 |
| Middlesex Militia | |
|---|---|
| Active | c.1800 – 1866 |
| Country | Upper Canada |
| Allegiance | Great Britain |
| Branch | Canadian Militia |
| Type | Militia |
| Size | Regiment |
| Engagements | War of 1812
|
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Col. Hon. Thomas Talbot Lt-Col. Mahlon Burwell |
The Middlesex Militia was a regiment of the provincial militia of Upper Canada that was raised in Middlesex County, Ontario, in the early 1800s. [1] The Middlesex Militia is currently perpetuated by the 4th Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment.
Middlesex County was originally organized as Suffolk County in 1792 by Governor Simcoe. In 1793, he renamed the county Middlesex and created the settlement of London, intending for the new capital of Upper Canada to be located there. It became part of the London District in 1798.
Around 1800, the first militia units were raised in Middlesex County, but by 1808 it was still unorganized as a coherent county unit. [2]
During the War of 1812, the 1st Middlesex Militia was commanded by Col. Talbot and served along the Western and Niagara frontiers from 1812 to 1814. [3]
The 1st Middlesex Militia was composed of the following companies and officers (with dates of commission): [4]
Headquarters
1st Flank Company
2nd Flank Company
1st Battalion Company
2nd Battalion Company
3rd Battalion Company
Elements of the 1st Flank Company were attached to the 1st Norfolk Militia and served at the Siege of Detroit including Ensign Benjamin Wilson who was awarded the Military General Service Medal. Detachments from the 1st Flank Company and the 1st Battalion Company fought at the Skirmish at McCrae's House in December 1813 under the command of Lt. Moses Rice and Ens. Benjamin Wilson.
Detachments from all companies of the 1st Middlesex fought at the Battle of Lundy's Lane on July 25, 1814. The regiment formed part of the 2nd Militia Brigade under Lt-Col. Christopher Hamilton, which served in Col. Hercules Scott's force. The force advanced from Twelve Mile Creek and halted early on the morning of July 25 at Shipman's Corners. [5] Around 1:00 p.m., the force received orders to rendezvous with Col. Brown at Lundy’s Lane, and they advanced to the battlefield, joining the engagement that afternoon. [6] Two privates from the 1st Middlesex were wounded in the battle.
The majority of the whole regiment fought at the Battle of Malcolm's Mills on November 6, 1814, under the command of Maj. John Eakins. The 1st Middlesex suffered one private killed during the battle. It was the last land battle fought in Upper Canada during the war.
On November 24, 1813, the Loyal London Volunteers was formed as an independent militia company operating in the London area. [7] They would serve against the American raids in 1814.
| Soldier | Casualty | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Sgt. Allanson B. Pease | Died of disease | (Jan. 1, 1814) |
| Capt. Daniel Springer | Prisoner of War | Raid on Middlesex (Feb. 2, 1814) |
| Pte. James Vail | Died from drowning | Fort Wellington (1814) |
| Capt. Leslie Patterson | Prisoner of War | Norfolk Raids (May 30, 1814) |
| Capt. Gilman Wilson | Prisoner of War | Norfolk Raids (May 30, 1814) |
| Pte. Robert Burwell | Wounded in action | Lundy's Lane (Jul. 25, 1814) |
| Pte. Nathan Baldwin | Wounded in action | Lundy's Lane (Jul. 25, 1814) |
| Pte. Moses Brigham | Died of disease | (Aug. 6, 1814) |
| Pte. Edwin Barton | Killed in action | Malcolm's Mills (Nov. 6, 1814) |
| Lt-Col. Mahlon Burwell | Prisoner of War | Raid on Middlesex (Nov. 30, 1814) |
| Sgt. Benjamin Schram | Wounded | Skirmish near Westminster (1814) |
| Pte. Elisha Benedict | Went insane |
| John Armstrong | John Axford | Joseph Decew |
| John Gregory |
On June 18, 1822, a Militia General Order was issued from York reorganizing the Upper Canada militia regiments. This order divided the 1st Middlesex Regiment of Militia into four regiments or battalions. The four regiments were: [10]
In 1830 the regiments of Middlesex militia were composed of the following officers: [11]
1st Middlesex
2nd Middlesex
3rd Middlesex
4th Middlesex
By 1837, the militia had again been reorganized, with the battalions correlating to the county townships: [12]
In 1837, London was selected as a military station, with the 32nd Regiment of Foot being the first to garrison the city, while the 85th Regiment of Foot occupied St Thomas and Sandwich. [13]
With the outbreak of the Rebellions of 1837-1838, the Middlesex Militia was placed on active duty in the county and was tasked with apprehending rebels from the area who were gathering under the command of Charles Duncombe. Men from Norfolk, Oxford, and Middlesex flocked to join the rebel militia that was gathering near Middlesex. With the advance of the Oxford and Middlesex militias, the rebels quickly dispersed before an engagement could occur. [14]
A battalion of four companies was formed in London in 1837 to serve as a Home Guard. The men were enlisted for 18 months service but due to the end of the rebellion in 1838 they were discharged early. Col. T.H. Ball from the 4th Middlesex Regiment was placed in command of the London Home Guard Battalion with the following officers: [15]
Elements of the Middlesex Militia served at Fort Malden during the rebellion and on January 9, 1838, a force of 60 rebels sailed from the United States and landed on Bois Blanc Island. The schooner Anne, supporting the rebel attack, sailed alongside the mainland firing on positions at Fort Malden. The 2nd Middlesex Light Infantry, under Col. Thomas Radcliff, and other local regiments returned fire, disabling the helmsman and damaging the rigging. The Anne grounded on Elliott's Point and the rebels were captured by Radcliff's men. [16]
A Militia General Order issued from Quebec on July 12, 1855, placed Middlesex County into Militia District No. 8, along with Elgin, Oxford, Norfolk, Brant and London. [17] The headquarters for the militia district were in London.
The volunteer militia companies raised in the City of London during this time were:
Companies marked with an (*) would amalgamate to form the 7th London Fusiliers on 27 April 1866.
The volunteer militia companies raised in the surrounding Middlesex County during this time were:
They would amalgamate to form the 26th Middlesex Light Infantry on 14 September 1866. [18]
In 1865, the sedentary Middlesex Militia was composed of eight battalions, corresponding to the townships within the county, while London had two battalions of militia. The following were the officers of the Middlesex and London Militia: [19]
The establishment of the two Middlesex area regiments in 1866 led to the essential disbanding of the sedentary county militia. Both regiments would serve on active duty during the Fenian Raids and many veterans would receive the Canada General Service Medal.
| Township | Number of Men |
|---|---|
| Adelaide | 512 |
| Biddulph | 636 |
| Delaware | 281 |
| North Dorchester | 598 |
| Ekfrid | 513 |
| London | 1,470 |
| Metcalfe | 427 |
| Caradoc | 776 |
| Nissouri West | 604 |
| Srathroy | 307 |
| Williams East | 526 |
| Williams West | 200 |
| Mosa | 614 |
| Lobo | 552 |
| Westminster | 1,031 |
| McGillivray | 712 |
| County Total | 9,759 |
Through the lineage of the 7th London Fusiliers, the Middlesex Militia is currently perpetuated by the 4th Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, and the regiment bears the War of 1812 battle honours won by the Middlesex Militia:
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