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
Nickname(s)Gunner Jingo
Born(1831-09-15)15 September 1831
Meerut, India
Died9 July 1925(1925-07-09) (aged 93)
Camberley, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Canada
Service/branchBritish Army
Canadian Militia
Years of service1851–1885
RankMajor-General
Commands heldAlberta Field Force
Battles/warsIndian 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.

References

  • Strange, Thomas Bland. (1893) Gunner Jingo's jubilee, London. Strange's autobiography.


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