Saturday, April 26 was the official unveiling of the War of 1812 Graveside Marker for my great-great-great grandfather, trooper William Wintemute, who along with his fellow Niagara Light Dragoons participated in the victory of the Battle of Queenston Heights, October 13, 1812. It was William’s commanding officer, Captain Alexander Hamilton’s construction and defence of a makeshift battery in the garden of his parent’s home overlooking the Niagara in Queenston, that stopped the resupply of the American invasion in its tracks which led to General Sheaffe’s eventual victory on the Heights above. William was 17 years old at the time of Canada’s most famous battle in defence of sovereign soil.
The ceremony took place in the old Beach’s Burying Ground, Sherkston, Ontario where William was buried in 1871.
On behalf of my extended family, I wish to thank the several dozen participants for making this event a success. Much appreciated!!
LEST WE FORGET!
ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION ( Port Colborne ) COLOUR GUARD
GRAVE OF TROOPER WILLIAM WINTEMUTE, NIAGARA LIGHT DRAGOONS
FATHER BEVAN, NIAGARA POLICE FORCE CHAPLAIN, SIR ROGER HALE SHEAFFE, VICTOR OF QUEENSTON HEIGHTS AND VANCE BADAWEY, MAYOR OF PORT COLBORNE
For a more fulsome report on the event, check out Dave Johnson’s blog here.