-play announcer Foster Hewitt at the start of his Saturday night hockey broadcasts from the gondola high up in Maple Leaf Gardens. Growing up in the 1960s we used to look forward with anticipation for 8:00 pm when the Leafs game would come on the air. Toronto Maple Leaf owner Conn Smythe insisted that the game not be broadcast until near the end of the first period to ensure that ticket sales were not impacted by the new medium of Television.

   Foster Hewitt

Conn Smyth

The National Hockey League is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its founding this season. It’s odd to think that the league would come into being at a time when the nation was fully engaged in the Great War but play began in 1917. The league was founded with four teams that emerged after disputes could not be resolved among the owners of the National Hockey Association (NHA). The founding teams were the Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers, Ottawa Senators and Toronto Arenas. Over the years there have been many franchise changes as the league evolved from four to six to twelve and then to thirty teams. Although the Ottawa Senators re-emerged in the 1990s after their initial demise in the depression era, the only two continuously operating franchises have been the Montreal Canadians and the Toronto franchise. I say the “Toronto franchise” because the team was initially known as the Arenas before being renamed the St. Pats in the 1920s to cater to the Toronto Irish population. It wasn’t until February of 1927 that they became the Toronto Maple Leafs. The legend and lore of both the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs are firmly rooted in the experience of Canadian troops in WWI.

The renaming of the St. Pats to the Toronto Maple Leafs was founder Conn Smythe’s idea. Smythe had been an observer in the Royal Flying Corps and had been shot down and taken prisoner in October of 1917 around the time of the Battle of Passchendaele. Despite a couple of escape attempts, Smythe remained a prisoner for the duration of the war. After the war, his prowess as an entrepreneur placed him in a position to buy the St. Pats. When recounting his reasons for the choice of the nickname “Maple Leafs”, a grammatical error by the way, Smythe said: “The Maple Leaf to us, was the badge of courage, the badge that meant home. It was the badge that reminded us all of our exploits and the different difficulties we got into and the different accomplishments we made. It was a badge that meant more to us than any other badge that we could think of... so we chose it... hoping that the possession of this badge would mean something to the team that wore it and when they skated out on the ice with this badge on their chest... they would wear it with honour and pride and courage, the way it had been worn by the soldiers of the first Great War in the Canadian Army."  

Canadian Troops WWI

Similarly, les Canadiens evoked the memory of the Great War to build a proud tradition of winning over their long and distinguished history. The “Habs” as they are commonly known, have won 24 Stanley Cups, almost twice as many as their nearest competitor. This tradition of winning has been passed down from one generation of players to the next thanks, in part, to a slogan that has appeared on their dressing room wall for decades. It is a quote from John McCrae’s immortal poem “In Flanders Fields” which goes “To you from failing hands we throw the torch be yours to hold it high”. Talk about motivation.

Believeau

Red Kelly

So next time you see a game between these two old rivals remember their team identities stem from a respect for the sacrifice of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in their struggles on the battlefields of France and Belgium.        

   

Joe Corrigan has been Museum Manager at Lang Pioneer Village since February of 2003. He has been a lifelong student of history. His specific areas of interest are Canadian and world political, military and sports history with a particular focus on biographical works. Joe has been interpreting Sir John A. Macdonald at the Museum's Historic Dominion Day event since 2007. Joe has been a life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan and wears number 4 in honour of his hockey hero, Red Kelly.