Robert Fisher
Staff Reporter
BARRY’S BAY — John (Jack) Ogelsby wants us to understand what we’re remembering on Remembrance Day. And rightly so.
Ogelsby is a military veteran, having served in both the United States and Canadian forces. In the U.S. he served in the Marine Corps. He moved to Canada in 1967 and in 1978 a friend with 4th Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment asked him to join and he served eight years in the Canadian Army reserves. In 2000 he was appointed honorary Lt.-Col. Of the 4th Battalion, where he served until 2003.
Outside the military, Ogelsby was a professor of history at University of Victoria in British Columbia and at Western University.
“We should know something about what we’re remembering. We should know a little bit about the Boer War and why Canadians were asked to go there.”
The Boer War went from 1899 to 1902. It started because Boer (Dutch) settlers, in what is now South Africa, were upset that the British were trying to take control of the vast gold deposits in the area.
“(The Boers) invaded the British colonies and were doing pretty well. And the Brits got scared.” Britain sought volunteers from its own colonies including Canada and Australia.
If you are already an online subscriber, CLICK HERE to access your subscription and read the full story.
If you wish to subscribe online, CLICK HERE, or you can pick up a copy of the November 8 Valley Gazette for the complete story.