The year 2012 marks the 200th anniversary of the start of the 2 ½-year-old war.

Bruce Bainbridge of Flamborough, and about a dozen other people from around this area, have been keeping the history of the war alive for about 12 years through their Wentworth Reenactment Society.

The group represents the 89th Regiment of the Foot Grenadier Company, an Irish regiment that was based out of Ancaster at one time during the war.

Bainbridge says as re-enactors they go to events commemorating different battles of the war dressed in authentic-looking uniforms of the regiment and armed with working replica muskets.

Membership in the Wentworth Reenactment Society is only $10 a year but participants must provide their own musket and uniform, although they can get some help making the latter from other members. The combined cost of those two required elements is about $1,200-$1,300.

“I’m still using the same uniform I sewed up years ago,” said Bainbridge.

There are several famous battles of the war that are re-enacted on an annual basis. Bainbridge said his group attends some of the activities, such as re-enactments of skirmishes in Fort Erie, London and Stoney Creek.

There is a march from Fort George in Niagara-on-the-Lake to Queenston Heights, where British General Sir Isaac Brock was killed. It takes place in October.

The Wentworth Reenactment Society holds monthly meetings at St. Stephen’s United Church, 2258 Parkside Dr., in Burlington and is actively seeking people, men or women, to join the club as re-enactors. People can also focus on being re-enactors of camp life as well.

The next meeting of the society is Saturday (Jan. 14) from 9 a.m.-noon, in the lower hall. For more information on the Wentworth Reenactment Society, call 905-689-8745 or visit www.89thregiment.ca.

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