Since 2006, students of Belleisle Regional High School, located in Springfield, NB have been researching soldiers who fought and died during the First and Second World Wars. Most of these soldiers are from the Kings County, NB area. In the last two years students have been researching soldiers who died while with the 8th Hussars. To date Belleisle students have researched more than 130 soldiers.
Grade 11 Modern History students work on these projects over a six week period. They have access to the military files from Library and Archives Canada and do further research using the internet and regimental histories. We are fortunate to obtain additional information and pictures for some soldiers from family relatives. The written biographies are also posted to the Canadian Virtual War Museum website.
In their grade 12 year the same group of students continue to honour these men as they create a movie slide show with text, images and music. These movies are presented to other students here at our school and the neighbouring elementary school during the week prior to Remembrance Day. They are also posted to Youtube. A copy of these discs is given to local legions, local museums, families of the fallen soldier and to the various regiments for whom the soldiers served. Some museums, such as the 8th Hussars Museum, have included the videos on their websites and / or provided for continuous viewing in their exhibit rooms.
This project has been a very enriching experience for these students.
Stephen Wilson
Belleisle Regional High School