See Timeline home page for references.
1856
24 May – First public parade of new militia companies for inspection by the Governor General Sir Edmund Head [1]
1859
A new militia act (22 Vic. Chap. 18,) was passed, its principal provision being that battalions of infantry and rifles should be organized wherever practicable. It was also provided that the volunteer militia force should drill for six consecutive days in each year, with pay at the rate of One Dollar per diem per man. [1]
1860
26 April – Second Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles of Canada (later to be named Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada) authorized by General Militia Order. Lieutenant Colonel William Smith Durie of the Barrie Company appointed Commanding Officer [1] p42
24 May - Militia Force of No. 5 Military District of Upper Canada (except those stationed outside the County of York) will parade in brigades on Thursday, the 24th inst., in the field on the west of the Parliament Buildings, Toronto, at a quarter before noon, for the purpose of firing a “Feu-de-Joie” in honour of Her Majesty’s Birthday [1] p43
26 May – The regimental staff was completed by the appointment of the Surgeon, James Thorburn, M.D, from the late No. 4 Independent Rifle Company of Toronto and Assistant Surgeon, Frank Bull, M.D. [1] p44
9 September – Regiment provided a Guard of Honour under Captain Fulton for his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales [1] p44
12 September – Regiment was reviewed by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, in the Queen’s Park. The companies present were Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the Barrie Company having been brought in for the occasion [1] p44
Alexander M. Oliphant joins the regiment as Pipe Major serving until 1868 when the “Highland Company” decides to disband because they are not allowed to continue wearing their kilts.
1861
24 May - The battalion paraded on the field west of the Parliament Buildings and fired a feu-de-joie in honor of Her Majesty s birthday [1] p44
3 June – Trinity College Company (later to become QOR company No. 9) gazetted [2] p9
18 October – The Toronto companies, with the rest of the city brigade, were inspected by Lieutenant Colonel MacDougall [1] p44
8 November – The “Trent Affair” takes place
1862
Civilian Adam Maul is appointed the first Bandmaster of the Queen’s Own Rifles’ Band.
14 March – 2nd Merchant’s Company (later to become QOR company No. 5) and Civil Service Company (later to become QOR company No. 7) gazetted [2] p9
5 May – University Company (later to become QOR company No. 9) gazetted [2] p9
24 September – Governor General Lord Monck inspected the regiment on Spadina Avenue Commons. Major Brooke thrown from his horse and suffered broken leg [1] p48 [2] p8
21 November – Regiment reorganized: Barrie and Whitby Companies become independant and other Toronto companies added to make 10 in total [2] p8
1863
14 March – Designation approved as “Queen’s Own Rifles of Toronto” [2] p9
25 May – “Mrs Draper, wife of the Chief Justice, on behalf of ladies, friends and relatives of the officers of the corps” present Lieutenant Colonel Durie with a splendid mace for the band at a parade at the Model School Grounds, unaware that rifle regiment bands don’t carry maces. It was carried on parade for a period of time before quietly being retired and is now displayed in the Officer’s Mess at Moss Park Armouries in Toronto. The battalion then proceeded to Spadina Ave, where with the 30th Regiment Royal Artillery and the 10th Battalion Volunteer Militia, a “feu de joie” was fired and a review held by Major General Napier, CB. [1] p49
8 October – The Battalion was present and took part in the grand volunteer review on the Denison Common, at the head of Crookshank Lane at which 900 regulars and 3,200 volunteers were reviewed by Major General Lindsay. [1] p50
1864
This photograph,shows the commons in 1865 with the Queen’s Own Rifles station in Niagara forming a square near Butler’s Barracks. In the background, is the Military Hospital. Photo courtesy of the Niagara Historical Society Museum
June – Drill Shed on Simcoe Street completed – Queen’s Own allotted south end [2] p10
1865
Francis Clarke is appointed Bugle Major, serving for the next 11 years.
15 November – Major Charles T. Gillmor replaces Durie as Commanding Officer [2] p343
1866
Civilian Henry F. Chalaupka replaces Adam Maul as Bandmaster
24 January - General Orders: “the formation of a volunteer company at Toronto, to be attached to the 2nd Battalion Queen’s Own Rifles and to be called the Upper Canada College Rifle Company, is hereby authorized.” Officers/instructors were:
- Captain (temporary) Frank C. Draper, Military School and No 6 Company, 2nd Battalion Queens Own Rifles
- Lieutenant (temporary) V. E. Fuller, Gentleman, Military School
- Ensign (temporary) M. Wilson, Gentleman, Military School [1] p54
7 March - The militia was put on a heightened state of readiness and at 10:00 am the Queen’s Own were called to active service, in anticipation of a St. Patrick’s Day attack. They stayed on active duty for three weeks until the threat of invasion subsided. This was the beginning of the Fenian Raids. [2] p15
10 March – Major General Napier, CB in charge of the forces of Canada West, inspected the regiment [2] p15
31 May – At 6 pm Major Gillmor receives an order to proceed the next day with 400 men to Port Colborne [2] p17
1 June – General Order No. 1 placed eleven companies of the Queen’s Own Rifles on active service. The eleventh company was the Upper Canada College Rifle Company and the boys immediately went on sentry duty at vulnerable points in the city [2] p13
1 June – At 4 am the regiment parades with 356 men and travelled on the steamer City of Toronto for Port Dalhousie, followed by rail to Port Colborne arriving at 1 pm where they were joined by the 13th Battalion (now the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry), the York Rifle Company and the Caledonia Rifle Company [2] p17
2 June – First time the Queen’s Own Rifles is in combat is at the Battle of Ridgeway (or Limeridge as it is also known). Casualties: 9 killed in action, 21 wounded (see June 11)
5 June - Ensign McEachren, Corporal Defries and Riflemen Smith, Alderson and Tempest were interred in St James Cemetery, Toronto with full military honours. All the church bells in the city tolled in mourning [2] p24
5 June – Rifleman McKenzie is buried in Woodstock and Rifleman Mewburn in Stamford [2] p24
11 June - Sergeant Hugh Matheson and Corporal William Lakey died of wounds sustained on June 2nd [1] p63
25 August – The 500 strong regiment moves to Thorold via the steamer “City of Toronto” to Port Dalhousie and then marching to the camp, for eight days of instruction drilling three times per day and two field days. This was in lieu of the ordinary eight days drill and the men received $1.00 per day and rations – officers full pay. [1] p69
1867
Civilian R. W. Robinson replaces Henry F. Chalaupka as Bandmaster
February – Corporal Jonathan Conner of No. 1 Company and private Arthur Reed of No. 8 Company, died of diseases contracted on service and were buried by their companies. [1] p71
2 March – Jonathon Robins of No. 6 Company, died of disease contracted on service and was buried by his company. [1] p71
15 March -
27 March – The regiment inspected by Major-General Stisted, CB. Thirty-four officers and 439 con-commissioned officers and men were present, and the battalion was highly complimented by the General [1] 71
1 July – Confederation of the Dominion of Canada
1870
Battle of Ridgeway Memorial, Toronto. Photograph by J. Gray (2009)
1 July – The Governor General, Sir John Young, unveils the Volunteer Memorial in Queen’s Park
1875
William Carey becomes Bandmaster.
28 May - Lieutenant Colonel William D. Otter replaces Gillmor as Commanding Officer [2] p343
1876
Charles Swift becomes Bugles Major, a position he will hold for the next 47 years!
2 November - Henry Pellatt enlists as a Rifleman in the Queen’s Own Rifles
1877
17 November - Annual Inspection of the Queen’s Own Rifles by Lieutenant-General Sir Edward Selby Smythe who highly complimented the regiment.
Toronto inspection of the Queen’s Own Rifles by Lieutenant-General Sir Edward Selby Smythe, December 8, 1877. From a sketch by W. A. Cruickshank and published in the Canadian Illustrated News, Vol.XVI, No. 23, 360; Library and Archives Canada
1883
21 December – Lieutenant Colonel Albert A. Miller replaces Otter as Commanding Officer [2] p343
1887
4 February – Lieutenant Colonel D. H. Allen replaces Otter as Commanding Officer [2] p343
1889
30 August – Lieutenant Colonel R. B. Hamilton replaces D. H. Allen as Commanding Officer [2] p344
1891
The University Armouries are completed and the Queen’s Own Rifles moves in, staying until 1963.
1896
26 March – Lieutenant Colonel J. M. Delamere replaces Hamilton as Commanding Officer [2] p344
General Service Medal with “Fenian Raids 1886″ clasp
1899
Survivors of the Fenian Raids of 1866 and 1870 are finally recognized by the bestowal of a General Service Medal [2] p25
See also:
- Timeline: 1900-1949
- Timeline: 1950-1999
- Timeline: 2000-present
- Timeline: Uniforms
- Timeline: Weapons
