Fenian Raid Medal, 1866 [issued in 1899]

This medal was instituted in 1899 and granted to officers and men who were part of the regular and colonial forces who took part in defending the Canadian frontier during the Fenian raids of 1866 and 1870. This medal was also given to men who took part in the 1970 Red River Expedition. The criteria for receiving one of these medals was: that the man would have had to have been on active service in the field or detailed for a specific duty or served as a guard against enemy attack. There were 11,220 medals with one bar engraved with “Fenian Raid 1866” issued. Corporal James Robertson was a 19th Battalion volunteer. He was born in Scotland in 1839 to De Forrest Gordon and Annie C. Gilchrist. He made his living as a cabinet maker and was also employed in interior finishing. He died on October 31, 1923 in St. Catharines, Ontario. He was survived by his daughter, Mrs. John Cahill.One silver Fenian Raid medal attached to a ribbon and silver ba