A Queen’s Ranger Fights Napoleon at Waterloo The Battle of Waterloo is widely recognized as a major turning point in modern western history. On June 18th, 1815 a combined army of British, Prussian and other allies routed Napoleon in Belgium ending his career as a military and political leader. Two hundred years on, the name ‘Waterloo’ is synonymous with ultimate defeat. One of the thousands … Continue reading Capt. Alexander Macnab
Nearly 75 years after his suicide, Private Desmond Taylor of The Queen’s York Rangers (1st Americans) (RCAC) was remembered by members of Regiment in a ceremony at his graveside near St. John the Baptist Norway in the Beaches neighbourhood. “His story is tragic but this small act of remembrance shines light on a forgotten history and is a reminder that military leaders have an obligation … Continue reading Private Desmond Taylor
When John Graves Simcoe was the Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, he received a 200 acre tract of land on which to build an estate in the name of his young son, Francis. Like all of the country lots sold at the time, the plot stretched from modern day Queen Street (then Lot Street) in the south to what is now Bloor Street in the … Continue reading Castle Frank
Names such as Simcoe, Jarvis, Shank and Shaw are all well known as being those of some of the Queen’s Rangers officers who led the Regiment during its duties constructing the town of York. There is another officer, however, who is lesser known today but who was a force to be reckoned with in his day. His name was John Small. Born in Cirencester, England … Continue reading LCol John Small
The RSM is a key figure in the life of the Regiment who does much to define the culture of the unit. Even long retired soldiers have no trouble recalling who the RSM was during their service, and can likely recount a few colourful stories about them as well. One of these figures from our Regiment’s history is John Alexander Fraser. He was born near Forres-Morey … Continue reading WO1 (RSM) J.A. Fraser
When the 20thBattalion, C.E.F. was stood up in 1914, recruits were drawn from across southern Ontario, including many volunteers with previous military service. One of these men was Alexander George Edwin Smith. Smith was born on the 14th of August, 1880 on the Six Nations Reserve near Brantford, Ontario. Like many members of that community he served in the local militia, the 37th Battalion, the Haldimand Rifles, where … Continue reading Captain A.G.E. Smith, MC
Since Antiquity, military units have traditionally fought with a standard, which served as a visible rallying point in battle. During the Revolutionary War, according to British Army custom, the Queen’s Rangers had two sets of colours: The King’s Colour, a flag that displays the Union Jack with the Regiment’s badge at the centre, and the Regimental Colour, bearing the badge against a background of the … Continue reading Queen’s Ranger Colours
Darrell Bricker is the Chief Executive Officer, Ipsos Public Affairs, an organization that conducts corporate reputation and social research around the world. The company is a division of Ipsos, the world’s second largest market research firm having offices in 25 countries and a staff of over 700 research professionals. Dr. Bricker holds a PhD in Political Science from Carleton University in Ottawa and a BA … Continue reading HCol Darrell Bricker
Honorary Lieutenant Colonel Sir Harold Cecil Aubrey Harmsworth was born on the 13th of June, 1897, in Brondesbury Park, London. His father was Sir Leicester Harmsworth, Bt, and his family was very well known in the UK for their strong political influence and for their pioneering efforts in the field of popular journalism. Sir Harold’s father and uncles (Lords Northcliffe, Rothermere and Harmsworth) collectively controlled … Continue reading HLCol Sir H.C.A. Harmsworth
In 1793, Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe authorized a garrison on the present site of Fort York, just west of the mouth of Garrison Creek on the north western shore of Lake Ontario. Simcoe recognized Toronto was an ideal site for settlement and defence because of its natural harbour and relative longer distance from the United States. Fort York guards the western (at the time of construction, the only) entrance to … Continue reading Fort York
The Queen's York Rangers' Virtual Museum 