1st Port Dalhousie Light Infantry Company

[Bill Smy]

Has anyone ever come across this company?

It may have existed in the period 1840-1860, and at one time was commanded by Captain John Symington Clark, 1822-1877. who served as the Collector of Customs at Port Dalhousie (now part of St Catharines, Ontario)

 

[pbi]

I believe this company took part in the battle of Ridgeway.

Cheers

 

[Bill Smy]

It would appear that this company was one of the volunteer companies formed as part of the organization of the militia in accordance to the 1855 Militia Act.

It became part of the 19th Volunteer Militia Battalion of Infantry when that battalion was organized on 18 March 1863 (No 7 Company). It was commanded by Captain John S. Clark.

PBI - None of the companies of the 19th were at Ridgeway.

My interest is now focusing on the pre-March 1863 period.

 

[pbi]

On a related note, how were these early Volunteer units housed? My understanding is that the great armoury-building binge did not really  begin until after the turn of the 20th century. What sort of facilities would they have had?

Cheers

 

[Old Sweat]

Bill,

It seems to me there were different categories of volunteer infantry and rifle companies at the time, all of which boiled down to being paid or unpaid. The Directorate of History and Heritage has a compilation of militia orders from that period which should answer much of your queries.

PBI. I have come across your point before and frankly it seems the system was disorganized, at the very best. Like other volunteer organizations then and since, they used church halls, community centres or the largesse of prominent citizens.

 

[Bill Smy]

A good study:-- Jaqueline Hall. Architecture of the Drill Hall in Canada, 1863-1939: A Report Prepared for the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (Ottawa, 1989) is a good reference for the armoury construction program which produced many of our armouries. There was another study which dealt with armoury construction, but I do not have the specifics of the title, which I believe was "By Federal Design" and possibly produced by Public Works.

A quote from Hall:--

"In 1867, large battalion drill sheds designed to [Walter] Moberly's plan were erected in St Catharines, Simcoe, St. Thomas, PortHope, Prescott, Coburg, Peterborough, Bowmanville, Grimsby, Cornwall, Kingston, Brockville, Perth, Brantford, Chatham, Walkerton, Port Arthur, Barrie, Whitby and Stratford. Unfortunately, shortly after they were erected a number were either blown down or collapsed under the weight of snow. The seemingly obvious conclusion reached was that the wooden trusdses were not quite strong enough to withstand strong laterasl thrusts or great loads."

 

[Old Sweat]

Bill

Do you have access to the 1954 history of the Lincoln and Welland Regiment? It has a discussion of the early years.

 

[Bill Smy]

Old Sweat:--

I have a copy. Unfortunately, there are no specifics regarding this company prior to 1863. Certainly, there is no mention of the term "1st Port Dalhousie Light Infantry."

Bill