The West Museum 17 George Street P.O. Box 337 Parry Sound, ON P2A 2X4 Phone: (705)746-5365

“In Our Collection”

Military Cap Badge

Background and History – This week, from “In Our Collection” the Museum on Tower Hill brings to you a military cap badge which appears as a gold badge with a wolf head atop a canoe embossed with Native script “Ah Neugahne Min.”

The cap badge is a Northern Pioneers badge which originated in Parry Sound, ON. on September 1, 1903. Originally, The Northern Pioneers were the ‘23rd Regiment “The Northern Fusiliers;’” however, the regiment was re-designated as: ‘23rd Regiment, “The Northern Pioneers’” on January 1, 1904, and later referred to as simply “The Northern Pioneers” on May 1, 1920. ‘The Northern Pioneers’ were organized as a two battalion regiment with the 1st Battalion (162nd Battalion) on the Non Permanent Active Militia order of battle, and the 2nd Battalion (122nd Battalion) on the Reserve order of battle.

On December 15, 1936, The Northern Pioneers were disbanded for the purpose of reorganization and amalgamation with ‘The Algonquin Regiment.’

First World War – ‘The Northern Pioneers’ were placed on active service on August 6, 1914 for local protection duties. The 122nd Battalion embarked for Britain on June 2, 1917 and its personnel were absorbed by the ‘Canadian Forestry Depot, CEF’ on June 10, 1917 to provide reinforcements.

The 162nd Battalion, embarked for Britain on October 31, 1916 where its personnel were absorbed by the ‘3rd Reserve Battalion, CEF’ and the ‘4th Reserve Battalion, CEF’ on January 4, 1917 to provide reinforcements for the Canadian Corps in the field.

Today – On the online forum titled: Canadian Expeditionary Force Study Group, member Bill Alexander quotes: The 162nd is one of those battalions that have suffered from a lack of interest. Recruited mainly in the Almaguin Highlands / Parry Sound area of central they came from a regimental area that is thinly populated and has suffered from de-population since the First World War era. They recruited out of the area north of Muskoka, up to (even some into North Bay) and across from Parry Sound to the Algonquin Park boundary. As a battalion perpetuated by the Algonquin Regiment, they have not received the attention that the 159th* has.

* The 159th Battalion being that of the First Algonquins Battalion

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