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Nile Voyageurs

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Nile Voyageurs
Active1884–1885
DisbandedApril 1885
CountryCanada
AllegianceBritish Empire
Size~ 390 men
EngagementsMahdist War
Commanders
Commanding OfficerCol. Frederick Charles Denison

The Nile Voyageurs were a force of Canadian volunteers who served in the Sudan with British forces as part of the Nile Expedition from 1884 to 1885.[1] Though they were civilian volunteers, serving as boatmen for the British Army, they can be considered Canada’s first overseas contingent of war volunteers.[1]

16 voyageurs died on active service during the campaign, and as Canada’s first overseas casualties they are commemorated in the Book of Remembrance in Ottawa.[1]

Nile Expedition Roll of Honour
1884 1885
Soldier Casualty Date of casualty
Richard Burgess Died of disease September 26, 1884
Louis Capitaine Drowned near Semneh October 30, 1884
John Morris Drowned November 16, 1884
Michael Brennan Died of dysentery November 21, 1884
George Fletcher Drowned near Ambigoll November 23, 1884
John Edward Faulkner Died from drowning November 29, 1884
William Doyle Drowned near Ambigoll December 13, 1884
Solomon Bigneault Died of small-pox December 17, 1884
Leon Chatelain Drowned near Semneh December 18, 1884
Alexander Michael Armstrong Died of fever January 3, 1885
William James O’Rourke Died of disease February 4, 1885
Leon Pilon Died of disease February 4, 1885
John Andrew Sherlock Died of disease March 26, 1885
Patrick Leonard Died from enteric fever April 10, 1885
Daniel McLean Died of disease April 16, 1885
Col. William Nassau Kennedy Died from small-pox May 3, 1885

References

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  1. ^ a b c Stacey, Charles, ed. (2013). Records of the Nile Voyageurs, 1884-1885: The Canadian Voyageur Contingent in the Gordon Relief Expedition. Toronto: Champlain Society Publications. doi:10.3138/9781442618220. ISBN 978-1-4426-1822-0.