THE NORTH WEST CANADA MEDAL 1885 WITH SASKATCHEWAN CLASP AWARDED TO GUNNER G. FRASER, “B”

THE NORTH WEST CANADA MEDAL 1885 WITH SASKATCHEWAN CLASP AWARDED TO GUNNER G. FRASER, “B” BATTERY, ROYAL CANADIAN ARTILLERY, WHICH BATTERY PLAYED A PROMINENT ROLE AT THE BATTLE OF CUT KNIFE, 2ND MAY 1885, THE FIRST OCCASION ON WHICH CANADIAN SOLDIERS USED A MACHINE GUN IN ACTION AND THE LAST OCCASION ON WHICH CANADIAN INDIANS USED BOWS AND ARROWS IN BATTLE. Northwest Canada Medal, 1 clasp, Saskatchewan (officially named in the correct style, impressed in serifed block capitals: No. 1729 GUNNER G. FRASER “B” BATTERY R.C.A.). Very Fine to Good Very Fine.

Medal accompanied by copied medal roll extracts (2, original and published) confirming medal and clasp for service with “B” Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery. Original medal roll gives Fraser’s full name as George M. Fraser and home town at time roll was drawn up as Kingston, Ontario.

“B” Battery Royal Canadian Artillery saw service with Lieutenant-Colonel Otter’s Battleford Column during the North-West Rebellion campaign of 1885. That column, in addition to the force headquarters (12 officers and men) comprised “B” Battery Royal Canadian Artillery (113 officers and men commanded by Major Short, manning two seven-pounder artillery pieces and one gattling gun) along with detachments from the North West Mounted Police (50), the Infantry School Corps (49), the Queen’s Own Rifles (274), the Governor-General’s Foot Guards (51) and local civilian scouts (6).

Colonel Otter’s Battleford column saw action at the battle of Cut Knife, 2/5/1885, against a combined force of Cree and Assiniboine native Canadian indians.That battle was the first occasion on which Canadian soldiers (“B” Battery Royal Canadian Artillery), used a machine gun in action, and the last occasion in Canadian history that bows and arrows were used in battle.

The following description of the battle of Cut Knife, including the part played by “B” Battery R.C.A. is taken from Colonel Otter’s official report on the battle:

“Hardly had our scouts gained in the crest of the hill when the advanced part of the enemy was met, who opened fire upon our men with vigor. The Police immediately extended on the low brow, and the guns supported by B Battery (garrison division) were pushed forward into the same line, opening fire with shrapnel on the camp. The disposition of our force was as follows: in the center of the front line, and just behind the brow of the hill, was the Gatling, flanked on either side by a seven-pounder brass gun, all under the personal supervision of Major Short, ably assisted by Captain Rutherford. The support of these guns consisted of the garrison division of B Battery. Immediately to the rear, resting in a slight declivity, were the horses of the Police and the waggon train. On either flank of the artillery were the Police. To the right and right rear was C Company and the detachment of the Guards (Ottawa Sharpshooters). To the left, lying on the lower ledge of the hill, and extending nearly to the Creek, was the Queens Own and protecting the right rear and ford was the company of Battleford Rifles. The positions thus described were, with some slight changes, retained by the corps more or less throughout the action.”

Despite the fact that Colonel Otter’s column was in theory better armed than its Cree and Assiniboine opponents, the column’s rifles, supplemented by the artillery and machine gun of “B” Battery R.C.A., the battle of Cut Knife was a victory for the native indian force. In the years since 1885, the engagement has been widely compared to the earlier Battle of the Little Big Horn. Both battles were victories for the native North American indians. However, unlike Custer’s Sioux opponents, the Cree and Assiniboine at Cut Knife allowed Colonel Otter and his column to retreat from the battlefield relatively unmolested, with the result that most of them did not suffer the same fate that befell Custer and his men.

In large part, the defeat of Colonel Otter’s force at Cut Knife can be explained by the fact that, although “B” Battery’s seven-pounder guns in theory provided Otter and his men with superior fire-power, in practice those guns proved to be a dangerous liability. Both were old guns that had previously seen lengthy service with the North-West Mounted Police and were in a state of disrepair. The trail of one of the guns was so rotten that the trail fell apart the first time its gun was fired at Cut Knife, putting it out of action for the remainder of the battle.

Colonel Otter’s Battleford column lost 8 men killed and 14 wounded (the killed including one man who was abandoned to be mutilated by native women). The Canadian indian’s casualties were far lighter, 3 killed (including a Nez Perce who had come north from the United States some years earlier) and 3 wounded.

In addition to being awarded the Canada General Service Medal with Saskatchewan clasp, Gunner Fraser was also awarded a grant of land for services rendered during the North-West Canada campaign of 1885.