Fenian Raid Canada Medal 1866 Timothy O'Hea VC commemorative replica medal & 2010 stamp first day cover

History a far more complex reality than a simple narrative or any story.

Victoria Cross Heroes
Cork native Irishman Timothy O'Hea awarded a VC for his heroic actions helping save British colonial Canada in 1866 during The Irish Fenian Raid

Timothy O'Hea VC (1843 – 1874), born in Schull, County Cork, was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for valour that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

O'Hea was born on 11 June 1843 at Schull Co Cork, Ireland. He was a private in the 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own), British Army stationed in the Province of Canada when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
On 9 June 1866 at Danville, Canada East, a fire broke out in a railway car containing 2,000 pounds (910 kg) of ammunition, between Quebec City and Montreal. The alarm was given and the car was disconnected at Danville Railway Station. While the sergeant in charge was considering what should be done, Private O'Hea took the keys from his hand, rushed to the car, opened it and called for water and a ladder. It was due to this man's example that the fire was suppressed

Canada General Service Medal First Day Cover
Highest reproduction quality full size Canada Fenian Raid Clasp Medal in 2010 Stamp Victoria Cross Heroes Cover .

The word Fenian was an umbrella term for the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) and their affiliate the Fenian Brotherhood in the United States, Canada, Britain, Australia and other parts of the world where Irish emigrants lived.

Ireland Free "By Any Means"
A massive movement by any standard.
Modern historians estimate the sworn in number of Fenians globally to be in the hundreds of thousands, with 15 thousands sworn Fenian members inside the British army alone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHYDsVzBY4k

Inspired by past Irish resistance, The Fenians was an Irish secret political organisation, founded in the late 19th and active until early 20th centuries, dedicated to the establishment of an independent Irish Republic.

From 1866 onwards, they sought to coordinate raids into Canada from the United States with a rising in Ireland.
In the 1916 Easter Rising and the 1919–1921 Irish War of Independence, the IRB led the republican struggle.

Information on the original Fenian Campaign medal abbreviated from Government of Canada.
Canada General Service Medal (1866-1870)
Context
FENIAN RAID 1866
This medal was awarded to members of the Imperial and Canadian forces who had taken part in the suppression of the Fenian raids of 1866 and 1870 and Riel's First Rebellion of 1870, the latter being generally referred to as the Red River Expedition.

Fenian Raid (1866):
Fenians is the name of the old Irish National Militia.
After the Civil War in the USA, the Irish American Fenians were bolstered by Civil War veterans. In need of something to occupy this large force, John O'Neil crossed the Niagara River, captured Fort Erie, and made his headquarters at Limeridge. The Fenians defeated a unit of the Canadian Militia at Ridgeway, but withdrew to the USA when a stronger force was sent to the area.

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