14

96th LSR at the time of the Fort William Freight Handler Riot

15

A closer view of the 96th LSR during the Fort William Freight Handler Strike
9 August 1909
Fort William, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

16

96th LSR during the Fort William Freight Handler Strike
13 August 1909
Fort William, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

17

96th LSR search homes during the Fort William Freight Handler Strike
13 August 1909
Fort William, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

18

96th LSR during the Fort William Freight Handler Strike
9 August 1909
Fort William, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

19

96th LSR during the 1912 Coal Handlers Strike
1912
Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada

20

Shoulder Numeral for the 96th LSR
1905
Thunder Bay Military Museum, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Collection of David Ratz

21

96th LSR Cap Badge
1905
Thunder Bay Military Museum, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Collection of David Ratz

22

96th LSR Pith Helmet Plate
1909
Thunder Bay Military Museum, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Collection of David Ratz

23

Coming of the First World War

The task of the 96th when war came in 1914 was to provide a "vital points guard." Two days after German troops crossed into Belgium the unit mustered with a strength of 32 officers and 240 other ranks. Recruiting began immediately to bring the unit up to strength. Guards were posted to provide security for the huge concrete grain elevators, which stretched along the waterfronts of Port Arthur and Fort William, as well as the dry docks, bridges, dams and wireless stations. Six days later a detachment was sent to guard the Kakabeka Falls hydroelectric power plant, located 18 miles west of the two cities on the Kaministiquia River. The "Head of the Lakes Guard" as it was called, though ostensibly a separate body, was composed entirely of members of the 96th LSR and was in effect the Regiment mobilized for home defence. It remained on duty until the end of November 1916.

24

Coming of the First World War
31 July 2006
Thunder Bay Military Museum, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

25

Recruiting for Overseas

In the mean time the 96th LSR acted as a recruiting and training depot. Early in August 1914 the first drafts from the LSR were on their way to Valcartier, Quebec, where the First Canadian Overseas Contingent was in the process of being concentrated. The 1st Provisional Battalion, later reorganized into the 8th Provisional Battalion had 5 officers and 314 other ranks from the LSR on strength. Because the majority of the recruits for the 8th Battalion came from Winnipeg, the new unit adopted the designation 8th (90th Winnipeg Rifles) Battalion with the nick name the "Little Black Devils."
Other drafts would follow and by the end of November 1915 the LSR had transferred 52 officers and 926 men from the strength of the Guard to Overseas Battalions and units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. These included 5 officers and 234 men to the 28th "North West" OS Battalion CEF, 8 officers and a large number of other ranks to the 44th OS Battalion CEF and 15 men to the Machine Gun Section.

26

Recruiting for Overseas
31 July 2006
Thunder Bay Military Museum, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

27

Recruits from the 96th LSR in front of the Fort William City Hall
1914
Fort William, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada