Sandstone monument with Italian marble figures and bronze plaques – Toronto

The monument honours and remembers the Toronto militia volunteers killed in the Battle of Ridgeway on 2 June 1866. The Toronto militia volunteers were fighting Irish-American Fenian insurgents who had invaded Canada near Fort Erie in the hopes of holding Canada ransom for Irish independence. Nine riflemen from Toronto’s Queen’s Own Rifles Regiment were killed, including three University of Toronto students. The entire city shut down for the funeral procession to the Necropolis. The monument was erected by the Canadian Volunteer Monument Campaign of 1866 Committee of Toronto citizens and its chairman, Dr. McCaul, President of the University.

Inscription

[EAST SIDE/CÔTÉ EST]
CANADIAN VOLUNTEERS MONUMENT CAMPAIGN OF JUNE 1866/HONOURSTHE BRAVE WHO DIED FOR THEIR COUNTRY.

[TWO BRONZE PLAQUES ERECTED BY THE QUEEN’S OWN RIFLES TO THOSE OF THE REGIMENT (NAMES GIVEN) KILLED IN ACTION OR WHODIED FROM WOUNDS./DEUX PLAQUES DE BRONZE ONT ÉTÉ ÉRIGÉES PAR LE QUEEN’S OWN RIFLES À LA MÉMOIRE DES MEMBRES DU RÉGIMENT (LES NOMS SONT INSCRITS) MORTS AU COMBAT OU DES SUITES DE BLESSURES.]

[WEST SIDE/CÔTÉ OUEST]
CANADA ERECTED THIS MONUMENT AS A MEMORIAL OF HER BRAVE SONS THE VOLUNTEERS WHO FELL AT LIME RIDGE OR DIED FROM WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION OR FROM DISEASE CONTRACTED IN SERVICE WHILST DEFENDING HER FRONTIER IN JUNE 1866.

Ce mémorial est dédié aux volontaires de la campagne de 1866. Il a été érigé par un comité de citoyens de Toronto constitué en vue de sa construction et présidé par M. McCaul, président de l’université.

Le texte de l’inscription figure dans la section anglaise.