The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada is a primary army reserve infantry regiment based in Toronto that was founded on April 26, 1860. It is the oldest continuously serving infantry regiment in Canada. The Regiment was called into service during the Fenian raids and participated in the Battle of Ridgeway on June 2, 1866. The Fenians were a group intent on securing Irish independence from England and believed this could be achieved by invading Canada. After crossing the Niagara River from the United States on June 1, 1866, the Fenians took control of Fort Erie and defeated the militia at Ridgeway on June 2, but subsequently withdrew. The Queen’s Own Rifles remains active and has been a part of every Canadian military campaign and served with distinction during World War I and World War II.

The 48th Highlanders of Canada is a reserve infantry regiment in Toronto that was founded in 1891. The regiment took part in the Boer War in South Africa as well as World War I and World War II.

There are six order books, four of these belong to the Queen’s Own Rifles (QOR). The remaining two belong to the 48th Highlanders of Canada. The Queen’s Own Rifles Regimental Order Book 2 contains entries dated from January 1, 1866 to December 23, 1867. The entries dated from May 31, 1866 to June 4, 1866 provide some brief information on the activities and leadership of the QOR while they were stationed in Port Colborne and Fort Erie during the Fenian Raid. The Queen’s Own Rifles Regimental Order Book 5 contains entries from January 4, 1881 to September 29, 1886. Several excerpts from the Canada Gazette concerning militia orders are pasted within the volume. The issues are dated May 7, 1881, June 30, 1882, May 12, 1883, and April 3, 1886, which contain information about War Medals awarded for service in the North West Rebellion. Men from the Queen’s Own Rifles were dispatched in March of 1885 in response to the North West Rebellion. An entry dated March 28, 1885 (page 276) contains a list of officers involved with the North West contingent.

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