Fort Fraser Despatches April 2016

10th AGM of the

Fort Fraser Garrison Society

& 78th Fraser Highlanders Association of Vancouver Inc.

Officers Mess, Bessborough Armoury Vancouver, BC,

Saturday, 26 March, 2016 19 Members present: D. Fleming; D. Farlinger; JD. Redmond LC, MB;

C. Hoskin; J. Hooker; D. Magrega; C. Magrega; J. Buis; K. Buis; J. Barrett; B. McIlwaine; R. Mackie; D. Scandrett; L. Whitney; K. Whitney; R. Barrett;

N. MacKay; J. MacKay; A. Reid.

Meeting called to order 11:10 a.m.; quorum declared.

2015 Minutes reviewed m/s N. MacKay/J. Hooker to accept; carried.

President’s report – J. Barrett (attached)

OC acknowledges the contributions of Major Norman Pope as OC Fort Victoria,

and offers Fort Fraser’s best wishes to the incoming OC, Major Christopher

Mackie.

Sec/Treas. Report – D. Fleming (attached)

PMC report – N. MacKay

m/s A. Reid/J. Buis to accept reports; carried.

Retirement & Election of Directors – R. Mackie

Directors for the 2016 term:

James Barrett CD, President; Christopher Hoskin, Vice President;

John Buis; Michael Redmond; Murray Wood; David Scandrett CD, PMC; John

Hooker.

Garrison subvention to RHQ Montreal confirmed to be 20% of membership dues.

m/s B. McIlwaine/JD. Redmond that the members thank the departing directors

for their efforts during the past year.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:00.

Simon Fraser, 1776 – 1862, Explorer:

The University in Burnaby, BC which bears his name was opened in 1965. Brigadier Simon Fraser Lord Lovat, a distant cousin, was part of the opening ceremonies. He presented a Lovat Fraser clan sword to Simon Fraser University, and permitted the use of the Lovat Fraser “strawberries” on the University crest. In 1966 Lord Lovat was a force in re-raising a Highland regiment that fought for Britain during the Seven Years War, and establishing the 78th Fraser Highlanders as a historical society. The regiment today parades in the uniform and equipment of the original 18th century regiment, and commemorates its actions which led to the capture of New France and the foundations of Canada. Vancouver’s Fort Fraser Garrison will work to strengthen and extend relations with SFU in hopes of becoming an active part of the university’s Department of Scottish Studies, and perhaps provide an historical display partner to the various (and world famous) SFU Pipe bands when appropriate to the occasion.

Simon Fraser (the explorer) was born on 20 May 1776 in the village of Mapletown, Hoosick, New York. He was the eighth and youngest child of Captain Simon Fraser (d.1779) of the 84th Highland Regiment. Captain Simon Fraser Sr. grew up at his family's seat of Guisachan, 30 miles to the southeast of Inverness. The Frasers of Guisachan and Culbokie were descended from a younger brother of William Fraser of Guisachan, the second son of Thomas Fraser Lord Lovat [1469-1524], the 10th Chief of the Frasers of Lovat. William was killed at Loch Lochy in 1544, together with his younger brother James Fraser of Foyness (Phoineas), his older brother Hugh Fraser Lord Lovat [1494-1544], and Lord Hugh’s eldest son Hugh, Master of Lovat. This was the famous and bloody Blar-na-leine or “Battle of the Shirts” between the Frasers and the Macdonalds. Although William Fraser 8th of Guisachan kept out of the 1745 Rising, William Jr. (1723-1797), his eldest son and heir, served as a Captain with the Frasers of Lovat at Culloden under LtCol. Charles Fraser of Inverallochy. William Jr., known as “Young Culbokie”, was pardoned in 1747, too late to save Guisachan House, which was burnt to the ground by the Duke of Cumberland’s troops in 1746. William Fraser 8th of Guisachan had nine sons who held various commissions in the British Army.

One son was Captain John Fraser, who served with the 78th Fraser Highlanders under Lt-Colonel Simon Fraser and later became a judge of the court of common pleas at Montreal. Another son, and the focus of our attention, Captain Simon Fraser of the Glengarry Fencibles emigrated to America with his family in 1773 and fought as a Loyalist in the American Revolution. He was captured at Bennington and died in Albany Jail in 1779. His widow brought the family, including their youngest son Simon, born near Bennington, Vermont, to Canada.

Young Simon was educated under the supervision of his uncle, Captain John Fraser, who arranged for him to be hired as an apprentice in the NorthWest Company. At the age of 14, Simon Fraser moved to Montreal for additional schooling where two of his uncles, including Simon McTavish, a leading figure, were active in the fur trade. In 1790, unsurprisingly, the lad was apprenticed to the North West Company. Between 1792 and 1805, it would appear that Fraser spent most of his time working in the company's Athabasca Department. While little is known of his activities during this time, Fraser seems to have done well, as he was made a full partner of the company in 1801 at the relatively young age of 25.

SFU Lovat Fraser

On 06 April, members of Fort Fraser Historical Display Unit paraded at SFU and addressed

students of the Dept. of Scottish Studies. A brief lecture informed the students of the 78th

history and many aspects of uniform, weapons and tactics. Muskets were fired in a

demonstration “feu de joie”. A student bursary cheque was presented to Dr. Katie

McCullough, director of the Scottish Studies department, in accordance with the garrison’s

stated charitable purposes.

A few notes:

Think about the many facets of our garrison and the importance

of member support, involvement and enthusiasm, to the life of this organization.

All members are encouraged to read these books: Col. Harper’s The Fraser

Highlanders and Sam Allison’s Driv’n by Fortune, to learn the amazing depth of

influence that the men and women, the officers and soldiers of the 78th imposed

on Canada and North America from 1758 right through the American Revolution

and into the fur trade and exploration to the West, even to railroads and politics.

A good grasp of this knowledge really is necessary if we are to successfully fulfill

the requirements that our constitution has given us; both Fort Fraser entities are

guided by these tenets:

1. To benefit the community by increasing the public's knowledge and

appreciation of Canadian history, in particular the Seven Years War and the

role of the 78th Highland Regiment of Foot, by means of parades,

exhibitions, and dissemination of literature.

Although it would be a spectacular sight, we cannot all be expected to wear the

Scarlets and carry the musket and sword, but we all can wear the tartan – a

sash or the Kilt; we all can - and we all should - get involved to “lift and carry”,

to organize and set up, and to attend & engage enthusiastically at garrison

functions.

2. To receive and maintain a fund or funds and to apply all or part of the

principal and income therefrom, from time to time, to qualified donees

as defined in subsection 149.1(1) of the Income tax Act (Canada).

The garrison is a rookie in the charitable activity game so it will require all-

member involvement to achieve recognition of the 78th Fraser Highlanders as a

player. At this point we need ideas, we need members to know about our causes

and donees, and we need enthusiasm among us to show support for our aims

and responsibilities. We need ambassadors to talk about our aims and our

causes at every opportunity, to explain that we accept donations on our website

www.fortfrasergarrison.com, and that we issue tax receipts for donations of $20

or more. We need to share the workloads, the paperwork, and the

“dissemination of literature” – it takes a garrison to make it work.

3. To do all things as are incidental or ancillary to the attainment of the

above purposes.

Simply to take the time to learn, to pitch in, to attend, suggest, criticize

constructively and create an atmosphere that makes Fort Fraser an enthusiastic,

growing, and exciting operation!

The alternative is boring stagnation and eventual extinction.

Je Suis Prest!

Battle of Ste. Foy, 28 April, 1760:

Within what remained of the walls of

Quebec, General James Murray was in

command of the British garrison of

approximately 7,300 officers and

soldiers, all regulars.

When informed that the French army

had come to lay siege he began

operations by evacuating the entire

population of Quebec, Sainte-Foy and

Lorette, and ordered that the suburbs

of Saint-Roch and Sainte-Famille be

razed so that the attackers could not hide behind houses to approach the fortifications.

Part of the garrison was then assigned the task of building forward trenches to the west of

the city near Sainte-Foy. On April 27, as the French army approached, there were a few

skirmishes between the French cavalry and the British detachments.

The very next day, Murray decided to attack the French before they could entrench. The

British line, 3,200 men strong, advanced on Levis’ troops. Field artillery nearby shelled the

French positions. If Murray managed to break through the left side of the French line, Levis’

army would find itself cornered between English bayonets and the St. Lawrence River.

The battle was bitter and bloody:

The hardest-fought engagements occurred at the site of the house of a man named

Dumont, which was in a pivotal position. The Régiment de La Sarre and the 43rd and 60th

British regiments engaged in hand-to-hand combat there, and the house changed sides

several times. The Régiment de Berry came to support the Régiment de La Sarre, and

charged the British artillery under a hail of grapeshot, taking the cannons. The line was

shaken. Murray ordered a retreat and it was carried out in good order.

The British lost 1,100 men, dead, wounded or taken prisoner, whereas Levis’ losses totaled

572 dead and wounded.

Not to be missed:

16 April - Battle of Ste. Foy Commemorative Dining-in

- meet and greet our new PMC V/Sgt. David Scandrett CD.

07 May - BC Army Gala

21 May – Fort Victoria Highland Games Dinner; Highland Games all weekend

- Fort Fraser will open the Games with cannon demonstration

11 June – Battle of The Somme Dinner in the Mess

18 June – BC Highland Games

- Fort Fraser will open the Games with cannon demonstration

01 July – Canada Day at Port Moody Station

09 July – Garrison BBQ in honour of the Taking of Louisbourg, 1758

24 September – Plains of Abraham Commemorative Dinner

26 November – Feast of Saint Andrew Mess Dinner

Be kind to one another,

these are troubled times.