Wartime Heritage Project Started at Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High School October 2, 2007 Some thirty-six students of the Global History 12 class at Yarmouth High will undertake wartime history research during October and November 2007 in conjunction with the Wartime Heritage Association. Th e assignment for students is based upon the belief that the best way to learn about wartime history and heritage is to talk with those who can share the stories of individuals who experienced the war years. Students are asked to interview an individual who experienced the war years. “Yarmouth is rich in wartime history.” George Egan, history teacher at YCMHS told his students. “Begin with your own family history. Talk with family members first. If there is no family member who can assist contact the local Legion as they may be of assistance in putting you in contact with a World War II Veteran. There is also Veterans Place located at the hospital complex. Yarmouth also has many war brides.” Many international students at Yarmouth High take the Global History class and also participate in the research project. In previous years international students have written about Veterans and relatives from their own country. Students of Global History have been conducting wartime research since 1989. During World War II, a Canadian Infantry Basic Training Camp was located at Yarmouth. At Camp 60 young men from across the country received their basic training. Also located at Yarmouth were two air bases: East and West Camp. East Camp was a training facility for Telegraphist Air Gunners of the Royal British Navy. Young men from England trained at Yarmouth for the British Carrier Fleets between 1942 and 1945. West Camp was an RCAF Air Base from which reconnaissance operations where conducted and anti-sub patrols were carried out as protection for the military convoys and general shipping. The Wartime Heritage Association is a group of young Canadians (former students of Yarmouth High) interested in wartime history and heritage. Over the past fifteen years many students have participated in a variety of projects including stage productions, movies, and research. The Association was formerly 440 Productions. Each project consisted of a group of between 18 and 60 students. From 2004 to 2007 the Association presented a series of stage wartime musicals, performed across Nova Scotia and in England. The group maintains an association with British Telegraphist Air Gunners trained in Yarmouth during the war years and has attended Annual TAGA Memorial Weekends in England. The group also maintains a website that archives the history of the Association and research: www.wartimeheritage.com. Students who have participated in the wartime history research projects and have interviewed and written about relatives who lived during the war years often consider this to be the most interesting aspect of the course. Stories of specific individuals and war-related events have been included in a number of the stage productions, newsletters, and these stories have been told both across Nova Scotia and in England. The student research conducted during 2007 will be archived with the Wartime Heritage Association and will include a written paper with photos, letters, or other documents that are available. Audio and or video tapes are also submitted with the research document.

Wartime Heritage Project Started at Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High School

TAGs on Main St, Yarmouth, WWII