Juno Beach-themed paintball field inspired by desire to remember veterans
Concerned over the fading memories of the effort of Canada’s war veterans, Andy Keys is hoping to trigger an appreciation for what those soldiers went through.
Keys, who served 15 years with the British Army, is hoping his Juno Beach-paintthemed paintball field will serve as a reminder of the heroism and bravery of soldiers who stormed the beaches on D-Day in 1944.
“It’s slowly getting forgotten. So this is the only way I know I can contribute to it not getting forgotten,” Keys said of the ArMy Paintball field constructed just off the Wyatt Road south of Swift Current.
A pair of plaques will soon be installed at the entrance gates, dedicating the field to the memory of all those that have served or given their lives in conflicts around the world.
“I’ve always wanted to kind of put a dedication, somehow, because Remembrance Day is the time of year that I’m really passionate about. It means more to me than Christmas or birthdays,” Keys said.
The field will boast a beach head and a still in construction landing craft to begin play. Players are then challenged to advance through a set of fortifications in the way of trenches, forts, bunkers and gun turrets. There is a small village, a truck convey of old 1940s and 1950s vehicles, plus a fuel depot which provide additional obstacles for paintball players.
Before each group goes onto the now three year old field, Keys encourages them to remember the sacrifice of veterans while they are enjoying their own games. When the plaques are installed at the entrance to the field, it will remind players to “remember them as you play and ArMy Paintball encourages you to find out more and keep their memory alive.”
“I’ve had a lot of adults, and kids too, come to me after they’ve played and say ‘now that you’ve said that, it gives us a whole different respect for Remembrance Day and veterans.’”
To further enhance the Juno Beach theme, Keys has bought two bags of seeds and will be planting 400,000 poppy seeds next fall in the hopes that the poppies will cover the beach head.
“When the guys play, and as the landing craft are built, they’ll be running up through those poppies,” he said. “That’ll just add to the persona of the field.”
Keys notes there are a series of coincidences that have all converged as his endeavour develops.
The Red Hot Roosters paintball team, named by his son a number of years ago, shares the same initials as the 1st Battalion the BlackWatch (RHR) Royal Highland Regiment of Canada.
While doing a family research project, Andy and Monica Keys were able to find out that her uncle, John Smith from Climax, was killed by a German sniper in St. Leonards, Belgium on Sept. 29, 1944 at the age of 21.
Keys is now hoping to get formal permission from the Royal Highland Regiment of Canada to receive their endorsement for the project. He has had preliminary discussion with the Regiment and Keys is hoping to receive approval for the theme.
“The way it all came together was just kind of uncanny. Everything just seemed to roll.”
Keys served with the British Army as a member of the 26 Armoured Engineer Squadron, 32 Armoured Engineer Regiment. During the D-Day Landing on Juno Beach, “Hobart’s Funnies” were attached to the Winnipeg Rifles during their approach to Graye-surMer, France.
He had a chance to attend the 50th anniversary of Juno Beach in 1994 where his regiment was tasked with helping to restore a British Churchill AVRE tank which serves as a poignant memorial. During the D-Day landing the tank was submerged when travelling a flooded roadway and was buried over the years before being reclaimed in 1976. Keys met both the tank’s driver and commander during that 1994 restoration work, and his experiences during that trip heightened his desire to increase the importance of Remembrance Day.
“That’s when it struck home. There were so many of the veterans that came up to me and told me their stories. It was all so fresh in their minds for them.”
He highlighted the veterans were pointing to specific locations where events happened because they were part of the D Day landing.
You don’t really grasp what they actually faced until you go there and you stand on that beach. That’s when you really get it.
One of his most treasured keepsakes is a photo history book of the D-Day landing. The book has been thumbed through so many times it is falling apart. He got it signed by as many D Day veterans as he could find.
“I look over it so much, especially this time of year.”
With that passion for Remembrance Day, Keys is truly hoping other people do not forget the important sacrifice of the many men and women of World War II.
“This is the closest I can come to remaking that for other people, people that can’t get across there,” Keys said of the ArMy Paint Ball Field. “Hopefully they’ll get something out of it. That’s all I want to do.”