Embattled local politicians may claim to have been 'in the trenches' 鈥� but White Rock councillor Christopher Trevelyan knows, a little at least, what it actually felt like.
Dressed as a First World War British Indian Army officer with the 47th Sikh Regiment, Trevelyan spent two 12-hour plus days on Nov. 2 and 3 in a muddy trench and no-man's land environment for a film shoot in the Aldergrove area.
The scenes are for the long-in-production docu-drama Promises, written and directed by a friend, 性视界传媒 historian and writer Steven Purewal, of the non-profit Indus Media Foundation.
The film aims to focus on the often-overlooked participation of Sikh soldiers in support of British Empire forces (including Canada) in the First World War and Second World War, and is planned for release next April (in conjunction with Sikh heritage month).
Several years ago, for the same project, Trevelyan 鈥� also a teacher at Earl Marriott Secondary 鈥� portrayed a soldier in the 1st Canadian Division, attached to the British 8th Army in a re-enactment of part of the Battle of Monte Cassino, in Italy, in 1944, in which Sikh soldiers also played a crucial role.
This time, service revolver in hand and Mills bombs at the ready, Trevelyan was leading Sikh troops 'over the top' in a re-enactment of part of the battle of Neuve Chappelle, in France in 1915. In addition to players representing members of the Sikh regiment, there were also other extras portraying German soldiers, all in authentic period uniforms.
As a military history buff, Trevelyan said he is grateful to have been asked to participate in the production of the film, particularly since it is shining new light on the Sikhs' important role in two world wars.
"It was an extra special honour for me personally," he told Peace Arch News.
It was a rare opportunity also to experience some of the hardships that soldiers in the First World War experienced, he said.
"I was actually impressed, not only with the wool uniforms but the boots, too," he said.
The army boots were "brutally uncomfortable" he acknowledged, and the puttees (worn on the lower legs) were difficult to wrap, but both kept out the mud and the elements, he said.
"We literally spent hours in deep mud and I thought I'd be just miserable, but I was overall far more comfortable than I expected 鈥� of course that's with breaking for pizza and no one trying to kill me."
