Victor Brereton Rivers conflict Battle of Batoche
Career
He became a career soldier with the Canadian Permanent Active Militia, as a lieutenant in 'A' Battery, which operated the first Gatling Gun to be used in combat in Canada. He was a veteran of the Battle of Fish Creek (24 April 1885) and the Battle of Batoche (5–12 May 1885). At the Battle of Fish Creek, District of Saskatchewan, the Dominion forces under General Middleton attempting to quell Louis Riel's North-West Rebellion retreated. At the Battle of Batoche, District of Saskatchewan, the Dominion forces defeated the Métis' attempt to maintain Aboriginal independence in the disputed "Canadian" North-West Territories. Portions of letters he sent to his wife Maud from the front were posted in the Brockville newspaper of the time.
He was elected president of the Royal Military College Club in 1891.During the Second Boer War in South Africa (1899–1902), Canadian mounted troops gathered information of intelligence value with the Strathcona’s Horse and British scout units. Canadian intelligence efforts in South Africa led to his appointment on 6 February 1901 as the first Intelligence Staff Officer of the Canadian Militia. He reported to the first Director General of Military Intelligence (DGMI) Brevet-Major William A.C. Denny, Royal Army Service Corps. His staff work led shortly after, on 1 April 1903, to the formation of the Corps of Guides (Canada), "The Guides should be intelligent men and capable of active work with a knowledge of the topographical features of the country as well as the roads, the country between the roads, sidepaths, names of farmers, etc. in the area, and when possible, should be in possession of a horse". This organization was the forerunner of the Canadian Forces Intelligence Branch. He served as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Militia headquarters staff, Ottawa. He died of tuberculosis in 1911.
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