Thomas Bland Strange
Thomas Bland Strange (15 September 1831 – 9 July 1925), known as 'Gunner Jingo', was a British soldier noted for his service with the Canadian militia during the North-West Rebellion of 1885. Strange was a retired major-general at the time of the rebellion, and was raising cavalry horses near modern Calgary, Alberta. At the outbreak of the rebellion, his old friend Adolphe-Philippe Caron, who was minister of militia and defence in the government of Sir John A. Macdonald, asked Strange to organize a field force for the District of Alberta. This force, consisting primarily of inexperienced militiamen and a few members of the North-West Mounted Police, participated in the Battle of Frenchman's Butte fighting against forces under the command of Cree leader Big Bear.
Thomas Bland Strange | |
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| Nickname(s) | Gunner Jingo |
| Born | 15 September 1831 Meerut, India |
| Died | 9 July 1925 (aged 93) Camberley, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom Canada |
| Service/ | British Army Canadian Militia |
| Years of service | 1851–1885 |
| Rank | Major-General |
| Commands held | Alberta Field Force |
| Battles/wars | Indian Rebellion of 1857 North-West Rebellion |
Strange's greater importance is as the father of the Canadian artillery and one of the initial organizers of the Canadian army.
External links
References
- Strange, Thomas Bland. (1893) Gunner Jingo's jubilee, London. Strange's autobiography.