Hello. My understanding is that Niagara Falls had a Home Guard unit. Almost all Home Guard units
were started late 1914 or early 1915 to reinforce our border security in the event that german sympathizers
crossed out borders from the United States to do damage to public buildings and generally create some chaos.
Many units sprung up and generally consisted of older men or some who could not enlist usually for family or medical
concerns. Remember that patriotic ferver was very high and often stirred up by the press. Essex County (Windsor),
Bank of Montreal, County of York, Toronto Police Force, and even Upper Canada College had home guard units.
Ross rifles were ordered new from the factory (no bayonets) that were of the current Mk III (1910) model and all the
military models were factory stamped HG on the right side of the butt. As orders were filled with consecutive number
serials there would be a block of serials for each unit. The Niagara Falls Home Guard rifles were marked identically
to yours on the left side of the butt along with a rack number underneath. The marking does not appear to be marked by the RR Co. as the dies are different. You may have even got your rifle from me years ago as I have had at least 2
R1910s marked Niagara Falls. I have serials of 3 such HG military rifles but will not give out in this public forum.
I did hear a rumour that there were near 40 guys in your unit but now I think many more with your rack number of 71.Maybe period newspapers articles would help. It is possible that R1910s were supplied as well as the service rifle and of course some police officers would serve. Subject worth researching. You can always pop by to see mine. JOHN