1911 Canada photo postcard officers 97th Regiment at Niagara Ontario

Photo of row of officers of the 97^th Regiment ‘Algonquin Rifles’ standing on front of Tents. This regiment was recruited in Northern Ontario, in the Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie area.

Written on front Officers of the “Fighting 97th” Niagara  -- 1911

Written on back 

Mailed to Captain Cresey Adjutant 97^th regiment Sudbury Ont. Postmarked '--BURY JUL 10 11 ONT on 1 cent King Edward VII stamp. 

Major W.J Cressey, who later went with the regiment to Europe to fight in WW1.

Light toning spots on back.

(Red text is an electronic watermark that is not physically part of the card for sale)

The Algonquin Regiment

• Originated 1 July 1900 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario as the 97th Regiment of Rifles. Sub-units were located in Thessalon, Sudbury and Sturgeon Falls.
• Redesignated 1 June 1903 as the 97th Regiment "Algonquin Rifles"The Algonquin Regiment

The Great War

The 97th Regiment (Algonquin Rifles) recruited to its full active strength and supplied 12 officers and 251 other ranks to the 15th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. Captain E.F. Armstrong began recruiting in Nipissing and Sudbury in late 1915 resulting in the formation of the 159th (First Algonquins) Battalion. The battalion was mobilized on 5 July 1916, trained at Camp Borden in Angus, Ontario, during that summer and fall of 1916, and embarked for England on 1 November 1916, with a strength of 1,004 men. The battalion remained intact until 20 January 1917, when it was absorbed into the 8th Reserve Battalion and used to reinforce units already in France and Flanders. As a result of not having enough men at any particular battle, the unit received only the general "Great War 1916–1917" battle honour.