Time is now to honour 1812 heroes, Guelph symposium hears
GUELPH – The federal government refuses to properly acknowledge the service of soldiers who played a critical role in the formation of Canada as we know it, attendees at a Guelph symposium heard Saturday.
“There are Canadians who fought to protect this country and they have not been recognized,” said retired lieutenant-colonel Jeff Cairns, who chairs the Honour Our 1812 Heroes committee.
Cairns spoke on the issue of Canada’s failure to bestow battle honours on modern military units which “perpetuate” units that fought in the War 0f 1812.
The War of 1812 Bicentennial Symposium was held this weekend at the University of Guelph.
A byproduct of the Napoleonic Wars raging in Europe at the beginning of the 19th Century, war was declared against the British by US President James Madison in June, 1812.
The Americans planned to take over the British colonies of Upper and Lower Canada – largely encompassing current-day Ontario and Quebec, respectively – in a single mass attack.
However Canadian, British and Aboriginal troops fighting together managed to repel the invasion and remain independent of the United States.
“That’s like motherhood, maple syrup, six-team NHL and Don Cherry in one,” historian and author Donald Graves said of the united effort. “It doesn’t get much more Canadian than that.”
Graves, who has spent nearly 40 years researching the War of 1812, said Britain and the United States both have battle honours recognizing the war, but Canada has always refused to award them.
“It is sad that Canada refuses to honour the service of these brave men,” Graves said.
A press release earlier this month from the Department of National Defence noted a number of initiatives to mark the bicentennial, but was silent on the issue of bestowing battle honours.
“The War of 1812 represents a key milestone in our nation’s history, and I am proud of our government’s efforts to raise awareness and to create an enhanced understanding of Canadian military history,” Defence Minister Peter MacKay said in the release.
Robert Henderson, creator of the website Warof1812.ca, said while the government has talked about other official types of recognition – including commemorative pins to be worn by all Forces members – only battle honours can be included on regiments’ official colours.
“We’re talking about a vehicle to permanently embed the War of 1812 … and the only suitable vehicle to do that is with battle honours,” Henderson said.
Graves said the decision by the Department of National Defence not to formally recognize the War of 1812 seems to relate to a decision made decades ago that the Canadian Armed Forces began with the Militia Act of 1855.
“I honestly believe they forget why they made that decision,” he said in an interview after the presentation, “but bureaucracy is always willing to fight to defend a bad decision.”
Cairns said with the official bicentennial of the start of the war just a few months away, this is the best opportunity yet to try to win official recognition.
“What other opportunity has there been or will there ever be to try to achieve what we’re doing?” he posed. “The War of 1812 is the foundation stone that leads to Confederation that leads to the country we are today.”
stracey@guelphmercury.com
“There are Canadians who fought to protect this country and they have not been recognized,” said retired lieutenant-colonel Jeff Cairns, who chairs the Honour Our 1812 Heroes committee.
Cairns spoke on the issue of Canada’s failure to bestow battle honours on modern military units which “perpetuate” units that fought in the War 0f 1812.
The War of 1812 Bicentennial Symposium was held this weekend at the University of Guelph.
A byproduct of the Napoleonic Wars raging in Europe at the beginning of the 19th Century, war was declared against the British by US President James Madison in June, 1812.
The Americans planned to take over the British colonies of Upper and Lower Canada – largely encompassing current-day Ontario and Quebec, respectively – in a single mass attack.
However Canadian, British and Aboriginal troops fighting together managed to repel the invasion and remain independent of the United States.
“That’s like motherhood, maple syrup, six-team NHL and Don Cherry in one,” historian and author Donald Graves said of the united effort. “It doesn’t get much more Canadian than that.”
Graves, who has spent nearly 40 years researching the War of 1812, said Britain and the United States both have battle honours recognizing the war, but Canada has always refused to award them.
“It is sad that Canada refuses to honour the service of these brave men,” Graves said.
A press release earlier this month from the Department of National Defence noted a number of initiatives to mark the bicentennial, but was silent on the issue of bestowing battle honours.
“The War of 1812 represents a key milestone in our nation’s history, and I am proud of our government’s efforts to raise awareness and to create an enhanced understanding of Canadian military history,” Defence Minister Peter MacKay said in the release.
Robert Henderson, creator of the website Warof1812.ca, said while the government has talked about other official types of recognition – including commemorative pins to be worn by all Forces members – only battle honours can be included on regiments’ official colours.
“We’re talking about a vehicle to permanently embed the War of 1812 … and the only suitable vehicle to do that is with battle honours,” Henderson said.
Graves said the decision by the Department of National Defence not to formally recognize the War of 1812 seems to relate to a decision made decades ago that the Canadian Armed Forces began with the Militia Act of 1855.
“I honestly believe they forget why they made that decision,” he said in an interview after the presentation, “but bureaucracy is always willing to fight to defend a bad decision.”
Cairns said with the official bicentennial of the start of the war just a few months away, this is the best opportunity yet to try to win official recognition.
“What other opportunity has there been or will there ever be to try to achieve what we’re doing?” he posed. “The War of 1812 is the foundation stone that leads to Confederation that leads to the country we are today.”
stracey@guelphmercury.com
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