We are historic re-enactors who bring the events of Colonial British Columbia the Pacific Northwest to life at historic sites in British Columbia Washington State. The year is 1860, the 3rd year of our 5 year cycle. The photograph, right, painted in 1860 by R. F. Britten, is of Esquimalt on Vancouver's Island(Courtesy BC Archives Call Number PDP05446
).
We re-create these times places in West Coast history as accurately as possible. Because we live between Vancouver WA Vancouver BC, this is our Drawing Room, where we meet chat about upcoming events Living history in general.
Historically, the Columbia Detachment of Royal Engineers were 160 handpicked volunteers. Their reasons for volunteering for service on the far side of the world, were, in part:
1) Each man was to receive 30 acres of free Crown land in British Columbia upon completion of service --later increased to 150 acres in appreciation of the men's work-- an amount of land no labourer could hope to attain at home in England.
2) ALL the married men in the Columbia Detachment were allowed to bring their wives children in a time period where the usual practice for British army units going overseas was that 1 soldier in 6 was allowed to bring his wife; excess wives all children were left behind. In late 1858/early '59, 36 women 38 children came to the newly created colony of British Columbia on board the troop ship Thames City.
3) The Fraser River Gold Rush of 1858 --like California in 1849 Australia in 1851-- produced a worldwide Gold Fever which was a likely motivation for some. Between 11 15 members of the Detachment deserted within 6 months of arriving in British Columbia.
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