Osprey Publishing - British Infantry Equipments (1)

Osprey Publishing - British Infantry Equipments (1)




While this title is listed as British Infantry Equipments, their colonies closely followed their patterns. Right up to the end of World War Two, Canadian troops used British patterns for their uniforms and equipment.

As a  private in the 78th Highlanders, I carried this equipment, and can well understand the Trotter pains of the backpack. Bloody nuisance to put on.

Osprey Publishing - The British Army of the Crimea

Osprey Publishing - The British Army of the Crimea




This is another volume in my collection. My father when given the chance would pick up texts covering the involvement of British regiments with connections to Nova Scotia.

The fortificaitions in British North America were greatly influenced by this conflict and would undergo renovations from the experiences in this war.

Osprey Publishing - The British Army on Campaign (2)

Osprey Publishing - The British Army on Campaign (2)




One of the paintings my family have had at one time was two very imperial prints, one of Up the Alma, and The Thin Red Line. At one time, British North America was very loyal to the empire.

This volume talks about the British troops which fought there, and at one time were in garrison in the North American colonies.

Osprey Publishing - The Russian Army of the Crimea

Osprey Publishing - The Russian Army of the Crimea




History tends to repeat itself, more times then enough. While this conflict was a world away from British North America, there is a monument in Halifax, Nova Scotia dedicated to two officers from Nova Scotia who died there.

Osprey Publishing - The Boer Wars (2)

Osprey Publishing - The Boer Wars (2)




This volume covers the nations who contributed men to fight for whatever cause they felt was important.

Osprey Publishing - Colenso 1899

Osprey Publishing - Colenso 1899




Even though the British has suffered a defeat at the hands of the Boers back in 1881, they still had not listened to them. It was after this battle, that Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders began to send troops to fight in South Africa.

Osprey Publishing - Majuba 1881

Osprey Publishing - Majuba 1881




While this battle was a world away from British North America, it did reverberate in Halifax, Nova Scotia as it was still an Imperial city, and as such was still very loyal. Withing twenty years, citizens of the new country of Canada would send troops to help the home country defend the empire.

Gettysburg (1993) - Extended Version

 I bought this movie as a VHS copy when it came out 20 years ago. Ted Turner owns the rights to this film. Despite this being in the American Civil War, it is estimated that 25,000 British subjects from the British North American colonies volunteered to fight on both sides. One of my ancestors from the Musquodoboit Valley of Nova Scotia, enlisted in the Confederate Army. He was lost at Fredricksburg. The 20th Maine who play a key part in this film were also made up of men from the colonies of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.

Sitting Bull

 The North-West Mounted Police and the Government of Canada attempted to protect Sitting Bull and his followers. However, due to political pressure from the United States, and Britain, they were forced to go back. The NWMP commander resigned in protest.

Louis Riel (1885)

 One of the saddest moments in Canadian history was the execution of Louis Riel, the only member of parliment who was executed for treason for leading the 1870 and 1885 rebellions for the Metis peoples.


In my wargamming of these era I have fielded a Metis army made up of Airfix and Revell Indians and Cowboys, with







Esci Zulu War British as Canadian militia. Artillery is provided by Airfix American Civil War guns. Gun crews I will model with converted figures.

Osprey Publishing - The Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle

Osprey Publishing - The Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle




This was the original version of the rifle I used at the Halifax Citadel, though that rifle is the Synder-Enfield.

This rifle would have been the service arm for the Canadian militia fighting the Fenian Invasions.

The Halifax Citadel, Portrait of a Military Fortress

 My wife next to a 78th Private. Since the site is run by Parks Canada, both men and women can serve in this unit. And the women were great buddies in our squads. It didn't matter to us who you were, just if you could do the job.

 A 32 pdr gun crew. I'm the gunner on the right, coiling the tackle for the next time we had to pull the gun back.

This volume is an offical souvenir of the Halifax Citadel Regimental Association, of which I was a part in the summer of 1995 and 1996.

 Gunner Roderick D. Redden, 3rd Brigade, Royal Artillery, Halifax Citadel, 1995. 

I picked this up on my trip back home in 2013. Several of the pictures are of members who I served with.

Officer and gunners, Royal Regiment of Artillery, 1889

Royal Artillery detachments continued to be posted in Halifax to serve the large coast defence guns which protected its naval base until 1905. (www.cmhg.gc.ca)