On Monday, Nov. 28, Windham Historical Society will present a program on bayonets.
David Tanguay, lifelong Windham resident, Historical Society member and teacher, will show some of his collection and describe the transition in bayonet design and their use from Civil War to World War.
“Among the things I will take a look at is the arms competition associated with the post WW1 period in the US and Europe and the impact of that competition on bayonet design,” said Tanguay.
Tanguay got interested in collecting bayonets and other militaria when his father gave him some rifles and bayonets he brought back from Europe in World War II.
Tanguay graduated from Windham High School, University of Southern Maine and spent 23 years in the Navy retiring as a Navy Commander. He then returned to his hometown of Windham where he began teaching.
“I have well over 100 examples of bayonets that transition the above period and exemplify the technological changes in military philosophy of bayonet usage in warfare. I will bring examples from US, German, French, British, Russian, and Japanese (and a few S. American versions),” Tanguay said.
The program is open to the public and will be held at 7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 28 at the Windham Public Library, Windham Center Road. There is no admission charge, but donations are always welcome and appreciated by the non-profit Historical Society.
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