Discover Ontario's history as told through its plaques
2004 - Now in our 13th Year - 2017
To see what's new on this site, you can visit the Home Page
Looking at this page on a smartphone?
For best viewing, hold your phone
in Landscape mode (Horizontal)
The Nile Voyageurs 1884-85
Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted June, 2005
Photo from Google Street View ©2010 Google - Posted December, 2010
Plaque Location
The City of Ottawa
At Kitchissippi Lookout parking lot
off the Ottawa River Parkway
first right west of Island Park Drive
Coordinates: N 45 23.780 W 75 45.731 |
 |
Plaque Text
In 1884 the British Government decided to send a military expedition up the Nile River to relieve Major-General Charles Gordon, who was besieged in Khartoum by Mahdist tribesmen. Appointed to command the relieving force, Viscount Wolseley, who had led the expedition to the Red River in 1870, requested the recruitment of experienced Canadian voyageurs. Almost 400 volunteered, including many superb rivermen, and the largest group came from the Ottawa valley area. Commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick C. Denison, they were largely responsible for the successful navigation of the Nile's difficult cataracts, although sixteen voyageurs died on service. The contingent returned to Canada in 1885.
Related Ontario plaque
The Wolseley Expedition 1870
More
Assorted Events
More
Ottawa Plaques
Here are the visitors' comments for this page.
> Posted November 26, 2011
Funny how they didn't mention the Ojibwa and Mohawks that also made up the Nile Voyageurs.....as these soldiers were not just from Ottawa area.....
> Posted October 7, 2011
Hello, I am a doctoral student finishing my Ph D thesis on the Nile Voyageurs. If you have any interest in this area, any questions, comments or suggestions, please contact me: Anthony P. Michel, nilevoyageur at gmail dot com. You can read an article I published in the historical journal "Social History - Histoire sociale", vol 39, no 77, 2006. Cheers!
Here's where you can sent me a comment for this page.
Note: Your email address will be posted at the end of your comment so others can respond to you unless you request otherwise.
Note: Comments are moderated. Yours will appear on this page within 24 hours (usually much sooner).
Note: As soon as I have posted your comment, a reply to your email will be sent informing you.
To send me your comment, click .
Thanks
Alan L Brown
Webmaster
Note: If you wish to send me a personal email, click .