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War Experience

The Royal Navy and British Army supported by Canadian regulars, Canadian militia, and First Peoples warriors, successfully defended Canada against repeated invasions.

British Regulars

The British Army provided a body of disciplined professionals that could stand in the line of battle, as well as specialist gunners, engineers, medical personnel, and staff officers.

The Battle of Queenston Heights, 13 October 1812

The Battle of Queenston Heights

The Battle of Queenston Heights, 13 October 1812

Print by John David Kelly, 1896
Library and Archives Canada, 1954-153-1
Officer’s Coat

Brock’s Coat

Officer’s Coat

CWM 19670070-009
General Brock's Coatee : Under a New Light

General Brock's Coatee : Under a New Light

General Brock's Coatee : Under a New Light









The Royal Navy




The Royal Navy secured the sea lanes that carried supplies to the colonies while, in the interior, its warships fought for control of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain.





Captain Sir William Howe Mulcaster
Captain Sir William Mulcaster, Royal Navy
Captain Sir William Howe Mulcaster
Painted by Jean-Louis Canon in 1830
Beaverbrook Collection of War Art
CWM 19840133-006





 Fort George, Formerly Astoria
The War of 1812 on the Pacific Coast
Fort George, Formerly Astoria
Print by Sir Henry James Warre, 1848
Library and Archives Canada, 1970-188-459(A) l








Colonial Regulars




Colonial regulars, drawn from Britain and British subjects in the colonies, formed a vital part of the effort to repel American invasions of Canada.





The Battle of Châteauguay
Charles de Salaberry at the Battle of the Châteauguay
The Battle of Châteauguay
Painting by E.H. de Holmfield in 1896
Château Ramezay Museum and Historic Site of Montreal,
Quebec, 1998.1776





Captain William Bradley’s Portable Writing Desk, 104th Regiment of Foot
The 104th (New Brunswick) Regiment of Foot
Captain William Bradley’s Portable Writing Desk, 104th Regiment of Foot
CWM 19900070-001








Civilians Under Arms




Canadian civilians went to war in the militia and aboard privateers.





Military General Service Medal, 1793–1814 with Bar: Crysler’s Farm, Joseph Plamondon, Canadian Militia
Military General Service Medal, 1793–1814
Military General Service Medal, 1793–1814 with Bar:
Crysler’s Farm, Joseph Plamondon, Canadian Militia
Tilston Memorial Collection of Canadian Military Medals
CWM 19750150-001





Capture of Snap Dragon by The Martin, 1813
Privateers
Capture of Snap Dragon by The Martin, 1813
Painting by Irwin John Bevan, around 1852-1940,
The Mariners’ Museum, Newport News, Virginia, 1940.0969.000001








First Peoples Warriors




First Peoples served in the War of 1812 as independent allies of the Crown.





Ahyouwaighs, Chief of the Six-Nations (John Brant)
Tekarihogen (John Brant)
Ahyouwaighs, Chief of the Six-Nations (John Brant)
Painting by Charles Bird King, 1838,
Library and Archives Canada, C-123161





The Assiginack Canoe
The Assiginack Canoe
The Assiginack Canoe
CMC 1969-038-001 a-n








Caught up in War




Most Canadians were not directly affected by the war. For those who were, it could be a devastating experience.





Meeting Between Laura Secord and Lieut. Fitzgibbon, June 1813
Laura Secord
Meeting Between Laura Secord and Lieut. Fitzgibbon, June 1813
Painting by Lorne K. Smith, 1920 
Library and Archives Canada, C-011053.





Sermons on Several Subjects
A Symbol of Brutality
Sermons on Several Subjects
Addison Library, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario