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Midland played a role in the Battle of Batoche If you already know that 376 officers and men from Midland and area fought in the North West Rebellion of 1885, Wally Wilson would like to talk to you. Midland resident Wilson didn't know about the Midland connection until he happened to visit Batoche National Historic Park, Saskatchewan. He hasn't been able to find any information locally since he returned home to Domi- nion Avenue. According to informa- tion at the national park, the Midland Battalion was part of the North West Field Force of 5,044 men. The Midland Battalion was composed of volunteers from various in- fantry battalions all based in the Midland district of Ontario. Lieutenant Col- onel Arthur Williams, a popular Member of Parlia- ment, commanded the regiment until his death from typhoid fever, as the troops were on their way home. Four of the 376 officers and men were wounded. The men of the North West Field Force came primarily from southern Ontario. The North West Uniform officer This is a replica of a uniformed officer from the Midland battalion who fought the Battle of Batoche. An estimated 376 r He can't wait =e Little Lake Park on Sept. 2 was the scene of a picnic by the Midland-Penetanguishene area Big Brothers Association. Chad Hamelin offers a half-cooked ham- Territories, Manitoba, Quebec, and Nova Scotia also provided volunteers. They were Canada's militia: part-time soldiers, shopkeepers, bank clerks, and tradesmen who belonged to local regiments more in demand on social occasions than for fighting frontier campaigns. Until the rebellion of 1885, few of them had faced enemy fire. The Midland Battalion was the largest component of the 1,383 man column of Major General Frederick Middleton, the force that engaged the rebels. The Midland Battalion men from Midland fought in the North West Rebellion of 1885. Photo by Jerry Scwager, submitted ae Wally ilar: played a key role in the decisive battle. Between May 9 and May 12, 1885, fewer than 300 Metis and Indians led by Louis Riel and Gabriel Du- mont defended the village of Batoche from a series of rifle pits which they had dug along the edge of the bush surrounding the village. On the fourth day, Mid- dleton and 130 men, equip- ped with a nine-pound gun, and a Gatling gun, reconnoitred to the north of the village's church and rectory and began to ad- vance on the Metis rifle pits. The feint was suppos- ed to draw the Metis out of the pits and around the church within range of the Gatling gun. Upon hearing gunfire, another group of soldiers was to open fire and move in from another side. Strong wind kept the gun- fire from the ears of the se- cond body of soldiers. Mid- dleton withdrew, without knowing that the feint had been a success. "As Middleton sat down to lunch minutes later, the Midlanders, under Lieute- nant Colonel Williams, broke through the weaken- ed Metis lines near the church." "The battle was over in minutes as the Field Force swept down the slopes to Batoche, past rifle pits where by now the Metis were firing nails and stones from their rifles," according to the account of the battle provided visitors to the historic site. "Riel and Dumont escaped. Riel gave himself up later but Dumont fled to the United States. Those who had not dispersed were captured and held for later trial in the courts. Over 25 dead from both sides were counted when the battle ended." burger patty to John Weel, who can't seem to wait until it is cooked. WE BUILT A PROUD NEW FEELING 2nd BIG WEEK SUPER SALE ; si APPLE JUh PPLE JUICE | | ween canoe on VITAMIN C ADDED Martin's Apple Juice 48 FL O2 TIN REGULAR OR DIET FROZEN, LAYER, ASSORTED FLAVOURS Pepsi-Cola or 7UP Pepperidge Farm Cakes CASE OF 24 369 g PKG 280 mL TINS puso peterson 6.99 2/99 (Unit cost 104¢ per 100 mL) (Unit cost 66¢ per 100 mL) LEMONADE LEMONADE LEMONADE shre =5 Shieddies ORANGE, APPLE. FRUIT PUNCH. GRAPE, LEMONADE Sweet Ripe Fruit Drinks CASE OF 27 CEREAL Nabisco Shreddies 675 g BOX 250 mL TETRA PAKS INDIVIDUAL 3 PAKS - 69 A PREMIUM HEARTY BLEND, CUSTOM GROUND Bokar Bean Coffee 1LB BAG SWISS STYLE, ALL FLAVOURS wan CANADA NO. 1, PRODUCT OF U SA Fresh Cantaloupe EACH Super Coupon WITH THIS SAVE 50 COUPON Old Dutch Bleach 36 litre cont LIMIT. 1 per coupon. OFFER VALID SEPTEMBER 8 - 12. ir (Featuse price 149 without coupon) T FROM CANADAS FINEST GRADE A BEEF BON "Top Sirloin Steak tine ; 39 if Ib WITH THIS COUPON SAVE 1.00 POWDERED. REGULAR OR INSCENTED Tide Detergent _ 199 Limit: 1 per couon. OFFER VALID SEPTEMBER 6 - 12. 1987 (Feature price 899 without coupon) We redeem all food store coupons NEW STORE HOURS: A &P Mall: Mon. - Thurs. 8 a.m. - 10 p.m., Fri. & Sat. 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. Mountainview Mall: Open 24 hours 8 a.m. Mon. - 9:30 p.m. Sat. Tuesday, September 8, 1987, Page 19 IP IFPI SF