Canadian Military History Gateway

Title: Canada within the Empire - Fortifying Canada. 1815-1837

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Description: The United States and Great Britain signed the Rush-Bagot Treaty in 1817 and peace settled between Canada and United States. Despite this agreement, both sides remained wary and built defensive installations to facilitate the transport of troops and supplies in preparation for possible future disputes.

Site: Canadian War Museum

Title: Amerindian warrior brandishing a scalp

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Description: This print shows a classic European vision of scalping. The process was widespread amongst both the forest and plains Amerindians, and dates back to at least the early 16th century. Scalps were viewed as trophies of war, part of a ritual act of retribution on an enemy.

Site: National Defence

Title: Recruitment

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Description: Most of the British army was recruited in Great Britain. By the mid-19th century, half of the men were English or Welsh, one third Irish and the remainder Scottish. Recruits were (in theory) volunteers signed up by a regimental recruiting party, and service was for life (until 1847).

Site: National Defence

Title: Records of the 4th International Colloquy on Military History (Ottawa ...

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Description: Introduction by W.A.B. Douglas, Director Directorate of History, Program Chairman. Articles in a variety of languages including: English, German, French, Italian, Portugese, Spanish, Russian, Greek.

Site: National Defence

Title: Changing Boundaries 1756-1871

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Description: Series of five maps illustrate the shifting boundaries of European land claims in North America from 1756 to 1871.

Site: National Defence

Title: British iron guns mounted on iron carriages, circa 1815

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Description: Iron carriages were introduced in the British artillery in 1810. They were to be placed 'in such parts of fortifications as are least exposed to the enemy's fire' as it was feared they would shatter if hit by enemy artillery. The examples seen in this photograph are found at the Fortifications of Quebec National Historic Site.

Site: National Defence

Title: Pattern to be used in putting braid on a rifle officer's coat, circa 1...

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Description: Tailors' pattern books give a valuable record of British officers' uniforms. During the 18th and 19th centuries, officers had to buy their own uniforms, made to regulation patterns. Firms of military tailors would keep books of drawings that showed exactly what pattern of cut and decoration was appropriate for each unit. In this drawing, note the elaborate braiding and lacing in the Hungarian hussar style. Hussar regiments were extremely fashionable in the early 19th century, and other parts of the army imitated elements of their uniform. For a rifle regiment, the coat would was very dark ('rifle') green with black braid and lace. (Parks Canada)

Site: National Defence

Title: Royal Staff Corps officer's sabretache, circa 1820

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Description: A sabretache was a leather document case and writing surface. It was worn suspended from a waist belt by mounted officers and cavalry, and was intended to make it possible to write messages and orders while mounted. Officers' sabretaches were often very elaborate. The example shown in this watercolour shows the royal cypher ('GR' for George Rex - King George IV). Between 1819 and 1834 two companies of the Royal Staff Corps were responsible for building the military canal that bypassed the Long Sault Rapids on the St. Lawrence River. (Parks Canada)

Site: National Defence

Title: Still a Viable Institution

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Description: In Lower Canada during the 1820s, the militia was still respected as an institution by the Francophone majority. Training consisted mostly of shooting contests, but these were taken seriously. Importantly, the institution was not split along social lines as happened in Upper Canada.

Site: National Defence

Title: A Series of Amerindian Nations

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Description: During the eighteenth century, the northwest Pacific coast was home to a series of Amerindian nations, including the Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, Nootka and Salish. These were maritime cultures - excellent sailors and fishermen who depended on the sea's resources

Site: National Defence

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