Editorially speaking…
Coincidental to my choosing the Fenians for this week’s Chronicle, a front-page headline in the Times Colonist announced, Veteran aims to honour all-Black regiment with monument.
Perfect timing, as it was Victoria’s all-Black Victoria Volunteer Rifle Corps that answered the call to arms when it was feared that the dreaded Irish nationalists known as the Fenians were planning to attack Victoria.
The VPR Corps was the “first British or Canadian military unit formed west of Ontario,” according to The Canadian Encyclopedia. —thecanadianencylopedia.ca
What prompted the TC article is Kyle Scott’s latest project.
The Canadian army veteran who served two tours of duty in Afghanistan has made it his life’s goal to honour every Canadian veteran. To date, through the Last Post Fund, he’s researched 1400 veterans and seen that their graves across Canada and overseas have proper markers.
His interest in the VPR Corps led him to Victoria’s Ross Bay Cemetery which contains the graves of Paris Carter, Edward Booth and Richard Stokes. “There has to be something more to remember them, to honour them,” he told reporter Darren Kloster.
To date, government funding of headstones for veterans hasn’t been all-inclusive and it’s the almost forgotten outliers who’ve prompted Scott’s latest efforts to raise the necessary money, and to identify, those veterans who remain outside the loop.
In the case of the men of the Victoria Pioneer Rifle Corps, they were always “outside”—Black men in a colonial and White community. As bad as the British class system was, it paled alongside the rabid racism of many of the 1000s of Americans who passed through or settled in Victoria, more than a century and a-half ago.
Composed of immigrants who’d left California for what they thought would be a new life of acceptance in the Colony of Vancouver Island, they volunteered their services to Governor James Douglas to form a militia unit. By 1860, he’d become apprehensive of the massive American presence thanks to the Fraser River gold rush.
Earlier, more than 600 free Black men, women and children had accepted his invitation to settle in Victoria, Saanich and on Saltspring Island.
The threat of war between the U.S. and Great Britain over the San Juan Islands, and the potential for an attempt at annexation by American nationalists prompted Douglas to accept the offer to form a militia composed of these Black immigrants.
Which was easier said than done, several of them having already been rejected when they volunteered to join the city’s fire brigade. Douglas was delighted and the VPR Corps (also known as the Pioneer Rifles and the African Rifles) was sworn in in July 1861.
Sixty officers and men enlisted and, armed with antiquated muskets, were trained twice a week by Royal Marines from Esquimalt naval base. They even built their own drill hall on View Street, conducting outdoor exercises in Beacon Hill Park. Denied funding by the colonial authorities, all costs were borneT by their own Black community.
Douglas had retired by this time and his successor bowed to prevailing racist sentiment. The volunteers’ enthusiasm evaporated, some even returning to the U.S. as, by 1866, the Civil War was over and Emancipation was, supposedly, the new American ideal.
Such is the short and sad story of the Victoria Pioneer Rifle Corps. For one brief period, a matter of weeks, they were considered worthy enough to be issued new breech-loading rifles and to guard Victoria against Fenian attack.
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This week, the Chronicles begins a series of colourized postcards by the talented Nigel Robertson who performed his magic in converting our black and white masthead to vibrant full-colour.
Black and white, or sepia, postcards/photos are great—but seeing them in ‘Technicolor,’ so to speak, is better. It brings them to life. And Nigel does it well!
I’d only seen this postcard in sepia and black and white. But look at it now! —Courtesy Nigel Robertson
You can see more of Nigel’s artistry on his Flickr,com account. He also digitally converts audio tapes. His company, Recapture Your Memories, is at 430 Trans Canada Highway, Duncan. He can be reached at info@recaptureyourmemories.ca or 236-594-0584.
Nigel has more than 15 years of experience in vintage media and multimedia services, by the way.
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Shannon Panko has set out to save the famous No. 1077 steam locomotive from being prematurely retired. As it stands, this beauty is fully operational, has been, at Fort Steele for 30-odd years.
As she explains:
Hello Concerned Citizens.
This petition is to garner support to save the iconic 1077 steam locomotive. The 1077 is 101 years old and has operated at Fort Steele Heritage Town in British Columbia, Canada since the 1990s. It has carried thousands of passengers and has starred in the movies “The Grey Fox”, “The Journey of Natty Gan” and “Shanghai Noon.” Originally a logging train on Vancouver Island, it has been lovingly restored and cared for since it was donated to the province.
A decision to suspend rail operations was made on April 9th, 2024, hence sidelining the 1077.
This special locomotive, an important part of rail history, draws visitors from all over the world. Those visitors also enter the town to enjoy the wonderful heritage, activities, and livestock. This attraction bolsters the local economy and if the 1077 does not run this season, there will be a negative economic impact. Moreover, without annual maintenance, there is a real possibility that the locomotive will never run again. It is one of fewer than 20 operational steam locomotives in Canada and is truly a local, provincial, and national treasure.
Please lend your support to help reverse this decision. The experienced and certified train crew is ready to spring to action and get the locomotive prepared for its yearly independent certification. Together, we can save the 1077!
This will be the message to the BC Premier at premier@gov.bc.ca:
Dear Premier Eby,
I am signing this petition to express my concern about the suspension of Fort Steele Heritage Town’s rail operations. The 1077 steam locomotive is 101 years old and is an important part of rail history.
The 1077 has always required and passed independent government certification before operation. Safety is everyone’s priority and the 1077 is required to be certified by independent parties and Technical Safety BC every year. The rail crew includes former Canadian Pacific Railroad staff with over 100 years of experience as trainmen, conductors, engineers, carmen and health and safety representatives. The department manager is an engineer with Antique Show Boiler Operator certification. The entire crew is CROR certified and pass medical examinations per Technical Safety BC.
Boiler experts agree that if the steam locomotive is not maintained on a yearly basis, it might not ever be operational again. I don’t want that to happen!
Please, Mr. Premier, use your influence to help the Fort Steele Heritage Town train crew work towards the continued operation of the steam locomotive. With swift action, we can not only save the season, but we can save the 1077!
