3-004-022 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Reinforcements for Canada: the Guards leaving the South-Western Railway station for Southampton, 1861. American Civil War: British troops on their way to protect the British colony of Canada from possible attack by America. '...a great number of persons assembled at an early hour at the Wellington Barracks, St. James's Park, on the occasion of the departure of the 1st battalion of the Grenadier Guards and of the 2nd battalion of the Fusilier Guards for Canada. The 1st battalion, 800 strong, under the command of Colonel the Hon, Hugh Manvers Percy...left for the Waterloo station of the South-Western Railway...the train started at eight o'clock with its gallant burden; so that the entire battalion, each man carrying his rifle and a cooked ration, left quarters and started by railway to their destination within half an hour. The men were loudly cheered as they proceeded to the railway... Each soldier destined for Canada, on stepping on board of his transport, finds ready for him two pairs of woollen drawers, one jersey, two merino under-vests, two pair of worsted stockings, one comforter, one chamois leather waistcoat, one sealskin cap with ear-mufflers, one pair of sealskin mits, one pair of Canadian boots, and one sheepskin coat'. From "Illustrated London News", 1861.