This week, the Royal Canadian Legion General Stewart Branch No. 4 announced the return of a Canada General Service Medal (Fenian Raid) issued to Private John Stewart, who served in the Brampton Infantry Company, in the 36th Peel Battalion.
The man was the father of Brigadier General John Stewart, whom the Lethbridge Legion is named after.
Echo McCarley is the niece of Brigadier General Stewart, and was gifted the medal.
“[Brigadier General] Stewart gifted me this medal for safe keeping. As the last living descendant, it’s a privilege for me to ensure this important military artifact finds its way back home to Brampton in the Lorne Scots Regimental Museum to honour his military service to Canada,” McCarley said.
This medal was awarded to members of the Imperial and Canadian forces who had taken part in the suppression of the Fenian raids of 1866 and 1870 and Riel’s First Rebellion of 1870, the latter being generally referred to as the Red River Expedition.
Director of The Organization of Military Museums of Canada, Glenn Miller, will transport and present the medal on behalf of McCurley May 1 to the Lorne Scots Regimental Museum.
“It’s vital that any artifact finds a home with providence to make connections of citizens to their communities,” Miller noted.
