Young man in WW I commemoration video gets surprise from archives

The Rooms'Remember Themcampaignvideo for theEnnisSisters' song I Will Sing You Home features an emotional sceneof a mother finding out her son has been killed in action during The Great War.

At the centre of the re-enactment is NigelCollins,18, a St. John's manwho plays the young soldier.

Henot only has a family connection to the war but is also areservist with the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.

I said, 'What have I got to lose,' so I went for it and did the audition.- NigelCollins

"I'm in the reserves myself, my great-grandfather served in the First World War so [I thought] Ishould go for it," saidCollins, describing how his motherthought thecasting call would bea perfect fit for him.

"I said, 'What have I got to lose', so I went for it and did the audition,"Collinstold CBC'sSt. John's Morning Show.

Many of the recruits whowent to fight almost 100 years ago were around the same age as Collins. Recollecting his great-grandfather's wartime service camewith mixed emotions, he said.

"It's crazy to think that [and]at the same time it's kind of exciting," said Collins.

"I guess to be at this age where a lot of them were going over,especially my great-grandfather."

Getting into character

Collins' great-grandfather,Stanley Gillam,enlisted in May 1917 and went to England shortly after but didn't see battle until June 1918.

Gillamfought atPasschendaele and was shot inSeptember1918.

Collins said hedrew onhis great-grandfather'shistory for inspiration.He thought about the struggles they must have faced wanting to fight for their country butknowing theycould lose their life in battle.

"I was just trying to get myself inthe right mindset, of what some of these young men were thinking at the timegoing over to England and fighting for their country," said Collins.

"Trying to get myself into the right characterit was kind of hard to think of it as well, because they seemed to beexcited at first and then when they got over there it was not what they were thinking."

Surprise gift

GregWalsh,the provincial archivist at The Rooms,surprised Collins with a copy ofhis great-grandfather's service file and a picture of his platoon during a recentSt. John's Morning Showremote broadcast from The Rooms.

"I'm speechless here. Tis is amazing," said Collins. "I'm really honoured."