The rare M.G.S. medal for ‘Fort Detroit’ awarded to Major Ebenezer Reynolds, 1st Essex Militia, who commanded the Flank companies of the 1st and 2nd Essex Militia at the first battle of Frenchtown on the River Raisin; he is the only Canadian officer of Field rank on the rolls for Fort Detroit

Military General Service 1793-1814, 1 clasp, Fort Detroit (E. Reynolds, Major, Canadn. Militia) extremely fine £8,000-£10,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Small Group of Rare and Important Military General Service Medals.

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Collection

Provenance: Hayward, August 1971.

A total of 31 M.G.S. medals with ‘Fort Detroit’ clasp issued to officers of Canadian units, of which Reynolds is the senior by rank.

Major Ebenezer Reynolds, the commander of the Essex Militia, was the son of a Commissary officer to the British troops at Fort Detroit when it was a British possession. In the autumn of 1812 he occupied Frenchtown with two companies of militia and about 200 Pottawattomi native warriors, but on the advance of Colonel Lewis with a superior force, numbering about 680, was obliged to retire.

Major Reynolds took part in all the engagements of the Right Division, viz. 1812 - Brownstown, 5 August; Maguaga, 9 August; Detroit, 16 August; 1813 - Frenchtown, 18 January; Frenchtown, 23 January (later known as the River Raisin Massacre); Miami, 1-9 May; Fort Meigs, 5 May; 1814 - Lundy’s Lane, 25 July.

Major Reynolds served as a Permanent member of the Militia Pension Board of Upper Canada, established on 24 May 1816. He also received the Prince Regent’s land grant for services during the war. From 10 September 1833 until 7 August 1937, Major Reynolds was Sheriff of the Western District.