Old Soldier, War of 1812 Memorial
Municipality/Province: Toronto, ON
Memorial number: 35091-026
Type: Statue - bronze, granite shaft, bronze plaque
Address: 10 Niagara Street
Location: Victoria Memorial Square
GPS coordinates: Lat: 43.6426305 Long: -79.4002043
Submitted by: Sandra Lougheed. P. Spearns.
Photo credit: Sandra Lougheed, P. Spearns.
The Old Soldier, War of 1812 Memorial was erected by the British Army and Navy Veterans' Association. It was erected to honour the dead of the War of 1812, on the site of an old burial ground used between 1794 and 1863 for soldiers and their families from nearby Fort York.
The memorial’s cornerstone was laid on July 1, 1902. The cornerstone featured a time capsule, including newspapers, coins, and other documents of the day. Veterans of several wars were on hand for the ceremony, including those who had served in the Crimean War, Second Opium War, Indian Rebellion of 1857, Second Anglo-Aghan War, Fenian Raids, North-West Rebellion, and the South African War. The official unveiling was on July 5, 1907, after nearly 20 years of planning and fundraising.
The memorial was designed and constructed by Walter Seymour Allward. He designed a bronze half-length figure of an old one-armed soldier in uniform of 1812, holding his military cap, the George IV medal on his chest and the end of one empty sleeve pinned up.
Inscription found on memorial
[front plaque/plaque du devant]
DEFENCE OF YORK
NOW TORONTO
IN MEMORY OF OFFICERS, NON-COM-
MISSIONED OFFICERS AND MEN WHO
WERE KILLED OR DIED OF WOUNDS IN
THE FOLLOWING REGIMENTS OR COM-
PANIES OF REGIMENTS ENGAGED IN THE
DEFENCE OF YORK (TORONTO).
APRIL 27TH 1813.
ROYAL ARTILLERY
ROYAL NAVAL ARTIFICES
8th REGIMENT (OF FOOT)
ROYAL NEWFOUNDLAND REGIMENT
CLENGARY FENCIBLES MILITIA
INCORPORATED MILITIA
[rear plaque/plaque de l’arrière]
IN MEMORY OF OFFICERS, NON-COM-
MISSIONED OFFICERS AND MEN WHO
WERE KILLED, DIED OF WOUNDS AND DIS-
EASE, IN THE FOLLOWING REGIMENTS
OR COMPANIES OF REGIMENTS ENGAGED
DURING THE WAR OF 1812-1815 UPON THE
WESTERN CANADIAN FRONTIER, WEST OF
KINGSTON.
Royal Artillery - Royal Engineers
19th Dracoons 41st Regiment 100th Regiment
1st Regiment 49th Regiment 103rd Regiment
6th Regiment 82nd Regiment 103th Regiment
8th Regiment 89th Regiment
Royal Veteran Rect.
Royal Newfoundland Rect.
Prov. Dracoons Militia
Wattsville Rect. Militia
Canadian Fencibles
Simcoe Militia
Clencary Fencibles Militia
York Rangers Militia
1st Norfolk Militia
Coloured Corps & Indians
[side plaque/plaque du côté]
"Dead in battle -dead in the field
More than his life can a soldier yield?
His blood has burnished his sabre bright
To his memory, honour: To him, good night"
This monument is to perpetuate
the memory and deeds of the offi-
cers, non-commissioned officers and
men who gave their lives in the de-
fence of Canada in the War of 1812-15
and is erected by the British Army
and Navy Veterans residing in Toron-
to. Aided by generous subscriptions
from the British Army and Navy, and
the citizens of Canada.
July 1st 1902.
BATTLE FIELDS
RIVER CANARD
BEAVER DAMS
BLACK ROCK
CHATEAUGUAY
CHRYSLER FARM
DETROIT
FORT NIAGARA
FORT ERIE
YORK
FORT GEORGE
LUNDY'S LANE
THAMES
STONY CREEK
Street view
Note
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