| Canadian Regiment of Fencible Infantry | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1803–1816 |
| Country | Canada |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Type | Fencibles |
| Size | 600 |
| Garrison/HQ | Upper Canada and Lower Canada |
| Patron | Friends of Fort York |
| Colors | yellow |
| Engagements | Beaver Dams 1813, Surrender of Detroit, Battle of Chateauguay |
Canadian Regiment of Fencible Infantry was a short lived regiment in Canada during the early 19th century.
The regiment was originally raised in Scotland but a rumour circulated that the regiment would be moved to the British colonies in the West Indies. The West Indies at the time were hot, dangerous and rampant with disease. Troops and often entire regiments would be lost because of the poor communication to the area. This caused the desertion of many of the men in the regiment and it had to be reraised in Canada. The commissioned and non-commissioned officers were Scottish while the core of the regiment would be French Canadian. The Scottish roots of the regiment are evident in the regiment's coat of arms with a thistle. Created in Montreal in 1803, the regiment did not begin recruitment until 1805.[1]
Original members were officers from the Scottish Highlander Regiment. Difficulty adjusting to life in Canada led to recruitment amongst Canadians in Upper Canada and Lower Canada.[2]
By the start of the War of 1812, the regiment strength was at 600 men.[3]
The unit disbanded in 1816 and recreated in 1984 by volunteers for war re-enactments. The Friends of Fort York now hire students to recreate the regiment at Fort York in Toronto, Ontario, during the summer months.[4]