The 114th Battalion, Haldimand Rifles, Brocks Rangers, 1944, p.2

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THE 114th BATTALION, HALDIMAND RIFLES BROCK RANGERS In a letter to Mrs. Robert A. Miller, of Nanticoke, dated May 20th, 1944, from Mrs, Lillian Martin, of Toronto, wife of Brigadier General Martin - now overseas - were enclosed the following extracts taken from Brigadier Martin's scrap book:- 1915 "The 114th, Brocks Rangers. Among subsidiary titles which have been granted to various overseas units important and historically interesting, there are none more so we venture to think, than that recently approved for one 114th, Haldimand Battalion, vis: Brocks Rangers. This unit which is rapidly approaching full strength, is being recruited in Haldimand County, and the Six Nations Indian Reserve, When it is completed, it is expected that the Indians and white men will number about the same. Haldimand is one of the Niagara district counties, a peninsula dotted with the battle grounds of the war of 1812, A little plot of British ground made famous by Lundy's Lane, Queenston Heights, Beaver Dams, Chippewa, and a dozen other minor but no less historic battles. In nearly all of these, the Six Nation Indians of that day did yeoman service for Canada, and at Queenston heights where the heroic Brock fell, their contingent contributed notably to the defeat inflicted on the enemy. The work Rangers is a stirring title of that and earlier times in Canadian History. Lady EIgar, in her Life of Brock, a charming book of the "Makers of Canada" series, tells us that it was Major Rogers, with his Rangers, who took over Fort Detroit from the French, full fifty years before the war of 1812. Then there was that celebrated corps, "Butlers Rangers", and later , in our own time the 12 Battalion of the County of York has borne the name "York Rangers". To couple this fine old name with that of Brock, and then to give it to the Corps being formed by the very men whose ancestors fought by his side (many of the white men too trace back to such honorable forebears, the commanding officer among the number) is a peculiarly happy combination, and one which is giving the greatest possible pleasure to the men of the 114th. By such means as these is an esprit de corps speedily developed. Men try to line up to noble traditions and the example of the patriot Brock inspires to this day, more than a hundred years after he made his supreme offering to his country and his King, It is an interesting fact that the ancestors of Major Cowles third in command of the corps, were relative of the brave Sir Isaac Brock. Major Cowles had been principal of Dunnville High School; after the war he was High School Inspector. October, 1916, The colors were presented to the 114th Battalion by Mrs. Thompson and Miss Thompson, wife and daughter of the commanding officer, Lt. Col.A. T. Thompson, and the Regimental Colour by Lt. Milton Martin, Flags upon their return. Lt. Col Martin, now Brigadier, presented the Regimental colours to the court house and Capt. Morley Bennet of Dunnville presented the Kings colors. The Regimental colour had originally been made and given by the Indian Women of the Six Nations. October, 1916. Re:- Lt. Col. A, T. Thompson—That four generations of this family have fought with, or are in command of the Six Nations Indians is a fact well worthy of note.

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