BACKGROUND: While land forces were organized, the need of naval forces to patrol lakes and rivers became apparent. The Toronto Naval Brigade, commanded by Capt. W. P. McMaster, was organized to serve on the "Rescue", the first boat in the Canadian Navy. The Rescue was a tug converted to a gunboat with a 32-pound gun mounted on the main deck with a 360 degree firing radius. She sailed out of Toronto Harbor on June 4th and arrived at Port Dalhousie that evening and proceeded through the Welland Canal to Lake Erie then to Windsor. The Fenian Raid was organized in an gain for independence from Britain and established by Irish-Americans whose ranks were strengthened after the American Civil War. The goal was to generate a war between the U.S. and Great Britain. There were two raids into Canada; 1866 and 1870, both of which, were unsuccessful.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: A 32mm medallion suspended from a fixed arm, original ribbon with bar. The rim is engraved "S.J. Byewater" of the Toronto Naval Bde." Joseph Byewater is confirmed on the roll . He is one of only forty recipients of the Toronto Naval Brigade.