History Browser

Built in 1898-1900 to protect the entrance to the Royal Navy (and later the Royal Canadian Navy) base on the Pacific, the battery has been restored to its appearance during the Second World War 1939-45. (Parks Canada)

Except for a few details, the full dress uniform of officer cadets at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario, remained essentially the same since the college was founded in 1874. As shown in this 1954 photo, only the shakos and pith helmets worn on parade by first-class officer-cadets disappeared, replaced by pill-box caps. (Canadian Department of National Defence, ZK-2049)

In 1894, the Canadian volunteer militia artillery included 17 field batteries. Field batteries were mostly armed with British 9-pounder Rifled Muzzle Loading guns, which were obsolete by the 1890s and were replaced with British 18-pounder Quick-Firing guns beginning in 1906. The uniform of the Royal Canadian Artillery was very similar to that of the British Royal Artillery except that Canadians normally wore white 'universal' pattern helmets on all occasions rather than the blue-black 'home service' helmet worn by the British gunners.

The Queen's Own Rifles, a Toronto volunteer regiment dating back to 1860, were second in seniority in the Canadia Volunteer Militia. They wore uniforms closely modelled on those of the British army. The white pith helmet was a passing fashion for the QOR - they had previously worn a black fur rifle busby, and would be wearing them again for full dress by 1900. The regiment was one of the most active Canadian volunteer units, fighting Fenians at Ridgeway in 1866 and Métis in Saskatchewan in 1885.

In addition to the uniforms they wore during the winter, Canadian infantry were also provided with fur hats, scarves, winter coats similar to those worn by the British Army, mittens, and warm boots. (Parks Canada)

A rare glimpse into life as it was in a Canadian infantry barracks room during a winter evening in about 1890. Some men are shown cleaning their kit, the floor or a Snider-Enfield infantry rifle, one is being shaved, another trims his moustache and one is reading. The barracks furniture features the British iron folding bed and barrack table with iron legs. The men’s uniforms and equipment are neatly hung or shelved and a stove, essential in a Canadian winter, is prominent. (Parks Canada)

This large cannon is in a coastal battery at York Redoubt National Historic Site near Halifax. This type of gun weights 12 tons (12.2 mt) and fires a projectile of 256 pounds (116 kg.) at an effective range of 2,000 yards (1829 m.). Great guns such as this one were installed in Canadian major forts from the 1860s. During the 1880s, the eight forts defending Halifax had thirty-eight 9-inch (22.8 cm.) guns as well as fifteen 10-inch (25.4 cm.), fifteen 7-inch (17.7 cm.) and nine 64-pounder (29 kg.) RML cannons ready to battle enemy warships. The mountings and the concrete ‘Moncrieff’ emplacement pit, named after its designer, were a refinement of the 1890s which allowed gunner to fire the gun over a high parapet while being well protected from enemy fire. (Parks Canada)

A photo gallery is presented here commemorating fallen Canadians. Some photos of veterans appear in the collection as well as the cemetaries where they were buried and monuments memorializing their contribution to the war.

This lithograph was given away with the Christmas edition of the 'Toronto Globe' newspaper in 1898. It shows just how closely the Canadian militia copied the appearance of the British army, especially the more prestigious Highland, Fusilier, Rifle and Hussar units. Only the use of white 'universal' pattern helmets, used by the British only when serving in the warmer parts of the Empire, distinguishes this group from an equivalent group British regulars. Many of the units represented here are still active and wear similar uniforms as ceremonial dress in the 21st century. (Library and Archives Canada C-006332)

This Royal Navy warship, launched in May 1868, was one of the first iron-built battleships fitted with turrets enclosing and rotating its four 25-ton (25.4 mt) 12-inch (30.4 cm.) guns. One of the largest and fastest battleships of its day, HMS Monarch had a displacement of 8820 tons (8962 mt), armour six to seven inches (15-18 cm) thick and a top speed of 15 knots (27.8 kph).