Canadian Regiment of Fencible Infantry

The Canadian Regiment of Fencible Infantry was a short lived regiment in Canada during the early 19th century.

The regiment was originally raised in Scotland for service in Canada, but a rumour circulated that the regiment would be moved to the British colonies in the West Indies. The West Indies at the time were hot, dangerous and rampant with disease. Troops and often entire regiments would be lost in the area. This caused many of the regiment to mutiny and a number to desert, and the regiment was raised instead in Canada.

The story of the mutiny is one of the episodes in John Prebble's book Mutiny.

The commissioned and non-commissioned officers were Scottish while the core of the regiment would be French Canadian. The Scottish roots of the regiment are evident in the regiment's coat of arms with a thistle. The regiment was created in Montreal in 1803, but did not begin recruitment until 1805.

The officers were originally from regiments of Scottish Highlanders. Difficulty adjusting to life in Canada led to recruitment amongst Canadians in Upper Canada and Lower Canada.

By the start of the War of 1812, the regiment's strength was at 600 men.

Battles

 * Detroit (1812)
 * Beaver Dams (1813)
 * Châteauguay (1813)

The unit disbanded in 1816.

Recreation
It was recreated in 1984 by volunteers for war re-enactments. The Friends of Fort York now hire students to recreate the regiment at Fort York in Toronto, Ontario, during the summer months. At the Scout Brigade of Fort George each September, the sub-camp for youth of the Cub Scout program also recreate the regiment.