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Camp of the 43rd Regiment of Foot during the siege of Fort Beauséjour, June 1755

Type: Image

The men of the British 43rd Regiment of Foot were part of a 2,000 strong army under Lietenant-Colonel Robert Monkton that took Fort Beauséjour after a brief siege in the summer of 1755. At left can be seen men of the grenadier company, distinguished by their pointed mitre headdresses. In the centre are ordinary soldiers who have the tricorne hats worn by most of the regiment. The young men to the right are drummers, wearing coats with reversed colours (white with red facings instead of red with white). This was intended to make drummers easy to spot in a fight, which was important, since drum beats were used to give orders. The presence of women and children seem odd in a military encampment, but each British regiment would have a small number of soldiers' families following them on campaign. Reconstruction by Lewis Parker. (Parks Canada)

Site: National Defence

Fort Beausejour Taken

Type: Document

When war began in 1755, the British took the offensive immediately in Nova Scotia, attacking and capturing both French forts on the disputed isthmus of Chignectou. Fort Beauséjour fell on June 17 after a short formal siege, while Fort Gaspareau was taken shortly after without a fight.

Site: National Defence

Private, 45th Regiment of Foot, circa 1763

Type: Image

The 45th Regiment of Foot was one of the British units involved in the retaking of St. John's, Newfoundland after its capture by a French fleet in June 1762. Earlier in the war, the regiment took part in the capture of Fort Beausejour (1755) and the siege of Louisbourg (1758). The smaller figures in the background include a sergeant (at left, holding a halberd) and a grenadier (wearing a mitre cap, at right). Reconstruction by Charles Stadden. (Parks Canada)

Site: National Defence