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The
history of the Canadian military in Northwestern Ontario dates back to
just prior to 1885 “Reil Rebellion”, when No. “3” Company, 96th
District of Algoma Rifles,
commanded by Captain Angus Carmichael, marched into Rat Portage (now
Kenora, Ontario). This infantry unit was formed with two-fold purpose.
First, to provide a military presence in order to prevent an anticipated
native uprising in support of Riel, and to provide some measure of support
to the local law enforcement agencies in a town which had the reputation
of being Canada’s “Dodge City”. On both counts, the unit was
successful, its presence dropping the incidence of railway sabotage on the
newly constructed Canadian Pacific Railway to nil upon its arrival, and
between 1885 and 1912, being called out a total of 37 times to quell riots
and disturbances in the Kenora, Fort Francis and Rainy River areas,
including the 1896 U.S.-Canada and 1908 Ontario-Manitoba boundary
disputes.
The
unit saw a number of changes in name prior to World War One, being
redesignated “3” Company, 96th Lake Superior
Regiment on 3 July 1905, and the Kenora-Rainy River Regiment on 1 April
1908, with headquarters alternating between Kenora, Fort Francis and Rainy
River, Ontario. During World War I, the regiment formed the recruiting
base for two C.E.F. numbered battalions, the 94th and 141st.
Neither battalion ever saw combat as a unit, as both were broken up for
replacements upon their arrival in Europe, but both were notable for other
reasons. The 94th was the only
battalion to be broken up due to the result of a coin-toss between
Commanding Officers for the right to fight as a unit, and the 141st
(nicknamed the Bull Moose due to
their average size) was composed primarily of native Canadians and
American volunteers.
Following
WWI, the series of reorganizations that took place in the Canadian
Military saw the formation of the Kenora Light Infantry on 1 September
1921, with headquarters and “A” Company in Kenora and “D” Company
in Rainy River. This unit lasted until 15 December 1936, when in a sweep
of upward mobility, the regiment was transformed into 16 Battery
(Howitzer) RCA, part of the 7 Medium Brigade RCA, equipped with 4.5-inch
Howitzers. In 1939, the local militia unit became a recruiting and
training unit and its personnel formed the cadres of 3 Canadian active
service force regiments, the 17th
and 24th Field, and the 2nd
Medium. The 17th distinguished
itself in Italy and
Northern Europe, the 24th
was part of 7th Division on
west coast defense, and took part in the Greenlight force landings on
Kiska in the Aleutians. The 2nd Medium was employed throughout
the Northwestern Europe Campaign.
116
Battery was authorized on 1 April 1946 as the ‘116th Medium Battery,
RCA’ through the amalgamation of the 16th (Reserve) Medium Battery, RCA,
and the 209th (Reserve) Field Battery, RCA’ and allocated to the 40th
Medium Regiment, RCA, with RHQ and 116 Battery in Kenora, “A” Troop in
Dryden, and 118 Battery in Port Arthur. The battery in Fort Francis was
attached to 26 Field Regiment as 70 Battery (S.P.). In 1955, yet another
organizational change took place, with 118 Battery being withdrawn on 1
January and the battery in Fort Francis now
redesignated 121 Medium, being added on 25 March of the same year. In
1965, during the massive cuts in Canadian Military establishments, the
Regiment was redesignated 40 Field Regiment, RCA, and the sub-units in
Port Arthur, Fort Francis and Dryden were disbanded. Only political
intervention prevented the same from happening to Kenora. In 1968, a
further redesignation occurred, this time to 116th Independent Field
Battery, RCA, a title it holds to
this date. Like most of Canada’s militia, the 1960’s and 70’s saw a
series of low ebbs for Northwestern Ontario’s artillery unit, but since
1977 there has been a steady improvement in training standards and
numbers, culminating in capturing the Independent Battery Competition
title in 1986-87 and 1987-88. The Battery currently draws people from as
far afield as Sioux Lookout, Dryden, Fort Francis and Rainy River, giving
this unit the largest geographical and
yet the smallest population area of any Canadian Militia unit. |
