There were other Ballymena connections to the War of 1812 that are particularly pertinent to the citizens of Ontario. Three men from your town fought to defend what is

now my homeland in Ontario.

On June 18th, 1812, the United States declared war on Britain. Upper Canada, a British Province, was invaded several times by the Americans, many of whom were determined to add the Province of Upper Canada to the union.

The defenders were a small force of British Regulars, Militia drawn from the inhabitants and Native Indian warriors allied with the British.

The American army outnumbered this group by as much as ten to one. The Americans thought that the capture of Canada would be nothing but "a mere matter of marching."

In October 1812, May 1813 and July 1814 the Americans invaded the Niagara Region. Villages were burned, civilians killed, territory captured and then lost but in the end, the British, Canadian and Aboriginal forces were victorious, successfully staving off American attempts to permanently occupy Upper Canada.

Among the staunchest of the defenders of Canadian soil were the men of the King's 8th Regiment of Foot and the 1st or Royal Scots Regiment.

Daniel Conolly of Ballymena was one of the soldiers of the King's 8th who fought throughout the War while Archibald Lute and John Lennan were in the ranks of the 1st Regiment of Foot and participated in several bloody and dramatic actions.

The War of 1812, overshadowed by the Napoleonic Wars, is not well known beyond North America but was extremely significant in the annals of American and Canadian history.

When the War ended in 1814, a lasting peace between the countries was established. We are nearing the 200th anniversary of the war and of that peace with our American friends. Can any other two neighbouring countries boast such a record?

In the years 2012 to 2014, Americans and Canadians will be working together to commemorate the bicentennial of the War of 1812. I am sure that this chapter in North American history, with its impact on far-away places like Ballymena, will become much better known following these special events.

Yours etc.,

Ron Dale,

War of 1812 Bicentennial

Project Manager,

Parks Canada

P.O. Box 1639,

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

L0S 1J0.