National Defence and Politics

Canada was a fledgling nation in 1873 when a request went to Ottawa to move the local militia headquarters from Newmarket to Aurora, and to construct a Drill Shed in Town Park. The local population, and indeed the entire country, had been rattled by several crises including the Fenian Raids, the American Civil War and the Red River Rebellion. When the British army garrisons withdrew from Canada in 1871, local communities were left feeling vulnerable about their defence and formed local militias. In Aurora, this took the form of what is now known as the Queen’s York Rangers. 222

A black and white photograph of soldiers in a field with rifles drawn in a tight, square formation, with three horses, two are partially blurred, at the back; two men look on from the left; a farm and wooden fencing is visible in the background

First Known Photograph of 12th York Battalion, 1868

Aurora’s military connection dates to 1862 with the formation of the Aurora Infantry Company. Shortly after returning from the Fenian Raids in 1866, the Aurora Infantry Company amalgamated with neighbouring volunteer militias to form the newly designated 12^th York Battalion of Infantry based in Newmarket. Much to the dismay of neighbouring Newmarket, the Department of Militia and Defence granted the request to move the militia to Aurora.

A black and white photograph of male soldiers posing in a park setting, in two rows, front row on right knee; all holding a rifle or sword and wear uniforms with helmet containing a spike on top; wooden picket fence, trees and obscured houses in background

12th Battalion in Town Park, c. 1900

A black and white photograph of group of nine boys wearing shorts and tank tops running in lanes painted on grass in a park setting; large rectangular wooden building with a few spectators and cars in the background

A View of the Armoury building, c. 1930s

The Toronto Globe published an advertisement in February 1874 calling for tenders to construct a Battalion Drill Shed. Local barn builder William Ireland responded and began building the shed in the spring of that same year in the north-east corner of Town Park. Construction continued into the summer of 1874 and in September it was officially transferred to Queen Victoria-making it crown property. The Armoury in Town Park was home to the Queen’s York Rangers for 138 years until it was sold to the Town of Aurora in 2014.

Creating Boundaries A National Sentiment