War of 1812 - Interview Series

by Judi McWilliams

Anne Brooks - Part Eight (Continued)

The 1812 Grand Tactical...

The following is a continuation of last week's article...
Here is an excerpt from their website … “The 1812 Royal Scots Grenadiers are a recreated re-enactment unit of the War of 1812 created by the Upper Canada Military Re-enactment Society. The Royal Scots are the oldest, and therefore most senior, infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, having been raised in 1633 during the reign of Charles I of England. During service in France in the 1630s the Royal Scots earned the nickname “Pontius Pilate’s Bodyguards.” The French Regiment of Picardy asserted that their regiment was the older regiment, having been on guard at the Crucifixion. The Royal Scots claimed they were there too, as bodyguards to the governor! The First Battalion of the Royal Scots sailed from the West Indies to Canada in the summer of 1812 and landed at Quebec City. Because of the years spent in service in the Islands nearly everyone was suffering from one sort of sickness or malady to the extent that the Regiment was unfit for duty until the following January. The Royal Scots 1st Battalion was very active in Upper Canada in the War of 1812, being present in eight major engagements and many minor skirmishes against the forces of the United States. These included Sackett’s Harbour, the capture of Fort Niagara and the burning of Buffalo in 1813, and the Battles of Longwoods, Chippewa, Lundy’s Lane, and Fort Erie in 1814. The campaign in Upper Canada earned the battle honour “Niagara” which is displayed on the Regiments colours”.