History Browser

A new Liberal government in 1963 chose a new mission for the reserves – survival training and territorial defence, with a reduced size. Following this decision, the size of the reserves fluctuated, as the relevance of the militia and their role became less apparent.

This letter discusses how land around Fort Niagara is to be distributed amongst the disbanded troops, Loyalist settlers, and Indian allies in the year 1784. The land on which Fort George would eventually be built was to be held in reserve.

Listing of films from the National Film Board regarding the period from the end of World War 1 to the beginning of World War 2. Includes information on the depression years and items that were in the news during that period.

In 1849, responsible government came to Canada, and Canadian politicians now made many decisions, instead of the British Governor-General. The Canadians preferred to leave the cost of defence up to Britain, but did appoint a commission to study militia reform in 1854.

In Lower Canada, the opposing political factions formed semi-secret paramilitary groups during the 1830s. The reformist Patriotes created Les Fils de la Liberté, while the conservatives had their Doric Club. Trapped in the middle, the British garrison prepared for trouble.

The Kennedy Commission in 1953 recommended, among other changes, the restructuring of Canada's reserves into a smaller number of units. A regular Army Reserve of former regular force personnel was envisaged, but fell to the wayside quickly. Another commission, under Brigadier Anderson, was conducted when the reserve’s equipment became obsolescent and new ideas put forth as to the role of the reserves.

This report deals with the organization and despatch of a Canadian Expeditionary Force to Hong Kong in October 1941, and the Force's subsequent operations during the siege of that island by the Japanese.

Defending British North America after the end of the war of 1812 required a large number of British soldiers. Thousands of men were stationed in Upper and Lower Canada, and thousands more in the Maritime colonies.

In 1712, King Louis XIV created Les Invalides de la Marine, which provided all soldiers and sailors serving the Ministry of the Navy with a sort of pension plan. Each year, a few elderly soldiers were given the status of Invalide and a pension.

In Lower Canada during the 1820s, the militia was still respected as an institution by the Francophone majority. Training consisted mostly of shooting contests, but these were taken seriously. Importantly, the institution was not split along social lines as happened in Upper Canada.