The British routinely stopped American vessels on the high seas and searched for contraband and deserters from the Royal Navy who had joined U.S. ships. While many of the deserters had since become American citizens, this meant little to the British, who would arrest them and re-impress them into the Royal Navy. While the British government rescinded the orders-in-council permitting this sort of action a few days before the American declaration of war, the slowness of communication meant the news did not reach Washington until after the declaration had been made. The war was fought in five theatres: Atlantic, Western, Niagara, St. Lawrence, and Southern.
The Atlantic operations transpired throughout the entire war period. The Royal Navy, based out of Halifax and the West Indies, maintained a blockade of American ports in an effort to restrict the flow of trade and goods. The most significant naval engagement of the war took place in September 1813 between the HMS Shannon and the USS Chesapeake, which resulted in a humiliating defeat for the Americans outside Boston’s harbour. In addition to this, ships primarily from Nova Scotia were provided with letters of marque that allowed them to legally capture and requisition enemy ships and goods. The Royal Navy also launched attacks on American towns along the Eastern Seaboard.
Military General Service Medal with multiple bars obverse.
Western operations took place in the Great Lakes region, largely over all-important transportation routes. Notable among these operations was the capture of Fort Detroit by British and Canadian troops aided by First Nations warriors. Other incursions included attacks on Fort Dearborn (Chicago), the capture of the post at Michilimackinac, and the final battle at Moraviantown in October 1813.
The Niagara operation involved the many forts and strongholds on the Canadian and American sides of the Niagara River. Almost a dozen battles were fought from Niagara to what is Toronto today. The burning of York (Toronto), the Battle of Queenstown Heights, and the Battle of Beaver Dams were key engagements. The St. Lawrence operation included an attempt by American troops to capture Montreal in an effort to prevent British reinforcements from reaching the inter-ior of Upper Canada and Niagara. The Great Lakes and Lake Champlain witnessed fierce fighting on the water between British/Canadian and American forces. The conflict also included Southern operations such as the Creek War and the Battle of New Orleans.
The Treaty of Ghent ending the war was signed by British and American representatives on December 24, 1814, though it would be several months until the hostilities came to an end on February 17, 1815.
Criteria: Participation in any number of battles or campaigns. This medal could be awarded to a diverse array of combatants, not only those serving in the British Army, Canadian Militia, or Royal Newfoundland Fencibles, but also First Nations warriors. Applications for this medal could only be made by survivors.
Military General Service Medal reverse.
Insignia: A circular silver medal 36 mm in diameter, depicting on the obverse an effigy of Queen Victoria circumscribed by the legend VICTORIA REGINA with the date 1848 at the base. The reverse depicts Queen Victoria standing atop a dais and presenting a kneeling Duke of Wellington with a laurel wreath. Beside the dais is an allegorical British lion. The entire scene is circumscribed by the text TO THE BRITISH ARMY with the dates 1793–1814 in the exergue. The medal was always awarded with at least one bar and was designed by William Wyon.
Suspender: A swivelling claw suspender with a straight bar to which clasps attach.
Ribbon: Crimson in colour, 31 mm wide, edged with 3 mm of dark blue on each side.
Clasps: Twenty-nine battle/campaign clasps were issued, and it was possible for a soldier or officer to receive multiple clasps, the maximum awarded being fifteen. The Canadian-related clasps awarded for the War of 1812 were:
• FORT DETROIT: Sir Isaac Brock, the Canadian Militia, and a large group of First Nations warriors captured the fort from a vastly superior American force on August 16, 1813.
• CHATEAUGUAY: Lieutenant-Colonel Charles de Salaberry and those under his command who defended Montreal from the advancing U.S. force of Major-General Wade Hampton. Aside from a few members of the Royal Artillery, this battle was fought almost entirely by members of the Canadian Militia and First Nations warriors on October 26, 1813.
• CRYSLER’S FARM: The U.S. Army under General James Wilkinson planned another attack on Montreal that was to involve Major-General Hampton and his forces. However, Hampton failed to join the attack. A force led by Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph W. Morrison was ordered to attack the rear of the American force. However, Wilkinson learned of this and ordered an attack upon Morrison’s force, which had taken up a position at Crysler’s Farm where the battle took place on November 11, 1813.
Naming: Impressed Roman capitals with given name and surname for men, while officers’ medals included their abbreviated rank.
Other: A number of unofficial clasps for Stoney Creek, Fort George, and Queenstown Heights are known to exist.
Number: 908.
• 315 Fort Detroit.
• 339 Chateauguay.
• 211 Crysler’s Farm.
• 3 Fort Detroit and Chateauguay.
• 8 Fort Detroit and Crysler’s Farm.
• 3 with all 3 clasps.
• 7 Fort Detroit with other non-Canada–related clasps.
• 1 with Chateauguay and other non-Canada–related clasp bars.
• 21 with other non-Canada-related clasps.
The Naval General Service Medal, 1793–1840
Naval General Service Medal obverse.
Origins: The Naval General Service Medal was instituted in 1847 to recognize officers and men who had served in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines who had been in a diverse array of wars and engagements that took place between 1793 and 1840, notably during the French Revolutionary War and Napoleonic Wars. A total of 231 different clasps were issued with this medal, and the maximum awarded with a single medal was seven. Eleven clasps were issued in relation to War of 1812 actions.
Criteria: Participation in any number of actions. Applications for this medal could only be made by survivors. The medal was always issued with at least one clasp. Those most relevant to Canada were awarded to those who served in boat service engagements that took place on the Great Lakes during the War of 1812 on September 3 and 6 and May 6, 1814.
Insignia: A circular silver medal 36 mm in diameter, depicting on the obverse an effigy of Queen Victoria circumscribed by the legend VICTORIA REGINA with the date 1848 at the base. The reverse depicts Britannia triumphally holding a trident while astride a seahorse. The medal was designed by William Wyon.
Suspender: A swivelling claw suspender with a straight bar to which clasps attach.
Ribbon: White in colour, 31 mm wide, edged with 3 mm of dark blue on each side.
Clasps: There are 231 different clasps for everything from major battles, minor engagements, and boat service actions. Those related to the War of 1812