| Canadian Regiment of Fencible Infantry | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1803–1816 |
| Country |  Upper Canada Lower Canada |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Type | Fencibles |
| Role | Line Infantry |
| Garrison/HQ | Upper Canada and Lower Canada |
| Engagements | War of 1812 |
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. Of the English-speaking Canadians who enlisted, many were the sons of Loyalists from the Thirteen Colonies, or were themselves 'late Loyalists' who had come more recently from the young United States. The regiment also had significant numbers of English, Irish, and German-born troops, most of whom had likely emigrated permanently in the years leading up to the outbreak of the war. Intriguingly, the regiment also had a Baltic German drummer-boy born in Riga in its ranks, [1] and evidence from an honourable regimental discharge paper has suggested that there was also one soldier among them who had been born in Finland. The Scottish roots of the regiment are evident in the regiment's coat of arms with a thistle. The regiment was reestablished in Montreal in 1803, but did not begin recruitment until 1805. [2]
By the start of the War of 1812, the regiment's strength was at 600 men. [2] The regiment was involved in several battles, including the Battle of Châteauguay, Battle of Crysler's Farm, Battle of Lacolle Mills. The Canadian Regiment was disbanded in July and August 1816 at Kingston and Montreal.
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.
The lineage of the unit is perpetuated by the Canadian Army's Royal 22e Régiment. The Royal 22e Régiment carries the battle honours awarded to the Canadian Regiment of Fencible Infantry in commemoration of the unit.
Reenactments of the unit began in 1984, with both military and civilian displays, across Canada and the United States. [3] Participating in recreated battles, youth events and festivals across the country, the group's membership continues to grow with new elements, such as civilian portrayals, artillery and naval elements, being added and expanded, regularly. [4]
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. [2]
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The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The regiment was created as part of the Childers Reforms in 1881, when the 42nd Regiment of Foot was amalgamated with the 73rd (Perthshire) Regiment of Foot. It was known as The Black Watch from 1881 to 1931 and The Black Watch from 1931 to 2006. Part of the Scottish Division for administrative purposes from 1967, it was the senior Highland regiment. It has been part of the Scottish, Welsh and Irish Division for administrative purposes from 2017.
The colonial militias in Canada were made up of various militias prior to Confederation in 1867. During the period of New France and Acadia, Newfoundland Colony, and Nova Scotia (1605–1763), these militias were made up of Canadiens, First Nations, British and Acadians. Traditionally, the Canadian Militia was the name used for the local sedentary militia regiments throughout the Canadas.
The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.
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A Scottish regiment is any regiment that at some time in its history has or had a name that referred to Scotland or some part thereof, and adopted items of Scottish dress. These regiments were created after the Acts of Union in 1707 between England and Scotland, either directly serving Britain during its various wars, or as part of the military establishments of Commonwealth countries. Their "Scottishness" is no longer necessarily due to recruitment in Scotland nor any proportion of members of Scottish ancestry.
John Edward Curtis Prebble, FRSL, OBE, was an English journalist, novelist, and screenwriter. He is known for his books on Scottish history.
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The 74th (Highland) Regiment of Foot was a British Army line infantry regiment, raised in 1787. Under the Childers Reforms it amalgamated with the 71st (Highland) Regiment of Foot to form the Highland Light Infantry in 1881.
The Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles were a light infantry unit, raised chiefly in the Glengarry District of Upper Canada shortly before the outbreak of the Anglo-American War of 1812. The unit fought throughout the war, and was disbanded shortly afterwards.
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