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Auction: 26002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 97

The rare Canada General Service Medal awarded to Trooper W. Patterson, The Royal Guides (Governor General's Body Guard - No. 4 Troop of Montreal Cavalry), who shared in the Battle of Pigeon Hill in June 1866; one of the few units who actually engaged the enemy, he would have shared in their cavalry charge - sabres drawn - which saw the unit take 16 prisoners of war for the bag, earning themselves the place of honour in the Victory Parade on Montreal’s Champs de Mars

Canada General Service 1866-70, 1 clasp, Fenian Raid 1866 (Tr. W. Patterson, R Guides.), officially impressed naming, good very fine

Just 18 Medals issued to the Royal Guides.

The Militia General Orders of April 1862 gave the following details on this unit:

'No. 4. - The designation of the "Royal Guides" as No. 4 Troop of Montreal Cavalry as by General Order, 7th February, 1862, is hereby cancelled. The designation will henceforth be "The Royal Guides, or Governor General's Body Guard," according to the General Order of the 17th April, 1863; and the "Governor General's Body Guard" will take precedence of all other Volunteer Cavalry Corps in Canada.'

William Patterson is confirmed upon the Medal Roll with the following service during the Fenian Raid of 1866:

'2 & 6 June at Pigeon Hill, attack made by enemy, active service in the field.'

History Net tells the wider story:

'A combined force of British Regulars and Canadian militia reached the border area on June 9, only to find that most of the Fenians had already withdrawn. However, the Royal Guides, a volunteer cavalry unit composed primarily of Montreal Hunt Club members, [had already] encountered a party of about 200 Fenians near Pigeon Hill. Under the command of Captain D. Lorne MacDougall, the Guides charged with drawn sabers, hurtled the Fenians’ breastworks and hacked at the Irish Americans as they raced for the border. Not only did the Guides’ valiant charge result in the taking of 16 Fenian prisoners, but it also salvaged what was left of Canadian military honor.

British troops and Canadian militia, including an artillery battery, moved into place to secure the border. Act One of the drama was over, but the Fenians had at least attained one of their objectives–thousands of British Regulars were now on their way to Canada.

Fenians who had been imprisoned by the United States were quietly released after the hostilities were over. Those who had been captured in Canada were not so fortunate, many receiving lengthy prison sentences. O’Neill enjoyed a hero’s welcome in Irish-American communities across the country, as the Fenians continued fund-raising to support their future military plans. A gala military review was staged on Montreal’s Champs de Mars to celebrate the successful defense of British North America. The Royal Guides were given the place of honor.'

Patterson was a native of 32 Bleury Street, Montreal and his family must surely have turned out to see him share in the Victory Parade.

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Estimate
£300 to £500

Starting price
£240