The mural mystery

Where is this mural actually located?

I first saw the historical painting by C.W. Jefferys in the Carleton Saga, by Harry and Olive Walker (p.53) with the caption that it is the soldier-settlers of 100th Regiment of Foot building a rough road to their new settlement of Richmond in 1818. The image shows, on the right side, Capt. George Burke and Sgt. Andrew Hill, and other soldiers from the 100th Regiment which served during the War of 1812. Yet the Walkers never give a photo credit to tell us where this mural can be seen.

I have tried researching many sources such as the National Gallery of Canada or Library and Archives Canada but to no avail. Any ideas??

Kurt Johnson, Munster

Honouring the valour

Photo by Kurt Johnson

I hope others will come to see Maria Hill as a symbol of the pioneer spirit in the face of adversity. She is certainly a Canadian worthy of greater recognition.

Her husband, Sgt. Andrew Hill, whom she accompanied as a nurse, belonged to the 100th Prince Regent’s Regiment of Foot which fought for king and for Canada during the War of 1812. Sgt. Hill led troops into battle on the Niagara frontier where the 100th Regiment was awarded battle honours for bravery. Maria Hill (1791-1881) tended the wounded and dying soldiers on many battlefields such as the carnage at the battle of Chippawa where the 100th suffered terrible casualties.

After the war, the Hills opened a tavern in the new town on the Jock River, hosting the Duke of Richmond on his 1819 tour. When the duke died, she was called upon to use her nursing skills to dress the duke’s body for his funeral.

With next year’s bicentennial commemorations, we will hear a lot about the many regiments of British soldiers who defended the colonies against the American invaders along with the militia from Upper and Lower Canada and First Nations warriors. And we should remember their valour particularly on Remembrance Day for, as historian Donald E. Graves wrote in the Ottawa Citizen http://www.ottawacitizen.com/life/other+11th+November/5684769/story.html: “Without their courage and sacrifice, there would be no modern Canada because it would be part of the United States.”

Someday, we should erect a plaque to honour Maria and Andrew Hill who are buried at Beechwood Cemetery in a family plot (above) with many descendants. Her name appears on the grave marker as Maria Taylor for her second husband, Andrew Taylor of Richmond.

Kurt Johnson, Munster

Mail to: Kurt@goulbournmuseum.ca

Remembering the Great War

For Remembrance Day, the Goulbourn Museum installed an exhibit at the Stittsville Branch of the Ottawa Public Library called Remembering the Great War. This exhibit includes artefacts from both World Wars, including a helmet, uniform, grooming kit, bayonet, and gas mask, and will be on display until the end of the month.

Brenda Holtz, one of our fabulous volunteers, spent countless hours compiling scrapbooks for us last year. One scrapbook lists veterans of World War One and World War Two from Goulbourn Township, and the other scrapbook holds copies & transcripts of letters from Private Sefton Stewart. Sefton was a soldier who fought and died in the Great War, and who frequently send letters home to his family. Both scrapbooks are included in this exhibit, and we encourage you to read through them.

For more on the exhibit, please see John Curry's article in this week's edition of the Stittsville News (November 10, 2011) on page 13. You can view the Stittsville News online here.

Lest we forget.