Canadian Regiment of Fencible Infantry
| Canadian Regiment of Fencible Infantry | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1803–1816 |
| Country | Canada |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Type | Fencibles |
| Role | Line Infantry |
| Garrison/HQ | Upper Canada and Lower Canada |
| Engagements | |
The Canadian Regiment of Fencible Infantry, commonly known as the Canadian Regiment or the Canadian Fencibles, saw service in Upper and Lower Canada during the early 19th century, notably during the Anglo-American War of 1812.
The regiment was originally raised in Scotland amongst highlanders keen on emigrating to Canada in 1803-4. The unit was to see service only in British North America. However, misunderstandings regarding the terms of enlistment and rumours that the regiment would be sent to India caused the recruits to mutiny in Glasgow. In response, the men were all discharged in the fall of 1804. Subsequently, the commissioned officers and a skeleton crew of other ranks were sent to re-raise the regiment in the Canadas.
Initially, the commissioned and non-commissioned officers were Scottish while the core of the regiment would be French and English-speaking Canadians. The Scottish roots of the regiment are evident in the regiment's coat of arms with a thistle. The regiment was created in Montreal in 1803, but did not begin recruitment until 1805.[1]
By the start of the War of 1812, the regiment's strength was at 600 men.[1]
The Canadian Fencibles first received scholarly attention when Scottish popular historian John Prebble featured the regiment's 1804 mutiny in his 1975 book Mutiny: Highland Regiments in Revolt. Canadian historian Robert Henderson also explored the history of the unit in a series of articles, several of which appeared in Military Illustrated in 1991. Most recently, Eamonn O'Keeffe authored a book chapter on the regiment's fife and drum corps and band. In an article for Canadian Military History, O'Keeffe also shed light on the inner workings of the regiment through analysis of the court martial of Canadian Fencibles Lieutenant John de Hertel, who was tried for assaulting a fellow officer in Fort York's Blue Barracks in 1815.
Battles
The Canadian Regiment was disbanded in July and August 1816 at Kingston and Montreal. The history and heritage of the regiment, together with its Battle Honours for Châteauguay and Crysler's Farm, are commemorated within the Canadian Army by the Royal 22e Régiment.
Recreation
It was recreated in 1984 as a military re-enactment unit. The Friends of Fort York now hire students to recreate the regiment at Fort York in Toronto, Ontario during the summer months. This group is known as the Fort York Guard. At the Scout Brigade of Fort George each September, the sub-camp for youth of the Cub Scout program also recreate the regiment.[1]
Sources
- O'Keeffe, Eamonn (2016). "The Anatomy of a Drum Corps: Military Musicians in the Canadian Regiment". In McDayter, Mark; O'Keeffe, Eamonn. Military Music of the War of 1812. Toronto Museums Service.
- O'Keeffe, Eamonn (Autumn 2016). "Such Want of Gentlemanly Conduct: The General Court Martial of Lieutenant John de Hertel". Journal of Canadian Military History.
- Henderson, Robert (1991). "His Majesty's Canadian Regiment of Fencible Infantry". Military Illustrated.
- Prebble, John (1975). Mutiny: Highland Regiments in Revolt, 1743-1804. Secker & Warburg.