Topic: The RCR
In December 1883, the Canadian Government authorized the creation of School Corps for the Infantry and Cavalry. The purpose of these schools was to maintain instructional cadres for the instruction of the Canadian Militia in a variety of skills. In time, the Cavalry School Corps would become the Royal Canadian Dragoons and the Infantry School Corps would become The Royal Canadian Regiment. The following is the text of the Canada Gazette entry for the assignment of the first officers of the Infantry Corps Schools and the locations for the first three Schools. A fourth Infantry School would be authorized in 1887 and formed in London, Ontario, the following year at Wolseley Barracks.Canada Gazette
Headquarters Ottawa, 21st December, 1883
General Orders (26)
Infantry School Corps
The formation of three Schools of Infantry having been authorized, the requisite number of militiamen will be enrolled, and formed into one corps to be known as the "Infantry School Corps."
The following Officers are appointed to the Corps:
- Lieutenant-Colonel George J. Maunsell, from Deputy Adjutant General, Military District No. 4.
- Lieutenant-Colonel Gustave D'O. d'Orsonnens, from Brigade Major 7th and 8th Brigade Divisions, Que.
- Lieutenant-Colonel William Dillon Otter, from 2nd Battalion, Queen's Own Rifles of Canada.
- Major William Dunlop Gordon, from 14th Battalion.
- Major Beaufort Henry Vidal, from 12th Battalion.
- Captain and Major Henry Smith, from Adjutant, 40th Battalion.
- Captain Charles J. Coursol, from 65th Battalion.
- Lieutenant Henry Cortlandt Freer, (R.M.C.) H.M.'s South Staffordshire Regiment.
- Lieutenant James Walker Sears (R.M.C.) Lieutenant H.M.'s South Staffordshire Regiment.
- Lieutenant David Douglas Young.
- Lieutenant Thomas D.R. Hemming.
- Lieutenant Robinson Lyndhurst Wadmore.
Memo.--Lieutenant Henry Cortlandt Freer takes rank on the Militia from the 30th June 1880, the date of his graduating R.M.C.
The Infantry Schools will be established as follows until further orders:
- At Fredericton, N.B., for the Maritime Provinces, under Lieutenant-Colonel Maunsell, Commandant.
- At St. John's, Que., for the Province of Quebec, under Lieutenant-Colonel d'Orsonnens, Commandant.
- At Toronto, Ont., for the Province of Ontario, under Lieutenant-Colonel Otter, Commandant.
The Commandants will report direct to Head Quarters.
Posted by regimentalrogue
at 12:01 AM EST
Updated: Monday, 18 February 2013 12:24 AM EST
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