BX April 25, 1916

In War 13 Months; Was Unscathed – Corporal Frank Montour of Six Nations Went Through all the Big Fights

After 13 months spent in the trenches in Europe, during which time he went through all the big engagements unscathed, Corp. Frank Montour has returned home to take out a commission with the 114th Haldimand (Indian Battalion). Corp. Montour is a son of Chief Montour of the Six Nation Indians and was in Brantford for a short time yesterday afternoon on his way to New Credit. Today he will report for duty with the 114th.

Corp. Montour was a brother-in-law of the late Lieutenant Cameron Donald Brant, who was the first native born Brant County man to lose his life in the war. Lieut. Brant was killed in the battle of Ypres on April 23, a year ago last Sunday. With Lieut. Brant, Corp Montour was amongst the first Indians to volunteer when the Empire’s call came for men.

Corp. Montour was with his brother-in-law when he was killed. Death, he states, was almost instantaneous, he being killed in a charge on the German trenches. At the time Corp. Montour left there were six other of the Six Nations enlisted. Lieut. Brant was the only one to be killed, but two others have been wounded.

All the big engagements, Ypres, Festubert, Givenchy, Ploegsteert, and Messines were participated in by Corp. Montour, who was with the 4th Battalion. Ypres, he states, was away the heaviest fight and had the largest casualties. It was after the battle of Ypres that he received his stripes. He was very modest in his portrayal of the work at the front.

BC October 19, 1916

V.C. for Noble Indian Officer – Captain F. Montour Highly Praised by Writer from Front – Is a Splendid Officer – Is Brother-in-Law of the Late Lieutenant Cameron D. Brant

Concerning Captain Frank Montour, the Indian officer recently recommended for the Victoria Cross, Mr. F.O. Loft writes from the front:

Anyone who knows Captain Frank Montour would not any sooner be made aware of anything he may have done upon the battlefield to merit him the Victoria Cross, because he is a splendid type of the most unassuming and unpretentious.

He is a Delaware, in the prime of life, a strikingly handsome man of fully six feet in height.  On his square, broad shoulders rests a head that is well-balanced, and behind the gently and kindly countenance is a mind and temper that will brook no terror.  Frank is a brother-in-law of the late Lieut. Cameron D. Brant, who gave up his life at the battle of Ypres about 23rd April 1915.

Father Counsel

At the outbreak of the war, in August 1914, Frank told his father it was his intention to enlist.  His father in giving his final concurrence tendered a gentle and kindly admonition in the following words: “My son, when you go to the war, first of all fight for your God, then for the King and lastly for your country.”

These words were in keeping with the everyday professions of the father, who is a devout Christian, though, not an ordained preacher of the Gospel.  He is an influence for good in the community he lives, highly respected by all who know him, fully deserving the success he has attained as an industrious tiller of the soil.

Enlisted in Ranks

Frank enlisted as a private with the 4th Battalion at Hamilton under the command of Lieut.-Col. Birchall.  It was with this overseas battalion that his brother-in-law, Lieut. Cameron D. Brant, also enlisted.

After being at  the firing line and the trenches more than a year, he returned home on furlough and subsequently transferred to the 114th Battalion, Brock Rangers, C.E.F., and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant.  During the time the battalion has been training at Camp Borden he has moved up another step to the rank of Captain.

An Indian Company

He is now identified with the Indian Company of the 114th Battalion, to go overseas in the near future.  The Indian Company in the 114th is composed of warriors from various tribes within the counties of Brant and Haldimand.  These are the Mohawks, Onondagas, Senacas, Cayugas, Oneidas and Tuscarora’s, known as the Six Nations proper, together with a splendid sprinkling of the Delaware, Mississauga’s (Chippewa’s) and Mohawk (Caughnawaga) from near Lachine in the province of Quebec.  In the company are also to be found some Chippewa from the northern heights of Ontario.

Captain Frank Montour will doubtless be in command of this company, enjoying every confidence reposed in him by brother officers and warriors in his capabilities to sustain the dignity and responsibility attached to his important commission.

Company likes Him

As an evidence of his popularity and pride of the warriors to have him as their leader, it was recently rumored at Camp Borden that he was selected as one of the officers to go almost immediately overseas when the warriors got very busy and requested the commandant to have him retained.

We at the Six Nations take great pride in extending sincere and most hearty congratulations to Capt. Frank Montour and the Delawares our cousins (traditional relationship) in the bright accomplishments of a worthy son and warrior of the tribe who by his conduct in war has brought distinction and honor not only to his family and tribe, but alike to all Britain’s Indian allies.  

BX October 26, 1987

Frank Weaver Montour – At the West Haldimand Hospital, Hagersville on Sunday, October 25, 1987, Frank W. Montour, age 97 years; husband of the late Janette Martin and Charlotte Brant; loving father of George E., Robert C., Kenneth A. and the late Dorothy Davis, Albert and Cecil Montour; dear grandfather of 35 grandchildren and several great and great-great grandchildren; also survived by a brother, Ernest; predeceased by sisters, Emma, Ann, Lydia and Flora; brothers, Art and Robert.  

Mr. Montour was a member of the Hamilton Police Department until his enlistment with the Canadian Fourth Battalion in the First World War.  Upon his return he served on the newly former elected Six Nations Band Council for many years and also farmed.  Mr. Montour is also a veteran of the Second World War, a life member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Caledonia.  Resting at the Hyde and Mott Funeral Home, Hagersville after 7 p.m., Monday.  Funeral service in the chapel on Wednesday at 2 p.m.  Interment Delaware Cemetery, Third Line.  Evening prayers, 8 p.m., Tuesday.

BX October 28, 1987

Funeral Service Conducted Today for Former Councilor on Reserve

OHSWEKEN – Frank Montour, a member of the first elected council on the Six Nations Reserve and a “fair, compassionate, progressive man,” was to be buried today in Delaware Cemetery on Third Line.

Mr. Montour died Sunday at West Haldimand General Hospital in Hagersville.  He was 97.

He was elected to council in 1924, the year the federal government installed the new political system and stopped recognizing the traditional system.  He served for a total of 16 years until he retired from politics in 1973.

Chief Coun. William Montour is Mr. Montour’s grandson.

Mary Bloomfield, council’s secretary since 1966, remembered the former councilor as “fair, compassionate and progressive.  He did a lot of thinking before he made a decision.”

As Mr. Montour grew older he became the “backbone” of council, recalled Coun. William White, who served four years on council with Mr. Montour.  “He could give you advice.  They would call him for help.  He was a person you could rely on.

“He took a real interest in the community.”

Mr. Montour also was consulted about almost everything that wasn’t political, even the weather.  “He’d look up at the sky and tell them what the weather was going to be,” Mrs. Bloomfield remembered.

He also was a farmer, a police officer and veteran of two world wars.

The funeral service was to be today, at Hyde and Mott Funeral Home in Hagersville.

He was high in his praise of his commanding officer, Lieut. Col. Mac Colquhoun, who rose from a captain. At the beginning of the year for good work he received the D.S.O. All the men have a high regard for the colonel he remarked.

Much pleasure was expressed by Corp. Montour in getting back with his own people for a while. In touching on the question of recruiting he said it was his expectation to take a lot of the young men back with him when he went. Although very glad to get home he is ready to go back when the time comes.

Corporal Montour came in from Hamilton yesterday noon. He was accompanied by his wife, who has been stopping in Hamilton with Lieut. Brant’s widow. Here they were guests of Mr. Jacob Lewis, 38 Aberdeen Avenue, who is an uncle of Mrs. Montour. Later in the day they went to his former home in New Credit.