Fort Henry, Ontario
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Fort Henry is located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada on Point Henry, a strategic point of land located near the mouth of the Cataraqui River where it flows into the St. Lawrence River at the upper end of the Thousand Islands. The original fort was constructed during the War of 1812, a time when present-day Canada was part of the British Empire. The British anticipated the possibility of an American attack on Point Henry due to its proximity to the Royal Navy Dockyards, at the site of the present-day Royal Military College of Canada at the eastern end of Lake Ontario just outside Kingston, Ontario. The loss of this vital shipping route would have cut off Kingston and the rest of Upper Canada from supplies being brought from Great Britain.
The present Fort Henry was constructed between 1832 and 1837. It was constructed to protect the Lake Ontario end of the Rideau Canal from American aggression, which was constructed as an alternative route to the Saint Lawrence. A system of defensive works was planned but cost overruns in the construction of canal limited the fortifications to four Martello towers and the fort. At the time, these fortifications were the strongest defenses in Canada west of the city of Quebec. Among the historic regiments that garrisoned the Fort were the Black Watch, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and the Royal Welch Fusiliers. It should be noted that neither fort was ever attacked.
The British Army withdrew in 1870 shortly after Canadian Confederation. It was then garrisoned by Canadian troops until 1891. The fort witnessed the founding of the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, one of the first units in the Canadian army, whose B battery was based at the fort. As relations with the United States continued to improve, the need for defenses along the border ceased. Apart from its use during the First World War as a facility for holding Ukrainian detainees, Fort Henry was abandoned by the military and fell into disrepair. Under the leadership of Ronald L. Way in the 1930s, restorations took place as part of a government work program during the Great Depression. Fort Henry became a living museum with the introduction of the Fort Henry Guard, and was opened on the 1st of August 1938.
The fort was also used as a Prisoner of War camp during the First and Second World Wars, holding Ukrainian detainees during World War One and Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine personnel during the Second.
[edit] The Fort Today
Today the fort is a major tourist attraction in the Kingston area. Tours of the fort can be taken in group settings or as self-guided adventures. The fort is staffed by the Fort Henry Guard, costumed military interpreters who conduct demonstrations of British military life and conduct tours for visitors. Throughout the day there are various activities including historical reenactment of drills and battle tactics, the Garrison Parade, the Victorian School Room, and the Muster Parade, where young visitors are dressed in period uniforms and taught to march by a qualified member of the Guard. There is also a Sunset Ceremony every Wednesday in July and August, where a full program of historic drill, music and artillery is presented. Fort Henry has been designated as a National Historic Site of Canada.
See also: List of forts
