1

A New Beginning
30 July 2006
Thunder Bay Military Museum, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

2

A New Beginning

There were several attempts between 1896-1914 to raise a Militia unit in New Ontario, as Northwestern Ontario was often called prior to the First World War. It was not until 3 July 1905 that a new as of yet undesignated rural regiment of infantry was authorized. In December the unit was designated 96th "The Lake Superior Regiment" (LSR), with its Headquarters localized at Port Arthur, No. 1 and 2 Company were located at Port Arthur, No. 3 and 4 Company were headquartered at Fort William, No. 5 Company at Fort Frances and No. 6 Company at Kenora. On the 1st of April 1907 the Militia adopted letter designations starting with "A" for companies of rural regiments.
The following year the Fort Frances and Kenora Companies were detached to form the nucleus another rural regiment, the 98th Regiment, that would later become the 98th "The Rainy River and Kenora" Regiment. At the same time "E" Company was moved to Port Arthur and "F" Company to Fort William, and the status of the 96th was raised to that of a city corps. This entitled the unit to paid drill at local headquarters and ensured it would receive authority to attend the annual summer camp.

3

The 96th "Lake Superior" Regiment
1905
Thunder Bay Military Museum, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Collection of David Ratz

4

96th LSR Print
1905
Thunder Bay Military Museum, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Collection of David Ratz

5

Unidentified Sergeant 96th LSR
1905
Thunder Bay Military Museum, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Collection of Bruce Reith

6

96th LSR training at Gresley Park
1909
Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada

7

96th LSR Gresley Park
1913
Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada

8

The 96th LSR Mess tents camp Sewell
July 1913
Manitoba, Canada

9

No. 1 Section, G Company. 96th LSR.
1913
Thunder Bay Military Museum, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

10

Female Posing in 96th LSR Uniform
1913
Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Photo from Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society

11

Aid to the Civil Power
31 July 2006
Thunder Bay Military Museum, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

12

Aid to the Civil Power

In 1909 the 96th was called out in aid of the civil power in Fort William to restore order after rioting by striking freight handlers and again in 1912 in Port Arthur after striking coal handlers had a gun battle with local police. The Regiment was able to restore order without a clash with the strikers. In response to the perceived threat to social order posed by radical unions and ethnic minorities the establishment of the LSR was increased to eight companies and a new "modern" one regiment armoury in the approved red brick castellated style was promised and completed in 1913.

13

96th LSR at the time of the Fort William Freight Handler Riot
9 August 1909
Fort William, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

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