The regimentally fine officer’s Canada General Service Medal 1866-1870, 1 Clasp: Fenian Raid 1866, awarded to Captain later Major General F.G. Berkeley, 47th (The Lancashire) Regiment of Foot later Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. Berkley from Preston, Lancashire, and later Chertsey, Surrey, was one of 14 officers of the 47th Foot to be present out in Canada during the suppression of the Fenians during 1866. He later saw service in both Barbados and Ireland. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in July 1881 on which occasion his regiment was amalgamated to become the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, with Berkley one of the first battalion commanders. Placed on half-pay in 1893, he was appointed on promotion to Major General to command the 47th District from August 1897.
Canada General Service Medal 1866-1870, 1 Clasp: Fenian Raid 1866; (CAPT. F.G. BERKELEY. 47TH: REGT.), with length of original ribbon.
Condition: Extremely Fine.
Frederick George Berkeley was born on 23rd April 1841 in Nooklands, Preston, Lancashire, the son of Charles Berkeley and Susan, nee Clarke. Commissioned as an Ensign into the 47th (The Lancashire) Regiment of Foot on 13th July 1858, he was promoted to Lieutenant on 14th February 1860.
The 47th Foot, a regiment with a long standing history of service in Canada, then returned to Nova Scotia in 1861 to reinforce Canada's defences during tension with the United States arising from the Trent Affair. Earlier in the century there had been attempts from several political directions to sever Canada's links with Britain. In the 1860's it was the Fenian who presented the main challenge to the British Crown. Having a large following in the United States and with Civil War veterans available to participate, the Fenians decided on an invasion of Canada.
Berkley was promoted to Captain on 21st June 1864. On 31st May 1866, 'Colonel' John O'Neill with a small force of 800 men crossed the Niagara River and defeated Canadian troops at the battle of Ridgeway on 1st June. However, when news that a strong force of Canadian volunteers was approaching, many Fenians deserted and others retreated to the United States. On 3rd June, the remainder, who had not reached the U.S.A, surrendered or been captured, surrendered to the American warship Michigan. Further actions were fought at Fort Erie, Ontario on 2nd June, and Saint Armand, Quebec on 9th June. At Saint Armand, there were fought approximately 1000 Fenians in the area on the morning. They began to retreat towards the U.S. Border at 9.30 am, but approximately 200 lingered in the vicinity of Pigeon Hill as British and Canadian troops approached. The Fenians formed up behind an improvised barricade but, on realising the strength of the units bearing in on them, they began a hasty retreat towards the border. After the action the Fenians would then remain quiescent until 1870.
For his services Berkeley was one of 119 men of his regiment who would be eventually awarded the Canada General Service Medal 1866 to 1870 with clasp Fenian Raid 1866, a total of 14 awards being to officers of his regiment.
Berkley was posted with his regiment to Barbados in 1868, and then to Ireland in 1870. Promoted to Major on 1st October 1877 and then to Lieutenant Colonel on 1st July 1881, in that month his regiment was retitled as the Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire), it having amalgamated with the 8th (Loyal Lincoln Volunteers) Regiment of Foot.
Berkley was promoted to Colonel on 1st July 1885, and was then placed on Half-Pay on 21st July 1893. Appointed on promotion to Major General to command the 47th District from August 1897, he retired to Chertsey in Surrey in 1901, and died on 3rd December 1906, being buried at Lyne near to Chertsey. On his death, he had an estate valued at £25,461, and amongst his effects, he passed on a cup presented to him by the officers of the 3rd Lancashire Militia, to his son. His death was reported in the Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser of 7th December 1906, and the Morning Post of 4th January 1907. Confirmed as his sole-entitlement.