Coldstream Guards in Ontario 1903

[Mervyn Mitton]

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_06_2012/post-6209-0-52149200-1340640389.jpgCLICK TO ENLARGE

Bandmaster C.R.Allen served with the Coldstream Guards from the 1880's to approx. 1908.

His great, great Grandson was not sure on these dates.

However, the Coldstream Guards visited Canada in 1903 and he was presented with this lovely

Band Baton by the town of Woodstock, Ontario. I am hoping this is near to where Brian lives

and that he will find a record of the presentation in the Town archives ?

I suspect that the wood may be Maple - the carved leaves certainly are. I will show a number of

pictures showing the inscriptions and your comments will be very welcome. Strange how this has

survived in such good condition for 109 years.

[Mervyn Mitton]

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_06_2012/post-6209-0-82727800-1340641167.jpgCLICK TO ENLARGE

[Mervyn Mitton]

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_06_2012/post-6209-0-10263900-1340641316.jpgCLICK TO ENLARGE

[Mervyn Mitton]

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_06_2012/post-6209-0-44595300-1340641485.jpgCLICK TO ENLARGE

[Mervyn Mitton]

This shows the lovely carving of the leaves.

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_06_2012/post-6209-0-63973000-1340641704.jpgCLICK TO ENLARGE

[peter monahan]

From A History of Ontario, Its Resources and Development [Alexander Fraser, 1907, Volume 2- Biography]

STEWART FIELDE HOUSTON, M.A.

Stewart Fielde Houston was born at Waterdown, Ontario, November 19, 1868, and is a son of the Very Rev. Stewart Houston, Dean of Niagara. His paternal grandparents were William Houston, of Ayrshire, Scotland, and Fannie (Cox) Houston, a daughter of the Rev. Robert Gregory Cox, sometime rector of Brampton, Ontario, and formerly of Lincolnshire, England.

Stewart F. Houston pursued his education in the Toronto Collegiate Institute, University of Toronto, and Trinity University, from which he graduated in 1889. He was licensed as a barrister in 1892. From 1889 until 1893 he was engaged in journalism, being on the staff of the Toronto Empire (since amalgamated with the Mail) in varioiis capacities, including that of sporting editor, and subsequently editorial writer. He was appointed manager of the Massey Music Hall of Toronto in 1900, and has since acted in this capacity. He has conducted many of the tours of the leading musical artists in Canada. In 1903 he brought the first British regimental band the Coldstream Guards across the Atlantic to Canada ; also directed tours of the Black Watch Band, and the Band of Grenadier Guards in 1904. Among other artists whom he has brought to Canada are, Paderewski, Melba, Albani, the Pittsburg Orchestra, the Westminster Abbey choir party, the London Meistersingers and Ben Greet and his Shakespearean Company. He also managed the lecture tour of Winston Churchill, M.P., in 1901.

Edited June 26, 2012 by peter monahan

[peter monahan]

There is a postcard of the court house in Woodstock currently on sale on ebay, dated from about this period I believe.

Also, available on-line is this volume: From forest to city Woodstock's rise, growth and development, in photogravure, 1834-1901, published 1901 by The Times in [Woodstock, Ontario .

Sadly, it ends just short of the 1903 visit but gives a very good idea of life in a small English Canadian town at the turn of the last century. It may be consulted here: http://openlibrary.o..._forest_to_city [copy the underlined and paste it into your Internet browser.

Edited June 26, 2012 by peter monahan

[Mervyn Mitton]

Peter - you've come-up 'trumps'. Always very satisfying to be abe to prove that given facts are in fact correct.

Thankyou. Mervyn