In thepresenceofTheirRoyalHighnessesThePrinceofWalesandTheDuchessofCornwall
FortYorkAnnoury,Toronto,Ontario
May22,2012
.+. Governmentof Canada Gouvernementdu Canada Canada
The MusterA "muster" is a general term for collecting soldiers or sailors together, and in
this case, the only one that could describe the unique and spectacular array ofregiments, both regular and reserve, represented at this event. Collected on theparade square of Fort YorkArmoury will be three bodies of troops, the largestbeing the Guard of Honour comprising soldiers ofregiments whose Colonel-in-Chief is His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales or Her Royal Highness TheDuchess of Cornwall. The Air Reserve of Canada will mount the guard's FlagParty and the guard commander will be Lieutenant-Colonel Jesse Jones of theRoyal Regiment of Canada, a reserve regiment based at Fort YorkArmoury.
Accompanying the guard will be a formation of soldiers £Tomregiments thatperpetuate the tradition of militia units called out on active service during theWar of 1812, to whom the CDS awarded the Honorary Distinction DEFENCEOF CANADA - 1812-1815- DEFENSE DU CANADA. The third formation
will be representatives of First Nations and Metis communities; in 1812, these
nations were an essential part of the British alliance that defended Canada.All of those on parade will be in formal, business or traditional attire.
Most of the regiments with an historical link to the War of 1812 embrace theservice of the volunteer and militia I,Initsraised in Upper and Lower Canada
(today's Ontario and Quebec). Among those fighting for the Crown was the
important alliance of First Nations, Metis and regular regiments of the BritishArmy, including some that had been raised in the colonies. Prominent amongthem was the British Fencible unit, the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, which
now has two monuments in downtown Toronto recognizing its contribution tothe defence of Upper Canada.
The venue of this event could not be more appropriate. In the history of Toronto,
the key battle occurred on April 27, 1813, when American troops landed a fewkilometres to the west and drove the defenders back to the original Fort York, ahundred metres east of the present armoury.As the garrison withdrew in defeat,the powder magazine exploded, killing as many as 200 soldiers, including the
American commander.At that time, the shoreline of Lake Ontario was amongwhat are now the pillars of the Gardiner Expressway.Anyone in the shallow
water just off the old fort, where the parade square is now, would have had anexcellent and very dangerous view of the formative Battle of York.
The War of 1812The Government of Canada recognizes the War of 1812 as a defining moment
in the history of our nation. The 200thanniversary of the War of 1812 is an
unprecedented opportunity for all Canadians to take pride in our traditions and
our shared history.
On June 18, 1812, the United States declared war on the United Kingdom and itsBritish North American colonies in what is today Central and Eastern Canada.
British regular troops assisted by English- and French-speaking Canadianmilitiamen and First Nations and Metis allies repelled American invasions over
the course of more than two years.
It took the combined efforts of the British Army and Royal Navy, English- andFrench-speaking militia volunteers, and First Nations and Metis allies to succeed
in repelling the American invasion.
These heroic efforts tell the story of the origins of the Canada we know today:
an independent and free country united under the Crown with a strong respect
for diversity. The signing of the Treaty of Ghent and other treaties that followed
confirmed the border between Canada and the United States, which is now the
world's longest undefended border, providing an example of nations coexisting
peacefully side by side.
The end of the War laid the foundation for Confederation, and Canada's
ultimate emergence as an independent nation in North America. It also ushered
in what has become two centuries of peaceful relations, mutual respect, close
cooperation and the strongest of friendship between Canada and the United States.
Commemorative medalAt the end of the War of 1812, military flags and medals were presented to
Aboriginal allies who had fought alongside the British forces as symbolic acts
of gratitude and recognition to the Crown's Aboriginal allies. The medal bore
the profile of His Majesty King George III on one side,and the British coat of arms on the other. In order to
strengthen the recognition of the Aboriginal efforts,
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
is presenting commemorative War of 1812 medals
which have an effigy of Her Majesty The Queen on
the obverse side, and the image, or device, to be usedin the commemorative banner on the reverse. This
creates a direct link between the two elements of the
recognition, the medal and the banner. These medals are7.5 cm in diameter and made of silver with a ribbon and
produced by the Royal Canadian Mint.
..
Commemorative bannerThe Canadian Forces War of 1812
Commemorative Banner was developed to permit
units, bases, and formations of the Canadian
Forces, as well as First Nations and Metis
communities, whose heritage embraces service in,
or a contribution to, the defence of British North
America during the war, to display that heritage.
Canada's military tradition has long accepted the
presentation of banners as a mark of favour, but this is the first Canadian Forces
banner as such. Its design is based on the red and white of the Canadian Flag, with
the anchor, crossed swords, and tomahawks symbolizing the fact that fightingin the service of the Crown took place on land, at sea, and on the Great Lakes in
concert with our Aboriginal allies. The design itself was rendered by the Canadian
Heraldic Authority and approved by Her Majesty Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada.
Five snare drumsThe five snare drums are commemorative items created to visually represent theawards made to historic Canadian militia units for their service during the War
of 1812and the recent perpetuation of more than one hundred of these units bytwenty-nine currently-serving units of the Canadian Army. Three of the drums
represent regions and provinces -Atlantic, Quebec, and Ontario -and depictthe names of the perpetuating units and their Honorary Distinction. The fourth
drum depicts the names of the fourCanadian Army regiments whichjointly perpetuate the wartime
Battalion of Incorporated Militiaof Upper Canada and their inheritedbattle honour "NIAGARA"as well as the War of 1812
Honorary Distinction DEFENCEOF CANADA-1812-1815-DEFENSE DU CANADA.
The fifth drum depicts the names of the six Fencible regiments of the BritishArmy raised in British North America which saw service during the War of
1812. Soldiers from The Halifax Rifles and The Royal Newfoundland Regimentare on parade today to reflect the service of the Fencible Regiments raised inNova Scotia and Newfoundland.
Commemorative ceremonyThe five drums and the commemorative War of 1812 medal, which represent the
Canadian Forces regiments as well as the First Nations and Metis communitieswho perpetuate a heritage linked to the War of 1812,are placed on the dais toboth symbolically and physically bring these groups and their valour together ina striking visual and symbolic manner.
The commemorative War of 1812 banner, which will be awarded to the
regiments, and First Nations and Metis communities, enfolds the drums and
medal together, symbolizing the unity of effort in the conflict. The Aboriginal
blessing by an Elder and the prayers by the Chaplain General shift the focus
to all those who have gone before; the elements and the alliance between the
regiments and First Nations are thus blanketed in a spiritual sense.
The passing of the banner to the Heir to the Throne is a symbolic gesture
that directly associates the Crown with the banner, and all that it represents.
The marching of the banner in front of the Canadian Forces regiments, and FirstNations and Metis representatives, can be understood as a symbolic receipt of
the Commemorative banner on their behalf by the Colour Guard. The distinctionof honour and gratitude on behalf of a grateful people and country is furtherunderlined by this symbolic marching.
During the War of 1812 Canada was defended through the combined efforts
of British regulars, Fencible regiments and militia from Ontario and Quebec,
regiments from the Atlantic region and First Nation and Metis allies of the
Crown. Together these early Canadians of all linguistic backgrounds,
ethnicities and regions helped ensure that Canada was later able to emerge
as an independent nation in North America.
First Nations and Metis communities witha heritage linked to the War of 1812
· MississaugasoftheNewCredit· Mohawksof theBayofQuinte· SixNationsoftheGrandRiverElectedCouncil· BkejwanongTerritory
(WalpoleIslandFirstNation)· Munsee-DelawareNation· DelawareNation- MoravianoftheThames· OneidaFirstNationoftheThames· Chippewasof theThamesFirstNation· ChippewasofNawashUncededFirstNation· ChippewasofKettleandStoneyPoint· SaugeenFirstNation· CaldwellFirstNation· MetisNationofOntario· BatchewanaFirstNationofOjibways· GardenRiverFirstNation· ThessalonFirstNation· M'ChigeengFirstNation· SheguiandahFirstNation· SheshegwaningFirstNation· Aundeck-Omni-KaningFirstNation· WhitefishRiverFirstNation
· ZhiibaahaasingFirstNation· SerpentRiverFirstNation· SagamokAnishwawbek· AtikamekshengAnishwawbek· MohawksofAkwasasne· MohawksofKanesatake· KahnawakeFirstNation· KitiganZibi· NationHuronneWendat· Abenakisd'Odanak· NationMetisQuebec· MetisNationalCouncil· DakotaTipiFirstNation· SiouxValleyDakotaNation· WhitecapDakotaRrstNation· WahpetonDakotaFirstNation-StandingBuffaloFirstNation· DakotaPlainsFirstNation· BirdtailSiouxFirstNation· CanupawakpaDakotaFirstNation· ManitobaMetisFederation· MetisNation-Saskatchewan
Current Canadian Army Units to PerpetuateWar of 1812 Militia Formations
UNIT
NovaScotia84thIndependentFieldArtillery,RCA
1stBattalion,TheNovaScotiaHighlanders
TheWestNovaScotiaRegiment
New Brunswick
3'dFieldArtilleryRegiment,RCA
8thCanadianHussars(PrincessLouise's)
TheRoyalNewBrunswickRegiment
Quebec
2ndFieldArtilleryRegiment,RCA
12eRegimentblindeduCanadaTheBlackWatch(RoyalHighlandRegiment)ofCanadaTheCanadianGrenadierGuards
LesFusilliersduSt-Laurent
LesFusilliersMont-Royal
LeRegimentdelaChaudiere
Royal22eRegiment
TheRoyalCanadianHussars(Montreal)TheSherbrookeHussars
LesVoltigeursdeQuebec
COLONELIN CHIEF
HerMajestyTheQueen
HerMajestyTheQueen
HerRoyalHighnessThePrincessRoyal
HerMajestyTheQueen
HerMajestyTheQueen
HisRoyalHighnessThe PrinceCharlesPrinceof Wales
HerMajestyTheQueen
HerMajestyTheQueen
HerMajestyThe Queen
Ontario7thTorontoRegiment,RCA
31CombatEngineerRegiment(TheElgin's)
56thFieldArtilleryRegiment,RCATheBrockvilleRifles
TheEssexandKentScottish
TheHastingsandPrinceEdwardRegiment
TheLincolnandWeilandRegiment
ThePrincessof Wales'OwnRegiment
The Queen'sYorkRangers(151AmericanRegiment),RCAC
TheRoyalCanadianRegiment
TheRoyalHamiltonLightInfantry(WentworthRegiment)
Stormont,DundasandGlengarryHighlanders
HerMajestyTheQueen
HerMajestyTheQueen
HerMajestyTheQueen
HisRoyalHighness,PrinceMichaelof Kent
HisRoyalHighnessThePrinceEdwardTheEarlofWessex
HerRoyalHighnessTheCountessof Wessex
The DukeofYorkPrinceAndrew
HisRoyalHighnessThePrincePhilipDukeof Edinburgh
HisRoyalHighnessThePrincePhilipDukeof Edinburgh
Regiments linked to War of 1812 FencibleUnits recruited in North America
REGIMENT
TheRoyalNewfoundlandRegiment
TheHalifaxRifles,RCAC
The RoyalNewBrunswickRegiment
Royal22eRegiment
Stormont,Dundasand GlengarryHighlanders
COLONELIN CHIEF
HerRoyalHighnessThePrincessRoyal
HerMajestyTheQueen
HerMajestyTheQueen
OFFICIALPROGRAMME
Musical Interlude by a composite band of the CanadianAnned Forces
Guard of Honour, representatives of First Nations' andMetis communities and 1812 Regiments take positions
Arrival of Their Royal Highnesses
Royal Salute
Inspection of the Guard of Honour
Royal Anthem
Guard of Honour marches off / Musical Interlude
War of 1812commemorative ceremony
National Anthem
Royal Salute
March Past
Official Party departs
TheWarof 1812
Laguerrede1812II
1812.gc.ca
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