Cap Badge - 176th (Niagara Rangers) Battalion, CEF The 176th (Niagara Rangers) Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in St. Catharines, Ontario, the unit began recruiting during the winter of 1915/16 in Lincoln and Welland counties. After sailing to England in April 1917, the battalion was absorbed into the 12th Reserve Battalion on the day of its arrival, May 7, 1917.