The Royal Sappers and Miners

Photo by contributor Belinda Betz - Posted January, 2006

Plaque Location

The County of Leeds and Grenville
The Township of Rideau Lakes
In Newboro, at St. Mary's Cemetery on Highway 42
.6 km west of Main Street

Coordinates: N 44 38.930 W 76 19.585

Plaque Text

In 1827 the Royal Sappers and Miners, the special construction corps of the British Army, raised the 7th and 15th Companies to serve in the building of the Rideau Canal. Comprising 160 skilled craftsmen and labourers under the Royal Engineers, the companies arrived that year in Bytown, where they built military structures and locks. The 7th Company was transferred in 1829 to assist in the completion of the canal here at the Isthmus, the only section beyond Bytown built under direct military supervision. Sappers and Miners from both companies executed other major projects, including a dam at the Hog's Back, and performed guard-duty at various locks. In 1831 seventy-one were discharged in Canada and several settled along the canal as lockmasters.

Related Toronto plaque page
Queen's Rangers

More
Military Regiments

Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

Posted July 19, 2009
My GG Grandfather, John Jones worked on the canal system as a Royal Engineer, Sapper and Miner. I am searching for more information on him. This is a great picture of the plaque and I really enjoyed going through your site. Thank you very much for putting this up.
Fred Jones, Bremerton, Washington, USA

Here's where you can write a comment for this page.

Note: If you wish to ask me a question, please use the email link in the menu.

Note: Comments are moderated. Yours will appear on this page within 24 hours
(usually much sooner).