Bruce County, Ontario: The Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre is pleased to present Bruce in Battle: Life in the 160th Battalion as part of Archives Awareness Week. Happening on April 12 at 2:00 PM, this talk will explore the experiences of Bruce County’s 160th Battalion soldiers during the First World War, featuring a presentation by military historian and researcher Kent Kraemer.
Since 2015, Kraemer has chronicled the 160th Battalion’s day-to-day activities through the 160th Bruce Battalion Facebook page. During his talk, he will share incredible stories of Bruce County’s soldiers, including “Paddy” Pettigrew and his championship wiring team, as well as Robert Clarke Rowand, the most highly decorated soldier of the 160th Battalion.
In recognition of Archives Awareness Week, Kraemer will also discuss his inspiration for researching the Battalion, insights from the Bruce in Khaki newspaper, and the valuable role played by the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre’s Archives and other historical repositories in his work.
Following the presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to join Archives staff for a behind-the-scenes tour of the archival storage area, where they can view rare archival items that are not often on display. Visitors will also be able to explore the exhibits at the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre, where a tour guide will be present in the military gallery to share additional stories about Bruce County soldiers.
Admission is free for all attendees. Due to limited seating, pre-registration is required. To register, visit brucemuseum.ca or call the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre at 519-797-2080.
In addition, the Archives & Research Room will be open for free admission during Ontario’s Archives Awareness Week, which runs from April 7 to April 12.
The story of Bruce County is reflected in the photographs, documents, videos and books donated by members of the public to the Archives. The Archives welcomes contact from individuals, businesses and organizations who wish to share their stories and documents to become part of our collective history. Information about Bruce County soldiers from all conflicts may also be explored at BruceRemembers.org.
This event is proudly sponsored by the Bruce County Historical Society.
About Kent Kraemer
Kent Kraemer is the founder of the 160th Bruce Battalion Facebook page, which has chronicled the Battalion’s 100-year anniversary since November 2015. He is also the author of The 160th Dispatch column in Marathon of History magazine, where he continues to highlight the experiences of Bruce County soldiers.
About Archives Awareness Week
Celebrated each year during the first week of April, Archives Awareness Week provides the opportunity to highlight the importance of preserving the documentary heritage of Ontario’s
About the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre
The Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre is situated within the traditional territory of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON). We offer adult and children’s programming, exhibitions, special events and are home to the Bruce County Archives & Research Room. Our mandate is to preserve and make available the documentary heritage of Bruce County.