Historic Flag from the War of 1812 unveiled at Canadian War Museum

 Ottawa, Ontario, October 17, 2012 — A silk flag carried by a New Brunswick regiment on an epic march and into battle during the War of 1812 was unveiled today at the Canadian War Museum. This historic flag symbolizes the vital contribution made to the defence of Canada by New Brunswickers, and others, two centuries ago.  

The Regimental Colour of the 104th Regiment of Foot is on loan from the New Brunswick Museum following a long and painstaking conservation process. It will be displayed at the War Museum until January 6, 2013, as the Museum marks the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. Measuring over 3.2 square metres, the flag has a buff-coloured background, a Union Jack in the top left corner and the regimental badge in the centre; “104” surrounded by a laurel wreath.   

“We are grateful to the New Brunswick Museum for allowing us to share this outstanding artifact with our visitors,” said James Whitham, Director General of theCanadianWarMuseum. “The flag connects us to a key chapter in our military history and to those who rallied to Canada’s defence in the War of 1812.”   

“The march of the 104th Regiment up the St. John River Valley to Kingston in very harsh winter conditions, and its ensuing activities on several battlefields in Upper Canada and the United States, was significant,” stated Jane Fullerton, CEO of the New Brunswick Museum.  “This flag symbolizes their efforts, and their achievements.”

The flag was carried by six companies of the regiment on a 1,100 kilometre march from Fredericton, New Brunswick, to Kingston, Upper Canada, during the winter of 1813. The 52 days of travel, often through deep snow and biting cold, is considered one of the great marches in Canadian military history. The flag then flew over the regiment in several key battles of the War of 1812, including engagements at Sackets Harbor, Beaver Dams, Fort George, Lundy’s Lane, and Fort Erie.

After the war’s end, the 104th was disbanded and the flag was sent to Scotland, home of the British officer who originally raised the regiment. His granddaughter donated the flag to the New Brunswick Museum in 1939 on the eve of the Second World War. In 2011 and 2012, textile conservator Katerina Alda conserved the artifact, which had become too fragile for exhibition.   This project was inspired by the leadership of Jack and John Irving; funds were graciously provided by Commercial Properties Ltd.

The 104th Regiment of Foot was one of several regiments from the Atlantic region that played an important part in the defence of Canada during the War of 1812. Raised as the New Brunswick Fencibles in 1803 for local defence, it became a regular regiment of the British Army in 1810 after its soldiers volunteered for general service. It was ordered toUpper Canadawhen a build-up of American forces raised concerns about a possible invasion in the spring of 1813. 

The Canadian War Museum is Canada’s national museum of military history. Its mission is to promote public understanding of Canada’s military history in its personal, national and international dimensions.

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BACKGROUNDER

(Courtesy of the New Brunswick Museum)
Regimental Colour
104th (New Brunswick) Regiment of Foot
British, c. 1806–1810
Silk
Overall: 189.2 x 172.7 cm.
Gift of Jessie Louisa Hunter, 1939
New Brunswick Museum: 33485.2

The regimental colour of the 104th (New Brunswick) Regiment of Foot was produced in Great Britain about 1806. It was originally made for this regiment’s predecessor, the New Brunswick Fencibles and would have had the initials GR at its centre for George Rex standing for King George III. In 1810 it was raised to the status of a line regiment in the British Army as the 104th Foot and its centre replaced with the Arabic numerals shown. This meant it could serve anywhere in the British Empire. 

The outbreak of war with the United States in 1812 ensured it would remain in the North American service and it accompanied the regiment on its famous march from Fredericton, N.B. to Kingston, Upper Canada (Ontario) in the winter of 1813. Beginning in mid-February, six companies of the regiment travelled on snowshoes and on foot nearly 1,100 kilometres (700 miles) in 52 days with temperatures as low as -32°C (-27°F). One of the great military marches in history, this incredible journey was followed by an amphibious assault on the U.S. naval base at Sacket’s Harbor, New York near the end of May. Four companies of the 104th took part in the attack, sustaining heavy casualties little more than a month after arriving in Kingston. The regimental colour also received its baptism of fire on the American shore of Lake Ontario. Returning to Upper Canada, it saw action at Beaver Dams and Fort George that summer and at Lundy’s Lane and Fort Erie in the campaign season of 1814. There were smaller engagements at Black Rock, New York and Cook’s Mills, Upper Canada amongst others. By the end of the war, this colour was a seasoned veteran. 

With the coming of peace, there was a surplus of British regiments and the 104th was eventually disbanded in 1817. This colour was sent to the home of General Martin Hunter in Coldstream, Scotland since he had originally raised the regiment. It was returned to the province by the general’s grand-daughter, Jessie Louisa Hunter, on the eve of the Second World War in 1939 and presented to the New Brunswick Museum. Decades of exhibition in both Scotland and the Museum took its toll and the colour was in great need of conservation treatment. In May of 2012, after a year of meticulous work by textile conservator Katerina Alda, the conservation treatment of the regimental colour was completed. The treatment has ensured that one of the most significant artifacts of the War of 1812 will remain accessible to the public.

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