The Butler’s Rangers were formed in 1777 by Colonel John Butler, during the American Revolution they continued to fight along side their allies and friends, the Haudenosaunee until they were disbanded in 1784. They were the “shock troops” of their day and were the toughest, roughest and most focused soldiers of their time. Taught well by their Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) friends they were able to endure great hardship in a huge territory from Detroit to Albany and hundreds of miles south of the Great Lakes . These Ranger’s, green coated and buckskin clad men, were almost shadows rather than flesh and blood. Certainly the rebellion was not forfeited by them as they never lost a major battle.
At the end of the American Revolution the Haudenosaunee (Six Nations) ancestral territory was simply negotiated away, without consultation with the Confederacy, forcing many to move on to land given to them by the Crown north, east and west into what is now known as Canada. Even though the British were no longer at war with their rebellious cousins the Six Nations still clung to the possibility that they would be supported by the British if they continued to fight. Tired, outnumbered, no alliances outside of a few other First Nations the Six Nations yielded to the inevitable and were slowly and painfully robbed of their lands. These warriors, both Haudenosaunee and Butler ’s Rangers, continued a friendship that lasted throughout the war of 1812. Though not officially Butlers Rangers during that period the ex-rangers of the American Revolution still maintained their friendship and alliances with their Haudenosaunee allies ( Caldwell ’s Rangers). The Ancestral friendship is maintained today with the recreation of the Butler ’s Rangers and the only sanctioned Mohawk re-enactment group known as The British Native Allies, lead by our friend Okwaho.
We, the (Canadian) Butlers Rangers of the North have developed a great friendship with our fellow re-enactors (men, women and children) in the United States . Not only are we solid members of the Northern Brigade in Canada but of the British Brigade in the U.S.A. For years we have met at events and share our campfires, stories, history and the love of our hobby. We cherish that friendship very much. This unbroken contact has allowed all the rangers units, McDonell’s and the rangers companies in the U.S. to keep current on matters of historical importance and maintain the integrity of the ranger ancestors.
HMS Repulse
HMS Repulse, together with HMS Prince of Wales, was sunk by the Japanese off Singapore in December 1941
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Digger's remains found in Vietnam
The remains of one of the last Australian soldiers missing in action in Vietnam have been found at the crash site of a helicopter shot down in April 1971.
Lance Corporal John Francis Gillespie was killed on April 17, 1971 after being pinned underneath the downed helicopter in what were formerly known as the Long Hai Hills in Vietnam. more
Police defuse unexploded WWII bomb
Bomb experts were on Friday working to defuse an unexploded World War II bomb found near a London Underground station, a police spokesman confirmed. At one point on Thursday, the 2,200-pound device, found in a river near Bromley-by-Bow station in east London, began to tick but stopped when liquid was poured over it, police said. more
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The beginning of the Crusades can be found in the defeat of the Byzantines at the Battle of Manzikert in 1071, which cost them most of Asia Minor. The Byzantines lost the battle because the Turkish Sultan, on the edge of defeat, bought Byzantine's mercenaries, leading to a crushing Turkish victory, and causing the Byzantines to ask the Pope for help to recover the territory. As early as 1074, Pope Gregory VII entertained plans to launch a military expedition to help, but nothing came of it.
One of the most unusual military maneuvers ever was performed in 1191, during the third Crusade, when Richard the Lion-Hearted
captured the city of Acre. The inhabitants were barricaded inside, so King Richard had his soldiers throw 100 beehives over the walls. The people in the fortress surrendered immediately. More
Gettysburg Address
November 19, 1863
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. More
Militaria
Medal for the defence of leningrad
Established 22 December 1942. Awarded to all servicemen of the Soviet Army, Navy, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and civil citizens who took part in the defense of Leningrad.The famous siege of Leningrad lasted for 900 days, beginning 8 September 1941 until 27 January 1944. German forces blockaded the city in an attempt to starve the resistant inhabitants into submission. Famine was rampant. Despite being outnumbered in weapons and men, Leningrad defenders fought building to building under heavy artillery fire and air bombardment. Soviet fighters began an offensive on 14 January 1944, and the blockade of the city ended on 27 January 1944. Leningrad was awarded the Title of "Hero City" on 1 May 1945, and is one of only four "Hero Cities" in the USSR (the others being Sevastopol, Stalingrad, and Odessa.) It is made of brass. Approximately 1,496,000 were issued.
Gladius - Roman Sword
Gladius is a Latin word for sword. Early ancient Roman swords were similar to those used by the Greeks. From the 3rd century BC, the Romans adopted swords similar to those used by the Celtiberians and others during the conquest of Hispania.
