Name/Title
War of 1812 Military General Service Medal issued to Private Pierre Cloutier - Battle of Chateauguay 2nd Select Embodied Militia (SEM), an antecedent unit of The Canadian Grenadier GuardsDescription
For Museum records only - Part of the Lieutenant Michael A. Hayes-Rivet (MHR) Trust Collection
*** FOR ARCHIVE PURPOSES ONLY - ARTIFACT NOT PART OF MUSEUM COLLECTION ***
1793-1848 Military General Service Medal issued to Private Pierre Cloutier - Battle of Chateauguay
2nd Select Embodied Militia (SEM), an antecedent unit of The Canadian Grenadier Guards. The first medal issued to all ranks in the British Empire and the First Medal type to awarded to members of The Regimental Family from any era.
Private Cloutier was one of only 78 recipients (4 Officers/1 Sr NCO/73 Ranks) of the MGS Medal from CGG of the total 908 GSMs issued to all Canadians / British )
Mintage: 908 War of 1812 (North America) Issued to all Canadians and British Soldiers // There were some 25,650 applications in total. Number issued to CGG: 78 Medals issued post 1948 and only issued if the applicant was still alive.
2nd Select Embodied Milita:
When the Select Embodied Militia units were first formed, they were forced by a shortage of official pattern uniforms to adopt a variety of dress. By late 1813 at the latest, all battalions had been issued red uniforms. The flank companies of the first to fourth battalions were detached to form (with detached light companies of British regular battalions) two light infantry battalions during 1813.
Part of the 1st Light Battalion under Lieutenant Colonel George MacDonnell which included the light company of the Canadian Fencibles and the light companies of the 2nd and 3rd battalions, fought at the Battle of Chateauguay. The main body of the 2nd Battalion of the Select Embodied Militia also fought at the Chateauguay. The Light Battalions were broken up late in 1813 or in early 1814. In October 1813 LCol MacDonnell was ordered to move to reinforce Lieutenant Colonel Charles de Salaberry's troops south of Montreal. He was effectively second-in-command to de Salaberry at the Battle of Chateauguay. He became a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1817 for his service during the War.Created By
Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.Create Date
January 2, 2022Updated By
Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.Update Date
May 28, 2025
