The Role of the Garrison, 1815-1870
Detachments of British regulars continued to serve in Newfoundland
until 1825. Then the Royal Veteran Companies took over, made up of former
servicemen. There were originally three of these companies, later reduced
to two. In 1827 they were re-named the Royal Newfoundland Veteran
Companies, and in 1843 they became the Royal Newfoundland Companies.
Finally, in 1861, they were absorbed into the Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment
which supplied the St. John's garrison with two companies of infantry until
1870, when the garrison was withdrawn.
The garrison's role was very
different in this period from what it had been earlier. After 1815, the
North Atlantic region enjoyed nearly a century of relative peace, and
Newfoundland was transformed from a fishery into a colony. This
transformation was characterized by rapid population growth, the
development of political institutions, strong sectarian rivalries,
class tensions and economic uncertainty; all caused strains which
occasionally surfaced in civil disorder. The role of the military
garrison changed from that of defence and security against foreign
attack to that of supporting the civil authorities in their efforts
to maintain order within the colony itself.
This was not an easy task. Normally, the magistrates relied on
public respect for the law to maintain order. When that failed,
the magistrate could, quite literally, read the Riot Act and rely
on his constables to disperse a crowd. Only if that failed and there
was a clear danger to life and property, could the magistrate request
the assistance of the garrison. Even then, the troops were severely
constrained in their conduct. Weapons could be fired only in self-defence,
and soldiers could be prosecuted if the action was later determined by
the courts to be unjustified.
Civil unrest occurred usually during elections, when public
passions were often at their highest and the enthusiasm of critics
to challenge and undermine the authority of the government was
greatest. Troops were called out to maintain order during several
elections between 1832 and 1861. The most serious incident occurred
in 1861, when a disputed election generated a mob that attempted to
break into the legislature, causing considerable property damage. The
troops were called out, only to face resistance from the crowd.
Eventually, after several hours during which the soldiers were pelted
with stones, shots were fired; three people were killed and 20 wounded.
|Colonial Building, 1879.
A detail from "Panoramic View of St. John's, 1879." The Colonial Building
was the site of several riots, including the riot of 1861.
Courtesy of the Association of Canadian Maps and Archives, Ottawa, Ontario.
Troops were used most frequently in St. John's, the only town with
a garrison, though detachments were sometimes sent to Conception Bay
communities. The British authorities refused to station troops anywhere
else. As early as 1840 the Colonial Office tried to persuade the
Newfoundland government that it should establish (and pay for) a proper
police force or a militia. However, no action was taken until the imperial
government decided to withdraw the garrison in 1870 as part of an
empire-wide reduction of the military establishment (not, as some have
asserted, to punish the colony for not joining the Canadian confederation).
The Newfoundland Constabulary was then formed.
The use of the garrison to keep the peace was infrequent. For the most
part, the community valued the presence of the garrison for its economic
and social benefits. Thus, the garrison built the wooden sheds on land near
Fort Townshend which provided temporary shelter for thousands who lost their
homes during the great fire which swept through St. John's in 1846. The
officers contributed to the quality of life in St. John's through membership
in organizations like the Agricultural Society and the Mechanics' Society
which were dedicated to local improvement. They were active in local theatre,
with the proceeds of productions often going to the poor. The military
community played a formative role in the development of local sports,
including the regatta, cricket, and horse racing. The garrison was very
much missed as a result. When the troopship Tamar carried off the last soldiers
in November 1870, and the military works and buildings were handed over to
the colony, a significant chapter in Newfoundland history had come to a
close. For the first time in over 200 years, and until 1914, there was no
military organization in Newfoundland.
©1991, Olaf Janzen