FORT GEORGE - PAGE 4

FORT GEORGE - Page Four

The picture below was sent to us courtesy of Randa Arandas, who took the photo on Sept. 26/04. We're very excited by the
picture. This is a close-up of a window in Blockhouse One. It's the window above the window where the "Watcher" has been
spotted. In this picture, I can see part of a figure that seems to be wearing some ornate type of headwear. I can also see the
figure's right shoulder and part of its arm, which also seem to have some sort of ornate type of uniform. I believe that this
figure is wearing the helmet of the 1st King's Dragoon Guards, who were stationed at the Fort during the Rebellion of the late
1830's.

When I had posted Randa's picture, the people from RiceBitz.com sent me a picture that they had taken that same night. They
were on Kyle's tour, which was approx. an hour behind our tour (we were on the same tour as Randa). Although their picture
isn't quite as clear, it obviously shows the same figure in the same window. The intriguing thing is that the figure has moved.
In Randa's picture, the head is in the centre of the window. In the picture from RiceBitz.com, the figure has moved to its right
(our left) a bit. That means that the figure seems to have stayed at that window, although moving around a bit, for over an hour,
watching as the tours went by.

I'm also posting a negative of Randa's picture.

I am also posting pictures of the helmet the 1st King's Dragoon Guards of that time period, for you to see.

Below is Randa's picture.

Below is the picture from RiceBitz.com.

Below is a picture of the helmet worn by the 1st King's Dragoon Guards.

The type of helmet worn above was in use only between 1834 and 1843. The following passage describes more about the
helmet, as well as about the "equalettes" which seem to appear on the shoulder of the figure in the picture. The passage also
gives us a poignant glimpse into the life of the men of the 1st King's Dragoon Guard in Canada.
In 1834 the black helmet was changed to an all-brass helmet with a metal crest terminating in a lion’s head, which was
removable to enable the large bearskin crest to be fitted for full-dress occasions. Eqaulettes for full dress were ‘boxed’ with a
bullion fringe. Metal shoulder scales were worn in undress, and the KDG had the word ‘Waterloo’ on a silver scroll and the
monogram ‘K.D.G.’ also in silver.
The KDG in Canada from 1838 to 1843 were issued with special winter clothing of a full-length blue overcoat with brass
shoulder scales, and held in by a white belt and a white pouch belt; knee boot, fur gloves, and a fur cap with a flap to cover the
neck and ears, and a red side flap. Colonel Cathcart, commanding the KDG in Canada, reported:
I have been able to give every man a pair of jackboots. (They) are quite waterproof. They have the art of making them so here
by putting the smooth side of cowhide leather outside, and then making a particular composition of wax and boiled oil. . . The
boots are made large enough to wear a long stocking over the sock, inside of the boot, and pulled over the knee.

For more information on the 1st King's Dragoon Guards, visit this website: http://www.qdg.org.uk/uniform1794.htm