The Niagara Military Heritage Centre
PRESERVING our shared military history.
The Niagara Military Heritage Centre got its start as the Lincoln & Welland Regiment Museum. Housed in two rooms in the Niagara Falls Armoury, it was intended to tell the story of the Regiment to those citizen soldiers who were serving at the time.
Over the years the collection grew to encompass artifacts that represented the entire shared military history of not only the Niagara Region, but of Canada itself.
In 2000, the museum took possession of Butler’s Barracks National Historic Site in Niagara on the Lake. This 200+ year old building had been sitting unused for a number of years. Over a period of time the building was converted for use as the Lincoln & Welland Regiment Museum. Steps were taken to conserve and preserve the historic architecture of the structure while adapting it for use as a functional museum space
In 2016, Parks Canada took possession of the barracks for use as offices, displacing the museum. Over the next couple of years, the museum looked for a new permanent home to showcase its collection of artifacts. In the meantime, the collection has been housed at the Russell Airfield on Sodom Rd. In Niagara Falls.
A Collection of National Significance
The centre’s collection includes more than 30 000 artifacts representing the service of the citizen soldier across 4 centuries, From Butler’s Rangers in the American Revolution to the conflict Afghanistan; the collection gives unique insight into our shared historic experience.
In addition, the collection includes more than 40 Military vehicles; most of which are maintained in fully operation condition.
Butler's Rangers (1777–1784) was a Loyalist provincial military unit of the American Revolutionary War, raised by American loyalist John Butler. Most members of the regiment were Loyalists from upstate New York and northeastern Pennsylvania. Their winter quarters were constructed on the west bank of the Niagara River, in what is now Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. The Rangers fought principally in New York and Pennsylvania, but ranged as far west as Ohio and Michigan, and as far south as Virginia and Kentucky.
The Rangers were engaged in numerous violent raids that characterized the northern frontier of the American Revolutionary War, such as the Battle of Wyoming in July 1778 and the Cherry Valley massacre of November 1778. These actions earned the Rangers a reputation for ruthlessness.
Butler’s Rangers in the American Revolution
The Settlement of Niagara and
the War of 1812
In 1794, John Butler, who had commanded Butler’s Rangers during the American Revolution was appointed Commanding Officer of three battalions of Nassau Militia. Nassau (later Home District) was one of the Districts of Upper Canada, Niagara being only part of the district. By 1791 the battalions had a strength of 835 all ranks.
With the reorganization of the province into sixteen counties in 1792, Lincoln County (with 20 townships) came into existence. The militia was renamed and the Lincoln Militia, with three battalions came into being, some 849 strong. By 1794, Butler was a full colonel with four battalions reporting 976 all ranks. Many of the officers, NCOs and men had served with Butler’s Rangers during the Revolution and had received land grants in Niagara for this service. There is, however, no lineal connection of the Lincoln and Welland Regiment to Butler’s Rangers.[1]
By 1808, there were five regiments of Lincoln Militia:
The 1st Regiment of Lincoln Militia, commanded by Col. Ralfe Clench and Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Kerr, drawn from Niagara, Louth and Grantham townships.
The 2nd Regiment of Lincoln Militia, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Ball, drawn from Stamford, Thorold and Pelham.
The 3rd Regiment of Lincoln Militia, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Warren, from Crowland, Willoughby and Bertie.
The 4th Regiment of Lincoln Militia, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Johnson Butler from Grimsby and Clinton.
The 5th Regiment of Lincoln Militia, commanded by Colonel Peter Hare and Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew Brandt from Ancaster, Barton, Saltfleet, Glanford and Binbrook.
At the outbreak of the War of 1812, flank companies (limited to three officers and 38 men), of the five regiments took the field in all major engagements from Niagara to Detroit including the Battles of Queenston Heights, Lundy's Lane, Stoney Creek and Fort Detroit. The flank companies took the field together with Militias raised by various former officers including Colonel Isaac Swayze and did most of the militia's fighting. In all cases they were a credit to their country.
The 19th "Lincoln" Regiment and 44th Lincoln and Welland Regiment were placed on active service on 6 August 1914 for local protection duties with the Welland Canal Force.
The 81st Battalion, CEF was authorized on 10 July 1915 and embarked for Britain on 28 April 1916 where it provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until 6 July 1916, when its personnel were absorbed by the 35th Reserve Battalion, CEF. The battalion was subsequently disbanded on 27 July 1917.[1]
The 98th Battalion (Lincoln & Welland), CEF was authorized on 22 December 1915 and embarked for Britain on 16 July 1916 where it provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until 6 October 1916, when its personnel were absorbed by the 12th Reserve Battalion, CEF. The battalion was subsequently disbanded on 17 July 1917.[1]
The 176th Battalion (Niagara Rangers), CEF was authorized on 15 July 1916 and embarked for Britain on 29 April 1917. On 9 May 1917, its personnel were absorbed by the 12th Reserve Battalion, CEF to provide reinforcements to the Canadian Corps. The battalion was subsequently disbanded on 30 August 1920.[1]
By the end of the war the 44th Lincoln and Welland Regiment had gained the battle honors Ypres, 1915, '17; Festubert, 1915;[2][3] Somme, 1916;[4] Arras, 1917;[5] and Hill 70.[6]
World War I
The regiment was called out on service on 26 August 1939 and then details were placed on active service on 1 September 1939, designated as The Lincoln and Welland Regiment, CASF (Details), for local protection duties. The details were formed as an active service battalion and designated The Lincoln and Welland Regiment, CASF on 15 August 1940. It was redesignated as the 1st Battalion, The Lincoln and Welland Regiment, CASF on 7 November 1940. The unit served in British Columbia, as part of the 13th Canadian Infantry Brigade, and in Newfoundland in a home defence role as part of Atlantic Command. On 16 July 1943 the 1st Battalion it embarked for Britain. On 25 July 1944 it landed in France as a part of the 10th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Armoured Division, and it continued to fight in North-West Europe until the end of the war. The overseas battalion was disbanded on 15 February 1946.
From Tilly-la-Campagne on 31 July 1944 until Bad Zwischenahn on 1 May 1945, the regiment distinguished itself in many actions. Over 1500 men of the regiment were casualties. Of the original men who enlisted in 1940, only three officers and 22 men were on parade in St. Catharines in 1946 when the 1st Battalion was dismissed.
World War II
late December 1945, the regiment requested authority to ship to Canada its M5A1 Stuart VI recce tank Serial No. WD CT271427, manufacturer's number 10778, nicknamed "Press-On", to assist in forming a regimental museum collection. This tank was salvaged and repaired by the unit's Pioneer Platoon after being blown up on a mine in the battalion area. The turret was removed, and it served as the COs command and recce vehicle through action in Holland and Germany. The request cited its presence on the battlefield signified that the CO was present as an inspiration and confidence to all ranks. Its reputation as a mascot, led all those on strength at the end of hostilities to sign their names on the sides. It is a late production M5A1, with periscope guards on the crew hatches, a large rear storage box, and a not uncommon mix of road wheel types. It now stands in front of the armoury in St. Catharines, Ontario.
