The Military in the Niagara Peninsula

Albert Stray is Head of Mobile Library Services at the London Public
Library.

This book—which covers a period from the 1700s to the 1940s—is a
collection of seven papers presented to the eighth annual Niagara
Peninsula History Conference, held at Brock University in 1986. The
contributors (professional and amateur historians) touch on a wide
variety of subjects (many of which naturally relate to the War of 1812):
naval aspects of the War of 1812, the role of the Indians in the War of
1812, women and war, the history of Forts George and Niagara,
Mackenzie’s rebellion of 1838, the Fenian invasion of 1866, and flight
training during World Wars I and II. One usually associates military
activity in Niagara with the War of 1812. It is refreshing to see new
areas highlighted: the role of Beamsville in wartime flight training,
women as more than innocent victims, and recognition of the role Natives
played in defending Upper Canada.

A table of contents enables readers to focus on areas that interest
them, as each paper stands alone. The order of the articles appears to
be random, though a chronological order could have been used. Most
include a bibliography and a list of references, while a few offer
suggestions for further reading.

Given the limited space available, this volume makes interesting
reading. However, one paper’s title is misleading: “The History of
Fort George as Seen by Military Artists” includes only one picture of
the fort and no references to the names of any military artists. Also,
while the sections on the 1838 rebellion and the Fenian invasion are
fascinating, they leave the reader waiting for the rest of the story.

Still, the editor succeeds in his stated purpose of providing material
that both enhances our interest and extends our knowledge. Recommended
for local-history collections.