Canada in the Great World War : an authentic account of the military history of Canada from the earliest days to the close of the war of the nations

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CANADA

IN THE

GREAT WORLD WAR

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CANADA

IN THE

GREAT WORLD WAR

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CANADA

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GREAT WORLD WAR

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VARIOUS AUTH

VoL VI

SPECIAL SERVICES

HEROIC DEEDS

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UBUTBNANT-GENEBAL SIR H. E. BURSTALL, K.C.B., K.C.M.G^ A.D.C.
CoxMANDn 2vD Canadiaw Divtuon

CANADA

IN THE

GREAT WORLD WAR

AN AUTHENTIC ACCOUNT OF THE
MILITARY HISTORY OF CANADA
FROM THE EARLIEST DAYS TO THE
CLOSE OF THE WAR OF THE NATIONS

BY

VARIOUS AUTHORITIES

Vol. VI

SPECIAL SERVICES

HEROIC DEEDS

ETC

TORONTO

UNITED PUBLISHERS OF CANADA

LIMITED

V. (O

Copyright, 1921

BY

United Publishers op Canada, Limited

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

Page
THE CANADIAN ARTILLERY . .. ^ ,. . 1
By J. S. B. Macpherson

CHAPTER II
THE CANADIAN ENGINEERS . . > :,- >: 37
By J. L. Melville

CHAPTER III
THE CANADIAN ARMY MEDICAL CORPS . > y 75
By Lawrence J. Burpee

CHAPTER IV
RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES . .; > . 116
By Officers op the Services

CHAPTER V
CANADIAN WOMEN IN THE GREAT WAR . . . 176
By Wealtha A. Wilson and Ethel T. Raymond

CHAPTER VI
THE CAMPAIGN IN NORTHERN RUSSIA . > , 219
By Allan Donnell

CHAPTER VII
DEMOBILIZATION . . . . . . . > 240

F. A. Carman

CHAPTER VIII
HEROIC DEEDS > -. . 270

APPENDICES

L COMMANDING OFFICERS OVERSEAS UNITS . 315

IL DECORATIONS AWARDED CANADIANS . . 373

in. STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF THE C.E.F. . . 376

IV. TERMS OF ARMISTICE WITH GERMANY . . 378

ILLUSTRATIONS

H. E. Burstall, K.C.B.,
M. King, C.M.G., D.S.O

Lieutenant-General Sir
K.C.M.G., A.D.C. .

Brigadier-General W. B.

Sixty-pounders in action ....

Loading a big gun ....

The master-gunner and two of his officers

Officers of the 9th and 10th Brigades, C.F.A.

Bridging the Canal du Nord

Canadian Engineers at work

Colonel Herbert A. Bruce, M.D., F.R.C.S. (Eng.)

Officers of " B " Mess, Canadian Corps H.Q. :

Brigadier-General A. E. Ross, C.B., C.M.G
seated in centre .....

Late Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae

Lieutenant-Colonel F. A. C. Scrimger, V.C. .

Officers of the 26th Battalion, 1918

Canadian Generals .....

General Sir Arthur Currie with H.R.H. Prince
Arthur of Connaught and Divisional and Brig-
adier Generals .....

Canadian Generals .....

Canadian Generals .....

Types of Canadian Battalion Commanders .

Types of Canadian Officers

Types of Canadian Officers

Canada's Greatest Aces . . . >:

Winners of the Victoria Cross

Winners of the Victoria Cross . . >:

Winners of the Victoria Cross . .; >;

Winners of the Victoria Cross . .; >;

Winners of the Victoria Cross . . .;

Winners of the Victoria Cross

Winners of the Victoria Cross

Major-General Sir F. O. W. Loomis, K.C.B., C.M.G
D.S.O

Major-General Sir David Watson, K.C.B., C.M.G.

Frontispiece
facing page 6
18
18
24
34
44
56
84

104
110
112
142
162

242

246
250
256
260
266
270
274
282
286
292
296
304

31 :

316
318

Vii

VIU

ILLUSTRATIONS

Officers of the Royal Canadian Regiment, 1918 .facing page 320

Types of Canadian Battalion Commanders . . " 322

Lieutenant-Colonel A. E. Dubuc, D.S.O., and Bar " 324

Officers of the 42nd Battalion, 1918 . . > " 326

Officers of the 49th Battalion, 1918 . ;. .; " 328

Soldier Brothers .... >: . " 330

Soldier Brothers . . . . > >: " 336

Soldier Father and Soldier Sons . . > >: ** 340

Soldier Brothers . . . > . . " 346

Types of Canadian Officers . . . . . " 352

T3a)es of Canadian Officers ..... " 356

Lieutenant-Colonel C. P. Templeton, D.S.O. . . " 368

Decorations ....... " 374

Map of Europe ., v .: > .; ;. > page 378

CHAPTER I

THE CANADIAN ARTILLERY

1. Its Organization and Work

IN attempting to give an account of the work of the
Canadian Artillery in the recent war, one is con-
fronted with great difficulties. There was hardly
a unit which went through such great changes and
developments, and there was hardly a unit which
changed its interior organization to so great an extent.
Field artillery were changed from four-gun militia
batteries to six-gun overseas batteries, back to four-
gun batteries, and then again to six-gun batteries;
howitzer brigades were abolished, but howitzer batter-
ies were added to field artillery brigades, and the num-
ber of brigades to a division was also changed. In the
heavy and siege batteries, an organization grew from
nothing in the case of siege batteries, and in the
heavies from one battery for each of the first two
divisions in France to independent brigades. Again,
in the case of the arrival of the various portions
of the Canadian Corps Artillery in France until
the demobilization of the corps, each division had
its own history in the formation of its artillery,
and to trace the history of the artillery from this
point of view would be a task which would involve
searches through almost all the war diaries of the
various brigades in existence at the end of the war,
and the result would be little more than a catalogue

1

2 CANADA IN THE GREAT WOELD WAR

of dates and figures. Therefore this article lays no
claim to be a strictly accurate account of all the
changes which took place in the artillery of the Cana-
dian Corps, but attempts to give the reader a general
idea of its development from the original First Divi-
sional Artillery to the final growth which it had at-
tained at the end of the war, and also to give some
idea of the work done by the gunners, a work which is
all too little appreciated, especially in the case of the
field artillery.

The field artillery at the end of the war was organ-
ized into five divisional artilleries and one army bri-
gade. Each divisional artillery consisted of two bri-
gades and a divisional ammunition column, and each
brigade had three batteries of six 18-pounder guns
each and one battery of six 4.5-inch howitzers. The
divisional artillery was attached directly to each in-
fantry division for administration and as much as pos-
sible for operations, but frequently for operations was
lent to some other division, not always a Canadian
one. The Fifth Divisional Artillery and the Eighth
Army Brigade were used wherever they were most
needed, in and outside of the Canadian Corps. Thus
the organization and growth of the artillery kept pace
with that of the remainder of the corps and grew not
only to four but to five divisions.

The First Divisional Artillery was formed chiefly
from the militia artillery of Eastern Canada, although
both Winnipeg and Victoria sent large and extremely
well trained detachments to Valcartier. The militia
batteries in 1914 consisted entirely of four-gun bat-
teries and at Valcartier were without howitzers. The
various four-gun batteries were there combined to
foim six-gun batteries, of which there were three bri-
gades of three batteries each to a division. These bri-
gades were the 1st, largely from the vicinity of Ot-
tawa; the 2nd, largely from Montreal; and the 3rd^
largely from Toronto. There was also the 1st Heavy

THE CANADIAN AETILLERY 3

Battery, originally from Montreal, but at Valcartier it
absorbed a large number of men from tbe heavy bat-
teries (chiefly of St. John) in the Maritime Provinces.
Such was the organization which sailed, fully equipped
with guns and horses and over strength in officers and
men, from Gaspe Basin in September, 1914.

In England the four-gun batteries were again formed,
and three brigades of four four-gun batteries each,
together with the Heavy Battery, sailed from Bristol
on the 10th of February, 1915, and arrived at St. Na-
zaire some days later after a stormy and most un-
pleasant voyage through the Bay of Biscay.

The First Divisional Artillery has the distinction, of
which it is particularly proud, of being the only divi-
sion of the Canadian Corps which went to France as a
complete fighting division. The only thing lacking
was howitzers, and as these were not available an
English howitzer brigade was attached to them until
they got howitzers of their own; but apart from this
they were from the moment of their arrival a complete
division, and entirely self-supporting in every respect.
The 2nd Division brought out one brigade, the re-
mainder of their artillery following about three
months later. The Third Divisional Artillery arrived in
the winter of 1917, after the formation of the division
from new battalions and various C.M.E. and other
units, which were already in France. The Fourth
Divisional Artillery was formed when the brigades
were reorganized into six-gun batteries, but with only
two brigades to each division. The Fifth Divisional
Artillery came out complete in itself, but without any
infantry for it to support.

Now, although the artillery is considered an arm of
the Service, and takes the right of the line, and is in
every sense of the word a combatant corps, it is the
infantry who win battles; the sole object of all fire-
arms is to enable the man with the bayonet to accom-
plish his work, and all other things are subordinate

4 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

to that. During the war far too much was said of artil-
lery winning this, that, and the other thing. The gun-
ner is the first man to say that alone he can do noth-
ing; without the protection of the infantry a battery
is almost as helpless as a hospital. The field artillery
had their task, the heavies had theirs, and both these
tasks in their ultimate object were identical; namely,
to help the infantry defeat the German infantry. The
German gunners were doing the same thing ; and, even
when back areas were shelled or when batteries
shelled each other, the primary object might be to hit
a cross-road or destroy a battery, but the ultimate
object was to prevent the enemy from using that cross-
road in bringing supplies and relief to their infantry
which was actually engaged, or to deny them the sup-
port of the battery of which the destruction was at-
tempted. Thus the whole object of all the artillery
was to support its infantry in every possible way, and
the better it accomplished this task the more efficient
it was, even though the role might not be an inspiring
or spectacular one.

The protection of the infantry was the first consid-
eration of a battery in any position. In the more or
less permanent positions of trench warfare this was
highly organized and what were known as S.O.S. lines
were carefully laid out and frequently tested, and were
handed over with each relief. When an advance had
been made on any portion of the front, even before
the infantry had finally consolidated their new po-
sition, a temporary S.O.S. line for their protection
was always the first consideration from the moment the
first objective was reached. As nearly all these ad-
vances were made wholly under the protection of a
barrage, the final resting-point of the barrage was
generally the S.O.S. line. In the later stages of open
warfare an S.O.S. line was always arranged as soon
as the advancing infantry halted, even if the advance
was to be resumed in a few hours. This was not al-

THE CANADIAN ARTILLERY .5

ways an easy or simple thing to do, but invariably
some attempt to do it was made.

The S.O.S. consisted of a sort of continuous curtain
of fire laid down in front of our own trenches, so that
any advance which was made would have to pass
through this fire, its object being to stop the enemy
altogether, or to make their casualties so heavy that
the infantry would have no difficulty in beating
off an attack which did succeed in reaching our
trenches. In a trench position each gun had its own
particular line of fire, this being arranged by the
batteries. A divisional area would have its front
split into zones, each zone allotted to some particu-
lar brigade supporting that division; each brigade
then divided its zone and allotted a particular por-
tion to each battery in the brigade and each bat-
tery split its area up among its guns. The concentra-
tion of this protective barrage varied with the nature
of the ground and the importance at the time of a
particular sector of the front. On some sectors a gun
might have twenty-five or more yards to cover, on
others ten or fifteen, or less. In addition to this pro-
tection afforded by the 18-pounders, the howitzers and
the heavies had their own tasks to perform, such as
firing at trench junctions and cross-roads, counter-
battery work, and so on.

This protective fire could be called for by the in-
fantry whenever it was required to repel an attack in
force or a raiding party. All guns, when not actually
engaged in some other firing, were kept laid on their
S.O.S. lines, and if being used at the time when an
S.O.S. was called for they immediately switched back
to the S.O.S. lines. The signal for this fire was given
in different ways, generally by coloured rockets fired
in various combinations, which were changed at fre-
quent intervals. The signal was always confirmed by
telephone as well, for fear it might not have been seen
or that a mistake might have been made. A definite

6 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

rate of fire was laid down, varying with the calibre of
the gun, such a rate as would give the maximum of
fire without causing the gun to overheat and jam the
breech in consequence.

The S.O.S. barrage was the only carefully arranged
purely defensive measure adopted by the field artil-
lery; all its other tasks were offensive. Of its offen-
sive roles in a trench-warfare front, the harassing fire
and sniping were probably the most extensively em-
ployed, coupled with frequent destructive shots under-
taken by the heavies. The sniping done by detached
guns was probably the most effective.

Nearly every battery had one gun or a section of
two guns in some position in advance of and some
distance from its main position. This gun did al-
most all the firing for that particular battery, so as
to give the minimum chance of having the main bat-
tery position accurately located by the enemy. During
the day sniping was the method employed to harass
and inconvenience the Germans, and it proved most
effective. Every observation post kept the hostile
territory in front of it under close watch all the time,
and anything that moved within reach of the sniping
gun was promptly fired at. In the great majority of
cases no casualties were inflicted, but there were very
few cases where the people fired at were not forced to
run for cover and not to expose themselves again.
Occasionally a gun was lucky and the men sniped
at became casualties. When the great length of
front is taken into consideration, and the fact that
sniping went on everywhere, the sum total of casual-
ties inflicted in this way must have been very large
indeed. However, it was of value mainly on account
of its moral effect on the enemy. Living too much in
deep trenches and travelling too much in deep com-
munication trenches, has a most destructive effect on
the moral of troops. By vigorous sniping it was quite
possible to have the enemy so cowed that not a living

BRIG.-GEN. W. B. M. KING, C.M.G., D.S.O.

THE CANADIAN ARTILLERY 7

soul would dare show his head above ground during
the hours of daylight, except very far back. In some
cases, when the people opposite were of a cautious
nature, although the sniping guns at the best could
fire only five thousand yards behind the enemy front
line, yet no one would expose himself under seven or
eight thousand.

At Hill 70 the military value of sniping was
clearly shown. In the autumn of 1917 the Canadians
were in that sector and kept up a vigorous snip-
ing policy, so that after dawn it was seldom that
any of the enemy could be seen above ground any-
where within reach. However, late in the autumn the
Canadians went forth to Passchendaele, and the Hill
70 sector was then taken over by a division which did
not carry out sniping tactics to nearly the same ex-
tent. When the Canadian Corps returned to the Lens
area after their successful operations at Passchen-
daele, the Germans had become extremely bold and
walked all over the back area quite openly during the
day, but as soon as the vigorous sniping started again
the old condition returned and in a little over a week
it was possible to sit for hours in an observation post
without sighting any object against which to direct
the guns.

Harassing fire was somewhat different in its nature,
although its object was the same — to lower the
enemy's moral and inflict casualties. This was carried
out chiefly at night and the laying of the gun was done
entirely by measurements from the map. A definite
number of rounds were allotted to each battery to be
fired during the night, and these were fired at various
intervals at selected targets, generally cross-roads
much used by the enemy or junctions of important
cross-country tracks and similar places, which were
likely to be used at night when the chances were
good of hitting something. In any case, the very fact
that a shell was likely to land close to a certain spot

8 CANADA IN THE GEEAT WORLD WAR

at any time made it a very unpleasant thing to linger
around there and, if this place were one it was neces-
sary for the enemy to use, the harassing fire must
have had a very bad effect. The number of signs of
warning found after an advance was a fairly good in-
dication of the general effectiveness of our harassing
fire.

The barrage was probably the method of fire in
which the close co-operation iDetween the artillery and
the infantry was most clearly showTi. This method of
employing artillery was not actually a product of the
Great World War, but was certainly developed and
organized and perfected during its progress. In
former wars an infantry battalion might have in front
of it a sort of rolling barrage, consisting of the con-
trolled fire of a brigade, but the fire of the guns of a
whole army working to a fixed time-table and on a
concerted plan was not seriously thought of. That,
however, is what a barrage consists of.

This rolling barrage, or creeping barrage, is a cur-
tain of fire arranged with heavies in depth as in an
S.O.S. barrage, but it moves forward over the coun-
try at a definite rate and a definite distance, the rates
of fire being laid down for each section of the barrage
and for each ** rest.'' As far as the fire of the 18-
pounders is concerned, this forms a curtain which
moves forward as nearly as possible at the same pace
as the infantry, and the infantry get as close to it as
they can without actually getting in the beaten area.
In this way it is used to keep the enemy under cover
until the last possible moment, and if the infantry are
sufficiently close to the barrage they should be on top
of the foe before he has time to get his machine guns
into action after the barrage has lifted. In the early
stages of the war the lifts were generally from the
first to the second line, from the second to the third
line, and so on, but this was not found satisfactory.
The Germans became past-masters of the shell-hole

THE CANADIAN ARTILLERY 9

defence scheme ; that is, little pockets of men with
machine guns who lay in defended shell holes between
the various lines of defence and escaped in the ^ * lifts. ' '
The machine gunners were frequently able to smash
an attack very badly before it had really properly
developed. This necessitated some change in the
method of protective fire during an attack and the
ultimate result was the rolling barrage of the latter
part of the war. In this way the whole country was
shelled and the shell-hole defence rendered much less
effective.

The task of co-ordinating and arranging the various
stages of a barrage and the various calibres of the
guns involves an enormous amount of labour and
would require a very technical explanation which can-
not be undertaken here and which, indeed, would be
out of place anywhere but in an artillery text-book.
It will be enough to merely indicate what this means
just in a battery. A separate range, angle of sight,
and angle from the zero line must be worked out and
tabulated for each gun and for each lift in the bar-
rage; the fuze must be worked out for each gun and
each change of fuze. It is impossible in the noise that
is going on to pass orders with any degree of accu-
racy and so all this has to be worked out for each gun
and given to the N.C.O. in charge of the gun. In ad-
dition, the officers must have tables showing all the
guns, so that they can check them when possible. All
the watches must be accurately synchronized with the
divisional time, so that every gun and all the infantry
of the division will be working together at the same
second. Moreover, opportunities must be found when
there is a **rest'' in the barrage or when the rate of
fire is slow to take the guns out of action in turn and
cool them.

Another job of the gunners which must be men-
tioned is the slow, tiresome process of cutting wire.
In a trench position, before any attack, it is always

10 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

necessary to have the wire in front of the opposing
trench cut, and this task generally fell, in part at
least, to the 18-pounders. It was not a job much
sought after. In the first place, it generally meant
very close shooting, so that an occasional shot would
land in or behind our trench, which always naturally
greatly annoyed the infantry, but the only thing to do
was to grin and take the abuse; explanations made
them, if anything, more irascible. In the second place,
it was generally very difficult to find an observation
post from which the wire to be cut could be seen
advantageously. When one was found it was as often
as not in the most inaccessible place and necessitated
a long line of special telephone wire being laid to it,
but this wire was frequently cut. In the third place,
the Divisional Headquarters, with their usual consid-
eration, gave far too little time, and only about half
the rounds necessary, to do the job properly, so that
it was done in a rush and many rounds spent from the
precious reserve which every battery commander per-
jured himself and forged documents to build up.

This task, after a suitable place for observing the
wire was found and the extra telephone job completed,
started off by careful registering on the wire. The
registration could not be called satisfactory until a
group of eight rounds had been laid down — four over
and four short of the exact point registered on. The
laying, needless to say, had to be done with the most
painstaking care. Once the registration was satis-
factory (provided the telephone was still all right,
which was frequently not the case), the gun proceeded
to fire at a definite point in the wire with a low-burst-
ing fuze, so that the full forward sweep of the shrap-
nel bullets would cut the wire and roll it up. The
gun would gradually shift a little off, necessitating
bringing it back on again ; the range or fuze was con-
stantly changing and would have to be corrected.
After hours of work and a great deal of very annoying

THE CANADIAN ARTILLERY 11

shooting, with luck, the wire might be cut. It was ex-
traordinary how badly some guns seemed to act on
wire-cutting. One round might appear to be just
right ; a second might be as effective. A group of four
is ordered, and the nearest to the wire will be one hun-
dred yards away. Sixteen rounds or more might be
tried before the gun gets on again, only once more to
lose its target. There seems to be no explanation and
everyone's experience is the same. Another day, the
same gun crew with the same gun will get on in a few
rounds and never go off again and the job will be fin-
ished while the man in charge of the gun next in line
is still cursing his hard luck and has not had three
decent bursts since he started. Telephones, too, have
the same peculiarity. Just as you want to send down a
message or stop a group that you know will be in-
effective, the line goes out and you are left helpless.
However, when one takes into consideration the enor-
mous amount of wire-cutting done in France and the
few failures, the efficiency of the field artillery in this
work can be appreciated.

This recital of the various uses of the field artillery
in the trench- warfare stages is somewhat dull, but un-
less the matter is understood much that has been said,
and will be said, about artillery in the past and in the
future will not be fully comprehended or appreciated.
The tasks of the artillery required the greatest care
and patience and were often very fatiguing, without
bringing the men the excitement and glory of an ad-
vance. For example, night harassing fire was very
hard on a gun crew, especially if, as often happened,
they were called on for some duties the next day, and
yet nobody could claim that there was anything in-
spiring or heroic about it. Wire-cutting often meant
a whole day, or several days in succession, of the most
painstaking and monotonous kind of slow firing. It
was useful, essential work, but no one has ever shown
much appreciation for wire-cutting. Barrage work

12 CANADA IN THE GREAT WOELD WAR

and S.O.S. were different. There was an immediate
and easily seen object for it. If the advance was suc-
cessful or the enemy beaten off by the gunners' re-
sponse to the S.O.S., everyone shared in the general
jubilation and the artillery was not forgotten.

Probably one of the best ways to explain the
method by which the artillery fought is to outline the
average way in which a battery took over the position
of another battery in a trench-warfare position. The
procedure followed was not always exactly the same;
for example, sometimes guns were handed over and
sometimes they were not; the relief was generally
made on two successive nights, but occasionally, for
some reason, the whole battery was relieved at once.
However, if the usual relief toward the latter part of
the war, when relief came to be largely a matter of
routine, is taken as an example, it will give a fairly
accurate general idea of the work involved in the
change of position of a battery.

A party always proceeded a day ahead and all that
was possible was done to complete arrangements for
guides. The position and accommodations were looked
over, the observation post was visited, and the general
system of communication examined. In the meantime
some of the party had been arranging the taking over
of the wagon lines. The second night, just after dark
(I am considering the case where guns are taken
over), the relieving section arrived with sights for the
guns, small stores, and kits, and proceeded to take
over from the incoming section. This was generally a
fairly simple matter, as most battery commanders
found it convenient to send personnel on only the first
night, and as few wagons and horses as possible.

The next day the new crew guns were ** shot in."
When guns were not taken over, but each crew came
in with its own gun, this was generally quite a long
business, although every possible attempt was made to
get them on the line of the outgoing guns. However,

THE CANADIAN ARTILLEKY 13

even Tvith a change of sights only, the sights vary
slightly and as a precautionary measure the new crews
fire on their zero line to test the sights and guns. The
zero line is a line drawn from the battery through a
conspicuous and easily located target. It is very ac-
curately registered, as after its exact line has been
found and the angles from the aiming point recorded
and the aiming posts carefully laid out, every switch,
even to the S.O.S. line, is measured from this zero
line. Thus it is essential that when the gun is dead on
line, the line through the aiming posts should read
zero on the sight. If it does not, the sight is set at
zero and the aiming posts moved until they are in line
with the cross-wires of the sight.

The next night the main relief took place. The bat-
tery had spent the day in billets close to the wagon
line of the outgoing battery, and when they pulled out
they left their guns behind them. The actual party
going on the guns generally arranged so as to arrive
at their destination early enough to let the outgoing
battery reach their billets at as reasonable an hour as
possible. The actual relief at the guns took place
much the same as before, except that four guns were
relieved instead of two, and the telephone communica-
tion was taken over and the command of the battery
passed. At the wagon lines, all that could, moved
without waiting for the party from the guns. They
left behind sufficient transport and horses to bring
along the rest of the battery. The incoming battery
then took over the new wagon lines and the outgoing
battery picked up the guns which were left behind by
the battery which had just gone into action. The next
day the new arrivals ^^shot in" the remaining four
guns.

After a relief of any kind there was always a great
deal of work to be done. No two battery commanders
had exactly the same idea about the best way to build
a position, and consequently the incoming battery al-

14 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

ways made changes, and in many cases improvements.
The same thing took place at the wagon lines.

Many people envied the artillery their horses on a
long march, but overlooked the fact that horses needed
much care. During a long march the men had to
walk to save the horses, and then on arrival in bil-
lets the first consideration was not the man, but the
horse. Before anyone could think of food or rest,
horse lines must be put up, harness put away, the ani-
mals watered and fed, so that very often, when artillery
and infantry arrived in a village at the same time, the
infantryman was fed and settled down in his billet long
before the less fortunate gunner had finished helping
the drivers with their horses. On marches the feeding
and watering of horses very often became a serious
problem. The number of instruments, the amount
of telephone wire, and the quantity of maps and rec-
ords which had to be carried by a battery increased
enormously during the war, but the transport avail-
able did not keep pace with it. Consequently it was
often difficult to carry the forage, and all sorts of de-
vices were tried, — the footboard of a wagon body, or
the top of the body itself, was, I think, on the whole
the most satisfactory. Again, on a march occupying
several days, at many of the halts the water facilities
were very poor and only a few horses could be
watered at places a long distance from the actual lines
of the unit.

One of the most remarkable developments of the
war was the great increase in the care and accuracy
with which field artillery was fired. Devices were in-
troduced and factors taken into account which before
the war, and during its early stages, were looked on as
almost the exclusive concern of garrison artillery and
the experimental range. One of the first factors,
which had previously been ignored, to be taken into
account was the correction for the ^ * error of the day. ' '
This had always been calculated for garrison work,

THE CANADIAN AETILLERY 15

but the field artillery had paid little attention to it.
However, with the introduction of trench warfare and
the close shooting necessary, it became quite apparent
that no precaution which would give increased accu-
racy could be overlooked. The ^* error of the day" is
the variation from the map range caused by the at-
mospheric conditions. The correction, put on the gun,
is added to or subtracted from the map range as the
case may be, and is a result obtained from several
factors; namely, the temperature of the air, the tem-
perature of the charge, the barometric pressure, and
the wind. In the instructions received in England in
the autumn of 1914 we were told: **At night cock her
up another fifty yards or so for safety's sake, and if
the wind is against you, you had better add a bit too. ' '
If anyone had proposed such a thing at the same time
of year in 1916 the medical ofiicer would have been
sent for. Telegrams were sent to every unit six times
a day giving the temperature for various times of
flight of shell, the velocity and direction of the wind,
and the barometric pressure. It was from this in-
formation that the ** error of the day" was arrived
at and corrected as it gradually changed.

The error of each gun soon came to be considered
also. A worn gun does not shoot as far as a new one,
and so must be corrected, consequently each gun as it
becomes worn will have an error peculiar" to itself.
At first, in a gun which was somewhat old, allowance
was made for its age; this result was a sort of com-
bination of guess and experiment, and might or might
not apply in all positions. It certainly would not
apply at all ranges. However, once the ** error of the
day" could be found with accuracy, then, by shooting,
the range at which that gun ought to hit a target on
that day could be found. By a calculation the muzzle
velocity of the shell could be arrived at. This was
invariably done, and from this the error at all ranges
established, and this error was painted on the shield

16 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

of the gun. It was quite a common thing, when a bat-
tery was firing at, say, six thousand yards, for not a
single gun in the battery to have that range on the
range drum, yet all guns would be hitting the target.
In 1918 the finding of the muzzle velocity, or calibra-
tion, as it is called, was no longer done by shooting at
a distant target, which at best was a somewhat long,
expensive, and possibly inaccurate way. The muzzle
velocity could be found by firing at very close range
through electrically connected wire screens, and this
method gave absolutely accurate results.

A third consideration, which was not quite so neces-
sary before the war, was the type of ammunition fired.
With the introduction of N.C.T. as a propellant as
well as cordite, this had to be taken into consideration
in calculating the ^* error of the day." In addition to
this, as more types of shells came into use many of
these had to have special allowances made for them.
When the war broke out there was the one type of
18-pounder shrapnel shell in use, with the rarely used
**star'' shell. But, as the war progressed, a high-
explosive shell was introduced, of slightly different
weight, and also a different type of fuze, which had to
be allowed for. Then there came the number eighty-
five fuze and the number eighty brass fuze, the gas
shell, the cast-iron and brass fuzes for high-explosive
shells, the one-hundred-and-eight instantaneous fuze,
the incendiary shell, and the smoke shell. Some of
these could be fired with the same range as the or-
dinary 18-pounder shrapnel shell, but many of them
had their own corrections. In addition to this, the
field howitzers had their troubles. Their shells were
not always of the same weight, and over-weight and
under- weight shells had to be allowed for; also a new
type of driving-band was put on the shells, and the
old and new driving-bands did not give exactly the
same range; this, too, had to be allowed for.

All these requirements, which used to be practically

THE CANADIAN ARTILLEEY 17

ignored, except for experimental purposes, may be
said to be a development caused by the nature of the
fighting in this war. It can easily be seen that night
firing would be extremely ineffective if all the various
sources of error mentioned were not carefully allowed
for and we ^^just cocked her up another fifty yards or
so for safety ^s sake" at night. The creeping barrage
would not have been the extremely effective weapon
it was had it not been for the great degree of accuracy
attained. The protective S.O.S. when we were shoot-
ing very close to our own trenches rendered it impera-
tive that some way be found to prevent that fire being
wild at the very moment when it should be most ac-
curate, and of necessity this led to every conceivable
source of error being sought out, and, as far as was
humanly possible, eliminated. Thus as the infantry
fighting changed from open to trench warfare and
back to open again, so the artillery improved their
methods and developed their aim so that at all times
they were able to give to the infantry what they were
there to give them — their protection and support.

The development of the heavy artillery was even
more remarkable than the growth of the field artillery.
Before the war Canada had a few heavy batteries and
a little garrison artillery, but in the nature of mobile
siege weapons nothing larger than a 60-pounder was
available. The 1st Division arrived in France with
one 60-pounder battery. At the end of the war there
were with the Canadians two 60-pounder batteries,
eight 6-inch howitzer batteries, two 8-inch howitzers,
and two 9.2-inch howitzer batteries. In addition to
this remarkable growth of the actual number of bat-
teries, the growth of the transport involved must be
considered. The Canadian Corps Heavy Artillery fired
an enormous amount of ammunition, and as a great
deal of heavy ammunition cannot be carried in one
lorry, this expansion in the heavy artillery meant a
corresponding expansion in the mechanical transport.

18 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

It was chiefly in the case of the heavy artillery that
the co-operation between aircraft and artillery was
most useful. With the shorter range of the IS-pounder
there are not so very many targets which cannot be
seen and so aeroplane observation is not so necessary ;
also the small burst of an 18-pounder is very difficult
to see from the air and consequently there is not so
much chance of an observer obtaining a really satis-
factory result in the great majority of cases. But the
heavy gun has the advantage of a conspicuous burst
and furthermore its great range enables it to hit a
large number of targets which cannot be seen from
any point in its lines. For these reasons every effort
was made to bring co-operation between the aircraft
and the heavy artillery to as high a state of perfection
as possible. The results achieved were excellent. The
gun was on its target in a very few rounds, and a com-
plete record of the ^^fire for effect'' was obtained. In
1918 the squadron commander of one of the squadrons
doing artillery work (Major Portal) conducted a very
successful shoot by moonlight — a feat which, I ven-
ture to say, was unthought of early in the war.

Probably the most remarkable feature of the Cana-
dian Corps Heavy Artillery was the counter-battery
work. In no corps of the British Army was this fea-
ture so fully developed as in the Canadian Corps.
Counter-battery fire is, as its name implies, fire against
hostile batteries, but much more is involved than ap-
pears on the surface. In the first place, there are
destructive shots against definitely located hostile bat-
teries; then there is simply harassing fire against the
batteries, with the intention, naturally, of doing as
much damage as possible, but not necessarily of de-
stroying the battery ; then there is the neutralizing fire
against a hostile battery in action.

In the first case a hostile battery is selected for de-
struction. The whole shoot is almost always observed,
either by aeroplane or some other good means of get-

SIXTY-POUNDERS IN ACTION

LOADING A BIG GUN
Canadian Official Photographs

THE CANADIAN ARTILLEEY 19

ting accurate results. Photographs are taken, both
before and after the shoot, and carefully examined to
make sure the results are satisfactory. In this case
ammunition is no object; the whole battery is concen-
trated on one hostile gun and fired until the observer
considers that gun to have been satisfactorily dealt
with. The fire is then shifted to the next emplace-
ment, and so on until the most complete destruction
possible has been done.

In the second case the shooting may be observed or
not. If it is not, then the results cannot be known. In
the case of observed shooting, the battery firing regis-
ters accurately and then proceeds with bursts of fire,
* * for effect. ' ' The aeroplane gives general reports on
the bursts and small corrections are made from these
reports. In this case the number of rounds is always
limited, and, while it is hoped that as much destruc-
tion as possible will be done in these bursts of fire, the
number of rounds to be fired is set arbitrarily and is
not governed by the result attained.

Lastly, there is the fire used to silence a hostile bat-
tery in action. Elaborate methods were worked
out for the reporting of hostile batteries and as soon
as there was any firing on our front the offending bat-
tery was located. At the counter-battery office at
Corps the position and calibre of every hostile battery
was known, and as soon as shells of a certain size
were coming over it could be told by the direction
of the sound which battery was the offending one.
Immediately one or more of our batteries were
turned on it, and if possible observation from an
aeroplane secured. This fire was not destructive in
the strict sense of the word, as the expenditure of
ammunition was not governed by the amount of de-
struction done, but by the number of rounds required
to stop the fire of a hostile battery. A definite number
of rounds was generally fired on each call for fire of
this sort, but this number was repeated until the of-

20 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

fending battery had ceased fire and no further reports
of its activity were coming in. So complete was the
organization at the Canadian counter-battery office for
this kind of work, that it was no uncommon thing for a
counter-battery shoot to start in less than ten minutes
after a hostile battery was reported in action. This is
remarkable when one takes into consideration the fact
that the report had to travel back to headquarters
from the forward area, — even with field telephones,
not an easy thing, — the offending battery had to be
spotted, the battery selected which could most effect-
ively deal with it, and the orders given to this battery,
— all before the battery could be brought into action.
If this were done in approximately ten minutes, it
meant that at the counter-battery office the minimum
of time was taken for its share in the work.

The outstanding feature of the employment of the
heavy artillery of the Canadian Corps was the coun-
ter-battery work, and the credit for the highly de-
veloped state of this work must go to Brigadier-Gen-
eral A. G. L. MacNaughton, who organized and de-
veloped the counter-battery office at Canadian Corps
Headquarters. As has been said before, no other corps
had such effective machinery for employing its heavy
artillery in robbing the enemy of the effective use of his
artillery, and all this machinery was created by Gen-
eral MacNaughton. For each battery a crime sheet
was prepared, which gave its position, the targets
which it generally shelled, the number of rounds it
fired, a complete and accurate history of its various
offences, the time of each offence, and also the various
punishments meted out to it. The means used to
locate these offending batteries were many and
varied ; aeroplanes and photographs were most useful,
but not always infallible. Sound-ranging instruments,
which located the battery by the sound waves caused
by its firing, were most effective under favourable con-
ditions and were extraordinarily accurate. The in-

THE CANADIAN AETILLERY 21

tersection of flashes was of mucli value, and sometimes
a battery was spotted by direct observation on the
ground.

In the barrage and before an attack heavy artillery
was used to bombard strong points against which field
artillery would be absolutely ineffective, — for ex-
ample, a concrete pill-box, which would stand a lot of
pounding from even the heaviest shells. A shell from
a field gun would simply bounce off anything of that
nature. The heavies were used, also, against likely
assembly areas of the enemy. When used in this way
they were fired with an instantaneous fuze. This fuze
goes off on contact and the shell does not penetrate
the ground at all. It thus has a most deadly effect, as
the pieces travel sideways and fairly low, and are in
no way smothered by the earth as when the slower
fuze is used and there is penetration before the ex-
plosion. It is estimated that a 12-inch shell fired with
an instantaneous fuze can be effective a thousand
yards from the burst.

Like the infantry, the artillery had its particularly
risky jobs, or ** suicide clubs,'' and the artillery's
*' suicide clubs" were the trench mortars. The trench
mortars are a creation of this war and grew
from a subaltern with whatever weapons and numbers
of men the powers that be chose to give him to a def-
inite organization with a definite number of guns of a
definite make. In the first winter of the war, experi-
menting began, and until the conflict ended new de-
vices were being experimented with and old ones im-
proved. The light trench mortars were manned by the
infantry, the medium (6-inch) by the artillery, and the
heavy (9.45-inch) by the artillery. As their name
implies, they are essentially a trench weapon and are
fought from pits close to the line and deal with the en-
emy's front-line systems. They are most effective
against hostile trench mortars and enemy machine-gun
emplacements, and the medium trench mortar is an ef-

22 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

fective wire-cutter. The heavy trench mortars had
a most destructive effect, and when used against
trenches and new work must have been a great annoy-
ance to the enemy. It is not a pleasant thing for a
battalidn to have had a big working party engaged all*
night on an important job, only to have a heavy'
trench mortar destroy the whole thing next day in
about fifteen minutes. While trench mortars were pri-
marily a trench weapon, experiments were constantly
being carried out with various kinds of sleighs and
carts whereby they could be used for the close support
of infantry in an attack. Trench mortars in lorries
at Amiens were on one occasion very useful. They
assisted the French to capture Mezieres, and later
gave them much-needed support ; but such cases were
not numerous, and no way has yet been found of mak-
ing trench mortars an effective weapon for open war-
fare.

Purposely nothing has been said about the field
artillery in open warfare. This is for two reasons —
first, the greatest changes and improvements took
place in and applied mostly to trench-warfare meth-
ods ; secondly, for over four years the Canadian Field
Artillery were engaged in trench fighting, whereas for
barely four months they were employed in open or
semi-open warfare. This does not mean that open
warfare was by any means a secondary consideration,
for that is what both sides had been striving to attain
from the first day trench warfare set in, and in all
training that object was always before the artillerists.
One thing must be mentioned. When open warfare
started, the most successful batteries were those that
adhered the closest to the principles laid down in the
pre-war artillery training; namely. Field Artillery
Training, 1914.

In the later stages of the war most attacks started
with a barrage, and one battery, or separate section,
were sent forward at zero hour to follow the infantry

THE CANADIAN ARTILLERY 23

and give close support. The battery or section took
no part in the barrage. At the completion of the bar-
rage the remainder of the guns got forward as soon
as possible to give additional support, or to fire a new
barrage if necessary.

The effectiveness of the guns in close support de-
pended largely on the co-operation with the infantry.
The artillery officer could not wait to be told his tar-
gets by the infantry, who had other things to do, and
much information he had to find out for himself as
best he could if his support was to be effective. On
the other hand, frequently the infantry would ignore
the artillery with them and not pass on information
which might easily have been passed on, and informa-
tion which might have proved very useful indeed.
There was one case when a battery was accused of not
being on the job because it failed to take on a machine
gun which was holding the flank of the battalion the
battery was supporting. As a matter of fact, the bat-
tery was firing at targets which the battery com-
mander considered good ones, and the company com-
mander, whose company was suffering, instead of at-
tempting to get word of the situation to the artillery
officer, sat down and cursed all the artillery in the
world. Fortunately incidents of this sort were very
rare, and on the whole in the latter stages of the war
the co-operation of the artillery and infantry was ex-
cellent.

All this somewhat scattered information has not
been given with a view to telling the imposing tale of
war battles, but to give the ordinary reader, who has
not had the opportunity of working with or seeing the
artillery work, some idea of the various tasks they
were called on to perform, and how they did them.
They were at all times subordinate to the infantry,
and while this war has perhaps made artillery sup-
port increasingly important, nevertheless it was an
auxiliary arm, and always will be an auxiliary arm.

24 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

The infantry win battles, and the artillery try to
help.

No article on the artillery of the Canadian Corps
would be complete without a reference to Major-Gen-
eral Sir Edward Morrison. It was under General
Morrison's guidance that it grew most rapidly and
finally attained its full growth. It was under him
that the siege artillery of the corps came into exist-
ence, and while he may not have given the artillery its
pugnacious spirit, nevertheless in their leader the
gunners saw that spirit fully exemplified. He fought
for his men and he saw to it that his men fought for
him, and as a thorough Hun-hater there were few like
him. Under General Morrison's leadership the Cana-
dian Artillery fully lived up to the gunmen's motto,
^^Quo fas et gloria ducunt,''

2. Operations on the Western Front

It is difficult to give in a clear manner an account of
the operations of any particular arm of the Service
without going into details as to the work of the other
arms and chronicling the whole progress of events;
yet, to understand the work of any one arm properly,
an account of its activities, as distinct from the others,
is necessary. In the following pages, therefore, there
will be attempted a brief outline of the operations of
the Canadian Artillery from the landing of the first
guns in France in February, 1915, until the signing
of the Armistice in November, 1918, three years and a
half, in which there was not a day on which at least
some units of the Canadian Artillery were not in the
line.

The First Divisional Artillery went into the line
about March 1st, 1915, in the vicinity of Fleurbaix, a
short distance north of the scene of the Battle of
Neuve Chapelle. While not actively engaged in this
battle, every battery fired what was for those days a

THE CANADIAN AETILLERY 25

large amount of ammunition and kept up an appear-
ance of great activity.^ The Canadian Artillery were
on the northern flank of the attack, and near Lille, and
had the Imperials succeeded in their attempt to break
through the German trench system they were to be
among the first troops to advance. Although on the
10th of March they were fully prepared to make a
dash for Lille, the much-looked-for order never came
and they quickly settled down to the old policy of
watching and saving ammunition. The First Divi-
sional Artillery remained at Fleurbaix for a month
and then moved north into Belgium.

After a short rest they again went into the line in
the Ypres Salient, taking over from the French, and
were soon in the thick of one of the most critical en-
gagements of the war. On the 22nd of April, 1915,
began the first real **show'' the Canadians were in.^
The story of the Second Battle of Ypres is far too
well known to need repetition here, but, even with all
the accounts that have been given of it, none of them
give any adequate impression of the awful confusion
of the first two days. By marvels of hard work and
ingenuity a good supply of ammunition for the guns
was kept up. At times, it is true, batteries did run
short, but such a state of affairs did not at any time
last very long, and for the most part the guns of all
batteries were continuously in action. The confusion
of the first night defies description. To add to the
difficulties, there was a relief going on at the time,
— some of the batteries of the 1st Brigade, which
were out at rest, were coming into the line, and bat-
teries of the 1st and 2nd Brigades were going out;
thus some of the batteries had a section of one and a
section of another, with officers and men strangers to
each other at a critical time when smooth working was
most essential. It must not be imagined that there

1 See Vol. Ill, p. 44.

2 See Vol. Ill, p. 128 et seq.

26 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

was any friction, but, at the same time, two strange
sections, moving in the dark with the roads crowded
with other batteries and wagons, infantry and ambu-
lances, mixed in a gigantic sort of stew, find it much
more difficult to keep together than a whole battery
where everyone knows everyone else, and even voices
can be recognized in the dark.

To detail the work done by individual batteries on
this critical occasion is out of the question. Each
battery had its own troubles and each battery did its
job efficiently. The position of some batteries perhaps
called for more spectacular work than others, but no
one battery can be said to have done better than any
other. The first night all the batteries of the 3rd
Brigade were forced to retire in the dark and without
any definite information as to where their line was,
or where the enemy were. There was fortunately prac-
tically no shelling of the roads during the greater part
of the night, although in their search for a new posi-
tion some batteries came under machine-gun and rifle
fire. By daybreak on the 23rd of April every battery
was in action. The batteries at rest had come in on
the western bank of the Ypres-Dixmude Canal; the
batteries on the east side of the canal were still there,
the 3rd Brigade in new positions, but the other batter-
ies in their old ones.

Some of the positions occupied during the night
were in plain view of the enemy and these the batter-
ies were forced to vacate. Heavy firing continued
throughout the day, but the evening of the 23rd found
matters much as they were in the early morning. The
Germans began to advance again on the 24th, this
time attacking on the Canadian front, and before eve-
ning all the batteries had been forced to retire to near
St. Jean, where they remained until the general with-
drawal from the end of the salient, when most of the
batteries withdrew behind the canals at Ypres.

During this period, until near the end of April, the

THE CANADIAN ARTILLEEY 27

Anmmnition Columns had very hard work. All the
ammunition had to be hauled long distances by wagon,
and this was not an easy job. The roads were badly
shelled and the demands of the batteries insatiable.
Great credit is due to the Brigade Ammunition Col-
umns that there was at no time a serious shortage in
any of the batteries, although at times a battery was
out of action for a few minutes.

After the general withdrawal there was a period of
comparative inaction, but about the end of May the
Canadians moved south to Festubert to take part in
an attack there.^ The fighting was very heavy, but
consisted mostly of hand-to-hand engagements by the
infantry, and except for protective barrages the artil-
lery took very little part.

Early in June a further move south was made to
La Bassee Canal, where an attack towards La Bassee
was made on the 15th of June, just one hundred years
after the Battle of Waterloo. This attack proved a
total failure. For the first time the Canadian Artil-
lery had guns in the front line for special tasks.^
These guns were taken in at night and remained hid-
den until five minutes before the infantry went over.
One hundred rounds had been dumped by each gun
and when the time came they opened up at close range
on their allotted targets. The guns of the 2nd Brigade
were not used for various reasons, but all those of the
1st Brigade were fired and, from all the information
which could be gathered, proved very successful.

A few days after this '^show" the whole division
moved north again to Hill 63, between Ypres and
Armentieres. This proved to be a very quiet spot,
and here they remained until the spring of 1916, when
they moved north once more to the southwest of
Ypres, where the 2nd Division, which had arrived in
the winter, were in action. The Canadian Heavy Bat-

1 See Vol. Ill, p. 155 et seq.

2 See Vol. Ill, pp. 187-189.

28 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

tery had been in action at Loos during the attack in
September and had done very well indeed/

The Canadian front was not specially active until
the 2nd of June, 1916, when the Germans suddenly at-
tacked the C.M.R.'s just south of Hooge. They pene-
trated through Sanctuary Wood and advanced al-
together about six hundred yards. The 1st Division
counter-attacked that night and held up the advance,
and on the 14th counter-attacked again, restoring the
old line. This meant a very active period for the guns.
All the batteries were in the line, and even after the 14th
there was great activity and hard work until late in
July, after the Somme offensive was well started. At
Sanctuary Wood the 1st Division had two guns in a
forward position about five hundred yards from the
front line. These guns, under Lieutenant Charles P.
Cotton, put up a magnificent fight.^ They were even-
tually captured, only one man of the two crews getting
out alive, but on the counter-attack they were re-
captured in their own positions, as the Germans had
been unable to get them out.

In the latter part of August and early in September
the move to the Somme took place and the Canadian
Artillery went into the show. The whole of the artil-
lery was in and did not get any rest until the entire
corps pulled out and moved north again. The Battle
of the Somme was particularly hard on observing offi-
cers. Some went forward on every advance and few
came back. The enemy had not yet developed his
persistent back-area shelling as fully as he did later
on, so the actual battery positions were comparatively
unmolested, but his attention to the forward areas,
where the observation posts were situated, left noth-
ing to be desired in its thoroughness. He also gave
the plank roads a fair amount of attention and the job
of bringing up ammunition and rations was difficult

1 See Vol. Ill, p. 222.
s See Vol. Ill, p. 264.

THE CANADIAN ARTILLERY 29

and hazardous. The Somme really marked the be-
ginning of the full employment of artillery as it was
known later in the war. The concentration of guns
was greater than had ever before been attempted, the
rolling barrage made its first appearance as such,
and an absolutely unprecedented amount of ammuni-
tion was fired.

After the Somme, the corps moved north to a posi-
tion near Bully Grenay, and the divisions went out in
turn to rest, until March, when it moved into the Vimy
Ridge section to prepare for the Battle of Vimy
Ridge. A great many Imperial batteries were placed
under the G.O.C., R.A., of the corps for this attack,
the total number of guns being 848, the greatest num-
ber that at any one time supported any corps. There
were 45,760 artillery personnel, the equivalent of
more than two (in fact almost three) infantry divi-
sions.

The heavy and continuous firing during the attack
of April 9th, 1917,^ turned No Man's Land and all the
forward area in the German lines into a sea of mud,
so that after the enemy's front line was smashed bat-
tery after battery was stuck in the mud and unable to
advance. The Germans had retired for several miles,
and it was a bitter disappointment not to be able to
follow up to a greater extent this successful attack.
The work of getting the guns through the mud baffles
description. Hours of work resulted in the advance
of a few yards ; roads were non-existent, and, to add
to the churned-up condition of the ground, it was in-
tersected in all directions by deep trenches and barbed
wire.

The Battle of Vimy Ridge was followed by a period
of very great activity, which meant particularly hard
work for the gunners. Long after the real advance
was abandoned and the actual strength in guns con-
siderably reduced, it had to be made to appear as if fur-
1 See Vol. IV, p. 133 et seq.

30 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

ther attacks were probable. This led to some very-
bitter local fighting and much shelling. None of the
batteries got out to rest for some time and every bat-
tery had a great deal of hard work to do, with many
short moves to make.

After the Vimy show two of the Canadian divisions,
supported by all the Canadian Artillery, attacked Hill
70/ Four hundred and sixty-six guns and 25,520
artillery personnel were used for this attack, which
took place in August, 1917. The fighting, although on
a narrow front, was most bitter and the enemy coun-
ter-attacked unceasingly, so that S.O.S. calls were
without number. It was at this fight that the gunners
of the 1st Division so distinguished themselves by re-
moving their gas masks in order to see properly and,
while it resulted in a successful S.O.S., it caused many
gas casualties in the division. To the low ground be-
hind Hill 70, where gas was most effective, the foe
sent over an enormous number of gas shells, but never
succeeded in putting the guns out of action. It did,
however, add greatly to the difiiculties of the gunners
and caused a very large number of casualties in all
batteries in that area. Although the fight at Hill 70
was not on a wide front and did not result in a gain
of great depth, it resulted in some of the bitterest
fighting of the war, fighting in which the artillery did
their full share.

The corps remained in this area until moved north
in November to attack Passchendaele. This was be-
yond a doubt the worst ordeal of the war for the artil-
lery. Every battery was in all the time, and the con-
ditions defy description. The front lines were so
vague and uncertain that most of the shelling con-
sisted of area shots over areas where batteries were
likely to be, and in the concentration of artillery there
was not an area where a battery could not be found.
The Canadian Corps Artillery, 587 guns and 32,755
1 See Vol. IV, p. 180 et seq.

THE CANADIAN AKTILLEEY 31

personnel, alone fired over two million shells in thirty
days. Trench tramways were non-existent and the
plank roads were the only roads, so all ammunition
had to be taken in by pack-mule. The ground was so
wet that brushwood wrapped in chicken wire had to
be used for platforms or the guns would sink out of
sight. The building of any sort of shelter was abso-
lutely impossible. Everybody had to crowd into the
nearest available pill-box, often with inches of water
on the floor of it, and very seldom with room enough
to stand erect. Even at wagon lines rest at night was,
at best, a poor thing, excepting when torrential rains
temporarily caused hostilities to cease. The wagon-
line areas and all the roads were nightly subjected
to severe and continuous bombing. For pure, unadul-
terated misery I do not think Passchendaele has ever
been equalled.

After Passchendaele the corps moved south again
and held the line in the Vimy sector. There was little
activity of note during the winter. Each division got
out to rest for a time and, as the whole sector was
filled with old battery positions, not much work was
needed there. However, in anticipation of the en-
emy's spring offensive, every battery had to build
three positions in rear for the defence of lines already
prepared.

On the 21st of March the long-expected German
attack began and immediately the Canadian Artillery
were on the move. From a gunner's point of view,
events were most confusing. They were pulled out of
the line in a hurry, sent south, brought part way back,
made wait, and moved again. Eventually all divisions
were in the line over a very extended front. After the
Battle of the Lys began on the 11th of April the front
was still further extended. A very aggressive atti-
tude was maintained, which involved very hard fight-
ing on the part of the artillery. For protective work
each battery had an unusually wide zone for so im-

32 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

portant an area and, as numerous raids were carried
out, with a wide distribution of the guns, it meant that
all gun pits had to be built so as to allow for a large
switch. The extended zone covered also called for
very great vigilance on the part of the forward ob-
serving officers, whose task, never an easy one, be-
came all the harder. Shoots were being constantly
carried out, particularly by the heavy artillery, and
there were numerous gas-projector attacks accom-
panied by an artillery barrage. During this period
the Canadians were not actually called on to meet
an attack, but, nevertheless, it was a strenuous time,
and when the corps went out for a rest early in May
everyone felt that it had been well earned.

The period of rest was spent in training for offen-
sive operations in open and semi-open warfare. It
was a welcome change from continual trench work
and, although a certain amount of such training was
done on all periods of rest, never before had there
been such a long period on a training area where bat-
teries could manoeuvre without afterwards facing a
long bill for damages to crops.

Early in June the Canadian Artillery went back
into the line, where they remained till pulled out un-
expectedly and sent to an unknown area. This proved
to be just south of Amiens, and work began at once
for an attack. The artillery were all kept under cover
in woods and no movement of any sort was allowed by
day. It was very fortunate that at this critical time
the weather was misty and that the German machines
could not get over to observe, for the water facilities
necessary for such a large number of horses were ab-
solutely non-existent, and in most cases the horses had
to be taken for miles across the open to be watered.

Every night was spent in taking ammunition up and
dumping it at the new battery positions, for which
no previous preparation had been made. Owing to
the short time allowed for preparation, all units had

THE CANADIAN ARTILLERY 53

to get supplies forward, with the result that the roads
were jammed with traffic all night long. It sometimes
took an hour to move a few hundred yards, and it was
only because of the very skilful handling of the traffic
and the most rigid enforcement of traffic regulations
that vehicles were able to move at all.

At 4.20 a.m. on the morning of the 8th of August
the attack began under cover of a very severe barrage.
None of the guns had been registered, in fact they
had come into position only the night before, but, as a
result of the very careful way in which the angles and
ranges were worked out, the barrage was most suc-
cessful. The guns of the two advancing divisions
moved forward at once and as the attack progressed
it became very much a case of each battery for itself.
Exact information was, of course, out of the question
with the situation changing so rapidly, but each
brigade and battery commander struggled to keep in
touch with the infantry and tried to use his guns to
the best possible advantage. When the infantry had
occupied the German lines a party of gunners went
forward to turn captured guns around and use them
against the retreating foe. They met with great suc-
cess and did some very useful work indeed.

When the advance stopped at night the usual pre-
cautions were taken and S.O.S. lines arranged for,
and preparations made to continue the attack the next
day. Substantial advances were made on the 9th and
10th of August, but after that fighting became more
local and consisted of small advances by individual
units and brigades. The enemy were now in the old
trench area and began to put up a strong resistance,
so the situation rapidly came to resemble the old
trench-warfare days of settled and protected battery-
positions.

On August 17th the corps began to move north.
The heavy artillery remained in the Amiens area for
some days, but by the 26th of August the whole corps

34 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

was ready for the attack which eventually resulted in
the capture of Cambrai. The area in front of Arras,
where the attack began, abounded in trenches and
barbed wire, so that a rapid advance as at Amiens
was out of the question; consequently no batteries
moved forward at the zero hour, but as the advance
progressed beyond the range of the barrage they got
forward as best they could over much-cut-up roads.
The enemy fought very tenaciously and, in field bat-
teries in particular, put up a wonderful resistance.
Many batteries remained in action in exposed posi-
tions, firing over open sights, until all the gunners
were knocked out. Some exceptionally good targets
presented themselves, as the Germans used lorries to
bring up machine gunners very close to the front, and
many batteries fired on them over open sights and did
some very effective shooting. The main battle lasted
for two days, and after that there were many local
encounters, the more important undertaken with a
hastily arranged barrage, until the attack on the
Drocourt-Queant. Switch Line on September 2nd. The
enemy made frequent counter-attacks, and the artillery
had many S.O.S. barrages to fire, and besides strained
every nerve to get up sufficient ammunition for the
attack on the 2nd. In addition there was a great deal
of wire-cutting to be done.

The attack on the Drocourt-Queant Switch Line met
with great success in its earlier stages. Some of the
batteries went forward with the infantry and began a
vigorous fire over open sights. The remaining bat-
teries moved forward very soon after the attack began
and most of them found good targets to shoot at and
did effective execution among the German troops,
finally forcing them to beat a hurried retreat. The
next day there was very little advance made, although
most of the batteries took the opportunity to move
into better positions than the hastily selected ones of
the night before. The enemy's artillery appeared to

THE CANADIAN AETILLEEY 35

be very strong and he used an enormous number of
gas shells against the battery positions, which made
conditions very unpleasant, to say the least. He also
used long-range guns on the wagon lines when he
could locate them, and kept up intense bombing at
night.

During September everyone got out for a short rest
and refit, and the batteries in the line were very
active at sniping and harassing fire.

The attack on the Canal du Nord took place on Sep-
tember 27th. In most cases the barrage had to be
kept up to a great depth, so that guns had to go very
far forward indeed. This meant that the positions
had to be occupied the night immediately preceding
the attack, and the barrage fired without registration.
The batteries of the 3rd and 4th Divisions had to ad-
vance into captured ground during the barrage and
continue it from there. There was very hard fighting
until the 3rd of October and many counter-attacks
were made by the Germans. All our attacks were
made under a barrage and the work of getting up the
necessary ammunition was enormous.

The attack was renewed on the 8th of October by
the Third Army, but the Canadian Artillery carried
out a demonstration, and the next day the corps at-
tacked at 1.30 a.m. in a dense downpour of rain.
There was the same hard and bitter fighting until the
11th of October. At this time the corps took over a
front facing the flooded region north of the area over
which so much of the heavy fighting had taken place.
There was no general infantry action, but numerous
offensive patrols were sent out and in many places
the line slightly advanced. Every day barrages were
fired to test the enemy's strength by his return fire.
On the 17th of October it was very feeble and a gen-
eral advance was started. The advance continued al-
most without fighting until the 25th of October. The
batteries followed the infantry closely, but were not

36 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

needed, as the enemy put up no resistance. The chief
difficulty was blown-up bridges and mined cross-roads.
All mounted units were held up by these and much
time and labour were spent filling in the holes in the
road to make them passable, or constructing tem-
porary bridges to replace those destroyed. The heavy
artillery, for the most part, could not keep up with the
advance. Some 6-inch howitzers and 60-pounders
were available for the attack on Valenciennes, but the
heaviest guns were left behind.

On November 1st the advance was resumed.
The 3rd and 4th Divisions attacked under a heavy
barrage and captured Valenciennes. After this, prog-
ress was slow but steady, the enemy putting up at
times a fair resistance, except on the 9th of November,
when a large advance was made. The artillery was
called on to a certain extent, but no regular barrages
were fired. Owing to the presence of the civilian pop-
ulation the guns could not be used freely and these
operations were confined to points where the enemy
were clearly stationed in strength.

November 10th brought the corps to the outskirts of
Mons, which was captured on the morning of Novem-
ber 11th without an artillery preparation. Most of
the batteries were out of range by this time, but a few,
who could do so with safety to our own troops and to
the civilians, fired their last shot in the Great World
War at 10.59 a.m. on November 11th, 1918.

CHAPTER II

THE CANADIAN ENGINEERS

1. Introductoby

A STUDY of early history reveals the fact that
the primary task of the engineers was, as it
is now, the work of maintaining communica-
tions and the construction and destruction of field de-
fences. Hannibal's engineers built a famous road
over the Alps, and two centuries later Caesar's en-
gineers constructed magnificent military roads and
bridges, one bridge, worthy of special mention, being
thrown across the Rhine. In modern times the work
of the engineers has been augmented by the introduc-
tion of more modern conditions of warfare and also
by the larger armies in the field. During the South
African War the necessity of communications was a
vital feature and considerable work was done in road,
bridge, and railway construction. In addition block-
houses had to be built and extensive accommodation
provided for the troops and also for hospital patients.
In the Great World War vast armies were in the
field and the maintenance of lines of communication
was vitally necessary to their mobility and success.
In the first instance the troops and supplies had to be
brought forward from the base, and the railways of
France and Belgium were unable to cope with the
traffic. This led to the development of the 60-c.m.
light railways. Bridges had to be constructed, not
only for horse transport, but to carry as well the new
weapon of warfare, the *'tank," the largest weighing
thirty-seven tons. Horse transport tracks had to be
provided in order to give close access to the units and

37

38 CANADA IN THE GEEAT WORLD WAR

supply points ; infantry tracks were made to facilitate
the proper assembling of the troops. The vital neces-
sity of water compelled the construction of large
pumping stations and reservoirs. The development
of trench warfare and the masses of artillery em-
ployed involved very elaborate and extensive systems
of defence. The driving and sinking of tunnels, mines,
and deep dug-outs are more advanced stages of this
work. Operations were on a large scale, speedy com-
munication and close co-operation between units
widely separated being essential to success; this re-
sulted in a high development of the Signal Services.
The advent of the aeroplane gave observation over
the enemy territory; this rendered imperative the
concealment of defensive works and weapons or, as it
is generally known, ^ ^ camouflage. ' ' The work of the
engineers may therefore be defined as follows : —

The purpose of engineers is to apply engineering
science to the emergencies of modern warfare, in or-
der to protect and assist the troops to ameliorate the
conditions under which they are serving and to facili-
tate locomotion and communication.

In the following pages a short general account is
given of the activities, in the various branches of
work, of the engineering units with the Canadian
Corps. No mention is made of the invaluable work of
the Canadian Forestry Companies and Railway
Troops,^ as they were not with the corps. The article
closes with a brief account of the organization of the
Engineer Services and a list of the units.

2. The Activities of the Engineers

Roads and Tracks. From dusk until dawn the

roads in the forward area were crowded with a mass

of transport of all descriptions, rendering repair work

very slow and difficult. During the day small parties

1 See Vol. V, pp. 300-326.

THE CANADIAN ENGINEERS 39

of sappers endeavoured to keep these roads passable;
no easy undertaking in the rainy season. This sea-
son, in the Ypres sector, was supposed to last ^* eight-
een" months in the year; certainly the mud was ever
present. Cross-country tracks were constructed to keep
horse traffic off the main roads, but were only of use
in the dry weather. These were often run along the
side of main roads and served a very useful purpose
in relieving traffic congestion.

Conditions varied considerably, but at the Battles
of Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele a severe strain was
thrown on the engineering resources. This was es-
pecially the case during the Passchendaele opera-
tions, where only one main lateral road served the
area. Large working parties of engineers, together
with infantry and labour units, were employed con-
tinuously doing the necessary work under severe shell-
fire and exposed to the most trying conditions. Dur-
ing the Battle of Amiens conditions were different;
the attack was a complete surprise, the weather of the
best, and the area comparatively clear of shell holes
and trenches. Early on the morning of the advance,
Staff cars, guns, wagons, and ambulances proceeded
down the Amiens-Roye road on the heels of the at-
tacking troops. These were all able to cut across
country without any fear of being mired. Definite
horse traffic routes were staked out and freely marked
with signs. In the advances following the Battle of
Arras of August, 1918, more difficulty was experi-
enced. Large craters were blown at most of the cross-
roads, usually by the detonation of a series of trench-
mortar bombs. Detachments of sappers proceeded
forward with the advancing infantry in order to
search for these mines and, if possible, withdraw the
charges. Many of these were set especially to destroy
tanks. They consisted of a number of bombs with
percussion caps and a plank across the top covered
with a loose layer of earth or sod. During the Canal

40 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

du Nord attack, the first tank to go over one of the
dry canal crossings west of Inchy detonated one of
these mines. Another tank came to the rescue and
quickly hauled out the damaged one and the large
crater was soon bridged and temporarily filled by the
sapper party detailed to maintain this crossing. Con-
siderable difficulty was met with where overhead rail-
way crossings or arches were demolished and dropped
on the road. In most cases a traffic diversion was
made until a clear fairway was effected.

One marked feature of the roads was the clear way
in which they were sign-posted. Prior to the attack
sign-boards were painted at the R.E. Parks and every
cross-road was clearly marked. On entering a village
from any direction, the name could usually be seen on
a wall or gable of the first house, and direction signs
were painted on the walls throughout. These signs
were painted low in order to catch the light from the
headlights of cars and lorries.

On account of the narrowness of many of the roads,
and to avoid traffic blocks, these had to be limited to
** one-way traffic'' and regular traffic circuit maps were
issued to all drivers.

During an operation, special parties from the en-
gineer units proceeded forward with the attacking
troops, examined the ground for road mines and did
temporary repairs. Other parties followed up and
maintained the roads. In the rear the work was done
by the labour companies under the direction of the
D.A.D. Roads, an Imperial Army officer attached to
the Canadian Corps Staff.

For the period from the 26th of August, 1918, to the
11th of November, 1918, that is, during the advance
from the Arras front to Mons, the following road pro-
gramme was completed : —

773 miles of road repaired and maintained for lorry
traffic.

292 miles of dry-weather tracks constructed.

THE CANADIAN ENGINEERS 41

Bridges. It was only during the last hundred days
of the war that there was really any extensive bridg-
ing activity, in many ways the most interesting phase
of engineering work. Certainly the sapper was at his
best and happiest when on a job of this nature. The
country between Arras and Mons was freely inter-
sected by the canal system of Northern France, viz.
Canal du Nord, Canal de la Sensee, Canal de PEscaut,
and Canal de Conde. The water was from ninety to
one hundred feet wide and the bridges constructed
varied in length from one hundred to one hundred and
ninety feet. In addition numerous rivers had to be
crossed and also bridges constructed for high-level
railway crossings. Between the 26th of August and
the 11th of November, 1918, over two hundred bridges
were constructed by the Canadian Corps; of these,
eighty-six were for heavy traffic.

Valuable data regarding the bridges existing before
the war had been compiled by General Headquarters
and issued in book form. This was supplemented by
information from the local inhabitants and also by
aerial reconnaissance and photographs. In addition
very valuable knowledge as to the condition of these
structures was obtained from daring investigations
carried out by engineer officers and men.

Bridging problems were very numerous and varied
and were greatly complicated by the thorough demoli-
tion which had been carried out. Not only were the
bridges destroyed, but large craters were blown in the
approach roads, and these had to be repaired and
filled in before the lorry transport with heavy bridg-
ing material could proceed to the bridge site. It was
also necessary to construct these heavy bridges on, or
close to, the site of the original structure ; otherwise a
traffic diversion had to be made, with consequent loss
of time. This fact was known to the enemy and in-
evitably resulted in a heavy and sustained bombard-
ment of the site.

42 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR"

The bridging work was usually divided into three
phases, viz.: —

1st. Crossing for infantry.

2nd. Crossing for 1st line transport, i.e. field guns,
horse transport, etc.

3rd. Heavy bridges to take tanks, the 6-inch naval
gun, lorries, etc.

Infantry Crossings. Many different expedients
were resorted to in order to ensure the speedy pas-
sage of the infantry. The rivers were seldom suffi-
ciently deep or wide to present a serious obstacle, but
this was not the case with the canals. The crossing
of the latter was effected by the use of cork pier
bridges. Slabs of cork, sufficient to give the neces-
sary buoyancy, were baled together with wire netting
and formed the piers. These were connected at eight-
foot intervals by two light wooden stringers across
which slats were nailed. The bridges so formed took
infantry in single file.

The German foot-bridge was somewhat similar in
construction, with the exception that hollow sheet-iron
cylinders were used to give the buoyancy. The main
feature in their favour was their portability ; but they
were easily punctured by shell splinters and sunk, a
thing that frequently occurred.

In many cases it was possible to effect a crossing
over the damaged bridge structure or at the lock
gates. A fair amount of success was met with by
ferrying the troops across in collapsible boats; these
were canvas-covered and easily man-handled.

Crossings for 1st Line Transport. It was essential
to make provision for the early passage of the guns
and wheeled vehicles of the fighting troops, and much
success was met with in the use of the pontoons and
trestles carried by the Pontoon Bridging Transport
Units, of the Divisional Engineers. The sappers had
all been well trained in the handling of this equipment,
and under very adverse conditions constructed me-

h

THE CANADIAN ENGINEERS 43

dimn pontoon and trestle bridges over the canals in
rapid time. During one of the advances pontoon
bridges were constructed over the Canal de la Sensee.
The Germans, however, had control over the locks and
drained the canal in the captured area. This move,
although unforeseen, was speedily noticed, and the
maintenance party erected a new Weldon trestle
bridge before any interruption in traffic took place.
These pontoon and trestle bridges were speedily re-
placed by more permanent structures. The equipment
was loaded on the trestle wagons and moved forward
in preparation for the next advance. The great fea-
ture of the pontoon bridging equipment was its mo-
bility and also the speed with which a bridge could be
constructed. Ordinary timber trestle spans or crib
pier bridges were also built where the conditions did
not permit of the use of pontoons. In many cases
temporary repairs were quickly made to structures
which had not been entirely demolished.

Heavy Bridging. The problems confronting the en-
gineers in this direction were greatly added to by the
introduction of the tanks. The first tanks weighed
thirty tons ; then the new Mark 5 Tank, weighing thirty-
seven tons and requiring a clear roadway of fourteen
feet six inches, came into use. The next load, in point
of seriousness, was the 6-inch Mark 7 Gun with an
axle load of seventeen tons. Naturally all the heavy
bridges could not be constructed to take care of these
excessive loads, as time and material were very pre-
cious. The most suitable crossings were therefore
selected and every bridge was clearly marked as to
its carrying capacity. The tank and artillery units
were advised in order to avoid confusion.

A number of standard-span portable bridges, vary-
ing in span from sixteen to eighty-five feet, were
stored at the base depots. These bridges consisted of
loose members and were bolted with machine-turned
bolts. They were, however, very cumbersome, and

44 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

this rendered their erection slow. The weight was an-
other disadvantage, e.g. the eighty-five-foot span was
a single-way bridge and weighed sixty-three tons.
Fortunately a new bridge, called the ^^Inglis Portable
Military Bridge, Rectangular Type," had been in-
vented by Captain Inglis, R.E., and was adopted by
the British Army. This bridge was the Warren
girder type and was composed of a number of identi-
cal bays, each twelve feet long, twelve feet high, and
twelve feet wide. It was designed to carry a dead
load of eighty-four tons distributed over a clear span
of eighty-four feet. Each part could be easily man-
handled and the span could vary in multiples of
twelve feet, e.g. sixty feet, seventy-two feet, eighty-
four feet, ninety- six feet, and one hundred and eight
feet, to suit the gap. The bridge was built on blocks
in skeleton form with a counterbalance arm and jacked
up on to a two-wheeled trolley. It was then pushed
over the gap, the counterbalance removed, then jacked
down on the abutment, and the decking laid. On the
28th of September, 1918, a bridge of this type was
erected complete over the Canal du Nord at Marquion
in twelve and a half hours actual working time under
severe shell-fire. A party of approximately two hun-
dred sappers was employed on the construction of the
bridge with the necessary approaches and abutments.
The span was one hundred and eight feet clear and
the safe distributed load fifty-one tons.

Owing to the scarcity of these bridges and their
value in an offensive operation, it was necessary to
start immediately on the construction of a more per-
manent structure. Deck bridges with trestle bents
were usually substituted, but everything depended on
the available material and the conditions. The Inglis
bridge at Sains-lez-Marquion was replaced by filling
in the canal with earth and forming a two-way plank
road. This fill was done by a detachment of Canadian
railway troops in record time.

BRIDGING THE CANAL DU NORD
Canadian Official Photographs

THE CANADIAN ENGINEERS 45

Most of the heavy bridges were of timber construc-
tion with I-beam stringers. Many valuable dumps
of bridging material were captured and this supply
greatly facilitated the work, both of temporary con-
struction and replacements.

An official photograph shows the crossing of the
Arras-Cambrai road over the Canal du Nord. On the
right is the Inglis bridge erected during the advance
and on the extreme left is the original pontoon bridge.
A semi-permanent bridge is being constructed by an
Army Troops Company of Canadian engineers, who
are busy driving the piles for the piers.

The success of the Bourlon Wood operations de-
pended, to a great extent, on the speed with which
the Canal du Nord was bridged. It was decided to
provide for seven infantry foot-bridges, ten crossings
for guns and horse transport, and five crossings for
heavy traffic. The east bank of the canal was held by
the enemy and in some places they had outposts es-
tablished on the west side. The river Agache ran
parallel and close to the east bank of the canal and
also had to be bridged after a crossing was effected.
Special dumps of bridging material were, however,
formed as far forward as possible and skilfully camou-
flaged. Prior to zero hour, 5.20 a.m., on the 27th of
September, 1918, most of the roads and tracks were
repaired well forward, in order to expedite the pas-
sage of the bridging convoys, which were all loaded up
and *^ standing to." Special engineer detachments
went forward with the attacking infantry and soon
had crossings completed. The first guns crossed the
canal at 8 a.m. and other crossings were completed at
various times during the day. The heavy bridging
convoy for the Sains-lez-Marquion bridge consisted of
twenty-four three-ton lorries and these reached the
site at 2 p.m. The bridge was practically ready for
launching before nightfall, but this was a hazardous
operation and was delayed until daylight. The bridge

46 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

span, one hundred and eight feet clear, was open for
traffic early on the afternoon of the 28th of Septem-
ber. An attempt was made to get material forward
for the Marquion bridge on the Arras-Cambrai road,
but the situation here was not cleared up till the after-
noon of the 27th. Owing to the scarcity of this special
bridging material and to the fact that the site would
be heavily shelled during the night, it was decided
to delay erection until dawn of the 28th. This policy
was fully justified and the bridge, as already stated,
was erected in twelve and a half hours actual working
time, a record performance.

Great commendation was given to the Canadian En-
gineers by the Commander-in-Chief and G.H.Q. for
their unequalled record in bridging; the fighting
troops, too, realized how much their efforts had to do
with the speed of the advance.

Defences. The general policy concerning defences
and their nature and siting was laid down by the
Corps General Staff. The Chief Engineer had on his
staff a field engineer in charge of defences, and these
works were carried out by, or under the supervision
of, the engineers.

In order to ensure defence in depth, all work in the
forward area was carried out under the supervision of
the Commanding Royal Engineers Division or, as he
was later, the Officer Commanding Engineer Brigade.
In the corps area the work came directly under
the C.E.

Under the category of defences were included wiring,
construction of trenches, deep dug-outs, gun and
machine-gun emplacements, offensive and defensive
mining, infantry subways, preparation of roads,
bridges, railways, machinery for demolition, etc. In-
fantry and mule tracks had to be constructed, also
deep dug-outs or protected accommodation for regi-
mental aid posts, advanced dressing stations, and bat-
talion, brigade, and divisional headquarters.

THE CANADIAN ENGINEERS 47

It was not until the Battle of the Somme in 1916
that deep dug-outs came to be extensively used. Large
numbers had been constructed by the enemy, all hav-
ing timbered entrances and chambers. These usually
had from twenty to thirty feet of head cover and in-
volved considerable work in construction.

The wiring of the forward system was done at night
by infantry parties under sapper supervision and was
a very unpopular job.

In addition to the defences in the forward area,
provision had to be made in case of an enforced re-
tirement. A study of the German successes in the
early part of 1918 is sufficient evidence on this point.
The most complete system of this nature was probably
that of Vimy Ridge, where the defences were organ-
ized to a great depth. These consisted of successive
and clearly defined defensive systems which were
roughly parallel to the main front. These were linked
together by ** switch lines'* sited to protect either
flank. All of these systems were very strongly wired
and protected by a series of machine-gun emplace-
ments enfilading the wire. In addition a number of
^^ strong points*' were introduced at intervals; these
formed part of the system and were stocked with am-
munition, water, emergency rations, etc. Large num-
bers of trench signs were erected in order to minimize
confusion and clearly establish the different systems.

These signs often afforded much amusement to
visitors and usually were typical of the occupants, e.g.
^'Canada," *^ Ottawa," ^^ Vancouver," **Regina."
You could go along ** Piccadilly" until you met ''Teddy
Gerrard ' ' and on your way back take in ' ' Peggy. ' ' At
the same time the nervous system suffered a severe
shock when at intervals were discerned such signs
as: —

HELL FIRE CORNER
NO LOITERING

SHRAPNEL CORNER
UNDER ENEMY OBSERVATION

SNIPER
KEEP LOW

48 CANADA IN THE GBEAT WORLD WAR

The good weather of the early part of 1918 con-
tributed to the success of the construction of these
defences, and the following work was done in rear of
the main front-line system: —

250 miles of trench dug.

300 miles of barbed-wire entanglements erected.

200 tunnelled machine-gun emplacements con-
structed.

The tramways, water supply, deep dug-outs, etc., all
formed part of these works, but are dealt with else-
where in this sketch.

Tunnelling and Mining, Very little is known of the
extensive underground operations which were carried
out, and the report that a mine was blown by our
troops conveyed little impression to the ordinary
reader. Yet, for months, continuous shifts of tunnel-
lers were employed driving shafts, hauling the refuse
to the surface, and disposing of it in such a manner as
not to excite the enemy's suspicions. Not only was
this the case, but battles were fought under as well as
above ground. The enemy was also busy with his
underground workings, and each was trying to gain
the master position and blow in the other. The work
of the tunneller was therefore no sinecure, and he
toiled on, knowing that at any moment his gallery
might be blown in. Very accurate information as to
the level, direction, and vicinity of the enemy work-
ings was given by trained miners who could detect the
tapping from the face of their own shaft. Delicate
instruments were also used to effect the same purpose.

The most extensive and ambitious work of this
nature was carried out in the Ypres sector and cul-
minated in the Battle of Messines in June, 1917. The
attack opened at 3.10 a.m. on the morning of the 7th
with the blowing of a series of large mines. The sight
was a never-to-be-forgotten one ; the terrific explosion
and shock were instantaneously followed by immense
jets of flame which rose to a height of from one hun-

THE CANADIAN ENGINEERS 49

dred and fifty to two hundred feet. The mines were
on a larger scale than had ever been attempted before
and there was not a single failure. This was more
remarkable owing to the fact that many of the charges
were ready for firing many months previous. The
success of this operation was an event in military his-
tory and clearly showed that, with the scientific appli-
cation of skill, determination, and personal bravery,
military mines of temporary construction could be
made to meet tactical requirements after a consider-
able lapse of time, even in the most difficult ground.
Large craters were found as a result of the blowing of
these mines and some measured over three hundred
feet in diameter and fifty feet deep.

A very important part in these operations was
played by the three tunnelling companies of Canadian
engineers who were engaged on mining work in this
area during 1916 and 1917.

The mine under Hill 60 and the one under *^The
Caterpillar'' serve as good examples of the large
amount of work and labour involved and the magni-
tude of the quantity of explosive used. The charge
for the former mine was fifty-four thousand pounds of
ammonal at a vertical depth of ninety feet, while the
latter one was seventy thousand pounds of ammonal
at a depth of one hundred and ten feet. The charges
were at the bottom of long inclined galleries and were
loaded and tamped in October, 1916, i.e. eight months
before they were blown. During the whole of this
mining work the engineers were in instant touch with
the enemy underground and operations were sub-
jected to repeated counterblows. Conditions were
very critical at times, and in one instance an enemy
gallery was captured, which had penetrated one hun-
dred feet inside our lines, at a depth of sixty feet.

In addition to the offensive and defensive mining,
special detachments of tunnellers were attached to the
infantry during operations. Their duty was to locate

50 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

and remove enemy mines, to examine dug-outs for
booby traps, etc.

Infantry saps and subways were constructed in or-
der to give accommodation for troops and also to give
protection and concealment while moving to forward
positions. Battle headquarters had also to be con-
structed.

On the reorganization of the Canadian Engineers in
1918, two of the tunnelling companies were absorbed
into the engineer battalions and the 3rd Tunnelling
Company, C.E., alone retained its identity until the end
of the war. These units seldom operated with the Ca-
nadian Corps, but came directly under the orders of
the Army Controller of Mines.

Light Railways. The light railways constructed by
the Canadian Corps on the Arras-Hill 70 front con-
stituted the most complete forward system on the
whole of the Western front. These were divided into
two areas; viz. the army light railways, which were
operated by steam motive power in the rear areas,
and the corps tramways, which were operated by
petrol engines in the forward areas. All the systems
were linked together and connection was also estab-
lished with the broad-gauge railheads. This resulted
in a great saving in transportation and handling, and
also in traffic on the roads. All the light railways in
the corps forward area were constructed, operated,
and maintained by the 1st and 2nd Tramway Com-
panies, C.E., assisted by other engineer personnel in
time of stress.

The two main junctions on the Vimy front were
at Lens Junction and Aix Noulette, and over sixty-
one miles of railway were operated. All traffic
was controlled from these points, which were in tele-
phone communication with the control stations estab-
lished at intervals along the line. The whole was a
very well organized system, and when it is considered
that all the forward area traffic was done at night over

THE CANADIAN ENGINEERS 51

heavily shelled areas, and that accidents were very
infrequent, the situation may be better appreciated.
Special repair gangs of tramway engineers were con-
tinuously patrolling, ballasting, repairing, and re-
placing the track.

Spur lines ran to battery positions and in this way
ammunition was delivered direct to the guns. In the
same manner rations and engineer stores were de-
livered to the various dumps. The battery spurs were
usually camouflaged in daytime in order that the gun
positions should not be visible to the enemy airmen.

An illustrative incident is recorded of an Imperial
battery which was attached to the corps for an opera-
tion. On the day on which the guns were placed in
position the Officer Commanding the battery was vis-
ited by a Canadian tramway officer, who asked how
many rounds of ammunition he would like delivered
that night. An order was placed with very little faith
in the immediate delivery. Towards dusk a small
gang of tramway engineers started on the construc-
tion of a spur line connecting with the battery and
soon had this completed and ready for the petrol
tractor, which arrived well before dawn with the full
complement of ammunition. Here was *' service" as
applied to modern warfare.

The work of these tramway companies was not con-
fined to supplies alone and the trains returning empty
were used to bring in wounded personnel. Splendid
results were obtained in this connection and many a
wounded soldier was saved a rough ride or long
stretcher carry over shell-torn roads.

A seriously wounded Canadian was brought into the
dressing station in the basement of the factory at
La Coulotte (near Lens) one day when the writer was
there. The Medical Officer, after an examination,
stated that his only hope of life was to be immediately
taken to a casualty clearing station for an operation.
Luckily, the light railways were in operation to this

52 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

point, and by the time the casualty was put on the
train a clear right of way had been established to
Lievin. Here the train was met by a medical officer,
the patient transferred to another train, and then
rushed to the hospital.

Everything possible was being done to assist the
troops, and it was decided to attempt to take a re-
lieving brigade of infantry to the line by railway and
to convey the outgoing troops to their rest billets.
The experiment was a complete success and was put
in operation whenever possible. In the same way re-
inforcements detrained at the railhead and trans-
ferred to light railways, which conveyed them to the
wagon lines of their units. The troops were thus
saved the fatigue of long marches.

In the spring of 1918 a leave train was run and
about one hundred and fifty men were daily brought
from the line by petrol tractor trains to Lens Junc-
tion. Here they transferred to steam tractor trains
and were conveyed to the railhead, where they joined
the regular leave trains for Boulogne, Calais, or Paris.

The value of the light railways in assisting in the
projection of gas was inestimable. In these opera-
tions special spurs were constructed very far forward,
in order that our own troops and defences should not
suffer from the gas projection. Many attacks were
launched on the enemy and on the night of the 22nd
of March, 1918, over 4,500 gas cylinders were taken as
far forward as possible by petrol tractor. They were
then pushed to the end of the spurs by infantry par-
ties and the gas projected.

During the Amiens operations nine captured metre-
gauge steam locomotives were overhauled and, with
thirty-five captured metre-gauge trucks, were removed
under their own power to a place of safety.

Fortunately the German light railways had, in many
cases, the same gauge as our own, viz. 60 cm., and we
were able to link up the two systems ; where they were

THE CANADIAN ENGINEERS 53

operating a metre-gauge the conversion to 60 cm.
was speedily made.

Remarkable results were achieved by the light rail-
ways in the Bourlon Wood operations of the 27th of
September, 1918. Prior to the operation over three
thousand tons of ammunition were being delivered
daily to the advanced ammunition dumps and gun
positions by the Canadian Corps Tramway Companies.
The track was constructed very far forward, with the
result that when the operation commenced the return-
ing empty trains conveyed daily over one thousand
wounded personnel to the broad-gauge railhead.

A study of the traffic figures for the period from the
1st of January to the 18th of November, 1918, will, how-
ever, give a better impression of the saving in road
transportation effected.

NUMBER OF TONS MOVED
H.A. FJl. R.E. STORES MISC. TOTAL

73,134 107,694 64,088 239,306 484,222

Approximately half a million tons, when allowance
is made for personnel conveyed.

The Supply of Water. The writer has a vivid recol-
lection of a night during the Somme operations when
he was in charge of a working party on the repair of
the Courcelette road. A relief had taken place and
the weary infantry were plodding their way back to
Albert for a short spell of rest and quiet. Poor fel-
lows, they were parched with thirst, and everywhere
one was met with the query: ^*Say, Mac! got anything
left in your water-bottle?'' In this area the water
supply situation was very serious ; most of the civilian
wells had been obliterated and many of those which
were reclaimed were found to be contaminated and
labelled by the engineers: ** Water not fit for drink-
ing."

54 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

The development of the water supply was a vital
necessity, and when it is considered that provision had
to be made for watering 100,000 to 160,000 men and
25,000 to 45,000 horses, the problem confronting the
engineers may be better realized. In France and Bel-
gium, especially in the battle zone, the main civilian
source of water supply was from wells, and these ex-
isted in large numbers in all the villages. During
an advance, many were found to be polluted, a favour-
ite method of the enemy being to throw dead bodies
in the wells.

The development of the water supply in the forward
area was entrusted to sections from the Divisional
Engineers. In the rear areas the system was more
permanent and extensive and the work was carried
out by the Army Troops Companies, C.E. This was
especially so during an advance; but when the corps
settled down in an area for any length of time, all
water supply installations were put in by the A.T.
Companies. This work was carried out under the
supervision and orders of the Field Engineer, Water
Supply, an officer on the staff of the Chief Engineer.

Many different methods were used for raising the
water, each dependent on local conditions. The hand-
power lift and force pump was used to pump from
ponds or rivers into canvas water-troughs; the old-
type windlass and bucket was repaired or erected over
wells, and where these were of good capacity a chain
helice or power pump was usually installed. These
systems relieved the situation in the villages to a
great extent; but the reserve and forward areas had
to be supplied, and this involved the necessity of pipe
line installations. Where local conditions did not per-
mit of any other scheme, a bore was driven by one of
the ** well-boring sections'' of the Royal Engineers.
The water was then pumped through a 4-inch screw
pipe main to the 50,000 gallon reservoirs. These
reservoirs were interesting on account of the simplic-

THE CANADIAN ENGINEERS 55

ity of construction. An excavation was made about
eighty-five feet long, twenty-five feet wide, and five
and a half feet deep, the sides being sloped at forty-
five degrees, and a skeleton wooden frame constructed,
to which was attached canvas tarpaulins. These res-
ervoirs were built on the highest and most suitable
ground in the vicinity, in order to obtain a good grav-
ity feed to the numerous water supply points. Ca-
mouflage ^was erected over the reservoirs as the large
expanse of water was most conspicuous from the air.

The pipe lines were continuously patrolled, and re-
pairs effected by special repair gangs of engineers. A
light covering of earth was usually thrown over the
pipes in the summer months, but in the winter the
pipes had to be sunk to a depth of three feet in order
to have protection from the frost. Stand-pipes and
water-bottle filler sets had to be wrapped with straw
or boxed in manure. Under normal conditions, horses
were watered three times daily, and as this was
usually done at the same hour a great strain was
thrown on the water supply. However, good stand-
ings were constructed with ^^IN'' and **OUT'' gates
and wired in. These were under the charge of a con-
trol man, who was responsible for maintaining order.
During an advance special detachments of Divisional
Engineers proceeded forward with the attacking
troops. Rapid tests of the available sources of water
supply were made and these were labelled as to their
fitness for consumption. Temporary water points
were constructed to meet immediate requirements.

All the water used for consumption was chlorinated
before use : this made it slightly unpalatable. During
the advances of the corps several large German soda
water factories were found and many large dumps of
bottled soda water were captured: this seemed to be
generally used by enemy troops.

In the advance of the latter half of 1918 other meth-
ods had to be devised. The deep penetration of our

56 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

troops resulted in a move forward of larger masses
of the corps personnel. To meet the demand, special
water-tank companies were attached to the corps and
came under the orders of the Chief Engineer. They
were equipped with water-tanks fitted on motor chas-
sis, and these were used to fill storage tanks which
were placed at regular intervals along the sides of the
roads. Special sterilizing lorries were also used to
pump and sterilize water from the streams or other
sources. These formed a very valuable asset and
source of supply in the forward area during the
advances.

As an instance of the work carried out by the Ca-
nadian Engineers, the following development of the
water supply was done during the Battle of Arras.
Twenty-two power pumping stations were established,
having a total daily capacity of six hundred thousand
gallons. Fifty-five thousand linear feet of water pipe
were laid or reclaimed, and six thousand linear feet of
horse-troughing constructed. About one hundred thou-
sand gallons of water per day were obtained from wells
which were repaired or reclaimed; about fifty thou-
sand gallons of water per day were supplied from the
sterilizing lorries; and about forty water storage
points were kept filled by the water-tank lorries.
These operations, it should be noted, extended from
the 26th of August to the 3rd of September, 1918.

No Electrical and Mechanical Companies existed in
the Canadian Corps and very valuable assistance was
given by those units of the Australian and Royal
Engineers.

A record of the water supply activities of the corps
would not be complete without mention being made of
the late Captain (Acting-Major) 0. M. Stitt, M.C.
This gallant and capable officer was field engineer in
charge of water supply and was mortally wounded
near Rosieres on the 12th of August, 1918, while in-
specting the forward water supply. He was conveyed

UNLOADING WATER MAINS
ENGINEERS STERILIZING WATER

CANADIAN ENGINEERS AT WORK

Canadian Official Photographs

THE CANADIAN ENGINEERS 57

to the casualty clearing station at the asylum, south
of Amiens. No hope was given for his recovery and
the Medical Officer said he would pass away in a
few hours. The writer stayed by his bedside during
the whole evening. He was semi-conscious most of
the time, and continuously asked for water. He once
said to me: **That water is nice and cool; does it
come from a spring f I said **Yes," and shortly
after he asked where the spring was. Thinking to
ease his mind, I said it was just outside the building.
He thought for some time, then said: **That isn't
right; there is no spring in the grounds here; the
nearest one is one and a half miles away." In a few
hours he passed away, but not before he had discussed
the question of his successor and was satisfied that
everything would be taken care of. Here was the true
engineering spirit, active to the last; typical of this
officer, who was exact to the smallest detail.

Accommodation, Consider for a moment a ** mov-
ing city,'' with a population greater than that of Ot-
tawa, the whole or part of which was liable to move at
short notice. This involved the provision and erection
of the necessary hutting for headquarters, officers, and
men, and in winter the construction of standing and
shelters for upwards of twenty-five thousand horses.
The essential sanitary arrangements such as latrines,
bathhouses, laundries, disinfectors, incinerators, etc.,
had to be provided, and the hundred-and-one things
which were necessary to maintain this personnel in
the field. In the forward area most of this accommo-
dation was below ground, and the refuse from the
excavation had to be removed, distributed, and camou-
flaged, in order to be screened from enemy observa-
tion. Arrangements had to be made for the reception
and storage of the necessary supplies, e.g. rations and
forage, ammunition, and stores.

During 1917 and 1918 aerial bombing increased to
a tremendous extent and the rear and rest areas were

58 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

the main targets on suitable evenings. Orders were
issued by the Army that all sleeping quarters and
horse lines had to be bomb-proofed. This involved the
erection of breast-high earthworks, thus localizing the
effect of bursting bombs. Similar provision had to be
made at the ammunition dumps.

I wonder if there is any British soldier in France
who has not slept in a Nissen hut. These huts were
twenty-one feet six inches long, sixteen feet six inches
wide, and semicircular in section, with corrugated
iron roof and sectional wood ends, and were speedily
erected by a few sappers. They were usually bunked
to accommodate twenty-two soldiers and, of course, a
stove. A *^ standing room only" sign was totally in-
adequate when reveille was sounded. These huts,
however, served a very useful purpose; they were
quickly constructed or dismantled, easily portable, and
did not form a very marked target. The inventor,
Mr. Nissen, was, I understand, a Canadian who was
serving with the British Forces.

Camouflage. The increased demand for camouflage
and the necessity for its use resulted in the Chief
Engineer taking over all work of this nature from
July, 1918. All gun positions, defensive works, head-
quarters, dumps, etc., had to be skilfully disguised
from enemy observation. Many ingenious expedients
were resorted to in order to effect this purpose. In
the case of special work, detail sketches were made
on the site and the general colour scheme decided on.
The work was done at one of the camouflage parks of
the Special Works Companies, R.E., under the direc-
tion of the corps camouflage officer. As an example
of the value of this work, the following authentic in-
stance is given.

In September, 1918, the Advance Headquarters of
the Canadian Corps moved to an area between Neu-
ville Vitasse and Wancourt. Quarters were taken up
in dug-outs in the Old Hindenburg Line and a large

THE CANADIAN ENGINEERS 59

number of huts were erected for officers, messes,
garages, etc. The total personnel accommodated in
this area would number approximately two hundred.
On completion of the work a request was sent to the
flying squadron attached to the corps, requesting an
aerial photograph of the area. The exact map loca-
tion of the camp was given. The first pilot returned
with the information that he could find no trace of
anything to photograph and a second trip resulted in
a like report. The machines were flying low and
crossed and recrossed over the site. After confirming
the map location, a third trip was made and a series
of photographs taken. It was almost impossible to
detect anything from the prints and only one very
familiar with the layout and the interpretation of
aerial photographs could do so. The huts had been
sunk into the sides of old trenches, sunken roads, or
shell holes, and the whole camouflaged over. Every-
thing was very skilfully assimilated with the local sur-
roundings and no vertical faces were left to cast
shadows.

During the Battle of Amiens over one hundred
thousand square yards of camouflage material were
issued and erected in the Canadian Corps Area. On
the return of the corps to the Arras sector in the
middle of August, 1918, the camouflage factory at
Duisans was taken over. This enabled special camou-
flage material to be manufactured under direct super-
vision. Schemes were evolved for the camouflage of
guns up to and including the 6-inch howitzer, in order
to meet the requirements of these mobile guns. Real
success was met with and a light camouflage cover was
devised, which could be erected by four men, complete,
in four minutes. This cover met with immediate ap-
proval and was adopted by other armies.

Engineer Stores. In order to meet the demand for
all stores of an engineering description. Corps R.E.
Parks were established at a suitable broad-gauge rail-

60 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

head. These parks were operated by Army Troops
Companies, C.E., or by the P.B. Company, C.E. This
latter unit was an artisan company formed of skilled
tradesmen, who had either been casualties or were of
low medical category.

In the early stages of the war it was possible to
purchase stores locally, but the supply was soon de-
pleted; as a consequence, the French authorities re-
served any supplies which were left, and all purchases
were prohibited. Careful estimates had, therefore, to
be compiled and all material required requisitioned
for six weeks in advance. These stores came through
the regular army channels and were delivered to the
corps parks in bulk. Here the allotment was made to
the corps and divisional engineers and the material
shipped forward by light railway, lorry, or wagon, to
the advanced Corps R.E. Parks, Divisional R.E.
Parks, and the advanced divisional, brigade, and bat-
talion dumps. These engineering stores included
cement, corrugated iron, roofing felt, steel joists and
rails, posts and wire for entanglements, steel shelters,
wire netting, expanded metal, hurdles, canvas and
frames for revetting the trenches, bath mats, bricks,
baths, ironmongery, timber of all sizes, electrical stores,
mining and tunnelling stores, water pipes and fittings,
pumps, stock span bridges, standard huts, and tools
of every description.

At each of the Corps R.E. Parks workshops were
established. Here timber was resawn to required
dimensions and made up into standard designs for
mining frames, revetting frames, bath mats, targets, sec-
tional huts, and infantry, artillery, and trench bridges.
In addition to the sawmills, well equipped plumber
shops, machine shops, paint shops, blacksmith shops,
and tinsmith shops were in full operation. Every-
thing possible was done to produce articles which
could be obtained from no other source, the primary
object being to reduce the work at the advanced

THE CANADIAN ENGINEERS 61

dumps. An instance of the work accomplished is
worth quoting. Early in the winter of 1917 it was
seen that the supply of stoves was far short of the
requirements of the corps. A request was sent to
each of the Canadian divisions for a nominal roll of
all personnel who were tinsmiths by trade. These
men were despatched to a Corps R.E. Park and
started on the manufacture of the well known Quebec
Heaters. A very large supply was quickly made, also
the necessary stove pipes and fittings, and all the de-
mands from the units were filled. The personnel of
these parks was usually increased by detachments
from the labour battalions, in order to distribute and
load and unload the stores.

Great difficulty was met with in obtaining the neces-
sary engineering stores for the Battle of Amiens.
This operation was skilfully camouflaged and its ex-
tent known to only a few of the Higher Command.
The result was that the Army and Corps R.E. Parks
were not stocked to meet the excessive demands, and
material had to be hauled from the base parks. For-
tunately for the corps, the Canadian Engineers M.T.
Company had been formed and its establishment of
ninety-six lorries received. This unit rendered very
valuable assistance from its formation in the summer
of 1918. Had this transport not been available, the
situation would have been a most difficult one. The
following gives a list of the quantities of some of the
stores drawn for the operation by the Canadian
Corps: 1,500,000 sandbags, 36,000 shovels, 36,000
picks, 15,000 small coils of barbed wire, one train-load
of two-and-a-half -inch hardwood slabs for plank roads,
twenty tons of eight-inch and nine-inch cut spikes,
seven hundred and twenty hammers, seven hundred
and twenty hand-saws, six hundred hand-axes, six hun-
dred felling-axes.

An attempt was made, in the battle referred to,
to deliver urgent engineer stores by tank. One tank

62 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

was allotted to each engineer brigade and, prior to
the operation, loaded with bridging material, picks
and shovels, wire, etc. But the experiment was not a
success ; the tanks were too slow and the material had
to be transferred to the regular engineer trestle wag-
ons. Had the newer and speedier tank been used,
better results might have been achieved.

Signal Service, The development of signal conunu-
nication was a very interesting feature of the war and
an example of the march of progress. History re-
counts an important engagement during the South
African War when an operation suffered through lack
of support. This was owing to the fact that the sun
was under a cloud all day — an almost unheard-of
event at that time of year — and consequently there
was no heliograph communication with the flanking
units.

During the recent campaign many new instruments
and methods came into use. Those generally adopted
were telephones and telegraphs, wireless telegraphy,
visual signalling, pigeon service, and despatch riders.
Trench warfare, for signals, entailed complicated
buried cable systems and permanent airline routes.
This necessitated the employment of every available
man on maintenance and operation. In this way all
other methods had been eclipsed by the telephone, which
was developed almost to perfection. Cables had to be
buried to a depth of six feet at least, in order to be
protected against shell-fire. In the forward area it
was essential that every precaution be taken to pre-
vent the enemy from picking up messages, even
though sent in code ; this purpose was effected by the
use of the ^* Fuller Phone," a buzzer set which, by a
simple contrivance, prevented enemy interception.
Wireless came into use only during the last year of
the war and the introduction of the ** Continuous
Wave Wireless" was a decided asset. This was ex-
tensively used during active operations for keeping in

THE CANADIAN ENGINEERS 63

touch with special groups and also with the infantry
and artillery brigades and divisions, when telephone
communication was impossible or temporarily inter-
rupted. When the corps were on the march into Ger-
many the wireless was also in general use, especially
when it was impossible to establish communication by
connection with the civilian railway telegraph system.

The deep penetrations made by the British Army in
1918 resulted in a complete disorganization of the
German communications. The enemy were forced to
adopt wireless and the messages were intercepted by
a special long-range set which was put in operation by
the corps.

Another valuable introduction was the adoption of
**loop wireless sets." These had a limited range of
four thousand yards and could be speedily put in
operation without the aid of skilled personnel. They
were used to establish communication between for-
ward units when all other means had been cut off
owing to enemy bombardment.

During trench warfare one thousand pigeons were
required for the Corps Pigeon Service. The birds
were delivered to forward points by two despatch
riders and taken into the trenches from these points
by battalion and battery pigeoneers. In normal trench
warfare about one hundred pigeons were sent forward
daily and released after twenty-four hours' duty.
About thirty special men had to be trained weekly as
pigeoneers in order to maintain this service. These
birds were of little use in open warfare, owing to the
fact that they were unfamiliar with the ground and
consequently lost considerable time in locating their
lofts.

Great credit and praise must be given to the Des-
patch Rider Letter Service, whose work in the for-
ward area was extremely difficult and hazardous ow-
ing to the crowded roads and heavy shell-fire. A
great volume of this traffic was handled at night and

64 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

had to be delivered to units whose location was ever
changing. No lights could be carried, and the only-
address was of this description, *'M 27 d 2.4,'* viz. a
rtiap reference. For the period from the 24th of August
to the 1st of September inclusive, nine days, four regu-
lar runs were made daily, 153 special runs were made,
and 19,526 despatches were carried of which sixty per
cent, were registered.

The Corps Signal Company carried three portable
3-K.W. electric lighting sets and the Divisional Signal
Companies one each. These were used to light the
Corps and Divisional Headquarters. In addition each
signal company was provided with a 1-K.W. set for
charging accumulators.

A very extensive telephone service was established
in the Vimy area, and, exclusive of battalion, brigade,
battery, and other telephones, the Canadian Signals
handed over to the relieving corps in May, 1918, when
they came out to rest, 118 miles of six-foot buried
cable routes averaging forty pairs per route, or 9,440
miles of armoured cable; 152 miles of airline routes
averaging ten pairs per route, or 3,040 miles of open
wire; eight miles of fifty pairs in mine galleries, or
eight hundred miles of insulated cable.

As an example of the traffic through the Corps
Headquarters Signal Office the following figures for
the nine days, viz. August 24th to September 1st, 1918,
are given : —

Urgent

Telegrams

Special
D.R.L.S.

Operation
Priority
Messages

Sent

Transmitted

Received

Despatches

281

8,658

27,486

7,684

153

19,526

THE CANADIAN ENGINEERS ^

A grand total of 63,788 messages, an average of
over seven thousand per day.

One very interesting and useful feature of the Sig-
nal Service was the interception and police sets.
These consisted of special instruments equipped with
amplifiers and were used to collect information from
messages and conversations passing over the enemy
telegraph and telephone systems. They were also
used to police our own system in order to regulate the
traffic and so reduce to a minimum the amount of in-
formation intercepted by the enemy.

3. Special Canadian- Engineeb Units

Anti-Aircraft Searchlight Company, C.E, The com-
pany consisted of a headquarters and four sections of
three 90-c.m. lights each. Each of these lights was
mounted on a petrol electric lorry. This unit worked
in conjunction with the other searchlight companies
and anti-aircraft batteries in the area and came di-
rectly under the orders of the Army Director of
Searchlights. The Canadian personnel were attached
to the British units for instruction and soon mastered
the principles of the game. Their record for the num-
ber of machines picked up as against the number of
machines raiding our territory was a high one and re-
ceived splendid commendation from the armies they
operated with.

The sight during an enemy raid is a never-to-be-
forgotten one. The intermittent drone peculiar to the
German machines would be heard and the sky dotted
and intersected with the beams of light. These would
intersect each other and slowly sweep the heavens.
Meantime flashes of light followed by faint reports
told that the ** Archies'' were putting up their bar-
rage. Suddenly the lights would all converge on one
spot and the German machine could be seen, resem-
bling a gorgeous silvery insect. Immediately the

66 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

''Archies'' got to work in their endeavour to bring
him down or drive him back. The pilot would franti-
cally manoeuvre his machine, but the beams were re-
lentless. Often the cargo of bombs would be hastily
unloaded and the lightened machine endeavour to re-
turn to its aerodrome. Sometimes the pilot would
continue on his way and suddenly the rear area lights
would come into action and pick up the machine from
the forward lights which were going out of range.
Again the machine might be seen to burst into flames
and come tearing down to earth like some mighty
meteor — one of our night defence machines had shot
him down and added to the heavy toll taken.

Canadian Engineer Motor Transport Company. On
the formation of the Engineer Battalions in 1918 cer-
tain motor transport was allowed for. It was later
decided to form an Engineer M.T. Company and de-
tail the lorries to units as required. This scheme was
very successful and the unit rendered valuable assist-
ance. It was now possible to deliver large quantities
of material direct to engineer working parties and
dumps. During operations the lorries were running
for twenty-four hours daily, the second driver on each
lorry forming the relief. Great credit is due to many
of these drivers for work carried out under very
heavy shell-fire. The lorries had to travel over roads
which were being shelled and very often were halted
while some in front, which had been hit, were dragged
off the main roadway. The continuous lines of traffic
on narrow roads rendered it impossible to return and
take an alternative route.

4. Organization and Administration

A study of what has already been written naturally
prompts the question: What was the organization
responsible for the carrying out of this work and
where was all the personnel obtained from?

THE CANADIAN ENGINEERS 67

Chief Engineer, The Chief Engineer of the Cana-
dian Corps was Major-Genera] W. Bethune Lindsay,
C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O. His staff consisted of a staff
officer and four officers who were attached as field
engineers to assist in co-ordinating and directing the
work within the corps area. He was the technical
adviser of the Corps Commander on all Engineer Serv-
ices, and on the reorganization of the Engineers ad-
ministered all their personnel in France. This neces-
sitated the provision of a staff officer, a staff captain
(A and Q), a staff captain (stores and transport),
and four field engineers (one each for defences, roads,
water supply, and tramways). Additional field en-
gineers were attached, as required, in time of stress.

Divisional Engineers (before reorganization). Un-
til May 24th, 1918, the organization of Canadian En-
gineer units within the corps was exactly the same as
in the Imperial Service. In a division the engineer
services were carried out under a Commanding Royal
Engineer, who had an adjutant to assist him and
three field companies under his command. Each divi-
sion had a pioneer battalion, which was usually, al-
though not always, placed under the C.R.E. for work,
but not for administration. These companies were
responsible for all the engineer work in the divisional
area, i.e. defences, roads, tracks, water supplies, etc.
As they were only small units of highly skilled per-
sonnel, wholly intended for supervision, it was neces-
sary to employ the pioneer battalion, usually re-
inforced by infantry work parties, to do the work.

The establishment of a field company was six offi-
cers and 217 other ranks, and each company carried
pontoon bridging equipment, which was, by itself,
usually insufficient for any bridging job.

Reasons for and process of reorganization. Upon
the conclusion of the offensive operations of 1917 the
Chief Engineer urged the reorganization of the units
and personnel required for engineer services. The

68 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

proposal was based on the ground that the existing
establishments and organizations were unsuitable for
dealing with the conditions developed during the war,
and the reasons may be briefly stated as follows : —

a. The personnel of the field companies was only
sufficient for supervision.

b. The pioneer battalion was useful when officered
by engineer officers, but most of the available
men were frittered away on odd jobs in the Divi-
sional Area.

c. The daily detail of work parties from the infan-
try was very unsatisfactory and costly as the
engineers were responsible for the quality of the
work and the infantry for the quantity. The de-
tail of a different party each day was not con-
ducive to continuity of work or good results.

d. A permanent detail of a party from the in-
fantry worked well, but naturally was strongly
objected to by battalion commanders.

e. The introduction of new weapons and new meth-
ods of attack and defence was rapid and pro-
gressive, thus rendering more difficult the prob-
lems to be solved. The depth of the battle zone
had increased tremendously and defence in depth
was essential. The increase in artillery involved
the providing of means for handling the large
tonnage of ammunition required.

The obvious remedy was to merge the skilled and
unskilled labour into one organization under one con-
trol. A general scheme of reorganization of the divi-
sional engineers was therefore prepared by the Chief
Engineer, endorsed by the Corps Commander, ap-
proved in March, 1918, and brought into effect on
May 24th, 1918.

New Organization. Within a division the personnel
of the three field companies and a pioneer battalion
was reorganized by utilizing each field company as a
nucleus, absorbing the pioneer battalion, and by the

THE CANADIAN ENGINEERS 69

addition of a proportion of a Tunnelling Company,
C.E., and other personnel, creating three engineer bat-
talions, and a pontoon bridging transport section.
The whole formed a Brigade, C.E. In forming these
battalions, care was taken to provide for the dilution
of the highly skilled sapper personnel by the inclu-
sion, in due proportion, of the service of skilled and
unskilled Class ''A'' labour who had completed their in-
fantry training.

The Pontoon Bridging Transport Unit was formed
by pooling the pontoon bridging equipment of the
three field companies in the division. Each unit car-
ried sufficient to build two hundred and twenty-five
feet of medium pontoon bridge. The centralization
and control of this equipment under one unit was a
very marked success. During large operations the
equipment of the four Pontoon Bridging Transport
Unit sections was pooled.

The staff of each of the four engineer brigades
consisted of a brigade commander, brigade major, and
two staff captains. The establishment of each of the
twelve engineer battalions was thirty-nine officers and
975 other ranks, and of each of the four Pontoon
Bridging Transport Unit companies three officers and
sixty-three other ranks. The battalions were, how-
ever, never up to strength; prior to the Battle of
Amiens they totalled approximately seven hundred
other ranks, and prior to the Battle of Arras 725.

A certain number of lorries were allotted to each
battalion, but an Engineer M.T. Company was formed
and the lorries were detailed to suit the requirements
of the engineer brigades.

The organization of the engineer brigades and the
C.E. Motor Transport Company was carried out un-
der a great handicap in the field and was completed in
the last week of July, 1918. During the first week in
August it was subjected to its first trial — a very
severe one — and more than justified the change.

70 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

From this period until the close of hostilities the en-
gineers provided all necessary facilities to ensure the
rapid advance of the corps in the way of roads and
tracks, bridges, light railways, defences, water supply,
camouflage, etc. This work was all done without call-
ing upon other troops for working parties. The fight-
ing efficiency of these other arms was therefore not
impaired and they were able to conserve their entire
energy and devote it to the task of overcoming and
wearing down the enemy opposition. The value of
this is seen in the rapid and unprecedented advances
made by the corps.

5. CoBPs Troops

Corps troops may vary from twenty thousand to fifty
thousand men, and to carry out the engineer services
required, the Chief Engineer had, at Corps Headquar-
ters, a C.R.E. Corps Troops assisted by an adjutant.
This officer administered all the Canadian engineer
units and attached Royal engineer formations, other
than those with the divisions.

The Canadian units consisted of five Army Troops
Companies, C.E., two Tramway Companies, C.E.,
three Tunnelling Companies, C.E., an Anti-Aircraft
Searchlight Company, C.E., a P.B. Company, C.E., and
a C.E. Motor Transport Company.

The establishment of the Army Troops Companies
was identical with that of the R.E. units, viz.
three officers and 138 other ranks per company (three
supernumerary officers were attached to each, of tho
Canadian companies). These companies were em-
ployed on water supply, bridging, the construction of
defences, the operation of R.E. Parks, and the con-
struction of accommodation for the troops in the corps
area. The companies had each two motor lorries and
were very mobile. The inclusion of a large propor-

THE CANADIAN ENGINEERS 71

tion of highly trained sappers rendered them very
useful and valuable.

In March, 1916, the C.E. organized an unofficial unit
called the Canadian Corps Tramway Company, for
the construction of light railways in the forward area,
by borrowing suitable men from other sources. This
organization soon proved the practicability and value
of the construction of these lines and the immense
saving in transport and man power effected. At a
later date the construction of light railways was un-
dertaken by General Headquarters, but the limit of
their construction was usually a point to which de-
liveries in bulk could be made in daylight by steam
traction. After two years the organization of the two
tramway companies was approved and the units were
formed by absorbing the original company with the
addition of qualified personnel. The establishment of
each of these companies was twenty officers and 363
other ranks.

The establishment of the Tunnelling Companies,
C.E., was the same as that of a Tunnelling Company,
R.E. (higher establishment), viz. nineteen officers and
550 other ranks. Three of these companies were
formed from Canadian personnel, but they seldom
worked with the corps. However, on the reorganiza-
tion of the Engineers the 1st and 2nd Tunnelling
Companies were absorbed into the engineer battalions
on the agreement that the Canadian Corps would un-
dertake all the tunnelling work required in their area
without assistance. The 3rd Company was to be ab-
sorbed as soon as it could be relieved from work
in another Army area, but this was never given
effect to.

The A. A. Searchlight Company, C.E., was formed
in 1918 from skilled personnel drawn from the other
engineer units. Hostile bombing had increased very
considerably in the latter part of 1917 and in 1918,
and the primary object of the formation of the com-

72 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

pany was to help to protect the Corps area and en-
sure the rest of the troops. The establishment al-
lowed for five officers and 125 other ranks.

The P. B. Company, C.E., was formed early in 1917
to enable skilled tradesmen who had become casualties
with engineer units, and had been placed in a lower
category than Class **A," to be utilized in operating
a Corps R.E. Park and Workshops. An A.T. Com-
pany was therefore relieved for more forward work.
This unit performed a great deal of very useful work
and completely justified its organization. Its provi-
sional establishment was two officers and 123 other
ranks.

The C.E. Motor Transport Company operated di-
rectly under the orders of the Chief Engineer, but was
administered by the S.M.T.O. Canadian Corps.

6. Signal Service

The Canadian Signal Service in France was admin-
istered by the Chief Signal Officer, Canadian Corps,
viz. Lieut.-Colonel E. Forde, D.S.O. This officer was
technical adviser to the Corps Commander on all
questions of intercommunication and was responsible
for the organization and efficiency of the signal com-
munications in the corps area. This included the co-
ordination of the corps, divisional, and artillery com-
munications and of the personnel employed therein.
The Canadian Signal Service consisted of: —
One Corps Signal Company with nineteen officers

and 516 other ranks.
Four Divisional Signal Companies, each of thirteen

officers and 288 other ranks.
5th Divisional Artillery Signals, four officers and

fifty-eight other ranks.
8th Army Brigade C.F.A. Signals, one officer and
twenty-one other ranks.

THE CANADIAN ENGINEERS 73

The Corps Signal Company was responsible for the
communication with flanking corps, divisions, heavy
artillery, the Royal Air Force, and all special units
with the corps. It included the headquarters, one
wireless, two motor airline, and four cable sections;
also signal sub-sections for the heavy artillery.

The Divisional Signal Company was responsible for
communications to the flanking divisions and all com-
munications to, and with, the artillery and infantry
brigades, and other units in the Divisional Area.
These companies included a headquarters section.
Motor Cycle section. Despatch Rider Letter Service
section, wireless section, and two cable sections, in
addition to the signal sections for the Divisional Artil-
lery.

The Signal Services found that their equipment was
inadequate to meet the demands of modern conditions
of warfare. This was more especially so owing to the
extra strength of the Canadian Corps. A complete re-
organization of the whole system was recommended
on March 10th, 1918, but did not meet with the ap-
proval of General Headquarters. Further proposals
were forwarded, but these did not receive the final
approval of General Headquarters before the cessa-
tion of hostilities.

All the engineers were trained in England and on
the reorganization of the Engineer Services a large
C.E. Training Depot was formed to meet the increased
demand for officers and men. Specially selected offi-
cers and N.C.O.'s, with front-line experience, were
sent over from France to act as instructors.

Reinforcements were despatched on demand to the
Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp in France and
allotted to the Signal Reinforcement Wing or Engi-
neer Reinforcement Wing, where training was con-
tinued until they were despatched to meet the de-
mands of units in the field.

74 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

TOTAL STRENGTH OF THE CANADIAN ENGINEER ORGANIZA-
TION, INCLUDING THE SIGNAL SERVICE

OFFICERS MEN

B.E.F. (France) 834 18,392

O.M.F.C 1,164 24,892

CHAPTER III

THE CANADIAN ARMY MEDICAL CORPS

1. In Canada

WITHOUT attempting, or even wishing to at-
tempt, any comparison of the respective
merits of the different arms of the Cana-
dian Expeditionary Force, this much should at least
be said, that nowhere was found more devoted and un-
selfish service, more cheerful or grim persistency,
more genuine heroism under conditions that burned
down to a man's very soul, than in the Canadian
Army Medical Corps. This is an attempt to tell, how-
ever imperfectly and inadequately, the story of the
Medical Corps in the Great World War : what it was,
how it was organized, where it served, and what it
accomplished.

To get this story in proper perspective, one must go
back a few years and run over very briefly the earlier
history of the corps. In the early Colonial days the
service was represented only by medical officers at-
tached to each militia regiment, whose duties were
rather ornamental than useful. There was no army
medical organization before Confederation, or for
many years thereafter. It was not, indeed, until 1885,
when a field force had to be hurriedly got together to
dispose of Louis Riel and his rebel followers in the
North- West, that something in the nature of a Cana-
dian army medical service was organized. Dr. D. Ber-
gin, of Cornwall, Ontario, was appointed Surgeon-Gen-
eral with headquarters at Ottawa. Dr. Thomas Rod-
dick, of Montreal, accompanied the expedition as Dep-

75

76 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

uty Surgeon-General, and had with him Surgeon-Major
Douglas, V.C., of Halifax, as Director of Ambulance
Corps, Dr. M. Sullivan, of Queen's University, as Pur-
veyor-General, and Dr. James Bell, as surgeon in
charge of the Field Hospital attached to General Mid-
dleton's division. Dr. Bell had under his direction six
assistant surgeons, and these officers, with the medical
officers attached to each regiment, and a number of
medical students who volunteered as hospital dressers,
constituted the medical force. Their work was light,
as there were comparatively few casualties, either
from wounds or sickness.

It cannot be said, however, that the C.A.M.C. as an
organization dates from the Rebellion of 1885, as,
although Dr. Bergin retained his rank as Surgeon-
General, and Dr. G. A. S. Ryerson, of Toronto, and
Dr. Tobin, of Halifax, in addition to Dr. Roddick,
were appointed Deputy Surgeons-General, they were
given no opportunity of building up a medical service
in connection with the militia. It was not, in fact,
until 1896, when Dr. (afterwards Sir Frederick) Bor-
den, became Minister of Militia, that active steps were
taken to create at least the nucleus of a Canadian
Army Medical Corps. Dr. Borden was not only a
keen and far-sighted militiaman, but he had been Med-
ical Officer of one of the regiments in Nova Scotia,
and one of his first steps after taking charge of his
department was to put the militia of Canada on a
more efficient basis, and incidentally to lay the foun-
dation for a medical service. He was fortunate in
securing as Director-General of Medical Services,
Colonel Hubert Neilson, who had seen active service
in the Russo-Turkish War of 1878 and in the Soudan
Campaign of 1884-85, and had also made a careful
study of army medical organization in Europe and the
United States. It was decided that the new organiza-
tion of the Royal Army Medical Service should be
adopted as the model for the Canadian Corps, and

THE CANADIAN ARMY MEDICAL CORPS 77

Colonel Neilson and several other medical officers pro-
ceeded to Aldershot to thoroughly familiarize them-
selves with the system.

With the appointment of Colonel Neilson as
D.G.M.S. things began to move, although necessarily
slowly, as it meant building up a medical service from
practically nothing. By Order-in-Council, in the au-
tumn of 1899, authority was granted for the forma-
tion of a Canadian Army Medical Corps to consist of
six bearer companies and six field hospitals. The
regimental officers were formed into a Regimental
Medical Service, and the Order-in-Council linked the
two services, or rather two branches of the same serv-
ice, together, and set forth how they were to be ad-
ministered in case of mobilization. Provision was
also made for the instruction of regimental officers,
as well as for their rank, promotion, and seniority.
This applied also to officers appointed to the new
Army Medical Corps.

While the organization of the Canadian Army Medi-
cal Corps thus practically coincided with the out-
break of the Boer War, the work was not sufficiently
advanced to send a medical unit with the First Con-
tingent to South Africa. That contingent was, in fact,
a very small affair compared with the First Contin-
gent that crossed the Atlantic fifteen years later. It
consisted of a single battalion, and took with it the
Regimental Medical Officers. It did, however, em-
brace a Bearer Section, recruited from the Halifax
Bearer Company, the first of its kind in Canada. This
company had been organized some time before by
Lieutenant G. Carleton Jones, under an agreement
with the Imperial authorities by which the Dominion
supplied the medical personnel for the Halifax garri-
son. Lieutenant Jones, it may be noted, served with
distinction in South Africa, with the rank of major,
and in 1914 went overseas as Director of Medical
Services of the Canadian Expeditionary Force.

78 CANADA IN THE GBEAT WORLD WAR

Early in 1902 the first Canadian medical unit, the
10th Canadian Field Hospital, left Halifax for South
Africa, under the command of Colonel A. N. Worth-
ington. The equipment included the Hubert tent, be-
lieved to be an improvement on the British hospital
tent, and several other Canadian innovations, includ-
ing a mobile acetylene gas plant. The 10th Canadian
Field Hospital did good service in the Transvaal, as
a stationary hospital, and a detachment went through
the Battle of Hart's River, with Cookson's column.
Of the three Regimental Medical Officers who accom-
panied the First Contingent to South Africa, Captain
Eugene Fiset particularly distinguished himself, win-
ning the D.S.O. at Paardeburg. He became Deputy
Minister of Militia and Defence in 1906, was appointed
Surgeon-General in 1914, and knighted in 1917. An-
other Regimental Medical Officer who did exception-
ally good work in South Africa was Major (afterwards
Lieut.-Colonel) Keenan, of the Strathcona's Horse, who
won the D.S.O. in the late war. He went overseas in
1914 as M.O. to the P.P.C.L.I., and was afterwards
Senior Surgical Officer to No. 2 Canadian General
Hospital in France.

As a result of experience gained in the South Afri-
can War, a number of changes were made in the or-
ganization of the C.A.M.C., notably the creation of
Principal Medical Officers, to serve as intermediate
links in the chain of responsibility between Head-
quarters and the local medical units. Following the
lead of the Imperial authorities, Canada also decided
to combine the Bearer Company and Field Hospital
into a single unit, the Field Ambulance. The object
of this consolidation was * * to attain increased mobility
at the front, and more particularly to combine under
one command the two intimately related functions of
collecting the wounded and affording immediate but
temporary care of the same." The Bearer Companies
had been associated with the city corps, and the Field

THE CANADIAN AEMY MEDIOAL CORPS 79

Hospitals with rural corps. The introduction of the
Field Ambulance into the Canadian service was ac-
complished, not by combining these urban and rural
units, but by expanding each into the larger form.
Another feature, and one that differentiated the Cana-
dian from the Imperial system, was the provision of
skeleton rather than full establishments. Where the
British Field Ambulance consisted of ten officers and
241 other ranks, divided into three sections, the Cana-
dian unit consisted of the same number of officers and
non-commissioned officers, but only seventy-five other
ranks, divided among one full section and two skeleton
sections, the latter to be brought up to strength on
mobilization. It is claimed for this system that, with-
out putting an undue burden upon the country, it
offered a means of drawing competent civil practi-
tioners into the service.

No more momentous step forward in the develop-
ment of the C.A.M.C. was taken, however, between the
close of the South African War and the opening of the
European War, than in the intelligent recognition of
the supreme importance of sanitation. As Colonel
Adami says, in his War Story of the Canadian Army
Medical Corps, *4t is no exaggeration to declare that
the main advance in the Canadian Militia . . . was in
the steadily increasing realization that where men are
massed together their welfare and their effectiveness
centre around the preservation of their health, and
that sanitation is a matter that concerns all. ' ' It took
some time, nevertheless, to convince many of the more
conservative Commanding Officers that sanitation was
a matter too vitally linked with the health of their
men to leave to the Quartermaster of the battalion,
and that it was one in which the Medical Officer should
have a governing voice. The tremendous improve-
ment in this respect is illustrated in a comparison of
the relative casualties from wounds and from disease
in the South African War and in the European War ;

80 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

and the result is still more striking if the comparison
is carried back to, say, the Crimean War. Much of
the success of the movement for improved methods of
sanitation in the army, so far as Canada was con-
cerned, was due to the recognition of the fact that it
depended upon the effective combination of knowledge
and authority. It was largely a matter of discipline,
intelligently applied. The Medical Officer had the
knowledge of how that discipline should be applied so
as to safeguard the health of the battalion. The
Commanding Officer had the authority to enforce it.
Therefore, the actual responsibility for effective sani-
tation was laid upon the latter, and to protect himself
he was compelled to follow the advice of his Medical
Officer.

In 1907 the Association of Medical Officers of the
Militia was organized, as a means of bringing to-
gether the medical officers of the permanent force and
the militia, and creating an esprit de corps. This
association met annually, and proved helpful in a
variety of ways. In 1911, for the first time, the Army
Medical Corps held its own camp, medical units from
the different districts being brought together at Lon-
don, Ontario, for sixteen days' training. An ambi-
tious programme was worked out, ranging from the
work of the M.O. with his battalion under service
conditions, up through field ambulance work with the
brigade, to divisional co-operation of field ambulance
and casualty clearing station. The London camp also
afforded an opportunity of testing the details of the
new Manual of Establishment and Equipment of the
Army Medical Corps, Canada, which covered both war
and peace conditions.

In these and other ways the members of the
C.A.M.C. were deliberately preparing themselves for
any possible emergency, and actually preparing them-
selves for the Great Emergency that faced them in
1914. For some years prior to the outbreak of the

THE CANADIAN ARMY MEDICAL CORPS 81

war the D.G.M.S. had conducted a course at Ottawa
every winter, in which the medical history of one or
other of the great campaigns had been carefully
studied, and laboratory training given in sanitation
and bacteriology. This course was for the principal
medical officers, and these in turn instructed the regi-
mental medical officers in their respective divisions.
As a result of all this preparatory work, the D.Gr.M.S.
was able to call to the Service in 1914, ^^not an un-
trained herd of general practitioners, but a group of
officers keenly interested in their work, familiar with
the problems and difficulties of the Service, and, what is
more, familiar with the forms and administrative pro-
cedure of the Army Medical Corps.''

This brief sketch of the history of the C.A.M.C. pre-
vious to the declaration of war in 1914 would be in-
complete without some reference to the nursing serv-
ice. Unlike the British and other armies, the Army
Nursing Sisters of Canada had a definite status, and
formed a part of the C.A.M.C. And this was provided
for as long ago as 1906. Regulations were laid down
as to the qualifications and training, and the fully
qualified sister was given the relative rank of lieuten-
ant. A certain amount of captious criticism was
aroused by this granting of military rank to Army
Nursing Sisters, but, even if the criticism had any
reasonable basis, it must long since have been over-
borne by the splendid record of the sisters, both in
South Africa and in the Great World War. Canadian
nurses had made an enviable name for themselves in
civil work. To a much greater extent in Canada than
in other countries, nursing had come to be regarded
as the profession for young women of birth and edu-|
cation who had too much independence of characterj
and self-respect to waste their lives in the social
merry-go-round. Canadian nurses were eagerly
sought after in the larger hospitals of the United
States, and many of them rose to be matrons of the

82 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

institutions. And the mental and moral fibre, as well
as the physical stamina, which made them a conspicu-
ous success in civil life, carried them with even more
conspicuous success through the almost unbearable
hardships of war.

This brings us down to the assembly of the First
Contingent at Valcartier, the mobilization among
other units of various Field Ambulances, and the san-
itary arrangements at Valcartier. No. 7 and No. 9
Field Ambulances were called out two days after the
declaration of war by Great Britain, for temporary
service at Quebec and Valcartier. A few days later
No. 1 Clearing Hospital and No. 18 Field Ambulance
were also mobilized. This was before the general
Mobilization Order of August 17th calling for the
formation of a Canadian Expeditionary Force.

For various reasons it was found convenient to
mobilize the Field Ambulances in various centres. No.
1, drawn from units in the Maritime Provinces, Que-
bec, and Eastern Ontario, was mobilized at Valcartier ;
No. 2, drawn from Ontario units west of Kingston,
was mobilized at Toronto; and No. 3, covering West-
ern Canada, was mobilized at Winnipeg. Nos. 2 and
3 proceeded to Valcartier as complete units with
stores and equipment. Lines of Communication units
included No. 1 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station,
created by amalgamating No. 1 Clearing Hospital
from Toronto and No. 2 Clearing Hospital from Liver-
pool, N.S. ; Nos. 1 and 2 General Hospitals and Nos. 1
and 2 Stationary Hospitals recruited from various
medical units. Of the two Field Ambulances first
called out for temporary service. No. 7 volunteered
for overseas service, and No. 9 was returned to its
base. The Medical Service at Valcartier was placed
under the command of Lieut.-Colonel H. R. Duff.
Lieut.-Colonel Duff ^ suffered an injury and was suc-

1 Lieut.-Colonel Duff died in Egypt while serving with Queen's
University Hospital.

THE CANADIAN ARMY MEDICAL CORPS 83

ceeded by Lieut-Colonel J. W. Bridges, A.D.M.S.
The important and arduous work of examining and
filling out medical papers for some thirty-two thou-
sand volunteers was entrusted to Lieut.- Colonel A. T.
Shillington, assisted by a staff of thirty officers and
a hundred clerical orderlies. The equally important
work of vaccination and inoculation was under the
control of Lieut.-Colonel Hodgetts, with the assistance
of some ten officers and twenty other ranks. The san-
itary arrangements at Valcartier, and particularly the
securing of an ample and safe supply of drinking
water, were carried through with conspicuous success
under the direction of Lieut.-Colonel G. G. Nasmith,
in charge of the Hydrological Service.

This was substantially the situation up to the time
the First Contingent sailed for England. Before fol-
lowing the C.A.M.C. overseas it may be convenient to
note here certain charges and recommendations made
at a later date in connection with the work of that
portion of the Medical Corps which remained on duty
in Canada. One of the serious charges made in the
Report of Colonel Bruce — which will be dealt with as
a whole when we come to consider the work of the
corps in England — was that many soldiers were ar-
riving in England from Canada medically unfit, who
should never have been enlisted. This applied espe-
cially to battalions and drafts which arrived from Can-
ada in the second year of the war; the Canadian Pio-
neer draft, for instance, which arrived in the Shorn-
cliffe area in June, 1916, being found to have twenty-
two per cent, of unfits.

The Bab tie Board, which passed upon Colonel
Bruce 's Report, agreed with his conclusion that large
numbers of soldiers had been sent over from Canada
who were unfit for service at the front. The Board
was of the opinion that this was partly due to in-
experience on the part of examining medical officers,
partly to hurry, partly to carelessness, and lastly, in

84 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

some instances, to the opinion of the examining medi-
cal officer being over-ridden or ignored by commanding
officers. It agreed with Colonel Bruce that the remedy-
lay in a more stringent examination and better organi-
zation of recruiting methods in Canada.' The Board,
however, declined to place upon the Director of Medi-
cal Services the blame for a condition of affairs which,
according to Colonel Bruce, was responsible for the
presence in England of thousands of unfits, represent-
ing a useless expenditure of millions of dollars, and
enormous wasted effort.

Among Colonel Bruce 's recommendations for the
betterment of the service were several that affected
conditions in Canada. He recommended that the med-
ical arrangements in Canada, England, and overseas
be co-ordinated, so that the special qualifications of
each medical officer be used to the best advantage.
That as soon as suitable accommodation could be pro-
vided in Canada, soldiers who were obviously incapaci-
tated from any further active service be returned to
Canada when they were fit to travel without detriment
to their health, their further medical treatment and
necessary re-education to be carried out in Canada.
That immediate steps be taken to provide hospitals
of one thousand beds in Haftfa^, Montreal, Toronto,
Winnipeg, and Vancouver, together with a smaller one
in Ottawa, and that these have suitable accommoda-
tion for a limited number of officers. That a certain
number of Canadian medical officers, who had had
experience at the front, be detailed for duty in Canada
to assist in the organization of these hospitals. That
all ranks, before leaving Canada, be examined by an
independent Medical Board, to ensure the weeding out
of unfits, and that a sufficient number of boards for
this purpose be established throughout Canada, to be
under the direction and control of the A.D.M.S. Em-
barkation. That in future no medical units be or-
ganized in Canada for overseas duty. That there be

COL. HERBERT A. BRUCE, M.D., F.R.C.S. (ENG.)

THE CANADIAN AEMY MEDICAL CORPS 85

established in Canada a sufficient number of well
equipped C.A.M.C. depots for thoroughly training the
personnel. The then Director of Canadian Medical
Services in England concurred in all these recom-
mendations. Some of them were subsequently carried
out. Others were, apparently, not thought necessary
or desirable.

2. In England

The Canadian Army Medical Corps did not have to
wait for its arrival in France to be of service to the
combatant troops. It had already done good work at
Valcartier, and it found much more to do on Salisbury
Plain. Conditions were exceptional. The winter of
1914-15, so far as Salisbury Plain was concerned, was
one of the worst on record. The rainfall for Decem-
ber was the highest in fifty years. The Canadian
camp remained for weeks at a time an almost impass-
able quagmire. Nothing could very well exceed the
discomfort. The men were all under canvas. It was
impossible to keep dry — almost impossible to get
even temporarily dry. The Expeditionary Force lived
in an atmosphere of liquid mud. Their tents were
islands in a sea of mud, and the islands themselves
were saturated with mud ; so were the inhabitants ; so
were their arms and accoutrements and clothing; it
even lent a wholly unacceptable flavour to their food
and tobacco.

And yet the men not only managed to keep cheerful,
but the average health of the troops remained remark-
ably good, as long as they were kept under canvas.
Trouble dated from the time when, owing to the in-
creasing cold, they were removed from the tents to
hutments, where the inevitable overcrowding and lack
of adequate ventilation brought about an equally in-
evitable outbreak of influenza and throat troubles.
This furnished plenty of work for No. 1 Canadian

86 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

General Hospital, which had established its headquar-
ters in Bulford Manor, and soon found it necessary to
draw reinforcements from No. 2 General Hospital.
The remainder of the latter, with the exception of a
few officers and other ranks who maintained a small
hospital at Lavington on the western side of Salisbury
Plain, proceeded to France, where they were tempo-
rarily employed in Imperial hospitals until the entire
unit could be established on that side of the Chan-
nel.

Meantime No. 1 C.G.H. had its hands full. Some
neighbouring cottages were taken over, and tents
erected on the Bulford cricket ground. Later it be-
came necessary to move the main hospital to the Cav-
alry School at Netheravon. At Christmas the number
of patients was over a thousand. About the beginning
of February it had increased to twelve hundred. Al-
together No. 1 C.G.H. received and treated 3,993 pa-
tients, of whom 1,249 were venereal cases and forty-
six cerebro-spinal fever. The total deaths amounted
to sixty-nine, of which one-third were due to cerebro-
spinal fever. When the main hospital was moved to
the Cavalry School, Bulford Manor was retained for
venereal cases, and one of the larger cottages became
an isolation hospital for cerebro-spinal fever patients.
Early in December, Figheldean House had been se-
cured as an auxiliary hospital. The three ambulances
were kept constantly employed in the work of carry-
ing patients to and from the hospitals, and their work
was made peculiarly arduous by reason of the state of
the roads and the large area over which Canadian
troops were scattered. It finally became necessary to
enlist the co-operation of the Divisional Ammunition
Park at Netheravon, which furnished motor transport
as temporary ambulances.

Because of the publicity given at the time to the out-
break of cerebro-spinal fever at Salisbury Plain, and
the criticism in Canada and elsewhere directed against

THE CANADIAN ARMY MEDICAL CORPS 87

the military authorities, including those of the
C.A.M.C, it is important to summarize briefly what
Colonel Adami has to say on the subject in his War
Story of the Canadian Army Medical Corps. Al-
though the impression had been spread abroad that
there was a grave epidemic of meningitis on Salisbury
Plain, the fact was that, out of the thirty-three thou-
sand men of the First Contingent, only thirty-nine
developed the disease, though twenty-eight of these
were fatal cases. Some sporadic cases occurred in
England after the 1st Division left for France, among
men at the Training Depot, bringing the total up to
fifty cases, with thirty-six deaths.

Cerebro-spinal meningitis appears in an epidemic
form at irregular intervals. It usually carries off
large numbers of young children, with occasional
adults. The disease has broken out among the sol-
diers in every modern war, and epidemics are fre-
quently recorded in barracks in times of peace. As a
matter of fact, cases were reported from several parts
of Canada in the autumn of 1914. Four cases were
found at Valcartier in September, and, despite the
utmost care in isolating those who had come in contact
with the patients, three cases developed on the convoy.
After the arrival on Salisbury Plain, seven cases were
reported up to November 24th, scattered through the
different battalions, but from that time up to nearly
the middle of December not a single case was re-
ported, owing, it is thought, to the open life in the air
and sleeping in tents. With the removal to huts, the
disease broke out again. There were fourteen cases
in the latter half of December, ten of which proved
fatal. Early in January a fully-equipped laboratory
was established, and a thorough bacteriological study
was made of the cases.

The principal difficulty was found with *' carriers,''
men who, while not suffering from the disease, carried
the dangerous germs in their system, and might read-

88 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

ily convey the disease to others. In spite of the diffi-
culty in discovering these carriers, and other difficulties
incident to handling a large number of men in camp
under peculiarly unfavourable climatic conditions, the
outbreak of meningitis was kept well under control.
The thirty-nine cases were scattered among eighteen
different units, the highest number being six in the
17th Battalion. The precautions taken were so com-
plete that nothing approaching an epidemic was al-
lowed to develop in the camp.

Colonel Adami completely disposes of the idea,
somewhat prevalent at the time, that the Canadian
Contingent had introduced the disease into England,
and particularly into the Imperial army. He shows
that there had been repeated outbreaks of the disease
in different parts of the British Isles between 1906
and 1914, more than a dozen cases having been re-
ported in the month before the contingent arrived in
England, and the first cases developing on Salisbury
Plain coinciding in point of time with the cases found
among the Imperial troops. *^ There is," he says,
** absolutely no evidence that the Canadian troops are
responsible for the spread of the disease in the East-
ern Command and elsewhere in England. The fact is
that when the disease is already present in a country
and the weather is raw and damp, there is certain to
be an outbreak among the troops unless those precau-
tions be taken which the experience of the last four
years has shown to be effective.''

One other point should be noted here, as to which
criticism was directed against the Canadian Army
Medical Corps, and that is as to venereal disease
having been scandalously prevalent in the Canadian
Expeditionary Force, as has been repeatedly alleged
by well-meaning but ill-informed zealots. The evi-
dence shows conclusively that the percentage was
never at any time as high as that found in the average
city. And it may be added that, after the Canadian

THE CANADIAN AEMY MEDICAL CORPS 89

army took the field, venereal disease was almost
obliterated.

Before taking np some oiher matters connected with
the service of the Canadian Army Medical Corps in
England, it may be well to note here that No. 2 Sta-
tionary Hospital had the honour of being the first
Canadian unit to land in France. It left Salisbury
Plain on November 6th, 1914, after having been in-
spected by His Majesty, and crossed the Channel to
Havre. At Le Touquet, near Paris Plage, on the
French coast, it became the first of a series of Cana-
dian base hospitals. No. 1 Stationary Hospital had at
first been assigned to duty as a base hospital near Lon-
don, but the plans were changed, and in February, 1915,
it followed No. 2 to France, and began operations at
Honeault Camp, Wimereux. Early in August it was
sent to the island of Lemnos, in connection with the
Gallipoli campaign.

No. 1 Casualty Clearing Station, after laying the
foundation of what afterward became the Duchess of
Connaught's Canadian Eed Cross Hospital at Clive-
den, crossed the Channel in March, and settled down
in Fort Gassion, Aire. No. 1 Canadian General Hos-
pital remained on Salisbury Plain after the First
Contingent crossed over to France in February, until
the last of its patients could be evacuated. In May it
reached its final destination near Staples, and began
work under canvas. No. 2 Canadian General Hospital,
which, as already noted, had been temporarily broken
up, was finally reassembled in March, and established
at Le Treport, at the mouth of the Bresle. The Field
Ambulances of course went to the front with the 1st
Division.

It will not be necessary at this stage to say anything
about the various units of the C.A.M.C. that were sub-
sequently sent to France. It may, however, be con-
venient to note that the units in England ultimately
included ten general hospitals, seven special hospitals,

90 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

eight convalescent hospitals, one laboratory, four sani-
tary sections, a depot of medical stores, and two hos-
pital ships. The total personnel was 8,376, made up of
770 medical officers, 1,094 nursing sisters, and 6,512
other ranks.

It now becomes necessary to refer to a matter
that unfortunately became the subject of bitter
controversy. Not many months after the First
Contingent reached the battle line, the organiza-
tion and administration of the Canadian Army
Medical Service began to be subjected to severe criti-
cism. Finally, in the spring of 1916, the Govern-
ment of Canada appointed Colonel Herbert A. Bruce,
a weU-known Toronto surgeon, as Special Inspector
General of the C.A.M.C., with instructions to proceed
to England, investigate the administration of the
corps, and make a full report to the Government.
With the assistance of a committee of officers, selected
by himself, he made a thorough investigation of the
Canadian hospitals and Medical Service in England,
and submitted a confidential report to the Minister of
Militia, in September of the same year. This report,
with a memorandum in reply by Surgeon-General
Jones, then Director of Medical Services in London,
was referred to the Acting Sub-Militia Council for
Overseas Canadians, in London, and the council unani-
mously approved of Colonel Bruce 's report and rec-
ommendations, and advised that the necessary re-
organization of the Medical Service should be pro-
ceeded with. In October, the Minister of Militia sent
instructions that the reorganization was to be carried
out, under the direction of Colonel Bruce. The work
was proceeded with until November, when the resig-
nation of Sir Sam Hughes as Minister of Militia, and
the appointment of an Overseas Minister for the Mili-
tary Forces of Canada, changed the current of events.
About the middle of that month, a Board of Inquiry
was appointed to consider and report upon Colonel

THE CANADIAN AEMY MEDICAL COEPS 91

Bruce 's Report. This board, under the presidency of
Surgeon-General Sir William Babtie, submitted its
report about the end of the year, and, on December
30th, the Overseas Minister relieved Colonel Bruce of
his office as Inspector-General of Medical Services.

These, in very brief outline, are the surface facts.
It remains to consider what the defects were that
Colonel Bruce found in the organization and adminis-
tration of the Canadian Army Medical Corps, and
how he proposed to remedy them ; what were the views
of the Director of Medical Services in the matter;
and what the Babtie Board thought of the Bruce Re-
port and its recommendations. Of the political and the
personal sides of the famous controversy nothing need
be said here, as it is not believed that it would serve
any useful purpose. Colonel Bruce is evidently con-
vinced that both he and the officers associated with
him on the committee of investigation were made the
objects of bitter and unrelenting persecution by the
Overseas administration. So far as Colonel Bruce 's
side of the question is concerned, the reader is re-
ferred to his book. Politics and the Canadian Army
Medical Corps. There may be another side, but if so
it has not yet been made public.

In justice to Colonel Bruce, prominence should be
given at the outset to his statement as to his attitude
toward the Medical Service, as it has on more than
one occasion been represented that his Report consti-
tuted an attack on the character and efficiency of the
individual members of the Canadian Army Medical
Corps. This charge Colonel Bruce emphatically de-
nies. ^* Neither in my original Report," he says, *^nor
in this volume, have I criticized the medical men
carrying on their professional duties in the Canadian
Army. My exposure was of the administration of the
service, and of the misuse of its personnel. In my own
experience of three years I have never failed to ex-
press my unbounded admiration and respect for these

92 CANADA IN THE GEEAT WORLD WAR

men, for the sacrifice they made and for their effi-
ciency in the various Canadian medical units in
France and England. Nor can the praise of the in-
formed and discerning be withheld from those mem-
bers of the medical profession who carried on so ably
and so uncomplainingly at home.

*^To the medical officers serving with battalions I
have paid special tribute for their admirable work un-
der the greatest difficulties and hazards, and with un-
failing cheerfulness, and sympathetic helpfulness, that
gave moral support to the men. Their personal ex-
hibitions of courage were only second to those of the
stretcher-bearers, who displayed a heroism beyond all
praise. To the medical officers working in the field
ambulances, casualty clearing stations, and hospitals
in France and England, I have also paid homage for
their splendid devotion to duty. Indeed I have on
many occasions remarked the unusually high standard
of professional qualifications and aptitude existing in
the Medical Service, the general competence and zeal
of the nursing staff, and the fine spirit in which all
^carried on,' often under adverse and trying condi-
tions."

It is clear, then, that Colonel Bruce 's criticisms
were directed, not against the individual members of
the Medical Service, but against the system under
which that service was administered. With this
thought in mind, let us see what the points were that
he believed to be open to criticism, and how he pro-
posed to remedy the evil. It may be convenient to
note at the same time the views of Surgeon-General
Carleton Jones, then Director of Medical Services in
London, and of the Babtie Board of Inquiry.

One thing emerges quite definitely from a careful
reading of these documents, and that is that the par-
ticular point around which the controversy raged most
fiercely was the desirability or otherwise of concentrat-
ing wounded Canadians in Canadian hospitals. To this

THE CANADIAN ARMY MEDICAL CORPS 93

point Colonel Bruce gives much more space than to
any other. It is also made the principal feature of the
Report of the Board of Inquiry. It is the suhject-
matter of much official and semi-official correspond-
ence. And it is common knowledge that it gave rise
to more acrimonious discussion, both in England and
Canada, than any other point in Colonel Bruce 's Re-
port.

This was the situation: Canadian casualties arriv-
ing from the front were sent indiscriminately to a
hospital in England, Scotland, Wales, or Ireland. It
was found that they were accommodated in no less
than eight hundred different hospitals. Colonel Bruce
recommended that this practice should be discontinued
and that Canadian patients should be directed to Ca-
nadian hospitals, concentrated within a restricted area
near the eastern coast. He reported that the adoption
of this policy would avoid needless delay in the trans-
fer of patients to convalescent hospitals, would be
more economical, and would be much more satisfac-
tory to Canadian wounded soldiers. He says that for
a time in 1915, under an agreement with the War
Office, Canadian patients were sent to the Queen's
Canadian Military Hospital at Beachborough Park
and to the Duchess of Connaught's Hospital at Clive-
den, Surgeon-General Jones having expressed the
opinion that ^4t is conducive to the patients' well-
being and comfort to be under our own administrative
control," but that in March, 1916, the Director of
Medical Services countermanded the previous request
to the War Office and stated that ^4t is not now con-
sidered necessary, from a Canadian point of view, to
make any special arrangements at Southampton for
the collection of Canadian patients."

The Babtie Board in its Report deals at length with
this matter, and while admitting that there is much to
be said on both sides, concludes that the policy of se-
gregation would not only be unwise but impracticable,

94 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

having regard to the amount of accommodation that
would be required owing to the increase of Canadian
troops in Europe. The Board takes strong exception
to what it considers to be the dominant idea of the
Bruce Report, that the Canadian Expeditionary Force
was something separate and apart from the Imperial
army, and feels that to separate on their return to
England men who had fought side by side, must tend
to undo the bond of brotherhood sealed in the face of
the enemy.

After reading all that has been said on both sides
of this rather unfortunate controversy, one cannot
help feeling that it was more or less of a tempest in
a teapot. In the midst of the greatest and most mo-
mentous war the world has seen, when not merely
the lives of individuals, but those of nations and em-
pires, and even civilization itself, were at stake, the
controversy seems altogether trivial. The demand
for segregation is too suggestive, in its provincial out-
look, of a popular election cry — Canada for the Ca-
nadians. It seems all the more regrettable that, in a
report that contained many really serious charges of
inefficiency, and many admirable recommendations for
the improvement of the Canadian Army Medical
Corps, so much prominence should have been given to
the least important factor.

What these other charges and recommendations
were will be stated as briefly as possible. Colonel
Bruce found that the treatment of Canadian sick and
wounded soldiers had not been such as to ensure
either the earliest possible return of convalescents to
the fighting unit or base duty, or the prompt discharge
from the service of the medically unfit. There was no
Consulting Surgeon, although the necessity for such
an appointment was urgent. There was no adequate
inspection of hospital cases. The V.A.D. hospitals
were inefficient, expensive, and unsatisfactory. The
system of dual control in Red Cross hospitals was un-

THE CANADIAN AEMY MEDICAL CORPS 95

desirable. The administration of the Shorncliffe Mili-
tary Hospital was very expensive and unsatisfactory.
The special hospitals at Ramsgate and Buxton should
never have been established, as most of the cases
treated there could be better and more cheaply treated
in Canada. The system of handling Canadian vene-
real cases was strongly condemned. No adequate pro-
vision had been made for Medical Boards to regulate
the classification of casualties when convalescent.
Satisfactory records regarding individual casualties
were not available. The exceedingly important ques-
tion of pensions, involving the expenditure of large
sums of money by Canada, had been neglected, so far
as the C.A.M.C. was concerned. There was a lack of
co-ordination in the Canadian Medical Service be-
tween Canada, England, and the Front. Canadian
Army Medical Corps personnel was not being used to
the best advantage. The policy of the Director of
Medical Services had been opposed to the use of ex-
perienced medical and surgical consulting specialists.
The C.A.M.C. Training School had never been prop-
erly organized, although of the greatest importance
to the Medical Service. The policy in connection with
promotion was unfair and occasioned discontent in the
service. Sufficient attention had not been paid to
economy of management.

Such of Colonel Bruce ^s recommendations as af-
fected the service in Canada have already been noted
in the first part of this article. Of the others, his most
sweeping suggestion was that the Canadian Medical
Service be reorganized from top to bottom. He also
recommended that Canadian casualties be, as far as
possible, treated in Canadian hospitals, on the princi-
ple that the first duty of the Canadian Army Medical
Corps was to the Canadian sick and wounded; that
there should be a concentration of Canadian hospitals,
and that the use of Voluntary Aid hospitals for Cana-
dians should be discontinued 5 and finally that the joint

96 CANADA IN THE GREAT WOELD WAR

operation of hospitals with the Eed Cross be discon-
tinued. The proposed reorganization would of course
dispose of the other points to which Colonel Bruce
takes exception, in connection with the administration
of the C.A.M.C.

As already mentioned, Surgeon-General Jones in
his Reply concurred in most of the recommendations,
and so did the Sub-Militia Council. The Babtie Board
at once took issue with Colonel Bruce as to the neces-
sity of a complete reorganization of the Canadian
Army Medical Corps. In its opinion the reforms he
suggested would not remedy the defects he had
pointed out, which were not due to the system but to
inexperience on the part of officers, military and medi-
cal, and to faults in administration which could be
otherwise remedied. As indicated in this general
statement, the Board admitted the existence of many
of the imperfections in the system which Colonel
Bruce had exposed, but disagreed in whole or in part
with nearly all his proposed remedies.

Particular exception was taken to Colonel Bruce 's
criticism of the Voluntary Aid hospitals. ^^ These
hospitals,'' says the Board, *^are the outcome of a
mobilization of the medical resources of the United
Kingdom, and in them Canadian soldiers are not only
well cared for professionally, but are comfortable,
happy and at home. The Board desires to emphasize
its dissent from the criticism of these institutions,
which it believes to be unjust and undeserved."

In August, 1917, the Director of Medical Services
submitted a report on the various reforms that had
been instituted up to that time in the administration
of the C.A.M.C. This is an exceedingly interesting
document, and it is only just to Colonel Bruce to say
that it clearly establishes the justice of most of his
charges against the system as he found it in 1916. As
Colonel Bruce points out in his book, **23 out of the 28
improvements stated by the Director of Medical Serv-

i

THE CANADIAN AEMY MEDIOAL COEPS 97

ices to liave been effected in the service, were due to
the adoption of recommendations in my Eeport, or the
continuation of reforms instituted during my term of
office as Inspector-General while reorganizing the

3. At the Front

In the two preceding parts of this article, the at-
tempt has been made to describe the work of the Ca-
nadian Army Medical Corps in Canada and in Eng-
land. There remains the much more difficult task of
telling the story of the Medical Service of Canada at
the front. That story is so many-sided, and there are
so many facts and incidents that deserve to be put on
record to make it even approximately complete, that
one is left in a state bordering on despair. Considera-
tions of space, however, and the comprehensive nature
of this entire work, make it imperative to confine the
narrative to a broad outline of the place taken by the
C.A.M.C. in the tremendous war drama on the West-
em front, with only the briefest possible mention of
what they achieved in other theatres of the war.

We have already noted the arrival of the Stationary
and General Hospitals and other units of the C.A.M.C.
in France, and the interesting fact that No. 2 Station-
ary Hospital enjoyed the distinction of being the first
of all the Canadian units to reach France.^

At the outset some difficulty was experienced by the
C.A.M.C in getting into smooth working order under
the novel conditions of service on the Western front.
The First Contingent was not an independent army;
it was an essential part of the British army ; and as a
necessary consequence the C.A.M.C. came more or less
under the direction of the higher officers of the
E.A.M.C. For instance, the Assistant Director of Med-
ical Services who commanded the Canadian Divisional
1 See Vol. II, p. 209 et seq.

98 CANADA IN THE GEEAT WOELD WAR

Medical Corps, — that is, the three field ambulances,
one attached to each brigade, — came under the Dep-
uty Director of Medical Services of the Imperial army-
corps to which the Canadian division was attached.
At the same time, he was responsible to the Director
of Medical Services for Canada. Similarly, the latter
found it difficult to keep in close touch with the dif-
ferent Canadian medical units and give them neces-
sary instructions, without invading the jurisdiction of
Imperial officers whose authority was supreme within
their own particular districts.

This was but one of the numerous complications in-
cident to the novel co-operation of Imperial and Do-
minion troops in one and the same army, and, as in
other cases, a practical compromise was reached be-
fore long which worked smoothly and satisfactorily,
largely because of the keen desire of all parties to fur-
ther the common cause.

It remains now to describe the actual organization
of the Medical Service at the front, and how it func-
tioned under the stress of unprecedented war condi-
tions. The soldier in the front line found in the Eegi-
mental Medical Officer and his sixteen stretcher-bearers
his most familiar acquaintances in the C.A.M.C. They
were his daily companions in the dangers and dis-
comforts of trench warfare. The R.M.O. looked after
his health while he remained unwounded, and the
stretcher-bearers — those most unassuming heroes of
the war — carried him out of the trenches or back
from the hell of No Man's Land when he was wounded.
They carried him to the regimental aid post, situated
as near the trenches as was consistent with protection
from shell-fire. Here all the wounded, whether walk-
ing or stretcher cases, were gathered for temporary
treatment, and then sent back to the advanced dress-
ing station, slightly wounded men making their way
on foot, and the more serious cases being removed
on stretchers by men of the bearer section of the field

V

THE CANADIAN ARMY MEDICAL CORPS 99

ambulance. It may be noted that, as the war went on,
the regimental stretcher-bearers became so expert and
so valuable in affording first aid to the wounded, that
they were largely retained for that work, especially
during a heavy action, other men being detailed from
the platoons to take their places as stretcher-bearers.

From the advanced dressing station, the wounded
after receiving necessary treatment were moved back
to the main dressing station, well behind the lines.
This work in the earlier stages of the war was done
by means of horse ambulances, but these proved so
unsatisfactory under the exacting conditions of mod-
ern warfare that they were before long replaced by
motor ambulances.

At the main dressing station the wounded were
definitely classified. Operations were performed here
only in emergency cases, such as to remove an arm,
foot, hand, or leg that no medical skill could save.
Mild cases got rest and treatment for a few days, and
then went back to their units. The remainder were
transferred immediately, either to the casualty clear-
ing station for treatment, or to one or other of the
special hospitals.

The casualty clearing station, the next stage on the
journey back from the front to Blighty, was estab-
lished within easy reach of railhead — that is, the
point where the railway ended and men and supplies
went forward to the front by motor or other trans-
port. It was really a collecting depot for wounded
from a certain section of the front, who were brought
together here, and after a short rest were sent down
to the base on ambulance trains. The casualty clear-
ing station was, however, a fully equipped hospital,
under the charge of skilled surgeons, and many cases
which could not safely be subjected to the long jour-
ney down to the base, were operated on here. Some
of these' stations were housed in existing hospitals;
others, in hutments.

100 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

As the war went on and the pressure increased, the
system was adopted of establishing these stations in
pairs. After one of the big fights, when hundreds of
serious cases demanding immediate operation poured
into the casualty clearing station day after day, the
strain upon the physical endurance of the surgeons
would have reached the breaking point, if some method
of relief had not been devised. By arranging the
hospitals in pairs, however, the staff of one could
work at full pressure for a day, the stream of patients
would then be directed to the other hospital, and so
on, the off days being utilized for routine work
with cases going down to the base. At the casu-
alty clearing station the wounded soldier, on his way
down from the front, for the first time came under the
ministration of the nursing sisters, those devoted
women who did so much to lighten the suffering of the
fighting troops.

The ambulance trains, marvels of comfort and con-
venience, carried cases that could be moved down to
one or other of the coast towns. There they were met
by motor ambulances, and the patients transferred to
a base hospital, stationary or general. Practically
the only distinction between the two was that the lat-
ter was much larger, and being equipped with special-
ists, pathological and X-ray departments and other
special equipment, handled a larger proportion of the
more serious cases.

It is difficult to appreciate the scale upon which
these military hospitals were operated during the
war. The number of beds has been mentioned else-
where in this article, but that suggests very little to
the average reader. A comparison with well-known
Canadian hospitals may give a more definite idea.
For instance, one of the Canadian stationary hospitals
accommodated more patients than any hospital in
Canada, with the possible exception of the new Gen-
eral Hospital Id Toronto. Its accommodation ex-

THE CANADIAN ARMY MEDICAL CORPS 101

ceeded that of the Royal Victoria in Montreal or the
Winnipeg General Hospital. And the Canadian gen-
eral hospitals operated on a correspondingly larger
scale. Their staffs included hundreds of surgeons,
nursing sisters, and orderlies ; with many special de-
partments, kitchens, stores, messrooms, officers' and
nurses' quarters, dining-rooms, recreation rooms, ad-
ministrative offices, etc., all housed in separate tents
or hutments, the whole constituting a small town, and
a very busy one.

These base hospitals were not, of course, the ulti-
mate destination of the wounded soldier. The pres-
sure from the front was too great to admit of a pa-
tient being kept at the base a moment longer than was
absolutely necessary. The general and stationary
hospitals were but one of the many stages of his jour-
ney back to convalescence, followed either by return
to duty or discharge, according to the extent of his
injuries. Very much the same procedure was followed
at the base hospitals as at the casualty clearing sta-
tions. Some minor cases might be kept for a time,
and returned to the front without the necessity of
crossing the Channel. Serious cases might have to be
retained until they had gained sufficient strength to
stand a further journey. But the majority were
usually evacuated within three days.

The next stage was the hospital ship. This was as
wonderfully organized as the hospital train. Stretcher
cases could be moved from deck to deck by means of
lifts ; they were furnished with cots swung so that the
motion of the ship was reduced to a minimum. The
ship had its medical personnel and nursing sisters,
and emergency equipment of one kind and another.
Everything was done to make the crossing as safe and
comfortable as it could be made for a wounded soldier.

On the other side of the Channel, the ship was met
by ambulance trains ; stretcher cases were carried down
the gangway and on to the trains ; the walking cases

102 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

followed; and they were off to one or other of the
British hospitals. Here they remained for days, or
weeks, as their cases demanded; and were finally
transferred to the great convalescent hospitals.

No greater tribute to the splendid work accom-
plished by the Canadian Army Medical Corps, and the
skill and thoroughness of its individual members,
could be found than that suggested by the casualty
lists. Bearing in mind the deadly efficiency of all
classes of weapons used in the war, their variety, and
their numbers, — in all three respects far transcend-
ing anything previously dreamed of, — the losses were
remarkably small; far less, in fact, than had been an-
ticipated by competent military authorities at the be-
ginning of the war, when the destructive power of
many new types of large and small arms was only be-
ginning to be developed, and other weapons of ex-
traordinary destructiveness had not yet been intro-
duced. Keeping in mind, too, the enormously greater
destructive power wielded by the respective armies in
this war, over that of all previous conflicts, a com-
parison either of actual losses, or of the proportion
of total casualties to deaths, with the statistics of
earlier wars, is markedly favourable to the Great
World War. Unquestionably much, if not most, of the
credit for this result must be given to the remarkably
effective work of the various Army Medical Corps,
and in this respect the C.A.M.C. compared very
favourably indeed with its fellow services in the other
armies.

Some idea of the difficult conditions under which
much of the work of the C.A.M.C. had to be carried
on, particularly at the regimental aid posts and ad-
vanced dressing stations, may be gained from the ex-
perience recorded by Captain R. J. Manion, M.C., in
his very readable and instructive book, A Surgeon in
Arms,

^* Until a man reaches the CCS. [casualty clearing

I

THE CANADIAN ARMY MEDICAL CORPS 103

station]," he says, "his wounds are dressed in very-
rough surroundings, not the aseptic dressing rooms
of peace times. Dug-outs, cellars or open trenches
are employed for dressing stations. After the Battle
of Vimy Ridge my boys and I dressed our men for
four days in an open, muddy trench, with the shells
dropping about all the time. Dug-outs are simply
holes in the ground, and may be most primitive dress-
ing rooms. Everyone knows how aseptic the ordinary
cellar could be made, even with the greatest care on
the part of a M.O.'s assistants. But our dressings are
folded and wrapped in such a manner that they can
be applied, even though the dresser's hands are cov-
ered with mud, without the aseptic part of the dress-
ing, which is applied to the wound, being in any way
soiled.

"I have given one hundred and fifty inoculations
hypodermically for the prevention of typhoid in a tent
in which the men and myself stood ankle-deep in mud.
Not one case of infection of the point at which the
needle was inserted occurred. This illustrates the
efficiency one reaches from being accustomed to work-
ing in filthy surroundings. Your stretcher-bearers
and dressers become as skilled in this art as yourself,
so that the men really get good attention in spite of
the many difficulties in the way."

Month by month, and year by year, as the war
dragged its weary length, taking its hideous toll of
death and suffering and leaving its glorious record of
heroism and self-sacrifice, the Canadian Army Medi-
cal Corps developed a reputation for thoroughness,
efficiency, and initiative second to none among the
medical services of the Allied armies. Old theories
that had responded well enough to the demands of
previous wars were rejected as unequal to the strain
of new conditions ; new theories were tested in the fire
of active service, did not measure up to the high
standard demanded, and were promptly discarded, or

104 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

remodelled and again subjected to the test. As tlie
war progressed the conditions that had to be met and
overcome by the C.A.M.C. were constantly changing,
and constantly becoming more difficult. The unprece-
dented scale on which the conflict was carried on in
itself put an immense strain upon the resources of the
medical corps. The enemy improved his weapons, in-
creased their number and efficiency, added new and
unexpected factors. Every move involved novel con-
ditions and increased casualties, and every move de-
manded a prompt and effective reply on the part of
the C.A.M.a

That the corps invariably responded, and responded
quickly and intelligently, to the innumerable and ever-
varying calls made upon it, is a remarkable tribute
alike to the administrative genius and resourcefulness
of the officers who directed its operations and to the
loyalty, untiring energy, and team-work of their sub-
ordinates in the field and in the hospitals. It is be-
yond question that much of the success of the corps
was due to the clear-headedness and resolute charac-
ter of the D.D.M.S., Brigadier-General A. E. Ross.
He had at all times both the affection and implicit
trust of those under his command. He had also the
confidence of his associates in the Imperial service.
Even the enemy officers recognized his ability. It is
mentioned, for instance, that on the morning of the
Battle of Amiens a German medical officer who had
been captured, congratulated the D.D.M.S. on the suc-
cess with which the wounded were being evacuated.
It is also a striking tribute to the success of his ad-
ministration of the C.A.M.C. that the Imperial author-
ities offered General Ross the position of D.M.S. of
the Fifth Army with rank of Major-General — the
only occasion on which such rank was offered to a
Colonial medical officer; and that the Overseas Minis-
ter refused to let him go. Without attempting the
well-nigh impossible task, where the level of achieve-

THE CANADIAN ARMY MEDICAL CORPS 105

ment was so uniformly high, of mentioning those of
General Ross' subordinates who particularly distin-
guished themselves, it must at least be said once more,
if only for the sake of emphasis, that the entire per-
sonnel of the corps, from the Assistant Director down
to the medical orderlies and stretcher-bearers, co-
operated loyally with the D.D.M.S. to keep the Medical
Corps at all times and under all circumstances up to
the highest pitch of efficiency, and in so doing to ful-
fil their main purpose of keeping the fighting troops
medically fit and capable of handling the colossal tasks
which fell to their lot.

What that meant to the Canadian Corps, and to the
cause of the Allies, cannot better be illustrated than
by quoting a brief extract from Sir Arthur Currie's
account ^ of some of the achievements of the Cana-
dians during the memorable Last Hundred Days, bear-
ing in mind that those achievements were to a very
large extent made possible by the devoted work of
the Medical Corps in keeping the fighting troops phys-
ically fit and over strength.

Sir Arthur Currie, after describing the salient fea-
tures of the three great battles of the Canadian Corps
in the closing months of the war, — Amiens, Arras,
and Cambrai, — the conditions under which they were
fought, and their momentous consequences, and noting
incidentally that more than one-half of the V.C.'s won
throughout the war by Canadians were won in the last
hundred days, briefly summarizes the three and com-
pares them — for the sake of driving home their su-
preme importance, and the extraordinary odds over
which the Canadians were victorious — with another
great battle earlier in the war, a battle of which Ca-
nadians are deservedly proud, ^^one of the most mag-
nificent victories the Canadians have to their credit,''
the Battle of Vimy Ridge. '' At Vimy," he says, ''we

^ In an address before the Canadian Club of Ottawa in Au-
gust, 1919.

106 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

fought nine German divisions; at Amiens sixteen, at
Arras eighteen, at Cambrai thirteen, reinforced by
thirteen machine-gun detachments. At Vimy we cap-
tured seven thousand prisoners; at Amiens over nine
thousand, at Arras about ten thousand, at Cambrai
nearly eight thousand. At Vimy we captured sixty-
seven guns ; at Amiens one hundred and ninety-six, at
Arras ninety-eight, at Cambrai two hundred and
twenty. At Vimy we penetrated ten thousand yards ; at
Amiens twenty-four thousand, at Arras twenty thou-
sand, and at Cambrai thirty thousand. In those last
hundred days the Canadian Corps met and decisively
defeated forty-seven different German divisions. On
the 1st of August, 1918, there were one hundred and
eighty-four German divisions on the Western front, and
one-fourth of one hundred and eighty- four is forty-six ;
so that we can claim that the Canadians defeated one-
fourth of the German army. Of these forty-seven
divisions we re-engaged fifteen that had been pulled
out of the line and rested for two weeks. If we count
these as fresh divisions — and we do — that would
make sixty-two. In addition there were two of them
that were re-engaged after a further rest of two
weeks, making in all sixty-four divisions. So that 3
do not think it is out of the way, or improper of me, to
say that there was no force of its size engaged in the
war that played a greater part than the Canadian
Corps in finally crushing the Boche and forcing him
to his knees." And, once again, let it not be forgotten
that the C.A.M.C. played a most important, though
inconspicuous, part in so forcing the Boche to his
knees.

Something has already been said, in the first part
of this article, as to the enviable reputation won by
Canadian nurses, in civil as well as in war work. So
far as the latter is concerned, it is almost a work of
supererogation to attempt to add anything to the
chorus of praise that has risen from all quarters as a

THE CANADIAN ARMY MEDICAL CORPS 107

tribute to their splendid work throughout the war.
While it would be rather poor taste to draw any com-
parison between the Nursing Services of Canada and
the other Allies, it is beyond all question that the Ca-
nadian nursing sisters combined to a remarkable de-
gree the qualities that were most essential to the suc-
cessful performance of their duties, not the least im-
portant of these qualities being that combination of
pluck and endurance commonly called grit. Indeed,
for sheer, unqualified grit, it would be difficult to
match the achievement of these Canadian girls —
transferred almost in a moment from the comforts
and conveniences of civil life to the privations and
dangers of a theatre of war. The writer remembers
meeting on the train, in the autumn of 1917, a frail-
looking French-Canadian nursing sister, very quiet and
self-contained, and very reluctant to talk about her
work at the front. By dint of patient questionings, he
learned that she had been overseas for nearly three
years, working most of the time under canvas, assist-
ing at operations until she almost fell asleep on her
feet, unable to get a dry change of clothing for weeks
at a time, sleeping between wet blankets, and living
in an atmosphere of universal mud, noise, and suffer-
ing. She had been ordered home for three months'
rest — and was counting the days until she could re-
turn to duty.

An incident mentioned by Colonel Adami is not
without interest, as evidence of the reputation gained
by the Canadian nursing sisters among the higher
officers of the Imperial Service. It will be remembered
that, on one of his visits to the front, His Majesty was
seriously crushed by his horse slipping in the mud and
falling upon him. Surgeon-General Macpherson, of
the British Medical Corps, rode over to the Canadian
Casualty Clearing Station at Aire, and selected one
of the nursing sisters to look after the King. She
attended upon His Majesty for several days at the

108 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

chateau to which he had been removed, accompanied
him on his journey home as soon as he could be moved,
and remained with him at Buckingham Palace until
his convalescence was so far advanced that her serv-
ices were no longer necessary. On the day she re-
linquished her charge. His Majesty expressed his
gratitude for her services by personally presenting
her with the M.V.O. Badge, and the Queen gave her
autograph copies of the Royal photographs.

No section of the Canadian Army Medical Corps
was perhaps more thoroughly appreciated by officers
and men of the other armies than the Dental Depart-
ment.^ While one would not feel justified in institut-
ing comparisons between other branches of the Cana-
dian Expeditionaiy Force and corresponding branches
of the other armies, one need not hesitate to do so in
the case of the Dental Department. It was, indeed,
generally recognized that, until the American Expedi-
tionary Force reached the front, there was nothing in
the other armies to compare with the Canadian Dental
Department, either in the knowledge and skill of the
dental officers or the completeness of their apparatus.
Of all the corps on the British front, the Canadians
alone had a Corps Dental Laboratory. By this means
the percentage of casualties was very materially re-
duced. A bad tooth may be nominally only a very
minor casualty, but for all effective purposes it puts
a man out of service for the time being. No man can
do intelligent work, or in many cases be trusted to do
it at all, whose mind is distracted by the maddening
persistence of a throbbing toothache. The provision
of this laboratory, with all it involved, also meant a
great economical saving in transportation and mate-
rial as well as in man power. In connection with the
laboratory there was provided an officers' as well as
a men's clinic. It was found that when an officer at-
tended the men's clinic, he was given first place, an
1 See Vol. V, p. 341 et seq.

THE CANADIAN ARMY MEDICAL CORPS 109

arrangement that proved generally unsatisfactory,
and the simplest way out of the difficulty was to estab-
lish an officers' clinic. This proved an immense boon,
not only to our own officers, but to those of adjoining
British units. Officers even on duty in the front-line
trenches could telephone and make an appointment;
and it was no unusual thing for patients to arrive at
the laboratory by aeroplane from comparatively re-
mote units. Wherever they were stationed, patients
flocked to them from all the surrounding units. The
dental officer of the 4th Canadian General Hospital
had the distinction of attending to the teeth of the
King of Serbia, which were apparently in a very
neglected condition. His Majesty was so grateful that
he bestowed the Order of the White Eagle on the
dental officer, the Order of St. Sava on the anaesthetist,
and even the hospital orderlies were rewarded with
medals of the Crown Prince's Household. One can
readily imagine that His Majesty thought no distinc-
tion too high to confer upon the man who had relieved
him from the intolerable agony of a bad toothache.

Reference has already been made to the remarkably
low percentage of deaths among the Canadians in the
European War, having in view the size of the armies
and the exceptionally deadly nature of modern weap-
ons. Much of this favourable result was due to the
skill of the surgeons and the excellent organization
of the Medical Service generally, but, distinguishing
casualties due to sickness from casualties due to
wounds, much, perhaps even more, should be credited
to the very effective work of the Sanitary Section.
For the sake of emphasizing a very important fact,
one may repeat what has already been said in the first
part of this article, that the sanitary arrangements in
the late war were far in advance of anything achieved
or attempted in previous wars, with the very gratify-
ing result that while in the past a very large percent-
age of the deaths was due to preventable disease, in

110 CANADA IN THE GEEAT WORLD WAR

the European War the percentage was reduced to an
extremely small figure.

Under conditions that in other wars would have led
inevitably to an outbreak of typhoid fever, the water
supplies were so carefully and systematically safe-
guarded that, with the additional precaution of in-
oculation,— the Canadian Corps, alone of the Allied
troops, were one hundred per cent, inoculated, —
cases of the disease among the Canadian troops were
extremely rare. In fact, out of 100,000 Canadian
patients, only one man was found to have typhoid.
Whenever any part of the Canadian army moved into
a new field, the Sanitary Section immediately obtained
samples from all wells, pumps, streams, and other
sources of water. The mobile laboratories examined
and reported upon these samples, chemically and bac-
teriologically ; and wherever necessary certain sources
were labelled as unfit for drinking purposes, and sen-
tries placed over them to prevent their use. Other
sources, not polluted to the same extent, were de-
clared fit for use, after chlorination. Samples were
taken daily, tested in the laboratory, and the neces-
sary amount of hypochlorite added to the water in the
water-carts.

Similar precautions were taken to protect both the
comfort and health of the troops in the matter of lice,
which had always in previous wars been regarded as
unavoidable under the living conditions of an army in
the field. As the result of various experiments, a
simple but very effective disinf ector was put in opera-
tion, by means of which steam at a temperature of
seventy or eighty degrees was applied to the men's
overclothing. By this means the tunics and trousers
of from fifty to a hundred men could be thoroughly
disinfected, and ready for use again within half an
hour. Large bath-houses were installed at the same
time, in which a couple of platoons could be given' hot
baths simultaneously. The men discarded their un-

LATE LT.-COL. JOHN MCCRAE

Canadian Army Medical Corps

*'And died not knowing how the day had gone"

THE CANADIAN AEMY MEDICAL CORPS 111

derclothing, for disinfection, washing, and mending;
got a complete change of underclothing; had their
baths ; and received their disinfected overclothes when
they were through. This system was devised by
Colonel Amyot. Another officer of the Canadian Sani-
tary Section, Major Orr, produced an equally effective
system of disinfection l3y hot air. Both the Amyot
disinfector and the Orr huts were extensively used,
not only in the Canadian divisions, but throughout the
British Expeditionary Force.

It may be noted here that the Canadian Railway
Troops, some twelve battalions, although under Brit-
ish administration, had Canadian medical officers and
Canadian dental officers. The Canadian Forestry
Corps, also under British administration, had hos-
pitals with Canadian personnel — medical officers,
nurses, dental officers, and other ranks. This very
efficient service was organized by Lieut.-Colonel F. W.
E. Wilson.

It remains to say a few words about the service of
the C.A.M.C. elsewhere than on the Western front.
Canadian Stationary Hospitals, Nos. 1, 3, and 5 sailed
from Dover in the summer of 1915, on the hospital
ship Asturias, for service in the Mediterranean. Nos.
1 and 3 did splendid service at Lemnos, under un-
usually trying conditions, throughout the disastrous
Gallipoli campaign. In 1916 No. 1 was transferred to
Salonika, and in the autumn of the following year re-
turned to England, where it became No. 13 Canadian
General Hospital, at Hastings. No. 3 went from
Lemnos to France in 1916, being utilized for a time in
1918 as a casualty clearing station. No. 5 opened at
Cairo, Egypt, and after some months' service there,
was transferred to France as No. 7 Canadian General
Hospital. Nos. 4 and 5 Canadian General Hospitals,
from Toronto University and British Columbia re-
spectively, served at Salonika from the closing months
of 1915 until August, 1917, when they were trans-

112 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

ferred to England, the former opening at Basingstoke,
and the latter at Kirkdale. This, with the exception
of the Canadian Medical Services attached to the ex-
peditionary forces sent to Northern Russia and Si-
beria, completes the tale of service of the Canadian
Army Medical Corps on the minor fronts.

Figures make rather dry fare, but they suggest at
least to some extent the enormous growth of the
C.A.M.C. during the war and the magnitude of its
achievement. The various units in England have al-
ready been summarized. In France and elsewhere,
a total of eleven units in 1915 had expanded to thirty-
seven units in the autumn of 1918. These embraced
six general hospitals, six stationary hospitals, four
casualty clearing stations, fourteen field ambulances,
five sanitary sections, a depot of medical stores, and
a mobile laboratory. The total personnel of the
C.A.M.C. in France at the time of the Armistice was
7,204, made up of 681 medical officers, 792 nursing
sisters, and 5,731 other ranks. Altogether, the
C.A.M.C. at the end of the war had grown, from com-
paratively small beginnings, to a total personnel of
15,580, distributed among seventy hospitals and olher
units, or attached to administrative staffs, medical
boards, and regimental and other establishments. The
bed capacity of the Canadian hospitals, it may be
noted, rose from three thousand in June, 1915, to
something over forty thousand in November, 1918.

In any final estimate of the exceptionally fine work
performed by the members of the Canadian Army
Medical Corps throughout the European War, it must
not be forgotten that, while regimental medical officers
and their assistants were almost constantly under fire,
officers, nursing sisters, and men employed in the hos-
pital and other units far behind the lines were not
necessarily free from danger. With an enemy like the
Hun, not even the Red Cross was respected. In May,
1918, the great hospital area at Etaples was delib-

LT.-COL. F. A. C. SCRIMGER, V.C-.
Canadian Army Medical Corps

THE CANADIAN AEMY MEDICAL COEPS 113

erately bombed by German aeroplanes, on four differ-
ent occasions — May 19th, May 21st, May 30th, and
May 31st. There were three Canadian general hos-
pitals in this area, Nos, 1, 7, and 9, with a large num-
ber of British units. On the first date, the German
airmen used incendiary as well as explosive bombs,
so that fire was added to the other horrors of the
occasion. Not content with this, they flew low and
used their machine guns against those who were at-
tempting to rescue the wounded from the burning
huts. The Canadian casualties included fifty-three
killed and seventy-one wounded among the staff, one
nursing sister being killed and seven wounded, two of
whom subsequently died. Of the patients, fifteen were
killed and sixty-seven wounded. *^It was,'* says the
official narrative, ^^a night of horrors relieved by ex-
amples of wonderful heroism. While the raid was
still in progress, stretcher parties hastened to remove
the wounded to places where they could receive first
aid, and while the enemy aircraft still circled over-
head the nursing sisters went about their work with
perfect coolness.'*

The raids of May 21st and May 30th fortunately
proved abortive, no damage resulting to the hospitals
or their occupants ; but on the 31st the casualties were
again very heavy, No. 9 Canadian Stationary Hospital
losing one officer and two nursing sisters, and having
fourteen other ranks wounded.

On the night of May 29th, 1918, No. 3 Canadian
Stationary Hospital at Doullens was bombed, under
circumstances that again placed beyond all question
the deliberate nature of the raid. An operation was
in progress at the time, and the entire group in the
operating rooms — surgeons, nursing sisters, patient,
and stretcher-bearers — were instantly killed. Al-
together, two officers, three nursing sisters, and six-
teen other ranks were killed, while one nursing sister
and fifteen other ranks were wounded.

114 CANADA IN THE GEEAT WORLD WAR

The story of the sinking of the Llandovery Casthy
then nsed as a Canadian hospital ship, is too well
known to repeat here. No one can ever forget the
wonderful heroism and devotion to duty of the Cana-
dian Medical Staff on board, and especially of the
fourteen nursing sisters, every one of whom was lost/

General Sir Arthur Currie, than whom no one is
better fitted to speak with authority on the subject,
has sent the writer the following tribute to the quali-
ties of the men and women who made up the personnel
of the Canadian Army Medical Corps, a tribute with
which this sketch of the corps may fittingly close :

**Much has already been written, and much more
will assuredly be written, about the character and
achievements of the fighting branches of the Overseas
Military Forces of Canada. What they were and
what they accomplished is known to every patriotic
Canadian. Their deeds will live forever in the hearts
of their countrymen. On the other hand, compara-
tively little is known of the work of the non-combatant
branches of our Overseas Forces, and the public does
not perhaps quite realize how absolutely essential that
work was to our success in the war. This is peculiarly
true of the Canadian Army Medical Corps, whose rec-
ord is one of which Canadians have every reason to be
proud. From D.D.M.S. to stretcher-bearer, the per-
sonnel of the corps revealed at all times the same fine
spirit of co-operation and self-sacrifice. Labouring
under conditions that were nearly always difficult,
often enough dangerous, and sometimes such as to tax

1 The writer is largely indebted for much of the information
that appears in the foregoing pages to Colonel J. G. Adami's ad-
mirable War Story of the Canadian Army Medical Corps, Colonel
Herbert A. Bruce's Politics and the Canadian Army Medical
Corps, and the Report of the Ministry, Overseas Military Forces
of Canada, 1918. Two other books that will prove valuable to any-
one interested in the work of the C.A.M.C. at the front are Cap-
tain Robert J. Manion's A Siirgeon in Arms and Major F.
McKelvey Bell's The First Canadians in France,

THE CANADIAN ARMY MEDICAL CORPS 115

human endurance to the breaking point, these devoted
men and women, surgeons, nurses, and loyal helpers,
saved thousands of lives, relieved the suffering of the
wounded, kept the fighting troops fit, and, beyond all
question, contributed most definitely to the successful
prosecution of the war. It is, indeed, not too much
to say that the brilliant victories won by our men
throughout the war, and particularly their repeated
successes against overwhelming odds in the memor-
able Last Hundred Days, would not have been possible
but for the fact that our battalions were kept over
strength, and the men absolutely fit, through the
splendid organization, efiiciency, and unceasing efforts
of the C.A.M.C."

CHAPTEE IV

EELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

1. The Canadian Chaplain Services

ON appointment the chaplain joined his unit in
the ordinary way and became part of the bri-
gade or battalion. He was given the rank of
honorary captain. This rank was both a help and a
hindrance; it was a help inasmuch as it gave him a
definite place in the organization, but a hindrance in
that it was a barrier between him and the men in the
ranks. He became part of the military machine.
Whatever views he or his church might have of the
matter, that is what he was.

Napoleon said: **When you have resolved to
fight a battle, collect your whole force. Dispense with
nothing. A single battalion sometimes decides the
day." And Greneral Sir Henry Home, commanding
the First Army, commenting on that maxim, says:
** Can there be any doubt that religious enthusiasm
on the part of the soldier is the equivalent of many
battalions'? Such enthusiasm, which is far more than
mere fanaticism, is the outcome of sound religious
conviction." And because religious conviction is so
potent a factor, the military authorities appoint chap-
lains to produce and maintain it in the ranks of the
army.

As soon as he enlisted, however, the padre discov-
ered that his duties consisted of more than Sunday
services and definitely ** religious " meetings. He
had to help and befriend his men in every possible
way. The troops to whom he ministered had suddenly
116

EELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 117

torn themselves from home and gone into a world
where all things were new. In spite of the long hours
of drill and manoeuvre, there were long hours of lei-
sure which had to be filled. The fact that the camps
were at least nominally *^ dry '' saved some situa-
tions, but drink is not the only evil in the world.
Fortunately, in all the large camps the Y.M.C.A. was
in operation, and the padre found in that organization
a medium through which he could work. Every eve-
ning there were concerts and Bible classes and
cinemas, and athletics which the chaplain could help
stage or conduct. Throughout his service, this early
training stood him in good stead, for, wherever he
went, these things, with minor differences, had to be
supplied.

As the men got to know the chaplain, provided, of
course, that he was the right kind of man, they came
to him more and more for help and advice. They dis-
covered that his position made him a link between them
and the combatant officers ; that he could adjust things
which could not always be adjusted officially, and
obtain privileges which could not be obtained in the
ordinary way.

To a great extent, the padre became matrimonial
adviser in extraordinary to the troops. In time of
war Mars and Venus swim into close conjunction, and
almost every day the chaplain had to weigh prospec-
tive joy or sorrow and then advise.

Before his unit left for overseas, he was usually
given charge of men by fond mothers or wives who
seemed to think that he was able to take care of men
old enough to look after him.

On the troop trains and transports, unique oppor-
tunities for work were presented. Most men had a
clear idea of what lay ahead and were disposed to
take things seriously. In quiet chats, in confidential
interviews, it was clearly revealed that what was up-
permost in the minds of men was not prospective

118 CANADA IN THE GREAT WOfiLD WAR

glory or ** delight of battle/' but the thought of those
who were being left behind. On the boat it was more
than ever necessary that the chaplain should be sports
organizer, concert manager, and general provider of
amusement and entertainment. Then, too, he had the
best opportunity ever offered to get to know his men.
They thawed out as they had never done in Canada
and came to his cabin at all hours of the day. Many
of them were very plastic to religious influences, espe-
cially if the crossing were rough; and if good resolu-
tions passed when they landed, we need not be sur-
prised.

England gave the Canadians warm welcome and
took them to her heart. English girls set out to
please, and, as the Registrar-General knows, they suc-
ceeded. Most of the Canadian camps were near Lon-
don, and to that Mecca of the world every good Cana-
dian went. Much has been said and written about the
temptations of that city. London was like the rest
of the world; there was evil for those who wanted it,
and no power on earth can make a man go wrong un-
less of his own free will. Nothing more than was
done could have been done to protect the troops.
Medical officers lectured them, padres preached to
them, and good women patrolled the streets to see that
they did not mistake their home address.

As time went on a special service for the London
area was instituted. At Victoria Station an office and
inquiry bureau were opened where men could obtain
information about places to which to go for amuse-
ment, and be told where to stay for their leave. As
the number of hospitals around London increased, a
staff of chaplains was kept for the sole purpose of
visiting the Canadians in these hospitals, arranging
drives or theatre parties for the convalescents, and
generally giving attention to their wants and needs.

Camp life in England was like camp life in Canada,
but intensified. There were drills, drills, and yet more

EELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 119

drills ; and of course there was rain. If ever spiritual
help were needed, it was needed when the troops lived
and ate and slept in mud; and if ever it were indig-
nantly rejected, it was then. The wise chaplain gave
as much time to concerts as he did to sermons, and
took as much care of an entertainment programme as
he took of Sunday services. His most appreciated
efforts, perhaps, were those he made towards getting
invitations for his men to country houses. Most
people in England were very anxious to provide the
troops from overseas with English hospitality, and
the padre was the natural point of approach. Where-
ever he might be, the local clergyman was almost sure
to ask him to preach in the local church, and from that
introduction he could easily pass on to obtain privi-
leges for his men. It is probable that these glimpses
of home life did as much for the morals of the men as
anything else; they kept home memories green.

Scattered here and there throughout England were
Canadian hospitals, and each of these carried a chap-
lain. The day began, officially, at 9 a.m., but before
that time the padre had been round the wards, admin-
istering Holy Communion and seeing whether any-
thing unusual had developed during the night.
Promptly at nine o'clock the doctors began their
routine work in the wards, and naturally the padre
was better out of the way. In the meantime he usu-
ally devoted himself to making arrangements for the
day's excursions and outings. Every hospital had a
number of convalescent patients who wished to go for
drives. The local people gave very generously of
their traps and automobiles for this purpose, but the
demand for seats was always in excess of the supply.
Under such circumstances, the work of deciding who
should go and who should stay became rather onerous,
especially when the nursing sisters were always sure
that their patients got less than their due; and a
couple of hours in the morning was all too short in

120 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

which to see patients, doctors, and nurses in order to
arrange which men might be sent. Around eleven
o'clock the padre might venture into the wards and
talk to the patients. Usually he began hospital work
with the idea that there was very little in ** visiting,"
but after a time he usually changed his mind. A ward
contains, say, sixty patients ; each one is an individual,
not a **case," and it is as an individual, with all his
rights and peculiarities, that each man must be ap-
proached. The constant change from man to man,
each making new demands upon sympathy, tact, and
understanding, is a drain upon nervous energy such
as can be understood only by those who have done the
work.

What did the chaplain talk about on such occasions!
That depended upon his conamon sense. If he insisted
on talking ** religion" in season and out of season, he
would soon have discovered that his approach syn-
chronized with an uncontrollable desire to sleep on
the part of the men. Usually he had sense enough to
recognize the fact that if Ms spiritual life was de-
veloped in certain directions, the spiritual life of his
flock was developed in others, and that no class of men
can claim a monopoly in religious experience. If he
did not recognize that fact then, he learned to recog-
nize it afterwards, when the cheerfulness, the willing
self-sacrifice, the patient endurance, and the heroic
conduct of the men forced him to see that such virtues
are born of God.

After lunch the padre would marshal the men for
drives, see that they were put into the proper vehicles
or sent to the houses, etc., to which they were invited,
and then he would return to the wards. Some time
during the afternoon he would look up ** talent" for
concerts and other entertainments, and make arrange-
ments for the evening's amusement. Later in the
war, a Y.M.C.A. officer was attached to many of the
larger hospitals to attend to the entertainments, but

RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 121

for the first two years or so the chaplain had to do it
all himself.

As can be readily understood, there were a thou-
sand and one little jobs which cannot be recorded —
messages for men, letters to their relatives, questions
about pay, kit, etc., which consumed time and made
the life of a hospital chaplain full from dawn to dark.
Every evening saw a concert or cinema of which he
had charge, and when that was over his work for the
day was done, unless, as too often happened, he was
called out of bed to watch with a man at the point of
death.

It sometimes happened that when a chaplain was sent
to France he was posted to a casualty clearing station
instead of being sent straight to the line. In theory it
** broke him in'' gradually, and made the actual war-
fare easier, but in practice the effect was the reverse.
There was no place on all the front more likely to
make him dread the fighting than the casualty clearing
station. Every day he saw men sadly wounded come
from the line; day and night he heard the moans of
the maimed; the smell of gas-gangrene was never ab-
sent from his nostrils; the pictures of agony never
faded from his mind. He learned to think of the front
as a place where men were shattered and mangled, for
all who came from it had suffered hurt. His work
here was much the same as that in a hospital in Eng-
land, but with differences enough to make a descrip-
tion worth while.

The station was usually situated a few miles behind
the lines, out of range of anything except the heavier
guns. The patients who came to it had been hastily
dressed at the field ambulances or advanced dressing
stations; they came to the casualty clearing station
for operations or other urgent treatment, and were
then shipped to the base. They came at any hour of
the day or night, but whenever they came the chaplain
had to be on hand to receive them. It often happened

122 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

that a man would get as far as the casualty clearing
station and then his strength would fail and life
flicker out. If the chaplain were there he could give
the dying man comfort and take any messages he
might wish to send. In the receiving-room the pa-
tient's regimental number, rank, name, and unit would
be recorded in a book; the orderly medical officer
would make a rapid diagnosis of the case, chalk the
initial of a ward on his jacket, and he would be taken
away and put to bed. Before being placed between
the sheets, the patient would be stripped and washed,
the contents of his pockets turned out and placed in a
trinket bag which was hung at the head of the bed.
If he were unconscious and, as usually happened, his
pay-book did not contain the name of his next of kin,
addresses could be found on letters in his pockets and
the padre could write to his friends and so forestall
the cold official notice. If he died, his effects were
sent home. A wise chaplain would go through the
letters, etc., before they were forwarded.

The padre in a casualty clearing station, as any-
where else, could make his job what he pleased. If he
were so inclined, he could idle through the day; or he
could occupy every moment of his time. In the wards
there was always something to do, a patient to be
eased, a letter to be written for a man too badly in-
jured to do so for himself, besides the more formal
duties laid down. He had it in his power to make the
hours of suffering easier, and the sights and sounds
of suffering spurred most men to work without rest.
Few chaplains could do such work conscientiously for
many months without a change, and the man who
added to his overburdened day by attending to units
of fit men in his vicinity was wise. The very sight of
men who were sound and whole seemed to give him
strength.

One of the hardest tasks laid upon a padre was that
of writing to the relatives of the men who died, and a

RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 123

chaplain in a casualty clearing station was never free
from this sad duty. If the work of writing to the rel-
atives was so sad that most men would do anything
rather than compose such letters, the replies received
were more than compensation. The writer spent
several months in a casualty clearing station, and at
the end of that time had a box full of such sacred writ-
ings. In his mind was a conviction that they should be
published and given to the world : they would have en-
riched our literature and in the years to come have
made the hearts of men throb and their eyes fill at the
thought that the writers were of their race and kin-
dred. The evening before he left the casualty clearing
station, he took them out and read them. Many were
poor in spelling and artless in form ; but all were rich
in the eloquence of a burning patriotism and sublime
faith. One said : * * Our boy is gone. He was the last
of our name and we hoped and prayed that he might
be spared. But we feel that he died the noblest death
a man could die, and we shall not complain." An-
other said: **Now that my husband has been killed I
am the whole support of the family. There are five
mouths to feed and what the future holds I cannot
say, but I feel that God will not desert us."

By the flickering light of a candle the letters were
read, until in the drear dawn of a Belgian morning
the reader laid the last one down and wiped the tears
from his eyes and was not ashamed. They were
burned: for love and grief and patriotism and hope
are sacred things, and we must not unveil their sancti-
ties to the eyes of a curious world. But by the loss of
those letters the world is poorer, for in all our litera-
ture there is nothing to which to liken them.

Besides the casualty clearing stations, there were
scattered units on the lines of communication — rail-
way troops, the Forestry Corps, and such like. As
the Chaplain Services became better organized, the
padres to these units were taken from the Corps Com-

124 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

mand and given an organization of their own. The
work was very similar to that done in England, or
even in Canada, — with the exception that an occa-
sional bomb or shell would fall close to their quarters,
— and therefore no further description is necessary.

From the casualty clearing station or the lines of
communication, the chaplain was usually sent to work
with troops in the field. He might go to infantry,
artillery, or engineers ; but wherever he went his work
was much the same. It is significant that, looking back,
one finds it difficult to put down what constituted a
typical day's work. The padre had to make his day.
There is little to report in going in and out among
men, chatting and making friends, but that occupied a
great deal of his time. His business was to be friendly
with every man; to win his confidence and respect so
that at any time he would feel free to come to the
chaplain for help and advice. At the end of the day,
all that the padre would be able to put into his report
might be a few brief words — '* Visited line,'' ** At the
guns," but that short entry would represent a well-
occupied day.

Many of the chaplains felt the vagueness of
their work; there were no results to show; there were
no means of estimating what they did. Some of the
more active-minded took unofficial duties such as cen-
soring, writing the war diary, and charge of trans-
port; and there is no doubt that in so doing they
gained the respect of both officers and men, as well as
the personal satisfaction of being engaged in some-
thing which showed tangible results.

Under such circumstances, the social work carried
on by the department was extremely fortunate, not
only in the service which it rendered to the troops,
but in the occupation which a chaplain could find in it.
In the fall of 1915, at the request of the Corps Com-
mander, the chaplains hired the theatre in Bailleul and
staged afternoon and evening entertainments. Fifteen

EELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 125

hundred dollars was borrowed to purchase equipment,
etc., and in six months this was paid back from the
admission fee of two and a half cents per man. A club
was also opened in the town, and so popular and
opportune were the entertainments that divisions and
brigades asked for extensions. Two tents, each ca-
pable of seating a battalion, were purchased in Paris,
and the Boy Scouts of Canada provided another. Two
cinema outfits were bought, and these were used to
crowded houses from the spring of 1916 until the end
of the war. Early in 1916, canteens were opened and
continued so until the fall of 1918; in them the usual
things which a soldier requires could be obtained.
The goods sold were purchased chiefly from the Ex-
peditionary Force canteens. The returns, together
with the income from the cinema, were the only source
of revenue. No public money was asked for or ob-
tained. Eeceipts rose as high as two million francs
for the year, and of this about ten per cent, was
profit. This profit was returned to the troops in free
supplies of stationery, athletic goods, pictures, coffee,
etc. The accounts were audited every three months
by the field cashier and published in Corps Orders.
Three concert parties operated through the corps, and
all such entertainments were free to the troops except
when parties were hired from the English divisions.

The most spectacular and certainly a most appre-
ciated service was that of supplying free coffee and
biscuits during battles. This was begun on the Somme
and continued until the end of the war. At the Somme
two big tents were operated on the Brickfields, and
four coffee stalls behind the line. One large tent, fully
equipped with electric light, was handed over to the
Medical Service, and used as a field ambulance. At
Vimy the Chaplains ' Social Department had three cine-
mas, seven canteens, and nine coffee stalls in operation.
One large tent was partly destroyed by shell-fire and
two of the men working in it killed. At Passchen-

126 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

daele a cinema near Ypres and a concert tent at
Brandhoek were instituted, besides seven coffee stalls
as near the line as they could go. During the open
warfare which began at Amiens, only coffee-stall work
was done. At every dressing station the familiar
boiler was put up and free refreshments supplied.

Whilst the Corps Headquarters was at Camblain
1 'Abbe in 1918 an Officers ' Club was opened. This sup-
plied a long-felt need and was greatly appreciated by
those who were able to use it.

One unusual feature of the supplies given through-
out the corps was that of reprints of good pictures.
Almost every dug-out, billet, and dining-room sported
a display of La Vie Parisienne studies in anatomy.
To counteract the effects of too prolonged attention
to these representations of the female form divine,
copies of good pictures were bought and distributed.

At Headquarters an excellent library of theological
books was carried for the use of the chaplains, who
tactfully borrowed them and returned them usually
unread. At every canteen a lending library of good
fiction was maintained for the use of the troops.

A month before the Armistice an arrangement
was made with the Y.M.C.A. by which all social work
in the field came under their management. All equip-
ment was passed over to that organization, which,
backed by a huge machine at home and generously
supplied with money, was in a far better position to
carry on the work.

Much of the success which undoubtedly attended
the social efforts of the Chaplains' Department was
due to the management by Canon Shatford, who had
charge of the work from June, 1916, to October of the
same year, and then from March, 1917, until October,
1918.

It is difficult to say just what constituted a typical
day's work. The following brief description of an
actual day, lasting from nine in the morning until past

EELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 127

midnight, may give some idea of a chaplain's work
when *^ nothing to report*' was happening aloijig the
front. The notes were made in August, 1917, when
the Canadian Corps was holding the Arras sector, and
the places visited are around Lievin. It is a day in
the life of an artillery chaplain.

At 9 a.m. he leaves his tent and proceeds to the bat-
tery wagon lines to visit the men. The majority of
the drivers are out exercising their horses or with
wagons on fatigues. Those who remain are cleaning
the horse lines, repairing the rough stables, or attend-
ing to their harness. The padre wanders from group
to group, bidding *^Good morning" here and there
and discussing the day's news. One thing is imme-
diately noticeable. There is a common ground be-
tween the parson and his flock such as rarely obtains
at home. He shares their life, their dangers, and some
of their discomforts ; their anxieties are his anxieties,
their occasions of relief the same as his. The conse-
quence is that there is little of that constraint which
exists all too frequently between clergy and laity. It
may be that having seen him day after day in various
circumstances, that awkward divinity which hedges
round a priest has faded away and the men realize
that he is as human as they.

Presently he comes to a little group of men leaning
upon their shovels and hotly engaged in argument.
He is called into the discussion and asked to decide.
The question involved is: **Why did it rain just be-
fore the fight for Zonnebeke, and so spoil the British
attack? If the cause of the Allies is right, then God
must be on their side. If He is, one would expect
some assistance, even in the matter of weather. But
the weather seems always in favour of the Boche —
our attacks on the Somme, Vimy, and Zonnebeke have
all been spoiled by rain. How can we reconcile the
positions, our cause right and therefore God's, and
His apparent non-intervention on our behalf?"

128 CANADA IN THE GEEAT WOELD WAE

As every soldier knows, this question cropped up
time and time again. The hold it obtained on the
imagination of others than those at the front may be
seen by reference to the newspapers of that time.
The chaplain whose day we are following makes some
attempt at an answer by saying that we do not know
whether it is or is not advantageous to the final out-
come of the war that our plans should miscarry by
reason of rain.

After more discussion and conversation, he visits
the officers and is given little commissions, such as
messages about rations, ammunition, etc., to take to
the guns. The telephone wire has been cut by shelling
and so he is able to be of service in this way.

En route to the guns he calls in at other wagon
lines, ammunition dumps, etc., and then goes on. The
enemy is retaliating for a midnight ^^ shoot'* and
heavy shells are ** crumping'' around. As he walks
up the road there is a tremendous explosion and pieces
of shell come hurtling through the air. Having long
since lost that special brand of idiocy which makes
inexperienced men walk upright when fragments of
steel are whistling by, he *^ flops" in the muddy ditch
by the side of the road. It is clear that one of the
enemy projectiles has burst on a pile of ammunition
somewhere, and caused it to explode. Warily raising
his head, he sees the scene of disaster, a battery posi-
tion away on the left. He races over and finds two
guns overturned, men of the gun detachments wounded
and some dead. The captain in command is busy with
bandages and the padre assists. Whilst they are tend-
ing the wounded, an ambulance arrives and carries the
sufferers to the field hospital in Ablain St. Nazaire,
and then the captain puts the remaining guns on to
searching for the battery which has shelled him.

One of his subalterns has been killed : he was one of
the best, and obviously the commander is distressed.
Almost bitterly he turns to the padre and demands

EELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 129

why it is that so often the best men are killed whilst
so many whom the world could easily spare are un-
hurt. The padre does not know: he has asked the
same question himself a score of times, but obviously
he is expected to know, and in some vague way most
men hold the clergy as being partly responsible for
**the acts of God.'' He says he cannot answer the
question, and whilst they are discussing it the cook
announces lunch. The meal over, he goes on to
another battery, which, owing to its skilful camou-
flage, is difficult to find. At last, however, it is dis-
covered, and here again he spends some time with the
officers and men, after which he proceeds to the for-
ward guns, where his messages about rations and am-
munition are delivered. Arrangements are made for
Sunday services, and as it is now past five o'clock he
prepares to return. Before he can get away, one of
the gunners insists on showing him a captured Ger-
man gun which they are about to use against the
enemy. He has to wait and see the shoot and then,
before the usual retaliation comes, turns his face to-
wards **home." Little units are scattered here and
there along his path, and it is well to put his head in-
side the doors of dug-outs to show that he has not
forgotten them. By the time he reaches his own camp,
the other officers are sitting down to dinner, and he
gets in just on time. When the meal is finished he
retires to his own tent and begins to try to catch up
with a correspondence which somehow is always be-
hind; but no sooner is he settled than a friendly ser-
geant comes in for a chat. It is past nine when the
sergeant leaves: he cannot very well tell him to go
before then, as these little talks are an important part
of his work; and just as he is saying *^Good night"
an orderly comes from the infantry battalion over the
way to ask if the chaplain and the doctor will **run
over" to the infantry mess. As they are going into
the line next morning and putting on a big raid the

130 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

following night, lie calls for the doctor and they go.
Soon after eleven he pleads tiredness and escapes,
thinking that at last he will get down to his writing in
peace, only to discover that in his absence a pile of
letters to be censored has been placed upon his table
and must be read that night so as to catch the morn-
ing's mail. By the time they are all gone through it is
half-past twelve, and, tired out, he goes to bed.

There is very little in a day like that. To a man of
active and practical mind it seems that most of the
time has been frittered away. All that he can put
into his report is ** Visited guns and wagon lines,"
and that is all that he has done. The other officers
can say that they have taken an exercise ride, a stable
parade, a gun-drill, have fired so many rounds of
ammunition and destroyed an enemy trench; the very
batman who cleans the padre's boots can point to
something accomplished; but the chaplain cannot say,
**See, there is the result of my labour," for, in the
nature of the case, he has no tangible results to show.
Put briefly, he has gone to the guns, not altogether
without danger, and chatted with various men. It
may be that the mere fact of seeing him has brought
comfort to a war-weary soul ; it may be that when the
captain whose subaltern was killed is bitter at the
blind waste of life, he will remember the discussion
they had; it may be that the sergeant will be kept
straight by the friendship which put aside important
letters to chat and smoke with him at the end of a
tiring day; it may be that when that young infantry
subaltern who said '* Cheerio," in a voice that meant
*^ Good-bye," is taking his men across No Man's Land
in the darkness of the following night he will think
of the padre and the padre's God and be comforted.
But of these things the chaplain can know nothing.
On the report by which most of his work is judged he
can put five words — ^ * Visited guns and wagon lines. ' '

As a rule all Anglican and Catholic padres began

EELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 131

their Sunday duties by Holy Communion or Mass.
After breakfast the parade services were taken. At-
tendance at these was usually compulsory, a fact to be
regretted, as most men who served in the ranks will
testify. Sermons had to be brief and to the point,
dealing with the vital things of life rather than with
speculative theology. The services were shortened
and otherwise adapted to the time and place; not in-
frequently they were shortened by the enemy.

Every chaplain was supposed to minister to such
units in his vicinity as were without a padre of their
own, and so it was no uncommon thing for him to con-
duct three services in the morning and one or two in
the afternoon. In the evening he would usually speak
in the voluntary service in the Y.M.C.A. hut, where
he could always be assured of a good congregation.

Church services were held in any place available —
a trench, a barn, a house, or the open field. Farther
back, the ^<Y'' huts were freely lent to all denomina-
tions, whilst at Divisional Headquarters a theatre
could usually be obtained. The Eoman Catholic
churches of the country were not open to Protestant
use — there was an order forbidding the use even of a
ruined church — and so some unusual places were
used for services.

Among the rank and file of the chaplains the great-
est co-operation and camaraderie prevailed. Where-
ever possible, denominational differences were disre-
garded and all worked together. Even the Anglicans
held open Communions, to which any man of any de-
nomination might come. There have been instances
of a Presbyterian preparing Anglicans for Confirma-
tion; of a Methodist arranging an altar for a Eoman
Mass; of a Eoman Catholic chaplain walking many
miles to bring a Baptist padre to attend a dying
Baptist boy.

Every chaplain respected the faith of another and
was more willing to give than to take. The only dis-

132 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

cord in the harmony was that appointments and pro-
motions went by denomination instead of by merit or
seniority; but that was because the denominations at
home demanded their full pounds of flesh — each one
wanted its full quota of ** colonels'' and ** majors,"
and they brought pressure to bear upon Ottawa, and
the administration overseas had to give way.

Success or failure as a chaplain depended almost
entirely upon personality : tact, sympathy, and under-
standing counted for more than anything else. With
these and manliness, a padre could win the respect
and confidence of his men; without them he was
doomed to fail.

One of the most brilliant men in the Church of
England — a man whose name appears on the title
page of very learned books — told the writer that he
felt himself a failure at the front, and that he was ap-
plying to go home. ^^I cannot get close to the men,"
he said. ** There's something between us which I can-
not bridge." It almost broke his heart to go, but he
was wise enough to see his limitations, and so went.
In his college lecturing and his cathedral preaching
he was back in his proper sphere, whilst men with a
tithe of his learning and special ability ministered
successfully to the troops.

Among Canadian chaplains one man of outstanding
personality caught the imagination and won the affec-
tion of all denominations and all ranks. That man, of
course, was George Frederick Scott, C.M.G., D.S.O.,
Senior Chaplain of the 1st Division. Poet and scholar,
he combined within himself — to borrow the words of
a master of description — **a deal of Ariel, just a
streak of Puck," much of Sir Galahad, of Francis of
Assisi most of all — and something perhaps of Don
Quixote.

Wherever things were most dangerous and help was
most needed, the canon was to be found. Men wor-
shipped him. He brought more credit to the Chaplain

RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 133

Services than any other man. His appearance among
a battalion or in a crowded theatre evoked such scenes
of enthusiasm as are rarely seen. It seemed that he
led a charmed life. At Passchendaele he walked
through falling shell, looking for wounded where it
seemed that nothing could live. An officer, scanning
the churning mud before him, turned to his companion
and said, *^ There's someone out there looking for
death. *' The man with him turned his glasses on the
wanderer. **It's Canon Scotf **0h," said the first
speaker, *Hhey can't hit him.'' At last, after four
years of gambling with death, the canon was hit, but
not seriously.

Being a little lower than the angels, the canon had
his faults, the chief of which was an impatience of office
routine. He could not see that ** Visited line" de-
scribed a day's work, and he was a sore trial to the
little official minds who stayed back in safety and
made ** Digests of Reports." But the reports are for-
gotten, and the officials, too, whilst George Frederick
Scott is enshrined securely in the hearts of men who
fought in France and Flanders.

To the men of the Canadian Mounted Rifles the
name of Robert Ridgeway, M.C. and Bar, chaplain, is
one to be spoken with honour and respect. He lived in
the line. His commanding officer is said to have re-
fused to allow another decoration to be given to his
battalion until Ridgeway 's services were officially rec-
ognized— and when they were he forgot to put the
ribbon **up." The following story is given at second-
hand, but the authority is good. A '* certain person of
importance" had come from England to tell the chap-
lains in the field how to do their work. **Get in right
with the general," he said. ** That's the first thing to
do. Get in right with the general and you'll get on."

**Damn the general," said Ridgeway, rising in his
seat. **A chaplain's first duty is to his men." And
he went out.

134 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

The writer may be wrong, and contentedly so, but
that expression is more to Ridgeway's honour than
many unctuous words.

Another chaplain whom the older C.M.R. 's remember
and love is Allan Gillies Wilken, taken prisoner on the
Somme in June, 1916. Wilken overstayed his tour of
duty in the line to do the work of one who had im-
portant business farther back. The Boche came over
and carried Wilken off and kept him for nearly two
years in German prison camps. He volunteered to go
with the rank and file in preference to the officers'
camp, to which he was entitled to be sent. Courts-
martial and punishments came to him for his efforts
on behalf of the prisoners, whilst the man who should
have relieved him in the line received promotion and
rewards. When the time came for Wilken to be ex-
changed, the British Government asked him to stay
and continue his labours for the men. He remained
for some time, and when he came home even the pro-
motion which was his due was denied. It had gone to
others with important business farther back. But
there are greater rewards than bits of ribbon or steps
in rank, and the greatest reward is to feel that one
has played the man. Allan Gillies Wilken has that
and is content.

Space permits mention of only a few who should be
mentioned — E. E. Graham, D.S.O., M.C., recommended
for the V.C. for acts of bravery of which a colonel said
that he had ** never seen any man, drunk or sober, do
the like;" William Henry Davies, M.C., killed at Le
Quesnel whilst going forward with his men; **Bob"
Thompson, M.C., who had the rare distinction — more
rare than courage — of refusing promotion three times
because he thought that the rank would hinder his
work ; Arthur McGreer, thrust into command of all the
chaplains in the Canadian Corps over the heads of
many older and more experienced than he, and who
did his work well as an A.D.C.S. and never recom-

RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 135

mended himself for a decoration; and John Almond,
C.M.G., C.B.E., who left the line to go to London to
reorganize the Chaplain Services, and had to wrestle
with ecclesiastics and powers and politicians in high
places in order to get the department on its feet. It
is unfair to pick out names. None but God's bright
angel knows how many toiled faithfully and honestly,
day after day and month after month, and whose
record no man knows. There is glory in obscurity
sometimes — when men forget to ^*get in right with
the general" and are satisfied to serve: did not Ben
Adhem's name lead all the rest?

No true chaplain strove for honours and rewards,
and very few of them — looking around on the men in
the ranks, those great soldiers who went over the top
in the drear dawn of day, or who held a dirty ditch
whilst Death twined his fingers round their throats —
thought that they deserved them. Far more than any
other on the front, the padre was in a position to
realize that the big man out there was the *'buck pri-
vate," he who endured mud, misery, and the risk of
being maimed, — grousing, cursing, but patient and
long-suffering, and without swank. He got very few
rewards or honours, and he cared nothing for that.
His job was to **get through and get home," and it
was honour enough to any man to be privileged to do
his bit in such brave company.

This narrative began by saying that the chaplain
was part of the military machine, appointed to pro-
duce and maintain religious conviction as a help to
victory. He was, but he was more. Machinery is
great, but humanity is greater, and the padre had to
forget the machine in his care for men.

He was the soldier's friend, or he was a failure.

To him was given the high honour of holding the
chalice to the lips of heroes; of giving them God's
stirrup-cup as they went out to battle, or crossed to
where the trumpets sounded victory over death. He

136 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

was a priest of God : but the glory and the sacrament
of his high calling were not in his office, but in the fact
that men who knew him could call him ** Friend/'^

2. The Canadian Y.M.C.A.

Forty-three years before the Great War, the Cana-
dian Y.M.C.A. had instituted military work in the
camp at Niagara. When the South African War
broke out it sent representatives to work on the veldt.
But its big opportunity came in 1914.

A few days after the formation of Valcartier Camp,
permission to operate Y.M.C.A. 's there had been
granted by the Minister of Militia. The association
was already on the ground and in some sort of work-
ing order, but permission was necessary to place it on
a military basis. Under the direction of F. T. Best —
a veteran of the South African War — and A. W.
Forgie, of the National Council of the Y.M.C.A. 's
Staff, a most desirable location was secured in the
central part of the great camp grounds, and five mar-
quees and ten bell tents were erected. A post office,
reading and writing tents, canteen, barber shop, shoe-
shine parlour, and huge entertainment marquee were
opened; religious services were held nightly, and
the Y.M.C.A. quickly gained the confidence of the
men.

When the First Contingent sailed for England there
were with it six <<Y" officers, with the honorary rank
of captain, whose one idea was ** Service to the
Troops." They were H. A. Pearson, H. Whiteman,

1 426 Canadian chaplains served overseas. The following hon-
ours and awards were gained by the Canadian Chaplain Service:
C.M.G., 5; C.B.E., 3; O.B.E., 6; D.S.O., 9; M.C., 36; Bar to the
M.C., 2; D.C.M., 1; M.M., 3. Mentioned in despatches, 32; Home
Service Mentions, 13. Two chaplains were killed in action, one
died of wounds, two died of sickness while on active service, and
on© was drowned when the Llandovery Castle was torpedoed.

RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 137

A. W. Forgie, A. Pequegnat, C. Grraham, and Oscar
Irwin. In those days the <*Y" men felt their way
gingerly, for they were breaking new ground. All
commanding officers had not yet realized that the asso-
ciation was something more than a luxury, and that
its ministrations in the days to come were to mean so
much in maintaining the moral of the troops. The
Y.M.C.A. officer had few definite duties, and the high
position he won in later days was secured by ** making
good*' at the first.

In England the work done at Valcartier was re-
peated. Huts and tents were erected and a *<Y" pro-
gramme put on. There was rain, there was mud, there
was spinal meningitis, and in the midst of all that
misery the secretaries toiled indefatigably.

And then — France!

When the Canadians crossed the English Channel
the real difficulties began. All troops in France came
under General French, the British Commander-in-
Chief, and the British War Establishment obtained.
This establishment made no provision for Y.M.C.A.
officers and so none could officially be carried. Some-
how they crossed to France and somehow they stayed,
and when a staff officer was sent from G.H.Q. to in-
vestigate the irregularity he recommended that it con-
tinue.

An extract from an early report will show where
the ^^Y'* officer stood then: ^'The relationship of the
Y.M.C.A. to the Army was a doubtful one. Add to
this the fact that the association, like other branches
of the Service, was quite unprepared to cope with the
task on hand; that there was no organization, no
equipment, no special duties and no precedent, and you
have some idea of the situation." The writer of the
report goes on to tell of the march into Kemmel
Shelters. The officers were billeted, the men were
billeted, but the ''Y'' man wandered uncared for and
forlorn. None knew where he should go or what he

138 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

should do. At last he ** found a cold tiled floor and
tried to sleep with his boots for a pillow." The next
day someone took compassion on him and helped him
to get ** fixed up."

This is in marked contrast with the latter days of
the war, when the Y.M.C.A. officers were official mem-
bers of the staff at Brigade, Division, and Corps
Headquarters; when brigadiers sought their services,
and commanding officers of units and their men pro-
tested vigorously if they were neglected.

So also is there a contrast between the business of
those days and later on. Then *Hhere was one con-
necting link in the person of Captain Lee, who repre-
sented the Canadian Y.M.C.A. in London, and whose
duty it was to provide the officers in France with one
thousand sheets of writing paper and envelopes each
week, and to purchase for these officers certain sup-
plies which could be sent by parcel post."

At the time of the Armistice the Canadian ^^Y" had
a business turnover of more than six million dollars
for the year ; it had 250 branches scattered around the
globe wherever Canadians were to be found ; it had set
up 1,200 different places for the troops in France
within twelve months; it had in the same time given
291 free concerts and cinemas, conducted innumerable
athletic meets at a cost of $486,000, and contributed
$297,000 in cash, stationery, smokes, and drinks. Not
only that, but from the half dozen officers who crossed
with the First Contingent had sprung an organization
which consisted of at least one thousand officers and
men, carried upon military establishment, and over
five thousand civilian volunteer workers, both men and
women. Its ramifications extended to France, Bel-
gium, England, Scotland, Palestine, Northern Russia,
Siberia, Holland, and, after the Armistice, to Ger-
many.

Formal authorization for the establishment came in
May, 1917, when provision was made for 114 officers

EELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 139

and 265 other ranks in England and France. In little
more than a year from then the personnel of the **Y*'
was 140 officers and 745 other ranks.

Although the most spectacular work was done in the
battle areas, yet the service rendered in training
camps, hospitals, and leave centre^ was of equal im-
portance. Beginning with Valcartier, the Eed Tri-
angle was set up in every training camp throughout
Canada.

During the entire period that men were being
trained the Y.M.C.A. was with them at the numerous
military centres covering the Dominion from coast to
coast. Not a single soldier reached the other side
without experiencing the helpfulness of the **Y.''

When the wounded began to return home, the Red
Triangle met them at Montreal, Quebec, and Halifax
with its programme of welcome and cheer. At each
of these points special staffs were maintained, and to-
wards the close of the war, when returning men ar-
rived in ever-increasing numbers, these staffs were
augmented to cope with the enormous task of minis-
tering to their welfare. The policy of free drinks and
refreshments that had proved of so much benefit in
the war area was continued at the Canadian ports of
debarkation.

Further developments of the service for returned
men consisted of transport and troop-train work.
Secretaries with special equipment travelled on all
transports carrying the troops home. It was the
duty of these men to organize entertainments on board,
and to conduct bureaus of information whereby sol-
diers were advised as to Government arrangements
for veterans and where information of peculiar in-
terest to returned men was supplied.

A similar work was done on the troop-trains, the
Y.M.C.A. representatives being business men and
others from the districts to which the men were re-
turning. The trains were accompanied to their des-

140 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

tination by the ^*Y'* men, most of whom were volun-
tary workers. In many cases the work on both troop-
ships and trains consisted of ministering to the wel-
fare not only of the soldiers but of their wives and
children as well. The cost of the troop-train service,
which included periodical free distribution en route of
candies, fruits, and cigarettes, as well as literature,
averaged one hundred dollars per train.

Getting the men home did not end the obligation of
the Y.M.C.A. It was found that thousands of the
veterans congregated at the large centres of popula-
tion. To care for these men, many of them waiting
for discharge, thousands of them unsettled in mind as to
their final destination, became a further charge upon the
association. What were known as Red Triangle Huts
or Clubs were established at strategic points. These
buildings, either leased or built for the purpose, be-
came veritable soldiers' hotels where returned men
could find bed and board at considerably less than
current prices charged for such privileges elsewhere.
Each Red Triangle Club became a rendezvous for sol-
diers who found there a warm welcome from the staff
and voluntary women and lay workers, and where
through the Service Bureau thousands of men found
employment and saved thousands of dollars in adjust-
ments of pay and pension through the expert advice
tendered them.

It is interesting to note that when, owing to lack of
funds, it was proposed to close the Red Triangle Club
in Toronto, a special petition, signed by fourteen hun-
dred returned men, was presented by a deputation,
headed by the mayor of Toronto, asking that the club
be kept open. As a result the National Council de-
cided to continue operating the club until April, 1920.
This policy was extended to all the Red Triangle
Clubs throughout Canada.

General Sir Arthur Currie, speaking at a banquet
given by the local officers in his honour at Toronto in

RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 141

August, 1919, went out of his way to pay a special
tribute to the work of the **Y.'' He said:

**We must not forget the Y.M.C.A. All of us know
the splendid service which that organization rendered
at the front. There is no need for me to say anything
to you about it. You who were there know the mag-
nificent work it did. I want to say that I am prepared
to stand on any platform in this country and tell
those who contributed funds to that splendid insti-
tution that their money was well invested and wisely
spent. ' '

In the beginning of its operations in England the
Y.M.C.A. had but nine cBntres ; before the end of 1918
it had grown to embrace eighty-four. When the re-
cruit came, fresh from Canada, the association pro-
vided him with facilities for amusement and addi-
tions to his comfort. A round of entertainment was
provided, canteens were open for his use, athletics
were organized and encouraged.

In the Canadian hospitals throughout England the
**Y" did much excellent service. For instance, the
theatre at the Canadian Military Hospital at Orping-
ton was turned over to the association and used as a
reading, writing, and recreation room. In other hos-
pitals work was done in the wards or as circumstances
allowed.

The Canadian Forestry Corps, scattered as it was
through Great Britain, in many cases far from towns,
was provided with a full **Y'' programme which went
far towards relieving the monotony of camp life.

London attracted the Canadian on leave, and the
<<Y'' was there to look after him. Information bu-
reaus, kit stores, tourist agencies, dances, and, not
least, the Beaver Hut were provided. At any of the
bureaus the soldier would be given such information
about places, trains, hotels, theatres, churches, etc., as
he might require; at the kit stores he could deposit
his pack and equipment until the end of his leave ; at

142 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

the tourist agencies he could arrange a tour to any
part of the British Isles, and at the Beaver Hut he
could make himself at home.

The Beaver Hut. It was after long consideration of
the needs of the men in London that the site of the
old Tivoli Theatre was taken over by the Canadian
Y.M.C.A. For a year and a half a little information
bureau had stood there, but permission to erect a
larger building was difficult to obtain. Only buildings
which could be regarded as necessary from a military
point of view were allowed to be erected, but the au-
thorities at last were convinced that a home of their
own for Canadian soldiers came under that category,
and so the Beaver Hut came into being.

The hut consisted of a rotunda, lounge, quiet room,
billiard room, kitchen, dining-room with a capacity for
three thousand meals per day; dormitories with 165
beds; kit storage for seven hundred kits; lavatories,
shoe-shine parlour, and barber shop. A bed cost
eighteen cents per night and included towel, soap, use
of lavatories, shower baths, and kit room. A rationed
meal cost eighteen cents. The building was open day
and night, and all soldiers of the Allied forces were
welcome. Every day an orchestra played from 3 p.m.
to 10 p.m. in the lounge, and entertainments were
given in the Little Theatre, adjacent, at intervals
from 2 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. In the hut a staff of eight
hundred Canadian and English women, under the
superintendence of Miss Helen Fitz-Randolph, of New
Brunswick, assisted by Lady Beaverbrook, cared for
the men. In the ranks of this staff were women of
title, and women who earned their daily bread in
office or factory or store. They were one in their de-
sire to serve the men of Canada.

Every effort was made to acquaint the men of the
Canadian Corps with the facilities for clean enter-
tainment and amusement provided in London for
them. The following advertisement was inserted in

EELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 143

the Canadian Daily Record, the official newspaper for
the troops:

CANADIAN Y.M.C.A. IN LONDON

CENTRES

Beaver Hut, 66, Strand, including Dormitories, Res-
taurant, Billiard Room, Theatre, Kit Store, Barber Shop
and Shoe Shine, Shower Baths, 2,500 meals served daily.
160 beds available. Theatre every afternoon and evening.

C.A.P.C. Hut, Millbank — S,900 meals daily.

Kit Stores, Victoria — Medical Service and Viseing
Offices in building. 50 yards from Victoria Station. Ac-
commodation 3,000 kits.

Officers* Hut, Eaton Square — Canada Wing, an addi-
tion to Queen Mary Hut for officers. Cubicles, smoking-
room, bathing facilities.

Leave Department — All information re Tours and
Hospitality in Great Britain.

Address inquiries to O.C. Leave Department, Beaver
Hut, Strand, London.

Recreation Grounds, Chiswick — London Polytechnic
grounds, boat-house. Tennis, cricket, football, baseball.
Track and field athletic equipment supplied free.

Officers' Cluhs. Whilst the man in the ranks has
always come first in consideration, yet the officer has
not been neglected by the *^Y."

Many junior officers, recently promoted from the
ranks, found London hotel prices beyond their means.
Not only that, but accommodation was limited and
many a man, fresh from the front, was compelled to
spend the first night of his brief leave in wandering
from place to place seeking shelter.

To meet this need a Canadian wing was added by
the Y.M.C.A. to the Queen Mary Hut for officers in
Eaton Square; information bureaus kept lists of
places where accommodation might be obtained; and
finally a large, modern, and convenient hotel in
Bloomsbury was taken over.

144 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAE

In the camps — Seaford, Bramshott, Witley, and
Rhyl — OflScers' Clubs were opened and did much to
relieve the monotony of life spent so far from towns.

In France, Officers' Clubs at Villers au Bois, Neu-
ville St. Vaast, Chateau de la Haie, Hersin, Bully
Grenay, Ecoivre, and Ecurie were established and
proved an inestimable boon.

Canteens, One of the first *^ extras" demanded by
men in France was a canteen where supplementary
rations could be purchased. As a rule units conducted
their own canteens and used the profits which accrued
to augment regimental funds ; but the scheme was not
always satisfactory and under mobile warfare it failed
entirely. Railheads changed their locations; Expe-
ditionary Force Canteens — the official supply depots
for canteen stocks — could not always keep up with
the troops; supplies were often hard to obtain and
more and more the canteen business passed into the
hands of the more mobile Y.M.C.A. From the modest
arrangement already mentioned whereby one Cana-
dian Y.M.C.A. officer sent from England a thousand
sheets of paper and envelopes per week, and such
parcels as mail-boats permitted, the canteen business
grew to such gigantic proportions that, as already
stated, its turnover in the last year of the war for
France and England was nearly six million dollars.
Of course, profits were made. No canteen was allowed
to sell goods in France at more or less than the price
laid down by the Expeditionary Force Canteen 's Com-
mittee, which sat at the War Office. Price lists were
published and hung in every canteen where customers
could see them.

What was done with the profits? A fixed percent-
age (five per cent, of sales, or about twenty per cent,
of the gross profits) was returned in cash to unit com-
manders to be used as they thought fit. In this way
$163,368 was handed over in 1918. This money went
into regimental funds and was used for extra food,

RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 145

rubber boots, straw for billets, and other comforts for
the men.

When fighting was in progress the men going up to
the line could halt at a **y coffee stall en route and
obtain free hot tea or coffee. The same arrangement
obtained on their return. During battles, extras, such
as chocolate, cigarettes, and matches, etc., were dis-
tributed free.

Transport Difficulties. One of the greatest difficulties
found by the **Y" in France was that of transport.
Supplies could be carried to the ports and shipped to
railhead in the ordinary way, but often railhead was
some distance behind the main body of the troops and
the problem was how to carry the goods from railhead
to the corps.

The Y.M.C.A. had no transport of its own; the one
or two light cars upon its strength were absurdly in-
adequate to the task, and so it became necessary to
borrow lorries and wagons for the work. In stationary
warfare this was not very difficult : the mere fact that
it was ** Y.M.C.A. stuff for the troops" was enough ; but
when the corps moved the real trouble began. Every
available vehicle had an allotted load and none could
be spared for extra work. It was often necessary to
go outside the corps — to Army Troops or even to
another army altogether — before transport could be
obtained. Obtained it was in every case without fail,
often to the complete mystification of the Department
of Supply and Transport.

Problems of Personnel. In March, 1917, the Cana-
dian Y.M.C.A. was placed upon the official establish-
ment and a certain number of men from each division
allotted to the work. Many of these men were mag-
nificent — and some were not. It was not to be ex-
pected that commanding officers would let their best
men go, and it sometimes happened that men with rec-
ords which rendered their absence from their own
units desirable, were drafted to the **Y."

146 CANADA IN THE GREAT WOELD WAR

Some well-founded criticism was directed against
the organization by men who were perhaps not well
served by these enforced servants of the association.
It was difficult to discriminate between the actual
<< Y'* workers and those drafted into it by the military
authorities, whose business it was to keep the best men
for the line.

Entertainments. No man can estimate the part
played by the **Y" in maintaining the moral of the
men in the field. Concerts, cinemas, sing-songs, ath-
letics, etc., all contributed to keep them from going
stale.

A man could come out of the line, change and wash
at the divisional baths, and then proceed to any one of
half a dozen places of entertainment to forget the
sights he had so lately seen and the deeds he had been
called upon to do. Not only did the entertainments
preserve moral; they saved many a man's sanity.

Great emphasis was laid upon athletics. The Cana-
dian '^y had fully qualified physical directors at-
tached to each division, and every *<Y" man had been
trained to stage athletic games. Baseball, football,
tennis, cricket, etc., were scheduled and leagued, whilst
track athletics received marked attention. The entire
equipment, including costumes, required for these
sports were supplied by the <<Y'' on a free-loan
basis.

One of the most spectacular events ever staged in
the athletic world was the Canadian Championship
Meet on Dominion Day of 1918. At the little town
of Tinques on the Arras front over 35,000 troops
gathered to witness the finals of the events in which
they had been competing for weeks. Had it not been
necessary for some troops to hold the line the whole
corps would have been there. As it was, almost the
whole corps was represented. It was estimated that
about 70,000 men competed in preliminaries and finals.
For months past the scheme had been prepared, and

RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 147

as soon as permission to go ahead was given, over
$100,000 wortli of athletic equipment was distributed
on loan by the *<Y'' to the troops. Philip Gibbs, the
famous war correspondent, wrote at the time: **It
was one of the most remarkable scenes I have ever
seen. It was a holiday in war-time, and every man
knew that in another day or two, or in another week
or two, he might be in the midst of battle, so that his
jollity had a sweet spice to it. And all those men
looked so fine and hard and splendid, that to see them
gave one a sense of safety, and of victory in the fight-
ing that must come." Representatives from all the
armies in France attended; Canada's Prime Minister
and the Duke of Connaught came also. The meet cost
the Canadian Y.M.C.A. 44,560 francs. What it was
worth in increased moral none can estimate.

Huts, The Red Triangle on a thousand huts, tents,
barns, billets, and dug-outs forms one of the few
pleasant memories of the years of war; to quote a
writer in a previous volume in this series: **In three
years, the Y.M.C.A. 's Red Triangle became almost as
well known as the Red Cross as a sign denoting an
expression of the good will of the people at home to-
wards the men of the forces." ^ It has stood for the
thought of the people in Canada, who, by their gener-
ous and often self-sacrificing giving, have made the
work of the association possible ; it has stood for the
helping hand and the cheery welcome — the one place
where men could escape from the soulless machinery
of war and relax as in the house of a friend.

"Wherever possible huts were erected. In them
there was light and warmth, books and magazines to
read, writing paper and pens at hand all day. In the
evenings they were the scene of concert or cinema or
a short religious service. On Sunday mornings the
huts were loaned to the chaplains for parade services,

1 See Vol. II, p. 204.

148 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

regardless of denominational difference. It meant
much for men to escape from dug-outs or uncomfort-
able **biwies" into such places.

From the base to the front the Y.M.C.A. was with
the troops, striving to do them service. The associa-
tion followed them on leave whether in the British
Isles or France. Something has been said of the work
in London; a similar work was undertaken in Paris.
Many men, realizing that a priceless opportunity was
to hand, elected to spend their leave in the French
capital; but there were few facilities for such an ex-
perience except at great expense. Hotel charges out-
rivalled those in London ; there were no welfare agen-
cies such as so happily obtained in England — and
Paris had temptations all her own. The Americans had
placed the city out of bounds, and the Canadian au-
thorities seriously considered as to whether it would
not be wise for them to follow their example. Then
the Canadian Y.M.C.A. stepped in, took over the
Hotel d'lena and ran it for the troops. It was a first-
class hotel, with silken hangings, beautifully carved
furniture, and every modern luxury. The rates for
the private soldier were from 75 cents to $1.00 for a
bed, or from $2.50 to $3.00 for room and three meals
— a striking contrast with the prices prevailing in
Paris at the time. The hotel was the centre of a
series of excursions and entertainment; men went to
Versailles and Fontainebleau, saw the things worth see-
ing, and came away satisfied with what they had seen.
Theatre and opera parties set out each evening,
special terms being given to the Canadian troops.
From the time the Canadian Y.M.C.A. took over the
work in Paris there was no mention of placing the city
'*out of bounds."

Prisoners of War, Special efforts were made to
assist prisoners of war. In September, 1918, Lieut.-
Colonel Birks visited Holland and found 375 Cana-
dians interned. Accordingly, a ^*Y" officer was sent

V

EELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 149

there in the next month and was able to do much for
the men, both before and after the Armistice. At the
Hotel d'lena in Paris many returned prisoners found
a warm welcome and a wooing back into the ways of
free men. Service was provided for prisoners of war
returning through Mons and Valenciennes. A special
service of free milk, coffee, chocolate, and biscuits was
supplied to French refugees from evacuated areas and
also to the starving people left in the wake of the re-
treating Hun. The French Government expressed
their warm appreciation of this service.

In Far Fields. Among the Canadian troops in Eus-
sia, — at Archangel and on the Murman Coast, — as
well as in Palestine, where they worked among the
Canadian Eailway Troops, the Y.M.C.A. built up a
much appreciated work. To men so far from home,
amid climatic conditions so trying, and in countries
where intercourse with the natives was almost out of
the question, the ministrations of the Canadian <*Y''
were doubly welcome. Wherever the Maple Leaf has
gone the Eed Triangle has accompanied it.

The Armistice, With the cessation of hostilities
the need for entertainment and diversion increased.
There was a sudden reaction from the strain of war
which let loose energies which had to be guided into
proper channels. The Y.M.C.A. redoubled its efforts
and put on the largest and most comprehensive pro-
gramme in its history. In the occupied territories
concerts, cinemas, and sing-songs were in full swing
every day and night. In Germany and in Belgium
local theatres were taken over, sometimes with their
staffs, and operated by the **Y." Two divisions and
the Corps Troops went to Germany; for one of these
divisions alone twelve theatres and fifteen canteens
were opened. The part that these canteens played is
shown by the fact that in thirteen days the troops
spent more than $50,000 in them. In one brigade
alone four cinemas were operated, 2,500 men being en-

150 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

tertained in one night to a cinema show, a supper, and
a variety show.

Back in Belgium, where two divisions remained, and
where the Canadian troops from Germany retired on
demobilization, similar entertainment was provided.
Special tours to Brussels, Waterloo, Antwerp, Bruges,
Ostend, and Ghent were arranged. In one month
nearly fifteen thousand men went to these places un-
der the auspices of the Canadian **Y." In Liege and
Brussels entire divisions were entertained free.

At Havre, special efforts were made to fill the wants
of the returning soldier. One feature was a cinema,
to seat 1,500, which cost $15,000.

At the base camps at Etaples and Aubin St. Vaast
the usual activities were carried on. Aubin St. Vaast
boasted an athletic ground containing in one area a
football field, five indoor baseball diamonds, a running
track, three quoiting pitches, five tennis courts, tug-of-
war ground, boxing and wrestling rings, jumping pit
and fields for lacrosse, cricket, badminton, and
mounted events.

One interesting feature staged was that of the Ca-
nadian Citizenship Campaign. Special speakers were
brought from Canada to address the troops on the
various phases of demobilization, repatriation, and
conditions prevailing at home. The service was
greatly appreciated by men who had been for so long
a period out of direct touch with Dominion affairs,
and many were able to decide their af ter-the-war vo-
cations and to settle business at home because of the
information given.

Another pleasing service was in the bringing to
France of two star Shakespearian companies which
rendered Shakespeare's magic art as many had never
seen it rendered before.

When the move was made to England, the **Y'' was
able to attach a canteen car, with a library and gram-
ophone, to each train en route to Havre. At every

RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 151

stop throiigliout the long journey of four days, hot
drinks and other refreshments were provided and
athletic equipment brought out to relieve the monot-
ony of the trip.

For the long wait in England, previous to embark-
ing for Canada, a huge programme of entertainment
was put on. The Leave Department was taken advan-
tage of as never before. In one month (March, 1919)
13,934 men were sent on tours of Great Britain by the
International Y.M.C.A. Hospitality League, whilst the
Beaver Hut alone sent 1,000 in the same period.

Almost from the beginning chaplains and Y.M.CA.
officers had made individual efforts to interest and in-
struct the men when off duty. Bible Study Classes
gave the idea of study classes in other subjects, and
so keenly were these taken up that a whole educational
field was seen to be open. Then again, the popular
lectures which were so important a feature of Y.M.C.A.
entertainment suggested popularized college lectures.

In 1917 Dr. H. M. Tory, president of the University
of Alberta, was sent overseas by the National Council
of Y.M.C.A. 's to investigate the situation and report
upon the possibilities for a plan of popular education
in England and France. Whilst Dr. Tory was back in
Canada, laying before the universities the scheme
which he had outlined, the study classes which were
carried on in the different areas were given official
recognition by the military authorities and a commit-
tee of Y.M.C.A. officers and chaplains, together with a
representative from Headquarters, was appointed.
Under this committee the educational work was car-
ried on by means of Khaki Colleges and Battalion
Schools in England and a series of Battalion Schools
in France. A Correspondence Department was also
maintained for soldiers living under circumstances
where local organizations were not practicable.

In France General Lipsett had undertaken the or-

152 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

ganization of educational work among the men, and
the University of Vimy Ridge ^ came into being.
Necessarily, the work done was occasional, but it had
the important effect of keeping alive interest in edu-
cational matters.

Later on an Advisory Council, representing the uni-
versities of Canada, was appointed, with Dr. Tory as
educational director, and the whole organization was
legally constituted by Order-in-Council of the Domin-
ion Government, and financial support was provided
by the Government and by the Y.M.C.A. In its 1918
campaign the National Council of Y.M.C.A. 's of Can-
ada raised $500,000 towards the support of the Khaki
University, and this sum was handed over to the Uni-
versity Board.

Casual reference has been made to the unselfish
labours of the lay voluntary workers, both men and
women, without whose constant, efficient, and ungrudg-
ing service the work of the Red Triangle could not
have been accomplished. To the women in par-
ticular a word of more than praise is due. Without
their assistance as waitresses in the Red Triangle
Clubs, the moderate charges that prevailed in these
institutions would not have been possible ; but beyond
the monetary value of their services was the whole-
some atmosphere they brought to these busy centres.
Whether enjoying a cup of coffee or a chat at the
** Mother's Corner," soldiers were brought into direct
contact with the uplifting influence of a gracious
womanhood from which they had been separated too
long.

It is impossible to enumerate even the outstanding
instances of busy business men who not only gave
unstintingly of their means, but also rendered long
and valuable personal service on committees of man-
agement. Such men formed not only the personnel of

1 See Vol. V, pp. 27-31.

EELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 153

the National Council at Toronto and other centres,
but also that of innumerable committees throughout
the land.

At the risk of appearing invidious, mention must be
made of three who served overseas: Lieut.-Colonel
Gerald W. Birks, Montreal; Mr. Abner Kingman,
Montreal; and Captain David Corbett, a Canadian
Scot from New York. These three men severed im-
portant business ties and went overseas to serve the
Canadian forces under the aegis of the Eed Triangle.
Colonel Birks, as General Supervisor, Mr. Kingman,
as Chairman of the Overseas Committee, and Captain
Corbett, as Business Manager, contributed, at their
own cost, a service to the Canadian Y.M.C.A., and
through the association to the soldiers, that no word
of acknowledgment can adequately express.

3. Knights of Columbus ** Catholic Army Huts"

This association — a war activity organized by the
Canadian Councils of the Knights of Columbus —
came into being as a result of representations made to
the Ottawa Council by Major the Rev. J. J. 0 'Gorman,
when invalided to Canada in the winter of 1916-17. It
set out (1) to provide chapels for Catholic soldiers
(i.e., to furnish or equip the military hutments ceded
by the Army, or to construct buildings when neces-
sary), and (2) to provide social and recreational
facilities for all troops, irrespective of creed. The
first funds, donated by the Ottawa Council, were sup-
plemented by drives, successfully organized in 1917
and 1918. To these drives all citizens of Canada were
asked to contribute, and their response showed that
they appreciated the clean-cut programme of the or-
ganization.

The gross expenditure overseas was £61,004, the
apportioning of which was as follows :

154 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

Equipment and maintenance of huts and tents
Recreational supplies to military huts
Religious supplies to military huts .
Cables and postage ....
Free stationery ....

Office, express, salaries, and transportation

£50,431
5,806
2,384

304
1,827

252

£61,004

Bramshott Camp, The first important activities of
the association in England were at this camp, where ^
chapel and adjacent recreation room had been built
by a British Catholic association for the benefit of Ca-
nadian troops in the latter part of the year 1916. In
the fall of 1917 this property was taken over by the
C.A.H. and the Recreation Hut continued its good serv-
ice with the valuable co-operation of the Catholic Wo-
men's League of England. These ladies deserve the
grateful thanks of the people of Canada for their ad-
mirable work in connection with the C.A.H., as also for
the welcome which was always afforded to Canadians in
their own hut near Westminster Cathedral. Through
their efficiency the Bramshott Hut, with its spacious
canteen, its billiard tables, and its general atmosphere
of homelike comfort, became increasingly popular
among the troops, and it is worthy of note that, when
H.M. the King of England visited the camp in 1918,
the refreshments for the Royal party were provided
by this hut at the request of Canadian Headquarters.
The buildings, enlarged and improved from time to
time, were used until demobilization closed the camp.

London Area, The incessant problem of accommo-
dation and recreation for troops on leave in London,
demanded the contribution of the C.A.H. to its solu-
tion. From the fall of 1917 a chaplain, whose ex-
penses were partly defrayed by the C.A.H., lived near
the C.W.L. hut at Westminster, and did his best to
bring Canadian soldiers into the radius of decent
quarters, and honest recreation. It was at first pro-
posed that the C.A.H. should enlarge the C.W.L. hut,

EELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 155

but this was found impracticable, and the directors
were eventually able to obtain possession of fine prem-
ises at No. 24 Grosvenor Place. This building, di-
vested of its superfluous furniture and works of art,
was adapted to its new purposes and opened to the
troops at the beginning of May, 1917. An electric
sign, bearing the inscription **K. of C. Catholic Army
Huts. All Sailors and Soldiers Welcome," and the
Maple Leaf sign, with its monogram of the Holy
Name, brought a full house at once. When H.E. Car-
dinal Bourne, assisted by Sir George Perley, Sir Ed-
ward Kemp, General Turner, and others, formally
opened the club on the 21st of May, it was already an
assured success. Within a few weeks a second man-
sion was rented at No. 31 Grosvenor Place. The
sleeping accommodation was then increased to 127
beds, and each house had spacious rooms for recrea-
tion. At No. 31 a continuous canteen of the highest
quality was maintained at a low tariff, and in this, as
in every C.A.H. institution, all possibility of profit
was excluded by order of the directors. The original
premises at No. 24 contained a private oratory for the
convenience of Catholic soldiers and a room for the
chaplain. Of all C.A.H. ventures this was naturally
the largest and most important. During the thirteen
months of its existence, it offered continuous welcome,
shelter, recreation, and food, not only to Canadian but
also to American and all Allied troops. The high
standard of its appointment met with the complete ap-
proval of all military authorities and also with the
deep appreciation of the troops. It closed its doors at
the end of June, 1919.

In the fall of 1918 the London directors decided, in
spite of uncertainties as to the future, to extend the
C.A.H. work to the Waterloo district, which was in
need of further accommodation. The large premises
known as St. George's Hall, near Southwark Cathe-
dral, were rented and adapted under great difficulties.

i

156 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

About Christmas, 1918, the new club was opened by
Sir Robert Borden, and its intensive career of useful-
ness from that date until the end of May, 1919, showed
that it met a real need.

Witley. During the long and tiresome formalities
which had to be gone through before the erection of a
C.A.H. establishment, the directors did their best to
help the existing military huts. A magnificent new
hut was, however, completed in time to render real
service during the demobilization period.

Seaford. The C.A.H. was able to give great help to
the original Catholic Soldiers Club managed by a local
priest. In the fall of 1918 a new and splendidly ap-
pointed hut was built in the South Camp and main-
tained the C.A.H. and C.W.L. standard until the end
of demobilization.

Bexhill and Cooden, Cadets from the neighbouring
school and wounded soldiers from Cooden Hospital
were well looked after in a club, which, at first locally
managed, was at length adopted by the C.A.H. In the
neighbouring hamlet of Cooden Beach a large tent was
provided in summer and subsequently replaced by a
hut which became a remarkable success.

Frensham Pond, At this segregation camp a mar-
quee was provided and subsequently replaced by a
C.A.H. hut which did service later at Rhyl.

Epsom, After a delay which was not imputable to
the C.A.H., this hospital was provided with a long-
needed chapel and recreation hut in 1918.

Kinmel Park, This huge demobilization camp re-
ceived its hut in March, 1919, only. Its short career
was marked with complete success.

Ripon, The troops sent from Bramshott for conve-
nience of demobilization found the C.W.L. at work,
and here again the C.A.H. renewed a partnership
which had always been successful.

Buxton, This centre, comprising the original dis-
charge depot and three hospitals, was served by the

V

RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 157

erection of a unique and comfortable ** down-town''
hut, whicli did excellent work right on to the winter
of 1919-20.

The record of the C.A.H. in France shows that
much good work was done during the latter part of the
war in spite of its lack of military establishment,
transport facilities, etc. The bulk of the work was
therefore conducted by the Catholic chaplains, com-
paratively few in numbers and already hard-worked.

At the Front A chapel tent was sent to the 22nd
Battalion in January, 1918, and did good work for that
notable unit. In February four more tents were
erected behind the lines in the Lens sector. In all,
eleven tents were thus despatched and used, though
one marquee sent to the 12th Brigade was never de-
livered.

Belgium and Germany. In the course of the move
towards Germany, the 11th Brigade were provided
with a C.A.H. club at Boitsford, and the 4th Brigade
Engineers with one at Nil St. Vincent. The 72nd Bat-
talion were provided with a Christmas dinner en
route. When the Canadian troops arrived in the
Rhineland the 22nd Battalion and the 2nd Brigade
had clubs near Bonn. To other units frequent sup-
plies of cigarettes, writing paper, sport material, and
devotional articles were sent.

Railway Troops. These scattered troops were pro-
vided at different times with four chapel tents and the
usual supplies.

Hospitals, Chapel tents were provided for the 1st
Canadian Casualty Clearing Station and the 2nd Cana-
dian Stationary Hospital. A chapel and reading-room
were provided at Le Treport and a chapel at Etaples.
After some difficulty a chapel tent was given to No. 3
Canadian General Hospital (McGill). The hut built
for No. 8 General Hospital was delayed by transpor-
tation difficulties and finally used at Le Havre. The
hut provided at No. 6 Canadian General Hospital

158 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

(Laval), at Joinville, was inspected by General Tur-
ner, who, in December, 1918, declared it to be *Hlie
most complete hut" he had seen.

At the Base, In Etaples the Oratory Hut, an Eng-
lish Catholic concern, was taken over by the C.A.H.
and free drinks provided to over two thousand men
each day.

The biggest and best achievement of the C.A.H.
overseas was attained at Le Havre in January, 1919.
Here the main stream of demobilization was met by
two huts, one outside the camp and one within. In the
first hut, during February, 1919, the daily average of
free hospitality given was fifty gallons of coffee and
cocoa, fifty boxes of biscuits, and two thousand ciga-
rettes. When the second hut got into operation more
than double quantities were served. By May 11th it
was calculated that 120,000 bowls of tea, coffee, and
cocoa, 8,000 pounds of biscuits, 570,000 cigarettes and
6,000 boxes of matches had been disposed of free of
charge to Canadian troops leaving France, as a token
of appreciation from the people of Canada through
the medium of the C.A.H.

In addition to the work done in England, France,
Belgium, and Germany, the activities of the C.A.H.
extended to far Siberia, where the Canadian Expedi-
tionary Force was accompanied by the K. of C. Secre-
tary, who, from headquarters at Gournostia, distrib-
uted a million cigarettes and a hundred thousand
packages of gum. Moreover, plentiful supplies of
** comforts" were placed on transports returning from
England and distributed under the supervision of
commanding officers.

The work of the association was carried on with-
out military establishment. Through the courtesy of
Canadian Headquarters the Overseas Secretary-
Treasurer had a convenient centre at Argyll House,
within easy reach of the Chaplain Service. The office
files show that no reasonable request was ever re-

EELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 159

fused and that no line of denominationalism was ever
drawn. This intensive work was carried on by a staif
of four, and it is especially worthy of note that the
cost of administration to the Canadian public for the
whole period of activity was $1,300.

Demobilisation. Coincident with the beginning of
preparations for the demobilization of the Canadian
Expeditionary Force, the need of caring for returned
men, during and after the period of their discharge
from the Service in Canada, became apparent, and the
necessary steps were immediately taken to cope with
the situation. The organization's funds at this time
consisted of the balance of the original $1,100,000
raised for the work, after the deduction of expendi-
tures overseas.

Lieut.-Colonel Clarence F. Smith, of Montreal,
was appointed Comptroller of the Knights of Colum-
bus Catholic Army Huts, the military authorities were
consulted, and a chain of huts thrown open right
across the Dominion, covering the dispersal areas
selected by the Department of Militia and Defence.
Local committees were appointed to take charge of
the work in the various centres, and in an incredibly
short space of time the machinery of the organization
was ready for the reception of the home-coming
troops.

The C.A.H. in Canada adopted as its chosen motto
the words ** Everything for the Returned Man,'' and
set out to do the maximum amount of good for all
soldiers and sailors, regardless of colour, race, or
creed.

In the Huts. In all the Catholic Army Huts, recrea-
tion and writing-rooms were placed at the disposal of
the men, and free beds and meals provided for them
for the first few days following their discharge. After
this, they were accommodated at greatly reduced
rates, cases of genuine need being invariably looked
after gratis.

160 CANADA IN THE GEEAT WOELD WAE

The element of personal interest was brought into
the work in every way possible, both through the serv-
ices of the secretaries and their staffs, and through
the thousands of volunteer workers who devoted them-
selves to the interests of the demobilized men through-
out the country. The efficient serving of meals and
the work of many of the necessary committees in con-
nection with the huts, would have been impossible
without the army of women who formed themselves
into ladies ' auxiliaries in the various centres and effec-
tually handled many branches of the work.

Assistance and advice in military and civilian mat-
ters were given free of charge to all comers at the
various inquiry counters. Correspondence was con-
ducted for the men with the various naval and mili-
tary offices and government departments, and matters
of gratuity, land settlement, vocational training, pen-
sions, and so forth looked after for them. The great
question of employment was also dealt with to a lim-
ited degree.

An idea of the extent of the work done may be
gathered from the official records, which show that
from the time of their opening until March 21st, 1920,
the Catholic Army Huts in Canada provided 225,934
beds and 926,857 meals for returned men; 57,260 beds
and 246,481 meals being given free of charge.

Reception Committee, Beyond the regular work of
the huts in providing food, shelter, and comfort for
all comers, the returning soldiers were looked after at
all the landing ports and important railroad stopping-
places, en route to their final destinations. Eeception
committees under the administration of the various
huts served all these points and kept the men well sup-
plied with all kinds of recreational materials and com-
forts and refreshments, and also saw to the free des-
patching of their letters and telegrams, a service that
was much appreciated by the soldiers.

Hospital Work. The care of those who would other-

EELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 161

wise have been unable to avail themselves of the privi-
leges and services of the huts, was always an important
feature of the C.A.H. work, and the last of its activi-
ties to be suspended. Hospital committees were
formed in connection with every hut, for the express
purpose of caring for every military and naval *^case'*
in the locality. In places removed from the larger
centres, members of the Knights of Columbus and
other energetic volunteers took charge of the work and
attended to the distribution of comforts and recrea-
tional supplies provided by the Catholic Army Huts.
The providing of entertainments for the sick and
wounded also came under the administration of the
hospital committees, and included all kinds of amuse-
ments, from motion pictures to concert parties. Spe-
cial donations were also made to hospitals in the
shape of gramophones, stereopticon sets, motion pic-
ture machines, games of all kinds, and, in cases where
they could be put to good use, canoes, boats, and
motor-launches were also placed at the disposal of the
military patients.

Not the least appreciated of the services of the
hospital committees was the regular visiting of the
hospitals and other institutions, which was the means
of not only cheering the men up generally, but of set-
tling their various difficulties for them, cases being
taken up by the visitors and handled direct by them
where possible, or referred to the K. of C. organiza-
tion for settlement.

Probably one of the most historic shipments of
presents on record was made by the Knights of Co-
lumbus at Christmas, 1919, when ten thousand individ-
ual gift packages were shipped from Montreal, for
distribution by C.A.H. workers and members of the
Knights of Columbus, to patients in all the military
and D.S.C.R. hospitals in the country, in accordance
with the official lists of these institutions and their
inmates, supplied by the authorities.

162 CANADA IN THE GEEAT WORLD WAR

The work of the hospital committees, thus briefly
summarized, was considered so important that it was
continued after the closing of the other C.A.H. activi-
ties in the spring of 1920.

Reconstruction and Employment Service. In the
fall of 1919, when demobilization was practically
ended, it was seen that while certain of the huts could
be dispensed with, there was much good work still to
be done along other lines, towards the satisfactory re-
establishment of the returned men, more particularly
in aiding them through inquiry offices. The various
councils of the Knights of Columbus were called on
for their co-operation, and the Knights of Columbus
Reconstruction and Employment Service came into be-
ing. This new branch of the work called for the fur-
ther development of the inquiry offices in the huts
in the larger centres, and for the establishment of new
offices, often in the council building of the Knights of
Columbus in the smaller places. In this manner
nearly one hundred branches were put into operation
in the course of a few months.

The work done, outside of the regular office activi-
ties, consisted in looking after the general welfare of
returned men in the various districts, in all lines, in-
cluding entertainment and hospital work. By means
of the new offices, the work was spread to localities
formerly more or less out of reach of the Huts' activi-
ties, and many men helped who might otherwise have
been unable to gain any benefit from the work of the
organization. The records show that up to the month
of March, 1920, 4,500 men were placed in positions,
and over 3,300 cases taken up in writing for discharged
soldiers and sailors by the Reconstruction and Em-
ployment Service.

Volunteer enterprise was again largely responsible
for the success of this branch of the work; for though
paid secretaries were installed at various points,
many other places were cared for by volunteers, and

BRIG.-GEN. H. C. BICKFORD, C.M.G.
MAJ.-GEN. R. G. E. LECKIE, C.M.G. BRIG.-GEN. J. F. L. EMBURY, C.M.G.

CANADIAN GENERALS

RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 163

in all cases the work was superintended by Returned
Soldiers' Committees, formed in the various councils
of the Knights of Columbus throughout Canada, whose
members gave their time and energies to the work
without remuneration.

Throughout the spring and summer of 1919, eight-
een huts were kept in operation by the C.A.H. in Can-
ada, all the way from Charlottetown, P.E.L, to Vic-
toria, B.C., looking after the welfare of the returned
men.

Charlottetown, P.E.I. Every detachment of soldiers
returning to Prince Edward Island was met on the
mainland by representatives of the Knights of Colum-
bus, and looked after until demobilized. A hut opened
on Dorchester Street rapidly became a landmark for
returned Prince Edward Islanders, and was the hub
of Catholic Army Huts' activities.

Halifax, N. S. This was one of the first points at
which the returning troops got in touch with the K. of
C. Catholic Army Huts. The work was started by the
local Knights of Columbus, as soon as the numbers of
returning troops were sufficient to warrant organized
receptions, and from the very start of demobilization
all troop-ships were met by committees of Halifax
citizens and war-activity organizations, which in-
cluded many C.A.H. workers in their ranks. In this
way it is calculated that well over 200,000 soldiers and
their dependents were cared for. More than 15,000
men availed themselves of the hut opened for them on
Barrington Street, while a Hospital Comforts Bureau
looked after the various local hospitals.

St. John, N.B. Cliff Street Hut was a busy spot
during all the demobilization period, and the reception
committees on the wharves were worked to capacity,
day and night, till the closing of the military activity
of the port in May, 1919.

Quebec, Que. The work of the C.A.H. and the K. of
C. in the ancient capital of Canada was carried on

164 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

througli varioufl citizen organizations for the welfare
of the returned men. Generous donations were made
by the Catholic Army Huts to the various institutions,
and many volunteer workers provided. The council
and hall of the local council of the Knights of Colum-
bus were also placed at the disposal of returned men
and of American sailors visiting the port, and a num-
ber of highly successful entertainments given.

Montreal, Que, Two huts were put into operation
here, one on Phillips Square, in the heart of the up-
town district, and the other at 354 Sherbrooke Street,
East, in the premises of Lafontaine Council K. of C.
The Phillips Square Hut was one of the last huts to
be closed down at the suspension of the organization's
activities. It did sterling service, both during the
period of demobilization, and, later, during the winter
of 1919-20. In addition to the regular work of the hut,
its spacious rooms were the scene of many pleasant
evening entertainments for returned men. The hos-
pitals, both in the city and at St. Anne de Bellevue
and St. Agathe, came under the care of the Montreal
Hospital Committee of the Knights of Columbus Cath-
olic Army Huts.

The hut on Sherbrooke Street, East, installed to
serve as an overflow from the bigger hut during the
busy days of demobilization, rapidly became popular
with returned men in the eastern section of the city,
and eventually became the headquarters of the French-
Canadian branch of the local Great War Veterans
Association.

Montreal was also the veritable headquarters of the
C.A.H. work throughout Canada, the Comptroller's
office being located in the Drummond Building,
throughout the period of the association's activities.

Ottawa, Ont. By means of a hut located in a very
central position, Ottawa took an active part in the
C.A.H. activities, both in the regular work of the hos-
tel and in caring for the returned men generally

EELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 165

through the various committees appointed to take
charge of the different branches of the work.

Kingston, Ont. A permanent garrison and also one
of the chosen dispersal areas on the demobilization
programme of the Canadian Expeditionary Force,
Kingston found plenty of returned men and Service
men ready to avail themselves of the hut established
at 338 King Street. This hostel was kept open until
the very end of the K. of C. activities, and had a fine
record of work, both for itself and its various commit-
tees.

Toronto, Ont, The Queen City, with a first-class
hut at the corner of King and John Streets, in prem-
ises formerly occupied by the Arlington Hotel, was
perhaps the busiest point on the plan of the K. of C.
Catholic Army Huts' work. The building was admi-
rably suited to club work, and hundreds of thousands
of returned men patronized the hostel, which was one
of the finest in the country.

Outings for the sick and wounded were a feature of
the activities, and the excursions to Hanlan's Point
and Scarborough Beach, and trips on the lake and to
various points of interest, will go down in the post-
war history of the city. Thousands of *' casualties''
were entertained in this way, through the energies
of the Hospital Committee and those who devoted
their time, and in many cases their automobiles, to the
success of the work.

The attendance at the hut might have been even
larger had it not been for the fact that thousands of
troops demobilized at the Exhibition Grounds spent
only a few hours in Toronto whilst waiting for train
connections. Even under the actual circumstances the
Toronto Hut held the attendance record for Canada.

Hamilton, Ont, Gould's Hall was the scene of the
work of the Catholic Army Huts in Hamilton. The
hut, with its staff composed entirely of returned men,
and its spacious dormitories and cafeteria, rapidly be-

166 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

came the hub of the city's post-war activities, and the
headquarters of the local Great War Veterans Asso-
ciation, which fact in itself speaks volumes for the
institution's popularity with the returned men of the
vicinity.

London, Ont. In London, Ont., a spacious hut on
Richmond Street, with committees to look after the
various branches of the activities, was the centre of
the K. of C. work. This hut was kept open until the
very end of the C.A.H. work in the spring of 1920,
and accommodated thousands of veterans during its
career.

Winnipeg, Man. A hundred-bed hut was thrown
open for returned men in Winnipeg, in the Forrester
Block. In addition to the regular activities, this hos-
tel was responsible for the finding of over a thousand
civilian positions for ex-soldiers.

Brandon, Man. Shelter and accommodation for re-
turned men of the army and navy were provided at
the hostel opened by the C.A.H. in the premises for-
merly occupied by the Imperial Hotel. Here, as at
other points, committees were placed in charge of the
various departments, and all lines of the K. of C.
programme followed up.

Saskatoon, Sask. A soldiers' home, in every sense
of the word, was conducted by the K. of C. at the
corner of Third Avenue and Twentieth Street. The
well-furnished hut, with its first-class accommodation,
rapidly made its presence felt in the community, and
was the home of most of the veterans of the neigh-
bourhood, and the centre of many returned soldiers'
activities.

Province of Alberta. The situation in the Province
of Alberta at the commencement of the Catholic Army
Huts' activities in Canada was found to be different
to that in other localities, and, after a thorough inves-
tigation, it was decided not to establish huts, but to
open offices for the assistance of the returned men.

RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 167

Secretaries were accordingly installed in Calgary,
Lethbridge, Edmonton, and Medicine Hat, and the
work carried on through their offices, all branches of
the work being developed, and hospital, employment,
and repatriation work generally looked after. Thus,
though by different means, the end of the C.A.H. was
accomplished, and the slogan of the association,
** Everything for the Returned Man," carried into
effect in the Prairie Province.

RevelstoJce, B,C, A small hut was established here,
when Revelstoke was chosen as a demobilization point.
The changes in the plans of the military authorities,
however, called for the dispersal of men from this
section at points further east. After doing good work
among such returned men as needed its services the
hostel was closed down in the fall of 1919.

Vancouver, B.C. This important demobilization
point was served through a spacious hut in the Riggs-
Selman Building. While the numerous Government
offices in the city were well able to cope with the work
of aiding the returned man in his post-demobilization
difficulties, the hut was the home of thousands of
veterans, and the assistance of the secretary and his
staff appreciated by all who visited it.

Victoria, B.C, The Ritz Hotel, taken over by the
C.A.H. at the outset of their work, became after a
few necessary changes one of the best and most popu-
lar returned men's institutions in the Dominion. The
accommodation was excellent, and every comfort pro-
vided. Hospital service, information and assistance
work, and the various other branches of the K. of C.
programme were developed, and, until the closing of
the hut in common with the general cessation of activ-
ities in the spring of 1920, the Victoria Hut proved it-
self one of the most used and hard-worked branches
of the work in Canada, and a real benefit to returned
soldiers and sailors on the Pacific Coast.

168 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

While the Catholic Army Huts cannot and do not
claim the honour of early arrival in Europe, they do
claim, in all sincerity, to have done their very best, in
the time and with the means placed at their disposal
by Canadian generosity, to lighten the lot of the rank
and file, to encourage and console, to feed and recreate,
and to maintain the dignity of the men who, through-
out the work, proved themselves loyal coadjutors and
grateful friends.

4. The Canadian Salvation Army

The Canadian Salvation Army played an important
part in the Great World War; but as its work over-
seas was done largely in conjunction with the British
Salvation Army, it is impossible to give a detailed
account of its operations. It kept few records and
was more intent on service than on reporting its activ-
ities.

Immediately the war broke out the Salvation
Army of Great Britain began its labours in the war-
smitten areas. It so happened that Brigadier Mary
Murray, daughter of Major-General Murray of the
Imperial Army, was in Brussels on the eventful Au-
gust 4th, 1914. This officer had had valuable expe-
rience during the South African War. She had been
decorated for her services in that war and was to be
awarded the coveted Mons Medal for her work in the
Great World War. She at once rushed to the help of
the Belgian refugees, driven from their homes by the
ruthless Hun. The small staff at her command was
totally inadequate to cope with the situation, and she
sent out an S.O.S. for more helpers. Her cry reached
Canada and the Salvation Army there responded with
the zeal it ever displays when suffering is to be re-
lieved.

From small beginnings there sprang up a tremen-
dous Salvation Army organization of huts at the

EELIOIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 169

front, canteens at the base, and hostels in France and
England, which accommodated tens of thousands of
men. It was estimated towards the close of hostilities
that about three hundred thousand soldiers and sail-
ors attended Salvation Army institutions of one kind
or another daily. About two hundred huts were used
for the comfort of the men and also for religious
meetings in the camps in England and France. It is
said that the Mary Booth Hut at Etaples, named after
the General's daughter, during four years of war had
pass through it 6,500,000 men from different parts of
the Empire. On the Vimy sector one Salvation Army
Hut supplied an average of four thousand eggs daily.
On another part of the front, after a major engage-
ment, one Salvation Army clearing station, hastily
equipped, fed and refreshed thirteen hundred men on
their way from the fight. The Army had also forty
Rest Rooms, where papers, magazines, writing paper,
etc., were supplied. It maintained ninety-six hostels
for the use of the soldiers and sailors close to the
large stations or landing-places, having accommoda-
tion of 5,317 beds. Long before the war ended forty-
nine Salvation Army motor ambulances, manned by
Salvationists, had conveyed over one hundred thou-
sand wounded soldiers from the battle-field. In this
gigantic scheme of military social service over twelve
hundred officers and uniformed workers were engaged,
while about forty thousand Salvationists took part in
the war in one way or another.

In all this work the Canadian Salvation Army
played its part. The canteens managed by it were
popular institutions, and its huts, particularly a fa-
mous one at Etaples, were always crowded with sol-
diers. It preached effectively the ** Gospel of the
Frying-pan" and refreshed thousands of war-weary
men, bracing them spiritually, mentally, and physi-
cally for their trying tasks.

The Salvation Army chaplains were ideal padres.

170 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

They laboured incessantly and with excellent judg-
ment for the men of the units to which they were at-
tached, and it was not unusual to see a Salvationist
padre marching along with the men, burdened with
cooking equipment. Needless to say, their patient
self-sacrifice was greatly appreciated. One of the most
indefatigable of the padres was Chaplain-Captain
Penfold, who endeared himself to thousands of the
boys by his work on their behalf. Others worthy of
special mention were Captains Steele and Robinson,
among the first chaplains to sail from Canada. These
pushed their way right up to the fighting line and min-
istered to the soldiers under fire, fearlessly risking
their lives. Robinson had fighting blood in his veins
and when man shortage threatened the cause of the
Allies he resigned his chaplaincy and became a com-
batant. He won the Military Cross for valour on the
battle-field and was killed at the Battle of the Somme
in 1916. Captain Steele ** carried on" in looking after
the creature comforts of the men and went through a
long and strenuous experience right up on the firing
line. Writing to Commissioner Richards, of Toronto,
immediately after the Battle of Passchendaele, he
said, in part:

^^The men going to and coming from the trenches
were served at our coffee stalls, and it was indeed in-
teresting to see these men, especially those returning
from the line, so caked with mud that it was almost
impossible to identify them as human beings, standing
in long lines waiting their turn to receive a mug of
steaming hot coffee. Frequently German prisoners
going down, seeing our men drinking at the coffee
stalls, would make their way over and, of course, re-
ceive their share. It speaks well for the spirit of our
men that, after just having fought the Germans, they
were the first to hand over cigarettes and coffee.
After careful calculation it was estimated that fully
ten thousand soldiers were served every twenty-four

EELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 171

hours and not less than twelve hundred gallons of hot
drinks issued every day."

During his three and a half years of service Chap-
lain-Captain Steele was through most of the heavy
fighting and was gassed and wounded.

In Canada the Salvation Army was extremely ac-
tive. When the first appeal for help was made, one
of the things most urgently needed was motor am-
bulances. Canada responded with a promise of six,
and these were dedicated in an immense Salvation
Army meeting in Massey Hall, Toronto.

As battalion after battalion was raised, there was
soon a scarcity of bandsmen. Eegimental bands were
few in number, but the Salvation Army was to do
much to meet the situation. In all about seven hun-
dred Salvationist bandsmen enlisted in Eastern Can-
ada alone. One of these. Bandsman Christmas, of the
Kingston Salvation Army Band, had the distinction
of being the first bandsman to cross the Rhine, when
he led his band over the bridge at Coblenz. But mem-
bers of the Canadian Salvation Army were in nearly
every Canadian battalion and in not a few of the Im-
perial regiments. Many of them had enviable military
records, one Canadian Salvationist winning the V.C,
while others were decorated with the M.C. and other
marks of honour for valour and service.

If the work in France and Belgium was extensive
and important, that done by the Army in the various
camps in England and the hostels in London was no
less 'so. Chaplain-Captains McGillivray and Walton
rendered splendid service to the Canadians in some of
the camps and also in London. The pitfalls and
sources of temptation were legion, as we know from
information that reached this side of the Atlantic
from time to time, and the work done by the chaplains
in this connection is beyond estimation.

As has been stated, it is difficult to give statistics of
the work done by the Canadian Salvation Army, as,

172 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

in addition to the activities of the chaplains and others
sent from Canada, the Canadian Headquarters fi-
nanced work done by British officers on behalf of Ca-
nadian troops. Also when the British Government
commandeered many of the largest hotels in London,
and put them under the direction of the Salvation
Army for the care of troops on leave, one of these was
reserved for Canadian troops and financed by the Ca-
nadian Headquarters. Thousands of Canadian sol-
diers, therefore, found restful and congenial surround-
ings in the heart of the world's metropolis provided
by Canadian money. Only those who know how pre-
cious those days of leave were, and their relation to the
question of morals, can realize what this accommoda-
tion meant. Of even greater importance than this,
perhaps, was the protection afforded by the moral
atmosphere of these institutions. Then there was the
large number of wounded Canadians in the London
area, and these had to have attention. One of the
special services our chaplains rendered was to take
the T.B. cases once a week for a motor trip, or some
other form of outing. The chaplains, moreover, dis-
tributed thousands upon thousands of dollars' worth
of comforts among the Canadian troops, especially the
wounded and convalescing.

The work that was being done at home was scarcely
less important than that done overseas. A splendid
service was rendered by the Army's Home League
branches throughout the Dominion. Tens of thou-
sands of articles, such as socks, underwear, Christmas
parcels, and the like, were forwarded through Mrs.
Commissioner Richards to our chaplains overseas.
Chaplain-Captain Steele in one of his letters wrote :

**I cannot express my appreciation of what the Ca-
nadian Home Leagues have done in the way of pro-
viding comforts. The parcels that were sent to me
were most welcome. The socks were a positive bless-
ing to the men, especially during the rainy weather.

EELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 173

when they would get their boots soaked through with
the wet mud. I arranged for the socks to be distrib-
uted from the most forward coffee stall for the use of
the men in the front line. To let them know that socks
had arrived I put up a big sign worded as follows:
* Canadians, if you need socks, ask for them. Donated
by Salvation Army Home League.'

*^ Sixty thousand sheets of note-paper and twenty-
five thousand envelopes bearing the impress of the
Salvation Army were also distributed each month
from the canteens."

Another feature of the work in Canada was that of
visiting the homes where the news had come that a
loved one had made the supreme sacrifice. The visit
of a sympathetic woman at such a time was much
appreciated by those who had received the sad tidings
from the front.

It was early realized that, after men had been kept
under discipline for one, two, or three years, living
in an atmosphere of excitement, certain safeguards
and helps would be necessary in the steadying-down
process leading to repatriation. So when the troops
began to return in great numbers the Army had its
staff established at the ports of landing, and arrange-
ments were made for providing refreshments as soon
as the men came ashore. A cardboard box containing
candy, fruit, the day's newspaper, a copy of the *^War
Cry," etc., was handed to each man. Unwittingly the
Army had hit upon a great advertising scheme, for
the empty boxes were seen beside the railway tracks
from the seaboard to the prairie reaches of the West.

Another need soon became apparent. The returned
men, especially the unmarried or those away from
home, could not content themselves in an atmosphere
altogether foreign to that in which they had lived so
long. They wanted to associate with their kind, and
this was realized by the Army, with the result that the
Commissioner decided to establish a series of hostels.

174 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

Within a short time there was a chain of these institu-
tions between the two great seaboards of the Domin-
ion.

The Toronto Hostel had its accommodation taxed to
the utmost, and thousands of men all over Canada re-
member with warm gratitude the cheerful service ren-
dered in connection with this institution. Invariably
the men wanted to pay, and when they were told that
there was no charge for the first twenty-four hours
they felt that there were grateful hearts — not con-
fined to the Army alone — who appreciated the mag-
nificent part they had played in protecting the rights
and freedom of our civilization.

Not only on his return to Canada was the soldier
provided with free meals or bed, but, — as unfortu-
nately has happened to hundreds of discharged sol-
diers,— should he through sickness, lack of employ-
ment, and various causes be **up against it," he was
taken care of until some arrangement had been ef-
fected whereby he could get on his feet again. In this
the Army acknowledges the splendid spirit evinced by
Government and military officials, who always mani-
fested a desire to know where there was need, and to
assist in meeting it.

The foresight looking to the need of the returned
soldier by different organizations was remarkable.
But in the great task involved in this, until the close
of the war no provision had been made for the mar-
ried soldier when he and his dependents were sud-
denly coming back in great numbers. Within fifteen
minutes of the arrival at Toronto of a train from New
York with about five hundred women and children
aboard one Sunday afternoon, a military officer rushed
into the hostel almost breathless, asking what could
be done to provide accommodation. The Army's mili-
tary secretary — Major Southall — happened to be
there at the time. When the train arrived a whole
brigade wearing the well-known bonnets and caps with

RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 175

red bands were carrying babies and baggage, getting
refreshments, and so on. After a few similar expe-
riences a meeting was called by tbe mayor at the City
Hall, and other organizations began to assume a share
in the greater responsibility that increasing and more
frequent arrivals entailed. The Rotary Club, espe-
cially, should be mentioned in this connection, and
also the Patriotic Fund organization.

Mrs. Colonel McMillan, wife of the Chief Secretary,
developed a very fine organization to handle this
work, and with tireless energy, in all kinds of weather
and at all hours, carried on a work that has received
the highest commendation from municipal and mili-
tary sources.

There quickly developed the need for organized
social service work among soldiers' families. Four
district visitors were appointed by the Commissioner
to visit the homes of soldiers. Soon difficulties of all
kinds were met with, and it required trained and ex-
perienced women to give wise and sympathetic counsel
in the hundreds of cases which had to be dealt with.
The far-reaching influence of this work, which kept
together many homes that otherwise would have been
totally wrecked, cannot be estimated.

The Army continues to ** carry on" in its great
Military Social Service work on the lines mentioned,
and there is no question that its beneficent service in
its many-sided operations will be an important factor
in solving the social problems that will confront us
until *^ repatriation" is fully accomplished.

CHAPTER V
CANADIAN WOMEN IN THE GREAT WAR

1. Genebal Activities

WHILE it is true that, in the strictest military
sense, Canada was unprepared for war when
Germany struck, something else was equally
true. That element which is worth all the technical
accoutrements of war put together, that without which
even the finest plans come to naught, was fully alive
and ready for action. Patriotism was not slumbering.
In those first days of August, 1914, many men de-
clared that the contest would be a brief one. While
Canadian women hoped the prophecy a true one, they
knew that their part began at once. Even the briefest
war summonses women to the colours, and their share
of war's indemnity is always collected unfailingly and
without discount, whether the issue is peace with vic-
tory or defeat with loss of national prestige. Theo-
retically, women are unfitted for war; in actual prac-
tice they are the real supporters and approvers of
war. It could never be waged were it not mothered
by women.

True to the traditions of their sex and true to their
Inheritance as daughters of the British Empire, Cana-
dian women reported for instant service. Before
their men had started for camp, the women were busy
making comforts for the soldiers. That line of work
was never abandoned during over four years of war-
fare and it grew to amazing proportions. In a short
time it became an accepted fact that knitting was al-
176

CANADIAN WOMEN IN TpE GREAT WAR 177

lowable in church. Knitting was a sedative for the
heartache and nerve-racking anxiety that could not
endure inaction. But the days soon came when those
who could not stand the strain of constant knitting
were offered countless lines of service. Each new
outrage by the Hun, each new disaster, caused the
armour to be tightened with a stubbornness that
boded ill for the enemy. The natural executive abil-
ity of Canada's women asserted itself and their men
will never know the extent of their debt to the women
at home who laboured tirelessly and to fine purpose
every day and all day and half the night.

How they managed to keep their home fires burning
clear and bright and to keep every boat that crossed
to England and France loaded with the things so
urgently needed, not even the women themselves can
understand. But they did it. They made heroic
sacrifices of time and money ; they worked to the point
of physical exhaustion; they made willing surrender
of comforts, all that Canada 's cause and the cause of
the civilized world should triumph. Supremest of all
was the giving up of their first-born, their best be-
loved, the ones who had been counted on to make Can-
ada a name of which to be eternally proud. What
they planned in peaceful days came to pass in fullest
measure, but it was at Ypres, Vimy Ridge, Passchen-
daele, Arras, Cambrai, and Mons that undying glory
was won for those brave women who volunteered in
August, 1914.

Perhaps Canadian women have a genius for system-
atizing their work; perhaps it is a talent that belongs
in an unusual degree to capable women the world
over. However that may be, the first tasks were re-
duced to system and intended results were evolved in
orderly fashion. As each new service presented it-
self it was analyzed and systematized into perfect
working shape. For the majority of women this
whole-hearted acceptance of war's burden meant a

178 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

different kind of work for six days out of seven or the
same kind of work with different groups. Club women
did a wise thing in those days. They attended their
clubs whenever possible because of the needed relaxa-
tion, but club work was in the background of life.
The members, for the most part, destroyed the iden-
tity of the club as knitters and Red Cross workers
and patriotic club visitors, because these activities
were carried on in church and neighbourhood groups
or in central work-rooms. This explains why promi-
nent clubs are not listed among the doers of war work.
There were tens of thousands of women in Canada,
buried in obscure places, on lonely farms, isolated
from the enthusiasm and encouragement that come
from numbers, who, nevertheless, *^ carried on'' val-
iantly and were no mean factors in securing that amaz-
ing total of comforts and Red Cross supplies and,
later, in the greater production which was an absolute
necessity if the Allies were to be fed. There are any
number of such women who can show a record of hun-
dreds of pairs of socks which they knitted with their
own hands. Their work was sent overseas directly
and acknowledged by an illuminated card when the
total reached one hundred or more pairs. Thousands
of others sent their work to large centres in Canada,
from which tremendous shipments were made over-
seas. In their eagerness to serve, these various
workers neglected to keep a record of their output.
That is one of the reasons why the work which Cana-
dian women did in war time can never be reckoned.
But a still greater reason is that no one has ever yet
found a method of computing whole-souled devotion
and reducing it to figures.

Keeping in mind the fact that devotion cannot
be reduced to mathematical expression, it is still com-
paratively easy to give an idea of what Canadian
women did in England during the trying years of the
war. What would the home folks have done without the

CANADIAN WOMEN IN THE GREAT WAR 179

Information Bureau established by the Red Cross in
London? The idea was clearly worked out in the
mind of its originator, Lady Drummond, before she
left Montreal for England in the early days of the
war. The perfection of her planning is shown by the
fact that the bureau opened in London the day after
the 1st Canadian Contingent landed in France. The
wonderful vision and sympathetic understanding
which suggested the plan is best realized by those who
received the infinite comfort that is always afforded
by the knowledge that everything possible is being
done to share and lighten one's personal sorrow.
When the Atlantic divides one from the place where
one longs to be, it is easy to see what a blessed proxy
the bureau was for Canadian women whose men were
exposed to the happenings of war. A full account of
the workings and staffing of the bureau has already
been given in this series.^

Lady Drummond was identified with other highly
important measures for helping Canadians in London.
She came into personal touch with Canadian soldiers
and their families, securing employment, when that
was necessary, and assisting those in trouble through
illness or death. She was the means of making the
period of leave a happy time to Canadians, through
the hospitality offered by the King George and Queen
Mary Maple Leaf Club, of which she was the founder
and president. In time this club came to occupy
fourteen commodious buildings and two large huts.
The Canadian I.O.D.E. furnished funds for equipping
these club buildings.

Those Canadians who happened to be living in Eng-
land when war was declared, organized themselves
into a Canadian War Contingent Association, with
the idea of looking after their countrymen who ar-
rived for military service. It was due to them that
the Queen's Canadian Military Hospital was estab-

1 See Vol: II, Chapter X.

180 CANADA IN THE GEEAT WORLD WAR

lished in Beachborough Park, Shomcliffe. The Free-
masons of Canada co-operated in every way with the
association.

A Ladies' Committee was formed at once, with
Lady Perley as convener and Lady MacLaren Brown
as honorary secretary. Money for the thousands of
comforts sent to the trenches, as well as for the gar-
ments and linen needed in the hospital, was subscribed
in Canada, and from first to last the hospital was
looked after by the Ladies' Committee. In the same
way they attended to the forty odd hospitals estab-
lished in other places by the C.W.A. In addition,
there were clubs, hostels, and other agencies for the
comfort of soldiers. Relief work for the Allies was
also carried on.

Canada's Field Comforts Commission began work
in Canada, but soon transferred its activities to Eng-
land, two Canadian women meeting the First Contin-
gent on its arrival at Salisbury Plain and taking
charge of the distribution of comforts. Later their
base was moved to Shorncliife. Captain Mary Plum-
mer was in charge of this work, with Lieutenant Joan
Arnoldi as second officer. Devotion to duty and effi-
ciency in its discharge caused both to be mentioned
in despatches. Associated with them in work were
Miss Leonore McMeares, Miss M. I. Finn, Miss M. R.
Gordon, and Miss S. S. Spencer. These ladies were
all commissioned and gave their services voluntarily.
At least two hundred other women were identified
with the department as voluntary workers at various
times during the war.

Two Ottawa ladies, Miss Winnifred Lewis and Mrs.
Sandford Fleming, opened a convalescent home in
England for Canadian soldiers in June, 1915. A
second home becoming necessary, Miss Lewis raised
the funds required and secured Clarence House, Roe-
hampton. The hospital confined itself to amputation
cases as long as these were treated in England ; after

CANADIAN WOMEN IN THE GREAT WAR 181

that the greater part of the work was the treatment
of heart and lung cases. From the first, Miss Lewis
was honorary commandant. Qualified Nursing Sis-
ters and several V.A.D.'s from Canada composed the
staff assisting the medical officer.

As more and more men were called to the trenches,
opportunities for unusual lines of service opened up
for women. Mrs. W. D. Ferris, B.A., of Edmonton,
trained inspectors in bookkeeping at the Westminster
Technical Institute in London. This was necessary-
owing to the taking over of regimental canteen work
by women. Mrs. Ferris 's next task was as area
superintendent over a district which involved the
supervision of two hundred and twenty-five canteens.
Later, as superintendent of the Women's Corps, she
organized the work of the N.A.C.B. in Ireland, estab-
lishing schools for the instruction of workers in Irish
canteens.

A striking and very necessary form of war work
was the introduction of the idea of Women's Insti-
tutes in England. It was the grafting on to English
village life of an entirely new feature. Credit for
this belongs to Mrs. A. T. Watt, M.A., M.B.E., of
Victoria, B.C. From her long and effective service
in the cause of Women's Institutes in Canada in
peaceful years, Mrs. Watt was eminently fitted to be
the teacher of that idea in England at a time when
contentment with village and farm life meant the
salvation of Great Britain as far as home production
was a factor. Luckily, Mrs. Watt was in England
when war was declared and, luckily, also, she grasped
at once the importance of greater production. After
a year of more or less discouragement in attempting
to rouse the women in rural districts into active ef-
forts to win the war, she received recognition from
the Agricultural Society and was made chief organ-
izer of Women's Institutes and began to train organ-
izers. Rural women were brought into direct touch

182 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR ^

with the great needs of the day and made to realize
their opportunity as well as the country's need. The
result was far greater than the securing of increased
production. Village life was vitalized, old industries
revived, and the future of English rural life was
assured on a higher plane than ever before. Instead
of ceasing with the war, the work begun by Mrs.
Watt will continue to grow in importance and value.

Mrs. Watt was ably assisted from the first by Mrs.
F. Tyrell Godman, of Victoria. As president of the
Sussex Federation of Women's Institutes, the latter
was responsible for eighty organizations noted for
unusually good work.

For three years, from 1915 to 1918, Canadian wo-
men in Folkestone maintained a club for aiding their
soldiers. Their activities took many forms. Visiting
military hospitals and reporting to the Information
Bureau in London, providing revolving huts for
Moore Barrack as well as a recreation room, re-
organizing a club previously started by the English
and christening it ^* Maple Leaf Club, Folkestone,"
were the important things accomplished by the mem-
bers: Literally tens of thousands of men were pro-
vided with beds and meals, and help of all kinds was
extended to the men and their dependents.

Canadian women staffed the I.O.D.E. Club for
nurses in London. Lady Perley attended to the or-
ganization and was assisted by Lady MacLaren
Brown, Mrs. J. G. Ross, Miss Boulter, and other Ca-
nadian women in the city.

Canadian women also assisted at the Canadian
Y.M.C.A. centres in the British Isles. Their most
important work was done at the Beaver Hut in Lon-
don. Miss Helen Fitz-Randolph, of St. John, N.B.,
was lady superintendent and head of the voluntary
workers^ who numbered about six hundred.

The Yukon did admirable service during the war.
Mrs. Black, wife of the Commissioner, Captain George

CANADIAN WOMEN IN THE GEEAT WAR 183

Black, acted as administrator of funds raised in tlie
Yukon for its overseas soldiers. Mrs. Black sent
parcels to Yukon men wherever located, did their
shopping when so requested, and made payments to
the Prisoners of War Department and to dependents
in England entitled to allowances from the Patriotic
Fund.

To Mrs. Lacey Amy belongs credit for work that
possessed the same economic value as that done by
Mrs. Watt in that its results must, of necessity, be felt
and continued in peace time. Mrs. Amy went to Eng-
land as Mess Sister for the Massey Harris Conva-
lescent Home at Dulwich. Before the end of the year
she accepted a position under the Ministry of Muni-
tions at a factory at Walthamstow. She was trans-
ferred in a few months to an important post at Acton,
London, N.W., where she was lady superintendent and \
had entire supervision of over three thousand women
and girls. In addition, she engaged workers, attended
to rate contracts for service, and organized her staff
with an eye to the preservation of discipline. On this
staff were a welfare worker for both day and night,
three nurses, a canteen supervisor, three police-
women, several clerks, and a private secretary. Three
times there were strikes at neighbouring factories, but
those under Mrs. Amy's care stood at their posts.
Certainly Mrs. Amy richly deserved the M.B.E. which
was awarded her in the King's Birthday List for 1918.

Canadian women were to be found outside their own
organizations. They were enrolled in the ranks of the
W.A.A.C.'s, the ^^ Wrens," the Women's Royal Air
Force, the Scottish Women's Hospitals, the First Aid
Nursing Yeomanry (* ^Fanny's"), as nurses in the
British Nursing Service, and in government offices
throughout the British Isles. Their service was al-
ways valuable, and in some cases, where conspicuous
bravery was displayed, they were mentioned in des-
patches.

184 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

One Canadian woman achieved the unique dis-
tinction of becoming a member of Parliament. This
honour was conferred by the soldiers and nurses over-
seas and she became their representative in Alberta.
Miss Roberta MacAdams, the subject of this honour,
was attached to the Quartermaster's Department at
the Ontario Military Hospital, Orpington, Kent, and
acted as dietitian. In 1918 she resigned to organize
the women's staff of the Khaki University. When she
returned to Canada to attend the session of the Pro-
vincial Parliament, she was asked by the Canadian
Immigration Department to report on the need of co-
operation on the part of women in order to handle
wisely the matter of emigration of women to Canada.

When it comes to telling what Canadian women did
in France, the task is as hopeless as is the case at
home. It was true there, as at home, that scores of
women toiled without thought of recognition. Their
work won, but their record was not preserved. Then,
too, most women who served in France in any other
capacity than that of Red Cross nurses were required
to sign up with one of the British organizations of
women. The individual thus became merged into the
greater body.

Probably the most notable exception to that condition
is the South of France Relief Association, financed
in Montreal and throughout the Dominion. It was
formed in March, 1915, owing to the initiative of Mrs.
Wilfred Drew, and was staffed by voluntary workers,
who set about to assist the hospitals of France, which
were poorly equipped to care for the wounded. As
the war advanced they took over the care of orphans
and refugees, attended to creche and garderie work,
and looked after soldiers on leave. Mrs. Riddett of
Cannes was made president. Associated with her
were women of great ability, who devoted themselves
body and soul to the work. They underwent the nec-
essary training and frequently took entire charge of

CANADIAN WOMEN IN THE GREAT WAR 185

hospitals. Some were under shell-fire, and one of
them, Mrs. Katherine Weller, who served continuously
from 1915 to the end of the war, was awarded the
Medaille de la Reconnaissance by the French Govern-
ment.

A form of work very similar to the last was that
organized by Miss Grace Ellison to supply nurses to
French hospitals. The appeal which she sent to Can-
ada was answered by volunteers. Miss Helen McMur-
rich, of Toronto, was given the Croix de Guerre for
three years of service, some of it under bombardment ;
Miss Madeline Jeffray, who served for twenty-three
months until severely wounded, also received the Croix
de Guerre, Miss Margaret Mclntyre served with dis-
tinction for more than two years, and a number of
others for shorter periods.

The bulk of canteen work for soldiers passing to or
from the front was in the hands of English women,
and many Canadian women volunteered, some of them
financing the work directly or through friends.

Several Canadian women identified themselves with
the French War Emergency Fund movement, which
was under the patronage of H.R.H. the Duke of Con-
naught, with headquarters in London. The well-
known ability and faithfulness of Canadian workers
caused them to be employed readily by this organiza-
tion. The committee appointed Mrs. W. M. Dobell
honorary secretary for Canada, with a position on the
executive. Previous to this, Mrs. Dobell had served
for five months as depot worker. Miss Kerr, of To-
ronto, served as chauffeuse for some months. She
was also inspecting delegate to the hospitals of the
interior. Mrs. Barclay, of Quebec, served in one of
the canteens at the front for several months. Miss
Smart, of the Maritime Provinces, served first as
depot and then as canteen worker at Triage, near the
front. Another who served in similar capacities was
Miss McLachlin, of Ottawa.

186 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

From funds collected by La Presse, Montreal, a
hospital for French wounded was established in Paris.
Miss Katherine Wallis, of Peterboro, volunteered in
December, 1914. Her work won a letter of apprecia-
tion from the late Director of Medical Services in
France, and she was also given the medal of the
Golden Palms with the Red Cross. Mrs. Gordon
Monro, of Toronto, was similarly rewarded.

An exceedingly important war work undertaken by
Canadian women in France was the organization and
management of Canadian Red Cross Recreation Huts
in hospitals. Concerts, theatricals, and all sorts of
recreation suited to convalescents were provided by
willing and competent workers. First to undertake
this work were Miss Helen Mathewson and Miss
Marguerite Strathy, of Montreal.

When the Canadian Red Cross decided to open a
rest house in Boulogne for its nurses, Mrs. Gordon
Brown took charge and did a great part of the work
for a year. In the following year the work was en-
larged to include Nursing Sisters of the Imperial
forces, and Mrs. Brown was given charge.

The name ** Corner of Blighty'' is familiar to those
who followed with any interest what was being done
for soldiers on leave in Paris. To Miss Lily Martin,
a native of Ireland, is due the credit for the idea and
its working out. All British soldiers on leave in Paris
could obtain at the comfortable rooms, free of charge,
tea, writing facilities, and pleasant employment for a
leisure hour. Miss Martin was assisted, for various
periods, by a number of Canadian women who acted
as guides to parties on leave and helped in many
other ways.

Under permission from the French Government,
helpful work was carried on at the Porte Dauphine,
Paris, from which point excursions were made into the
Aisne Department and assistance was given to the
inhabitants of eleven devastated villages. Refugees in

CANADIAN WOMEN IN THE GREAT WAR 187

Paris were also helped and work-rooms were opened,
where over thirty women were employed. This work
was under the direction of Mrs. Hamilton Gault.

In the Lycee Pasteur, Neuilly, Paris, a large Amer-
ican hospital was opened and maintained through pri-
vate subscription. Canadian nurses were among the
staff, and, of the sixty enrolled at various times,
three — Miss Rosalind Cotter, Miss Beatrice Page,
and Mrs. Eaton — were awarded the 1914 badge. The
staff also included fifteen V.A.D.'s, who did excellent
work, involving much more responsibility than was
assigned to V.A.D.'s in either English or Canadian
hospitals.

Miss Rachel Webb, one of the fifteen, after serving
in the hospital for sixteen months, spent three months
at St. Raphael, organizing a dressing station for
coloured troops. In 1918 Miss Webb served in a
hospital for French wounded in the Chateau d'Anel,
helping to evacuate the wounded in March. Later she
returned to St. Raphael and worked until the end of
May, being under bombardment throughout all that
period. During June she worked in an immense
French evacuating hospital. The next two months
were spent at Beauvais, under regular bombardment.
She did subsequent nursing at various points in the
war zone, some of it in an American Hut Hospital
and some in the Argonne Forest. In the last week of
1918 Miss Webb was sent to Germany to organize
diet kitchens in the hospital at Treves.

Closely related to the establishment of the Recrea-
tion Huts in connection with French hospitals was the
work started in the Pepiniere Barrack by the Cana-
dian Y.M.C.A., with Miss Marguerite Strathy and
Miss Jessie Dennison in charge, assisted by Mrs. L. G.
Mowrer, of Regina, who finally became director.
When the leave club was opened at the Hotel d'lena,
Paris, Mrs. Mowrer was assisted at various times by a
large staff of Canadian women.

188 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

To Mrs. J. F. W. Ross, Miss Burnham, and Miss
Tate belongs the credit for putting into operation the
idea of a convalescent home in France for Canadian
officers. Mrs. Ross was president of the financial
committee and Mrs. Herbert Burnham honorary sec-
retary. Money was secured through voluntary sub-
scriptions, a grant from the C.R.C.S., and by the pay-
ment of a small billet and ration allowance for
each patient of the Imperial forces convalescing there.
From the first, the home was under military super-
vision and did fine work. During the last year it was
transferred to the summer residence of Baron Henri
de Rothschild in the Trouville Hospital District. The
staff had a sanctioned strength of ten Canadian wo-
men, all voluntary workers, with the exception of one
professional nurse and a masseuse. The Home was
superintended at first by Mrs. William Douglas and
later by Mrs. Christopher Robinson.

Some Canadian women qualified for that arduous,
exacting, and heroic work, the driving of motor con-
voys. Miss Jessie McLachlin, of Otfawa, was deco-
rated by the French Government because of devotion
to duty. Canadian women also did admirable service
as ambulance drivers in England, France, and else-
where, some of them operating machines as far away
as Serbia. Several of them were mentioned in des-
patches.

Fifty-seven women of Canadian birth connected
themselves with the staffs of American Red Cross
military hospitals, and of these five were still on the
staff at the close of hostilities, the others serving for
very short periods.

Two of Canada's young women. Miss Evelyn Gor-
don Brown, of Ottawa, and Miss K. J. Snyder, of
Vancouver, identified themselves with the First Aid
Nursing Yeomanry and received decorations for
bravery under shell-fire. Miss Ella Scobie, another
V.A.D., was mentioned in despatches.

CANADIAN WOMEN IN THE GREAT WAR 189

Miss Jane WMtman, of Nova Scotia, volunteered
early in the war, went to France, and worked untir-
ingly providing comforts for the men and at the
French cantine at Gare de PEst, at which place she
died of spinal meningitis in May, 1917.

Other women who worked in various capacities
were: Miss Foster, Miss McTavish, and Mrs. Peter
Lyall, who acted as official representative in Paris of
the Manitoba War Relief for France; Miss EleanoK
Fleet, who worked at No. 9 B.R.C. Hospital and at the
same place when it became a casualty clearing station
for the Second Army; Mrs. Paul Watel, who founded
a hospital for French soldiers at Giungamp at the be-
ginning of the war; Mme. Bergas, who directed the
casualty hospital at Dinard and afterwards worked
in other French hospitals; Mile, de Foras, of Winni-
peg, who also worked at Dinard until incapacitated by
illness, which proved fatal ; Miss Davignon, of Knowl-
ton, P.Q., who was assistant in the Juviy hospital for
French wounded and during the last year of war
worked in a French canteen; Mme. Chase-Casgrain,
who directed refugee work in the (Euvre pour les
Hopitaux Militaires, and also collected money in Can-
ada for French Relief and was awarded the Medaille
de la Reconnaissance. Misses Mabel and Edith Kerr,
of Hamilton, devoted time, money, and talent to the
relief of soldiers without family. Miss Leah McCar-
thy, of Toronto, and Miss Flora Taylor, of St. Catha-
rines, did work in the American canteen at Arlier.
Mile. Therese Brazeau organized concerts for soldiers.
Mrs. W. R. Thomas worked for a year in the Russian
hospital in Nice. Mile, de Longueil, of Montreal, or-
ganized house-to-house visiting of consumptive sol-
diers and trained nurses for service at Besangon,
1916-17. Miss Edith Morris, of Toronto, did clerical
work continuously from May, 1917. She served the
British Y.M.C.A. at Etaples and Abbeville, and then
the Franco-American Y.M.C.A. at Foyer des Soldats.

190 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

Mrs. Henshaw, of Vancouver, was made captain early
in the war and was sent on a tour of inspection of the
war zone in France; later she organized a Service de
Blesses et de Refugies attached to both the army and
Service de Sante, Much of this work was carried on
under shell-fire and won for her the Croix de Guerre
with citation for coolness and skill in danger. Dur-
ing the summer of 1918 she did work with the staff
of the C.R.C.S. motor drivers in Paris.

A whole chapter might be devoted to Canada's
Nursing Sisters, without giving fulsome praise.
Wherever the troops went, there were the Sisters.
The same perils on land and sea that confronted the
troops were met by the Sisters. The same bravery
that was displayed by the men was conspicuous among
the Sisters. By agreement of all civilized nations,
Nursing Sisters and the wounded are immune from
attack and therefore are not protected as are regular
soldiers. Nursing Sisters and their charges were
doubly at the mercy of the Hun, because their location
was plainly indicated. Those who were, in a measure,
free from the danger due to perfidy on the part of the
enemy were, nevertheless, exposed to hardship which
carried danger in a different form. Wherever placed,
these noble women did their whole duty and did it
well.

Canadian nurses went to England, France, Salonika,
Mudros, Russia, Egypt, and Gallipoli. They were on
hospital ships between England and France as well
as between England and Canada, and on ambulance
trains. They nursed the wounded of the Allies in
Canadian hospitals as well as those from all parts of
the British Empire. At the time of the signing of the
Armistice, there were in England, on total strength,
1,107 Canadian Sisters, and 795 in France.

All the world knows the story of the Llandovery
Castle, that monument to Hunnish barbarity. Four-
teen nurses lost their lives at that time. One was

CANADIAN WOMEN IN THE GREAT WAR 191

killed in action, four were killed in raids on hospitals,
one was drowned, and eighteen died *^from natural
causes, ' ' and six were wounded.

Because the Sisters received the rank and pay of
officers, they were eligible for certain decorations.
Eight received the Military Medal for conspicuous
bravery, forty-three were awarded the Royal Red
Cross Medal, first class, 149 the Royal Red Cross
Medal, second class, and 152 were mentioned in des-
patches. Principal Matron E. K. Redley, R.R.C., was
made Commander of the British Empire, and Matron
B. J. Willoughby, R.R.C., was made Officer of the
British Empire. Several nurses served the entire
period of the war. In Canada, 527 Nursing Sisters
were on duty in convalescent homes.

In reply to the request of the British Red Cross
Society and Order of St. John of Jerusalem, 324
official V.A.D.'s sailed from Canada for overseas
service. They served wherever Nursing Sisters served ;
some under the British Red Cross and others in the
Anglo-French Hospital. Some drove ambulances in
the countries of the Allies ; while some took charge of
recreation huts or formed part of the staffs of various
homes. Two of the V.A.D.'s were mentioned in des-
patches. Another body, not official, enrolled to the
number of 180 in the Imperial Canadian V.A.D.'s,
founded in 1918, with Lady Perley as commandant.
They wore the regular uniform, with ** Canada — R''
as a shoulder badge.

There was but one death among the V.A.D.'s, Miss
Dorothy Pearson Twist, Shawnigan Lake, B.C., dying
of influenza pneumonia. She was buried with full
military honours at Aldershot.

In common with the other Allies, Canada was com-
pelled to face and overcome new conditions in every
department of life. Shortage of men would have
spelled the disruption of the entire social and eco-
nomic fabric had there not been a willingness on the

192 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

part of Canadian women to step into the breach and
a like willingness on the part of the business world
to employ women where previously only male help had
been considered capable. This is popularly referred
to as substitution and dilution of labour. While it is
true that at first women replaced men with something
like mathematical exactness, it became true, later, that
women took over work that had not been done pre-
viously by men for the simple reason that the work
was not in existence when men would have been avail-
able. War increased business enormously in certain
directions and women madeTi^possible to carry that
increase. In a double and very important sense,
therefore, they substituted for the men called to the
colours.

Another thing to be kept in mind in giving proper
estimate to the entrance of women into the unfamiliar
world of business is that for the most part women
were entirely untrained and it was impossible for one
untrained worker to replace entirely one trained
man. The trained workers who were left had to be
distributed among the untrained in such a way that
the labour of all should keep up the standard of the
output. This was dilution. Over ten thousand women
stepped into business life. They filled positions of
responsibility and applied themselves in such a way
that the close of war found many retained because
their services were valuable in a strictly business
sense.

Banking, railroading, insurance, the making of mu-
nitions, farming in its many branches, dairying, tram-
way conductors, motor drivers, operators in aero-
plane factories, every one of these and countless other
occupations were undertaken by women who allowed
nothing to come between them and winning the war.
It seemed, in the main, that the only limit to the kinds
of work that women could do was their lack of physi-
cal strength and their inability to stand great nervous

CANADIAN WOMEN IN THE GREAT WAR 193

strain. It frequently happened that women overcame
some of these handicaps by suggesting Jmproved
methods of handling material. This was especially
true in the making of munitions. It was the women
who saw that by simply changing the position of a
certain machine they could handle heavy shells with
ease. There were other shells which even men could
not handle. For a long time it was thought that wo-
men could not make the 9.2 shell, but one manufac-
turer thought differently and within five weeks from
the time he began instructing his four hundred women
workers they were turning the shells out according to
standard and performing every operation up to and
including the shipping. Too much weight cannot be
given to the fact that an element which aided English
manufacturers was lacking in Canada. No woman,
as operator, had ever set foot in a metal-working
factory in Canada before October, 1916. Neither were
Canadian factories under national control. The splen-
did loyalty of organized labour caused both those pos-
sible obstacles to disappear.

Every community had its own peculiar problems
along welfare lines and, in each case, the need was
solved. Throughout the war Canadian men and wo-
men worked hand in hand in every enterprise. Both
gave unstintingly of their money; both gave without
stint of their leisure and of their ability. There was
splendid co-operation. In no work was this more
apparent than in the management of the Patriotic
Fund. Because of the magnitude of the demands
made upon the fund, the Montreal office, for example,
had need of a staff possessed of the best that was
forthcoming in the way of executive ability, devotion
to duty, and special equipment for work. All of this,
and, if possible, more, was found. The executive
work was in the hands of Miss Helen R. Y. Reid, a
Lady of Grace. The eighteen departments into which
she divided the work were looked after with marvel-

194 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

lous efficiency by voluntary workers, sometimes num-
bering ten to a department. They looked after an
area of about 178 square miles and attended to the
daily needs of about forty thousand persons. Not
only were pressing needs attended to, but the future
was kept in mind and thrift encouraged by practical
instruction. Thousands of families are, to-day, better
fitted than ever before to live within their incomes
and save a little besides, all because of the patient,
practical, sympathetic way in which their problems
and worries were understood by the main office.
Training in this work resulted in the transfer hi many
workers to voluntary service overseas.

Women's Institutes in Canada played an important
part in helping to win the war. This is one of the
groups of organized women who will never receive
their due meed of praise as war workers. The members
belonged to the I.O.D.E. and the Red Cross,^ some-
times to more than one group, and were credited
where they worked.

In their own particular line they gave material help
in the campaign for increased production on the
farms, often furnishing the needed labour themselves.
They contributed generously of material and then, by
working at the canning centres, put it into shape for
shipping overseas.

Many a sick boy in hospital in France was cheered
by the faithful service of one woman, and what she
accomplished shows how much good one person can do
when really in earnest. Mrs. Rachel de Wolf Archi-
bald, of Wolfville, N.S., filled and packed, with her own
hands, an even five thousand jars of fruit for the mili-
tary hospitals in France. This was done in a tiny
bungalow and by a frail little woman whose only son
was overseas with the Imperials, R. E. Black Watch.
She *^ carried on," without compensation, as valiantly
as any soldier. She had a mother's heart for every
1 See Vol. II, Chapter X

CANADIAN WOMEN IN THE GREAT WAR 195

sick soldier. One summer, in order that pneumonia
throats and gassed lungs might be eased, Mrs. Archi-
bald and her daughter travelled over a hundred miles
gathering blackberries. She invented her own meth-
ods of packing and not one jar was lost, not even in
the North Station in Halifax on that fatal day, Decem-
ber 6th, 1917. As the scope of her work increased,
the Halifax Red Cross and friends who were in sym-
pathy with the work furnished fruit, jars, and
sugar.

The Canadian W.C.T.U., like so many other organi-
zations, did its war work, for the most part, in Red
Cross and I.O.D.E. groups. Special work was under-
taken by the Toronto district and over $3,000,000
which did not go through provincial channels was
subscribed for war work. The Ontario district organ-
ized for systematic war work and contributed
$31,526.28 for war causes. Other districts did valu-
able service.

One of the ways in which Canada was kept closely
in touch with the affairs of the Allies was through the
Women's Canadian Clubs. Speakers from abroad
were secured and many causes were presented for aid
by this means. Splendid generosity was shown by the
clubs in spite of the fact that they were generous sup-
porters of the Red Cross, the I.O.D.E., and frequently
of special causes dear to certain communities. At the
same time these clubs did fine home work, devoting
their time and money towards the needs of their own
community. They visited for the Patriotic Fund and
organized work that had a direct bearing on repatria-
tion. Notable among such movements is the work
done by the Women's Canadian Club at St. John, N.B.
The club had a membership of nine hundred and ex-
pended for war purposes $18,000. The members did
a tremendous amount of excellent work meeting the
English brides of Canadian soldiers who came over at
the close of the war. Other clubs did equally fine

196 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

work, but on a smaller scale, because the need was not
so great.

Almost inseparable from the workings of the Patri-
otic Club, and yet filling a niche of its own, was the
Soldiers' Wives' League. The mother league, organ-
ized in Montreal during the Boer War, grew by leaps
and bounds during the Great World War, numbering
twenty-four branches when peace was declared. It
carried on three distinct lines of work: Relief for
soldiers' dependents; management and up-keep of
Osborne House; work of its branches. Sympathy
with the soldiers' dependents is at the foundation of
the league's work, and this has always been shown in
fullest measure and in practical ways. During the
last year of the war the league's expenses were
$21,667.87, with a monthly expense account at the
close of the war of $2,000. Its income for the same
period was $26,759.93. Every important war measure
was aided by the league.

Canadian girls did their **bit" on the land, leaving
the city to help on berry and fruit farms. They did
dairy work and planted and harvested crops, attended
to stock and took over the care of the house, in order
to release women who could fill pressing vacancies
elsewhere.

Too much cannot be said in praise of the farm wo-
men themselves, who were in serious difficulty because
of the shortage of farm labour. They worked at regu-
lar farm work throughout the summer.

Like hundreds of other organizations, the Y.W.C.A.
in Canada worked zealously to alleviate local needs
arising from war conditions. This took the form of
supplementing, in every possible way, the work car-
ried on by the Red Cross Society and various bodies
looking after soldiers in Canadian hospitals and after
dependents in Canada.

War work which was national in character con-
cerned itself with looking after women working on the

CANADIAN WOMEN IN THE GREAT WAR 197

land and in fruit camps, the establishment and man-
agement of canteens, hostels, and hostess houses, and
the support of several workers in France. During
1917-18 the association supervised fifty camps in
Ontario and placed 333 house mothers and helpers in
these camps and in others opened in various parts of
the Dominion.

Four canteens for war workers were established by
the Y.W.C.A. and operated for a year, or less time.
They served a daily average of fifteen hundred girls
and were operated by about four hundred voluntary
workers. Two hostels were operated for short periods
for war workers, and hostess houses were maintained
in the R.A.F. camps and at the artillery and military
camps in Ontario.

One worker was supported for service with the
British Y.W.C.A., one with the American Y.W.C.A.,
and a Canadian Y.W.C.A. hut at Honfleur, in charge
of a Y.W.C.A worker, was presented to the Army.

With the splendid record made by Canadian women
in standing shoulder to shoulder with their men when
that was the thing needed, marching along, doing
without comforts and leisure and peace of mind in
order that justice might endure on the earth, no one
need fear that the future of Canada will be neglected.
The same spirit that conquered the menace of the past
has turned to the serious problems that must be met
in order that Canada shall fulfil her destiny. Her wo-
men are already ^^ carrying on'' and marching under
the banner * * To-morrow. ' '

2. The War Work of the I.O.D.E.

Women may not be called upon to sound a battle-
cry to arms, but there are bloodless battles to be won,
as essential to the stability of a great empire and the

198 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

uplifting of its people as the victories of the battle-
field. Women ^s work in strengthening and preserving
the fabric of the British Empire and safeguarding its
ideals was thus visioned by Mrs. Clark Murray, of
Montreal, at the time of the South African War. But
the same search-light of vision did not reveal the
titanic part it was destined to play in the Great
World War.

On February 13th, 1900, a new bond of Empire was
created among women living under the British flag,
when a society was organized for the promotion of pa-
triotic undertakings. Not only in every town and city
of the Dominion of Canada, but in all parts of the
Empire, were the links of patriotism to be welded.
Primary chapters were to be federated into municipal,
provincial, and national chapters, and ultimately an
imperial chapter with headquarters in London, which
would centralize this organization, whose far-reaching
influence would be felt to the uttermost parts of the
Empire.

After a year 's strenuous work of organization, Mrs.
Clark Murray relinquished the future of the order
into the hands of capable Toronto women. Mrs. Sam-
uel Nordheimer was elected first president, and the first
National Executive was composed of Mrs. MacMahon,
Mrs. H. S. Strathy, Mrs. Arthur Van Koughnet, Mrs.
John Bruce, Mrs. A. E. Gooderham, and Miss Mac-
donald. In 1901 the organization was incorporated
as the Imperial Order of Daughters of the Empire
and Children of the Empire.

The badge of the order is a Union Jack centering a
white, seven-pointed star on a blue ground, encircled
by the name of the order, on white relief, the whole
surmounted by the Imperial Crown. The motto of the
order is **One Flag, One Throne, One Empire." Im-
perial unity is its corner-stone, upon which chapter
after chapter has been founded. Seven years after its
inception 118 chapters existed in Ontario; the follow-

CANADIAN WOMEN IN THE GREAT WAR 199

ing year Western Canada responded with the forma-
tion of twenty-nine new chapters. A year later and
the Maritime Provinces were marshalled into line.
At the present time, every province in the Dominion
of Canada has its various chapters. Besides the
National Chapter of Canada, national chapters now
exist in Bermuda, Newfoundland, and the Bahamas.
The order also thrives in Australia and New Zealand
and is active in the United States.

Towns, cities, provinces, and autonomous domin-
ions were creating parts of a machinery, whose en-
semble and co-operative force were to be put to the
severest strain.

The order in Canada, in its fourteen years of exist-
ence, had broadened and strengthened in preparation
for its stupendous war effort. In four hundred towns
and cities there were twenty-four thousand members.
Mrs. Gooderham, associated with the order from the
first, after having filled the offices of Councillor and
National Secretary and Treasurer of the South Af-
rican Graves Fund, succeeded to the presidency. Four
years' experience had thoroughly familiarized her
with the role of leadership. Thus stood the I.O.D.E.
on the eve of war, with a president equipped with a
working knowledge of the machinery of the whole,
which was to prove a telling factor in the continued
organized work of hundreds of voluntary workers.

The aims and objects of the order were each tested
in turn and firmly interwoven in the fabric of Im-
perial service. The first two : ^ * To stimulate and give
expression to the sentiment of patriotism, which binds
the women and children of the Empire around the
Throne and the persons of their gracious and beloved
sovereign, ' ' and ^ * to supply and foster a bond of union
amongst the Daughters of the Empire," — were es-
sentially fulfilled at the outset. It remained for the
third to be tested by an Imperial crisis : * * To provide
an efficient organization by which prompt and united

200 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

action may be taken by the women and children of the
Empire, when such action is desired/'

Immediately upon the declaration of war in August,
1914, while the War Council discussed matters of
grave import, in which the destiny of Canada was in-
volved, the National Committee of the I.O.D.E. called
an emergency conference, representative of all nation-
ally organized women's societies, to discuss what
might best be done for the national cause.

Women's thoughts naturally tended to the allevia-
tion of the suffering that must inevitably come, and
to supplying comforts and meeting all the calls of
mercy, for which the sacred symbol of the Red Cross
stands.

Many and varied were the suggestions forthcoming
to meet the issue, and after due and careful considera-
tion a fully equipped Hospital Ship was thought to be
the most fitting gift that Canadian women could make
to the Motherland. This suggestion was made by
Miss Mary Plummer, who eventually became secretary
of the General Committee. Mrs. John Bruce, an effi-
cient and experienced worker, was elected treasurer
of the proposed fund. The idea of a floating hospital
appealed to the public mind and the Hospital Ship
Fund was instituted with an objective of one hundred
thousand dollars. For this first war purpose the
machinery of the I.O.D.E. was set in motion. Each
chapter immediately became a centre of vitalized
energy. Long before the allotted three weeks were
up, Halifax and Dawson City had answered from the
eastern and north-western extremities of the Domin-
ion. Through the channels of women's organizations,
money flowed in from every part of Canada, until the
objective was exceeded and the high-water mark,
$282,857.77, was attained.

Meanwhile the disposition of this sum had become
the subject of correspondence with the Admiralty and
the War Office. The central committee learned that it

V

CANADIAN WOMEN IN THE GEEAT WAR 201

would be best to send the money without stipulation
as to its expenditure. The gross receipts accordingly
were placed in the hands of H.R.H. The Duchess of
Connaught. The sum of one hundred thousand dol-
lars was presented to the War Office and without de-
lay twenty motor ambulances were bought and shipped
to France, while others were purchased for use in
England. The Admiralty received $182,857.77, which
they desired to use in a way that would cause the gift
to be permanently remembered. Wings were built
to the Naval Hospital at Haslar, near Portsmouth,
for the use of the nurses. Here the buildings will
long remain a monument to Canadian women's loyalty
to the British Empire. Thus at the instigation of the
I.O.D.E. was inaugurated and accomplished Canadian
women's first organized war effort.

As soon as England had declared war, the British
Reservists hastened back at the call of the Motherland.
Their families were visited and kindly attention shown
to them by members of the I.O.D.E. in all parts of the
Dominion. In Edmonton, alone, sixty volunteer vis-
itors were looking after the welfare of some two hun-
dred families before the local contingent had left.
This was one of the most faithfully sustained services,
in which another object of the order was fulfilled:
**To care for the dependents of British soldiers and
sailors during war, in time of peace, or under sick-
ness, accident or reverses of fortune.''

By the time the bugle aroused the stillness of Val-
cartier Camp to martial life and the white tents of our
first volunteers dotted the plain and their bridges
were thrown across the tawny tide of Jacques Cartier
river, women were busily devising comforts to lessen
the accustomed rigours of camp life. Sleeping-caps,
mufflers, wristlets, cholera-belts, socks, and numerous
other articles were sent in large shipments, the ever
handy little housewife equipped with mending necessi-
ties proving a boon to every soldier.

202 CANADA IN THE GREAT WOBLD WAE

Wherever there were military camps, recreation
and reading rooms were organized, and temperance
canteens, often instituted and frequently served by
members of the I.O.D.E., established. Knitting, the
almost-forgotten accomplishment of our grand-
mothers, was revived.

In order to purchase wool and other materials and
to establish canteens, money must be forthcoming and
plans of every kind were conceived for raising funds
for the ultimate use of the jfighting men. **Ship Day"
was followed by *^Flag Days" and ^*Tag Days," con-
certs, lectures, carnivals, and bazaars. In short, all
old schemes were repeated and many new ones de-
vised with a versatility and inventive genius born of
the times.

The first C.E.F. soon entrained for Quebec. In the
broad blue waters of the St. Lawrence lay the armada
which was to carry ** Canada's answer" back to the
Motherland. Upon the khaki-clad men crowding the
decks, the Plains of Abraham looked down, — historic
heights where once their forebears so vigorously con-
tended. On October 3rd, 1914, the gray transports
moved slowly seaward on their momentous voyage,
convoyed by women's prayers.

Women now felt that Canada had thrown aside the
habiliments of Peace and had taken up the gage of
Battle in reality. At this crisis the National Execu-
tive of the I.O.D.E. evinced a splendid power of lead-
ership. Their keen foresight and systematic planning
prevented much overlapping and a harmonious con-
certed action realized a maximum of effort, — one
enthusiastic chapter, bent on attaining the greatest
possible working power, going so far as to carry out a
registration of its members.

The unwritten law of the order was that which
Field Marshal Earl Haig wrote in his final despatch
on discipline: *^True discipline demands as much
from officers as from men, and without mutual

\

CANADIAN WOMEN IN THE GREAT WAR 203

trust, understanding, and confidence on the part of all,
the highest form of discipline is impossible.'*

Provincial, municipal, and chapter regents directed
their allotted part of the general campaign with an
almost military promptitude. Co-ordination was also
essential on the part of the chapters, which, in orderly
manner, marched into action like disciplined units,
marshalled and drilled.

When the C.E.F. reached England the order at once
began working for the comfort of the troops. It
showed particular energy in providing Christmas
cheer for the men. Many busy hours of planning,
buying, making, and packing were represented by each
overseas box — rivalled only by Pandora's box of
blessings. Military units were remembered by some
chapters, while others addressed their boxes to men
who had gone from their own locality. The Princess
Mary Christmas Fund was but one of many outlets
for generosity, which afforded expression of the
I.O.D.E. Christmas spirit.

The first war Christmas was a never-to-be-forgotten
one by the Canadian soldier. The carefully hung
stocking of expectant childhood never divulged a more
infinite variety of surprises than his first parcels from
home. Gifts of all kinds, descriptions, and uses —
food, clothing, and amusement — had crowded the
holds of steamers, which followed in the wake of
transports. On this first war Christmas, though bit-
ter seas rolled between, separating families and loved
ones who faced the dread uncertainty of war, the
Motherland and Canada clasped hands in a spirit of
deeper affection and truer understanding than ever
before.

War had proved a great impetus to the growth of
the order. In 1915 one hundred and seventy new
chapters had come into existence. Five hundred chap-
ters and thirty thousand members had now to be
manoeuvred.

204 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

At the Annual Meeting the I.O.D.E. War Clasp
was introduced by Mrs. Gatewood, of Vancouver, in
the following resolution: *^That a bar or clasp be
placed on the badge of those members of our order
who are wives or mothers or both of men who are on
active service on behalf of their country, the bar to be
of blue enamel in the case of a husband, or crimson
enamel in the case of a son, the bar to be a line of blue
and one of crimson enamel when a member has both
husband and son or sons serving with the colors;
across the bar to be placed, in gold letters, the date
*1914,' the bar to be suspended by two small gold
chains over the badge. ' ' Later, this privilege was ex-
tended to mothers of nurses serving overseas, in which
case the bar was white. No military decoration was
ever worn by our gallant men as reward for their
heroic exploits as proudly as the slender red, white,
and blue bars worn on the breasts of Canadian women.

Not only women of East and West united under the
order, but it also proved a strong cumulative force,
breaking down for the first time barriers of religion
and social caste. Mrs. MacDougald, of Montreal, re-
cords the significant fact in the following words : * ^ The
women of Quebec have without distinction of race or
creed for the first time worked together under the
direction of the LO.D.E. The good sisters of the
Roman Catholic order and the church guilds of va-
rious denominations have joined hands in a way that
has been most inspiring." Regardless of creed or
social difference, the gray-garbed nun of the cloister
and the fashionable woman of the world, the shop-
girl and the millionaire's daughter, worked side by
side, folding the white surgical dressings, sewing the
khaki shirts, or knitting the soft gray wool into sol-
diers' comforts, mindful only that they were working
for the same sacred cause.

Valuable help was received from an active chapter
in the United States under the able regency of Mrs.

CANADIAN WOMEN IN THE GREAT WAR 205

Josephine M. Langstaff. In addition to two motor
ambulances and a truck, large shipments were made
from New York to London of hospital supplies so
greatly in demand and often so difficult to obtain —
chloroform, ether, ammonia, iodine, rubber sheeting
and tubing, adhesive plaster, cases of castor oil, and
atomizers. The variety of gifts was infinite and in-
cluded respirators, hot-water-bags, sand-bags, am-
bulance rugs, blankets, bandages of all kinds, fracture
pillows, air pillows, feather pillows, linen old and
new, cases of surgical instruments and electric torches.
Many personal gifts were also made and sent, not
least among them the bedside comfort bag on which
the sick soldier cast a contented eye of proprietorship.
Both American and Canadian branches of the order
seemed to doubt the renowned virtues of the English
plum-pudding, for the home brand was inevitably in-
cluded. Such games as cards and chess and puzzles
were also sent. Victrolas with their records of music,
sacred and secular, grave and gay, wiled away many
a weary hour in hospital, but, to the man on the march
or in the trenches, there was nothing appreciated like
the individual performance of the mouth-organ. This
little pocket instrument, sent overseas in large quan-
tities, saved many a situation, enlivened the fighting
man's spirit and cheered him when he got into a tight
corner. In Tommy Atkins' own words: —

" O, there ain't no band to cheer us up, there ain't no Highland

pipers
To keep our war-like ardure warm, round New Chapelle and

Wipers :
So since there's nothing like a tune to glad the heart of man.
Why, Billy with his mouth-organ, 'e does the best 'e can."

While our men fought the Germans on the battle-
fields of France and Flanders, a foe as insidious as
the deadly poison-gas endangered their homeland. In
an attempt to precipitate a premature peace, propa-
ganda was scattered broadcast under the favourite

206 CANADA IN THE GEEAT WORLD WAR

guise of Christianity, threatening the country with the
paralysis of pacifism. This, however, was powerless
to shake the loyalty of the I.O.D.E., who carried on a
vigorous offensive. Peace without victory was not on
their official programme.

Despite the censor, stories of prisoners languishing
in disease in vermin-ridden camps began to filter
through, of poor wrecks of humanity often inhumanly
treated, sometimes without necessary food and cloth-
ing, existing under conditions which often made death
more to be desired than life. As soon as word was
received of their deplorable plight, the hearts of Ca-
nadian women burned within them and their hands
compassionately reached out to alleviate their suffer-
ings and render some comfort, meagre though it needs
must be. Food and clothing were sent in quantities
dictated by the enemy. The Prisoners of War Fund
was inaugurated, and in support of this the I.O.D.E.
were most generous and active.

Picture those first gifts arriving for starving, rag-
ged men, penned in dirty prison camps, suffering gross
indignities at the hands of an inhuman foe. Memory
surged over their hearts as they realized that the
women of Canada had not forgotten them. Food
sustained their strength, but remembrance reinforced
their courage. Hundreds of Canadian prisoners of
war gratefully attribute their very lives to the parcels
from their own loved land which came as providential
manna.

When the first disabled veterans returned to Can-
ada, work on their behalf immediately began. As
they continued to arrive in an ever-swelling stream,
Veterans' Homes were established for them in many
cities and fitted with every means of comfort and rec-
reation. For those disabled or convalescent, cots in
military hospitals were endowed, wards were
equipped, and convalescent homes were established.

The order as a whole and its units contributed to

CANADIAN WOMEN IN THE GREAT WAR 207

all kinds of war work intended to ameliorate the lot
of the fighting forces — hospitals in England, Belgian,
Serbian, French, Russian, and Polish relief, the Sail-
ors' Aid Fund, and the Red Cross. One ambitious
chapter, while already maintaining a returned sol-
diers' convalescent home, undertook to provide an
annex for Canadians to a London hostel.

Methods of raising funds were as numerous as the
needs for which they were required. This exacting
and important work was carried on with unflagging
zeal. Tea rooms, box collections in shops and hotels,
sales of home-made cakes and confectionery and of
fancy and useful articles, dances and golf tourna-
ments were some of the ways employed. By such
means it was possible to open and maintain local
reading and recreation tents, supply churches with
honour rolls for the names of men who had enlisted,
make contributions of beds to Canadian hospitals,
present flags and flagpoles, and give aid in numerous
other directions.

Women all over Canada prepared a delectable
dainty in the form of home-made jam for the over-
seas troops — a decided luxury and welcome change
from the inevitable *^plum and apple,*' which un-
questionably did its *^bit" in the Great World War.

The necessary work of making and sending forward
field comforts went steadily on. Busy needles were
plied in cottage and mansion. Women sewed and
knitted untiringly to make socks, shirts, mufflers,
mitts, and helmets. Every soldier's comfort and War
Relief garment sent overseas by the I.O.D.E. bore a
tag on which was woven the crest of the order sur-
mounting the word ** Canada." Tens of thousands of
these tags were used and their significance is re-
ferred to by Lady McLaren Brown, who writes as
secretary of the Canadian War Contingent Associa-
tion, *^ which received and distributed literally to the
four corners of the earth vast supplies of field com-

208 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

forts. And month by month and year by year, as I
counted and sorted and checked, I used to marvel at
the ever increasing supplies sent by the Daughters.
How I used to watch for their cases and rejoice when
I saw them, for their little white badge with its let-
ters of blue stitched to the garments and stamped on
the parcels was always a guarantee of Hhe best.'

' ' Sometimes I wonder if all the pathos and romance
of the faring forth of that little badge of the order
has ever been fully realized even by the members
themselves. It is known in camps, the barrack, the
hospital, the trenches, and on the battle-fields. Across
those grave-strewn fields of Flanders it marched with
our men. It rested on their bodies when they went
down in the holocausts of France. It lay with them
on the blood-soaked deserts of Egypt and Palestine.
In the terrific places about Salonika, in the wastes of
Mesopotamia, in the dark jungles of Africa, — wher-
ever a man of the British breed went to make his fight
for righteousness, the emblem of the Daughters of the
Empire went too. Aye, it went with him even down to
the grave, where he sleeps his last sleep.

' * That badge of white and blue, do you know how it
has helped and comforted and blessed I I knew a boy,
lying in a hospital, whose first faint gleam of interest
in life came back when he caught sight of it stitched
to the corner of the sheet which covered his broken
body. He came from a small town away 'at the back
of beyond,' where 'all the girls' had belonged to the
chapter, and to him it was a living thing. . . . An
Indian soldier, dying far from his native hills, pointed
to the white coverlet and smiled when a Canadian girl
explained, as best she could, what those little blue
letters stood for, 'One Flag, One Throne, One Em-
pire. '

"Sometimes I have helped with the cases being
made ready for the 'foreign reliefs.' I used to won-
der if the poilu would notice the I.O.D.E. badge

CANADIAN WOMEN IN THE GREAT WAR 209

stitched inside his sock, and what the brave Alpini,
who watched in the lonely mountains, would make of
it; and whether if, in far-oif Serbia, where a well-
nigh hopeless people still stood erect, they would
speculate about the meaning of the badge fastened to
the garments and the linen which helped to cover
their nakedness ! "

At the sixteenth annual meeting of the order, the
president, Mrs. Gooderham, remarked that its growth
had been phenomenal. It was now immeasurably the
largest women's organization in the Empire, and its
leadership in patriotic work had become everywhere
recognized. She eulogized the voluntary recruiting
spirit, but declared that the time had come for a
change of system as in England.

The order did much to stimulate recruiting. One
Western chapter held a ** Silent Recruiting'' week
for one of the battalions, each member wearing a
badge urging enlistment. Resolutions were unani-
mously passed in favour of military training in the
schools and a petition was sent to the Dominion
Government to prohibit the importation of enemy
goods after the war.

One of the most outstanding war efforts and the most
corporate work of the order during the year had been
the founding of the Annexes of the King George and
Queen Mary Maple Leaf Club in England. This most
praiseworthy piece of work was inspired by the need
of the Canadian soldier on leave who was without
friends in England and lacked comfortable quarters
during his brief respite from the trenches. The
cheery atmosphere of these comfortable headquarters
filled a long-felt want, and was gratefully welcomed
by thousands of Canadian soldiers.

Canadian women volunteers, many of whom were
members of the order, looked after these buildings
and gave the desired touch of *'home." H.R.H. the
Princess Patricia of Connaught, now Lady Patricia

210 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

Ramsay, usually appeared at the supper hour and
graciously assisted in waiting on the tables. An
especially cordial greeting was bestowed upon any
lucky wearer of the P.P. C.L.I, badge, who was gal-
lantly sustaining the colours worked by her own
hands.

The year 1917 was ushered in with no signs of the
ominous war-cloud lifting. The order had now settled
down solidly and patiently to its work and even tried
to exceed its previous stupendous efforts. Eighty-
four new chapters with active membership had been
enrolled. It could now boast the magnificent member-
ship of forty thousand.

Some idea of the year's work may be gleaned from
the report of the treasurer, Mrs. John Bruce: Or-
dinary receipts for the year $11,069, and special con-
tributions of $2,314 for Canadian Red Cross, $3,005
for Secours Nationale, $5,830 for Y.M.C.A. overseas,
$3,607 for British Sailors' Relief Fund, $2,623 for
St. Dunstan's Home for Blind Soldiers, $2,196 for
Prisoners of War Relief, etc., with $753,601 raised by
the various chapters of the order for war work in
general.

The welfare of orphaned children of soldiers killed
during the war was a subject for serious considera-
tion. The establishment of homes for their care was
embodied in a resolution sent to the Federal Govern-
ment.

The order, with the soldiers' interest at heart,
petitioned the Government to grant furloughs to all
men of the first Canadian Expeditionary Force, those
who had borne the brunt of battle and were still over-
seas.

The convalescent homes for soldiers had proved a
great boon. One Western home, alone, reported that
3,545 had enjoyed its care and hospitality.

Food was the second line of defence. Food became
the universal topic, although Canada did not suffer

CANADIAN WOMEN IN THE GREAT WAR 211

from a food shortage as did the Motherland. Food
conferences were held to consider what help might be
sent overseas. As a result members of the I.O.D.E.
pledged themselves to abstain from the use of pota-
toes two days each week, also to observe two meatless
days, that these commodities might be shipped over-
seas. Thrift campaigns were launched among Cana-
dian women in general.

The women of Canada emulated the splendid spirit
shown by the women of England and France. They
freed men that they might fight in the Empire's de-
fence and hundreds of the order laboured as farmer-
ettes, munitionettes, and filled positions in banks,
offices, and in countless ways did their best to ex-
emplify that there was no sacrifice which they would
not voluntarily make, nor any hardship they would
refuse to undergo to help toward the goal of ultimate
victory.

The thoughts and activities of the chapters were
abruptly directed to a home disaster. A ship loaded
with high explosives blew up in Halifax harbour,
shattering the harbour-front and causing a deplorable
loss of life. Help was rushed into the stricken city
from all directions. Special trains with nurses and
doctors hastened to the scene, where many of the
homeless inhabitants were suffering not only from
shock and injury but from loss of sight caused by the
shattering glass.

In the wake of the fire, which inevitably broke out,
followed a blizzard which demolished the temporary
quarters of the sufferers. Many women's organiza-
tions sent food and clothing. The National Executive
of the I.O.D.E. issued an appeal for the establishment
of a ^^ Halifax Fund" with the intention of founding
a home for unclaimed children. Normal conditions
revealed, however, that the number of little ones
rendered homeless was not so great as at first antici-
pated, and the money upon advice was used for the

212 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

establishment of a Home for Mentally Deficient Chil-
dren. Thus directly through the war was estab-
lished this first home of its kind in the Dominion
of Canada.

Another undertaking of which the order is justly
proud was the founding of the Daughters of the Em-
pire Red Cross Hospital, which British authorities
pronounced to be one of the finest in London. The
building was located on a beautiful site opposite Hyde
Park. Its complete equipment was generously pro-
vided by Colonel and Mrs. Gooderham, with the ex-
ception of the operating theatre and X-ray machine,
which were gifts of the primary chapters.

The hospital was formally opened by H.R.H. Prin-
cess Louise, Duchess of Argyll. Their Majesties
King George and Queen Mary paid a friendly visit of
inspection to the institution and graciously com-
mended the work of the I.O.D.E. in general. Insti-
tuted for the exclusive accommodation of officers, it
was always filled to capacity. Within its walls torn
and shattered men were restored to fight again in
their country's defence, or, in the case of the more
serious cases, were passed on to convalescent homes.
The genuine gratitude of the patients was expressed
not only for the tender care and excellent skill of
nurse and surgeon, but for the order which had de-
vised and worked to make possible the establishment
of this institution.

In 1918 lowered the darkest hour before the dawn.
In this year General Haig issued his historic order:
**With our backs to the wall and believing in the
justice of our cause, each one of us must fight to the
end. The safety of our homes and the freedom of
mankind depend upon the conduct of each one of us
at this critical moment. ' '

Upon individual effort the outcome now depended.
The unyielding spirit of our dauntless men, who stub-
bornly fought on with the characteristic tenacity of

CANADIAN WOMEN IN THE GREAT WAR 213

the British breed, was emulated generally by Cana-
dian women. One of Germany's greatest mistakes
was in reckoning on the detachment of the Dominions.
The Prussian War Lords queried as to what the men
of Canada might do on an issue, but the women's part
was quite unthought of or was considered a negligible
quantity. Canadian women had to be reckoned with.
Without martial bands or banners they quietly re-
cruited everywhere, and women of every age, class,
and accomplishment, without ostentation, continued
to step into the men's places in office and factory, and
on the farm, that men might be released for military
service, and did their utmost to help carry on the
business of the nation. Premier David Lloyd George
has eloquently testified that it was the women of the
Allied nations who made victory possible.

The I.O.D.E. had not only energetically ** carried
on" in every field of war effort but, be it recorded to
their everlasting honour, they faithfully sustained all
pre-war responsibilities. The noble and widely recog-
nized work in safeguarding public health against the
inroads of the white plague was as loyally carried on
and as generously financed as though no world war
had been raging.

In addition to these multitudinous activities, the
order courageously launched still- another enterprise.
Second only to the soldier's welfare and comfort were
those of the nursing sister, three members of which
profession were being supported by the order. An-
nexes and clubs had proved such a boon to overseas
Canadians, that the order confidently made a general
appeal for funds. As expected, it met with a ready
response, sufficient to enable the Committee of Man-
agement to install a club for Canadian nurses in most
desirable quarters at 95 Lancaster Gate, London.
This was the town house of Lady Minto, wife of a
former governor-general of Canada. Every comfort
and convenience were available at a nominal cost and

214 CANADA IN THE GEEAT WORLD WAR

these attractive headquarters afforded the longed-for
home touch.

H.R.H. Princess Patricia officiated at the opening
ceremony, nurses in uniform attending as a guard of
honour. A rapidly increasing membership testified
both to the great need met by this club and to the
appreciation of the nurses of the advantages it af-
forded. The honorary secretary of the Committee of
Management observed that: **In their long record of
splendid achievement, the I.O.D.E. never accomplished
a more useful project."

A lively interest was taken by many of the chapters
in the St. Dunstan^s Home for Blind Soldiers, to the
support of which they liberally contributed. They
keenly appreciated the work being so splendidly ac-
complished by the institution for our sightless heroes,
who, deprived by war of their most precious 'sense,
had yet a longer, harder, and less glorious battle to
wage alone. Sir Arthur Pearson, the head of the
institution, who won a notable victory over his own
loss of sight, was specially fitted to inspire our men
to surmount their heavy handicap, to restore their
shaken self-confidence, and to train them to become
competent in their various chosen paths of life.

War clouds began to lighten and the radiant vision
of Peace dawned suddenly upon a wondering world.
The guns of battle abruptly ceased and the day for
which all had worked and prayed came with a sudden-
ness that outdistanced the expectations of the most
sanguine.

It is impossible to give an adequate idea of the
multiplicity of activities of the I.O.D.E., whose scope
was wide as the Empire. Recognition of the services
of individual chapters would be an endless task, but a
brief compilation is embodied in the following from
Headquarters Reports : —

Out of funds raised entirely by members of the
order, nineteen ambulances, three motor trucks, eight-

CANADIAN WOMEN IN THE GEEAT WAR 215

een machine-guns, two automobiles, and thirty-two
field kitchens were donated to the army. Similar un-
dertakings under other auspices have also been liber-
ally contributed to, such as the motor ambulances
from Southern Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and
the Lady Ross Fund for Ambulances. Twelve operat-
ing tables, one electrical massage apparatus, twenty-
two wheel stretchers and invalid chairs were donated
to various hospitals, and six sterilizing outfits sent to
Serbian hospital units.

Military hospitals were the object of much attention
on the part of the order, who furnished completely
thirty-six wards and endowed or equipped nine hun-
dred and forty-two beds. Three huts for convalescent
soldiers were donated and four convalescent homes
established. Twelve soldiers' and sailors' clubs and
also eleven club rooms stand to the credit of the pri-
mary chapters. Most of this work thus begun will
require continual support.

On Armistice Day, November 11th, 1918, there were
four provincial chapters, twenty-four municipal chap-
ters, six hundred and forty-two primary chapters,
eighty junior chapters, making a grand total of seven
hundred and fifty chapters in the Dominion of Canada.

Since the outbreak of war the order has followed
with keenest interest the work of the British navy,
the *^ Silent Service." The Navy League of Canada,
in recognition of the services of the I.O.D.E., many
of whose chapters record frequent and generous gifts,
recognize the local chapters of the order wherever
organized, making their officers ex-officio members of
the Navy League branch. Mrs. Gooderham, the presi-
dent, was elected to the first vice-presidency of the
Dominion Navy League. In recognition of personal
services rendered and interest generally shown in
matters pertaining to the navy, a service medal was
bestowed upon her. Why Britain Rules the Waves
was the title of a pamphlet contributed by her to the

216 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

series of valuable navy pamphlets issued by the Navy
League. Hundreds of pictures commemorating the
Empire's great naval events and innumerable gift and
prize books recording naval history have been dis-
tributed throughout the Dominion, especially in the
provinces bordering on the sea.

In addition to the funds already launched for
French Relief, a movement was set on foot to re-
establish homeless French refugees in the districts
devastated by war, to which plan Madame Chase-
Casgrain bent her energies and in the interests of
which she toured Canada. Various chapters felt that
the duty owed France was inseparably linked with the
remembrance of the men who fought and gave their
lives on the Western front. They could conceive no
more fitting memorial than the restoration of the area
laid waste by the rude hand of war. The magnificent
subscription of $10,000 from the Ontario Government
and lesser sums from a few interested individuals
opened this worthy fund. The work of restoration
and relief began and huts and houses were built and
furnished in the districts that had been laid waste by
the ruthless German army. Those who inhabit these
homes built as a gift of Canadians will learn to feel
that there exists a link of warm human understanding
between the countries whose men fought for the same
cause.

The fund grew so rapidly that it was soon possible
for the directing authorities to set aside a distinct
section in the war-swept area which was to be desig-
nated as **The Daughters of the Empire Sector.'*
The plan will be completed by placing in a church or
public building, in the restored portion, the names of
contributing chapters and individuals who relieved the
distress of living France and remembered the Cana-
dian heroes who fell fighting that the French people
might continue to enjoy the blessing of liberty.

Thus did the order help to ameliorate the lot of

V
CANADIAN WOMEN IN THE GREAT WAR 217

those sorely smitten by war and at the same time
*^to cherish the memory of brave and heroic deeds
and last resting-places of our heroes and heroines,
especially such as are in distant and solitary places,
to erect memorial stones on spots that have become
sacred to the Nation through great struggles for free-
dom and battles against ignorance, and by events of
heroic and patriotic self-sacrifice.''

The close of the Great World War did not end the
activities of the I.O.D.E. The future had to be con-
sidered and plans were laid for education along Na-
tional and Imperial lines.

This is the bond to which the order now set its
seal: That a fund be raised by the I.O.D.E. in Can-
ada to promote the educational work of the order as a
memorial to the Canadian men and women who have
died so gloriously in the defence of the Empire during
the present war, this fund to be expended in the fol-
lowing ways :

1. To found scholarships of sufficient value to pro-
vide a university education or its recognized equiva-
lent, available for and limited to the sons and daugh-
ters of: (a) a soldier or sailor or man of the Air
Force killed in action or who died from wounds or by
reason of the war prior to the declaration of Peace;
(b) the permanently disabled soldier or sailor; (c) the
soldier or sailor who, by reason of injuries received
in service overseas, dies after the declaration of Peace
while his children or any of them are of school age.
In those provinces where other organizations or in-
stitutions have made similar provision, these scholar-
ships will not be given.

2. Post-graduate scholarships from a national fund,
to be distributed among the provinces.

3. A travelling fellowship, to be competed for by
the I.O.D.E. provincial scholars.

4. A lecture foundation in Canada for the teaching
of Imperial history.

218 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

5. To place in schools selected by the Departments
of Education of every province, some of the reproduc-
tions of the series of Canadian War Memorial Pic-
tures, painted for the Dominion Government by lead-
ing artists of the Empire, to commemorate Canada's
part in the war, so that in every community the chil-
dren of Canada may be constantly reminded of the
heroic deeds of the men and women whose sacrifices
saved the Empire and its cherished institutions.

6. To promote courses of illustrated lectures, free
to the children of Canada, on the history and geogra-
phy of the Empire.

7. To place, within the next five years, in every
school in Canada, where there are children of foreign-
born parents in attendance, a Daughters of the Em-
pire historical library.

Thus will be immortalized the glorious sacrifice of
men and women, in all branches of the Service, who
exemplified a true Imperial spirit even unto death.
The pageantry of war is past, but *^ Peace hath her
victories not less renowned than war.'' Many blood-
less battles still must be waged, wherein education
should prove as effectual a weapon as did the sword
of the Allies on the battle-fields of the Great World
War.

CHAPTEE VI
THE CAMPAIGN IN NORTHERN RUSSIA^

IT was not until May, 1918, that the Entente Allies
decided to send a military expedition to Northern
Russia. Looking back over the progress of the
Russian revolution, it may seem strange that such a
decision was not arrived at many months sooner.
However, there were probably what seemed to be very
excellent reasons for the delay. Be that as it may,
the time chosen eventually was one of the most peril-
ous that confronted the Allies during the whole war.
In Russia, German propaganda had succeeded to an
amazing extent and greatly outbalanced the material
assistance which the Allies sought to render the anti-
Bolshevik forces. Following their success in demoral-
izing the Russian military power, the Germans con-
centrated their efforts on crushing the Allies on the
Western front. Their offensive, commenced in March,
was, by May, plunging its way toward Paris in a
tremendous effort to reach that goal before the
American armies in France had become sufficiently
large and well trained to constitute a serious obstacle.
The chaotic condition of Russia made it possible for
them to transfer troops from their eastern frontier to
the battle-line in France at the rate of six divisions
a month. At no other time in the whole titanic strug-
gle, with the exception of the period preceding the
Battle of the Marne, was the need of the Allies for

1 The writer acknowledges the courteous assistance rendered him
in the preparation of this article by Colonel C. H. L. Sharman,
C.M.G., C.B.E., who kindly loaned maps, diaries, reports, and
other documents relating to the campaign in Northern Russia.

219

220 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

men on the Western front more urgent. In spite of
that, however, and to some extent because of it,
drastic action with respect to Russia had become im-
perative.

The half-hearted policy of shipping munitions and
supplies to the anti-Bolshevik forces had not only-
proved entirely inadequate when matched against
German intrigue, but it had added yet another danger
to those existing already. Vast stores of Allied mu-
nitions and other war material had been collected at
the port of Archangel, on the White Sea, to assist
the loyal Russians who were offering armed resist-
ance to the baneful German influences and the Bolshe-
vik revolution. But the astonishing success of the
revolution, coupled with the apparently friendly re-
lations existing between Germany and the BolsheviM,
made it more than a possibility that the supplies at
Archangel would fall into the hands of the enemy.
Again, there was real danger that the Germans would
attempt to occupy the port of Kola, on the Murmansk
coast, for use as a submarine base. Had the enemy
secured control of that port and the railway running
south to a point near Petrograd, it would have been
possible for them to outflank the great mine barrage
that the American and British navies were construct-
ing between Scotland and Norway. Further, it was a
matter of honour, as well as of expediency, that an
earnest effort should be made to establish communi-
cations with, and to assist as much as possible, the
forces in Russia that were still loyal to the cause of
the Entente Allies.

The expeditionary force was drawn from British,
French, Italian, Serbian, Canadian, and American
units. Including the Russians who joined the force
after its debarkation, it totalled only about twenty
thousand men. Canada's initial contribution was not
large. Some fifty Canadian officers and non-commis-
sioned officers went along as instructors for the Rus-

THE CAMPAIGN IN NORTHERN RUSSIA 221

sian umts that it was proposed to recruit. These
Canadians had all seen active service in France, a
number of them from early in 1915. Their work as
instructors soon proved to be but a portion of their
duties. They were called upon to supervise the
transport of supplies on their section of the front,
and they had a hand in the fighting as well.

Both the Murmansk coast and Archangel had been
occupied by the Allies early in August. Delay in
reaching the latter place, however, enabled the Bol-
sheviki to remove practically all of the munitions and
other military supplies that had been stored there.
It was a serious and galling loss, for during the fol-
lowing winter the Bolsheviki used the guns and shells
against the Allied force.

After occupying Archangel small forces were sent
up the Dvina river and the railway connecting Arch-
angel with the trans-Siberian railway near Petrograd.
A small flanking party was sent up the Pinega river
for a few miles above its confluence with the Dvina.
The other, or western flank, had been provided for,
after the occupation of Kola, by the seizure of Kem
and Onega, on Onega bay. There were, therefore,
three main lines of advance, with the flanks at the
outset well over one hundred miles apart and about
three times that distance at the ultimate fighting
front. The railway force had met with stiff resist-
ance, but managed to advance about sixty miles to
Obosertskaya, which proved to be the farthest point
reached in that direction. The force on the Dvina had
met with greater success. With the assistance of two
monitors it was able to proceed some three hundred
miles up-stream to the junction of the Dvina and
Vaga rivers and then up each of these for forty and
seventy miles respectively. Obviously, this was a long
way to extend so small a force from its base, espe-
cially in a country more than half the inhabitants of
which were secretly, if not openly, hostile. Besides,

222 CANADA IN THE GEEAT WORLD WAR

the Bolsheviki were beginning to realize that the
forces opposed to them were not formidable and, con-
sequently, their resistance steadily increased. In
addition to rallying their land forces, they had
brought together a number of barges and steamers,
upon which they mounted field-guns and howitzers.
The Allies, therefore, decided to halt their advance
and to strengthen the positions they had already oc-
cupied, so as to be in readiness for a winter campaign.
The situation evidently caused some concern at the
British War Office, for late in August reinforcements
were ordered and Major-Greneral E. Ironside, form-
erly of the 4th Canadian Division, was made Com-
mander-in-Chief. The Canadian military authorities
sanctioned the formation and despatch, with these
reinforcements, of the 16th Brigade, Canadian Field
Artillery. Colonel C. H. L. Sharman, who was then
in charge of the Canadian Reserve Artillery at Witley,
was given command of the new brigade. His first
step was to call for volunteers from the officers and
men in the Reserve Artillery who had seen service in
France. There were plenty of applicants. Few of
the men were keen on returning to France, but they
were weary of the ennui and routine of camp life in
England, and saw in the Russian expedition an op-
portunity to vary their military careers. Major F. F.
Arnoldi, D.S.O., and Major W. C. Hyde, D.S.O., were
selected to command the two six-gun batteries. All
the combatant officers, with one exception, as well as
the gunners and a number of the signallers and driv-
ers, had seen active service in France. The others
were drawn from the Reserve Artillery, and, in spite
of their lack of experience in actual warfare, played
their part in the campaign in a very creditable manner.
To the usual establishment of an artillery brigade
headquarters was added a signal personnel corre-
sponding to an engineer signal company, but the mem-
bers were all artillery signallers who had received

THE CAMPAIGN IN NOETHEEN EUSSIA 223

their training in France early in the war. Medical,
Dental, Veterinary, Pay, and Y.M.C.A. officers were
carefully selected by their several branches of the
Service. Colonel Sharman demanded the selection
of men who, in addition to departmental fitness, were
strong, healthy, and optimistic. The wisdom of in-
sisting on these additional requirements was amply
proved during the long, trying winter campaign in
Northern Eussia. A reinforcing party of five officers
and fifty men also accompanied the brigade all the
way from England to the battery positions. They
performed very valuable services during the winter,
for during that period not a single wounded or sick
man who was once evacuated to the base ever re-
turned to the lines, owing to difficulties of transport
and other kindred reasons. The whole brigade was
given as thorough training as time permitted in the
handling of machine guns and trench mortars and
also in infantry tactics.

Although the brigade was ready to leave England
on the 7th of September, it was not until the 19th that
it entrained at Witley for Dundee, from whence it
sailed on the S.S. Stephen two days later. Some
thirteen hundred Canadian, British, and French
troops were packed in a boat which had accommoda-
tion for about two hundred. Consequently, the nine
days' voyage was extremely hard on officers and men
alike. An escort of destroyers was provided as far
as the Shetland islands, after which no other ships
appeared on the cold, deserted waters until the con-
voy had reached the Murmansk coast. Influenza and
pneumonia broke out, chiefly amongst the French
troops, and intensified the anxiety of those in charge.
The Canadians were free from sickness other than
mal de mer, a circumstance largely attributable to
regular physical drill while on shipboard and later
on when travelling on barges up the Dvina river. The
Americans, for example, had lost sixty-five men from

224 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

disease in Archangel before the end of September.
Field-guns were mounted on the forward part of the
ship for use in the event of a submarine attack, and
also to give the artillery gunners some drill in direct
ranging from the decks of a rolling steamer.

The convoy anchored in Archangel harbour on the
evening of September 30th, but the Canadians were
not disembarked until the 3rd of October. Colonel
Sharman received orders on landing to move the Ca-
nadians up the Dvina river for some three hundred
miles to support the troops that had landed two
months previously. It was necessary to obtain barges
and tugs to convey the equipment up-stream. This
was accomplished after a day's delay and the long,
tedious struggle with currents and sand-bars and
crippled tugs commenced. On the evening of the 7th,
the brigade reached Yemetskoe, a small village near
the junction of the Emtsa river with the Dvina and
about one hundred and fifty miles from Archangel.
It was near this point that two sections of the 68th
Canadian Battery, under Major Hyde, first went into
action. The Canadian military authorities had in-
tended that the 16th Brigade of Artillery should
operate as a unit. Actual conditions soon indicated
the folly of attempting that in Northern Russia. The
physical features of the country, the political tur-
moil in which the inhabitants were involved, the small
numbers of troops holding a large and semi-hostile
area, and the shortage of artillery, each and all tended
to preclude the possibility of a brigade of artillery
operating as a unit.

During the first half of October, the campaign
along the railway went badly. The Russian and
Polish artillery in that region was neither efficient nor
reliable. With a view to strengthening the position
a party of three Canadian officers and twenty-six
men were detailed from Colonel Sharman *s command
to take over the armoured train on the railway. This

THE CAMPAIGN IN NOETHERN RUSSIA 225

train had been captured intact by the British a few
weeks previously and was equipped with field-guns
and 155-ni.m. howitzers. The work of the Canadians
in that exploit called forth high commendation from
the Commander-in-Chief, and although no further
advance was made along the railway the gains al-
ready made were not again seriously questioned.

About the same period another action was carried
through between the Dvina river and the railway. Its
purpose was to outflank the Bolshevik troops along
the railway and to establish a line between it and the
river, which might be requisitioned for the transport
of supplies after the river had been frozen over. The
operation was in charge of Lieut.-Colonel Gavin,
formerly an officer of the 4th Canadian Division, and
the artillery work for the engagement was carried out
by two sections of the 68th Canadian Field Battery.

Meanwhile the remainder of the Canadian artillery
proceeded up the Dvina and reached Beresnik, near
the mouth of the Vaga river, on the 10th of October.
At that time the Bolsheviki were carrying on a de-
termined attack on the Dvina column about forty
miles farther up-stream. They had brought together
a formidable fleet of river steamers, barges, and rafts,
upon which they had mounted several field-guns,
130-m.m. guns, and 6-inch howitzers. To meet this
array of water craft the Allies had one monitor,
which was still at the confluence of the Dvina and
Vaga. At an informal council of war at which the
force commander, Lieut.-Colonel Jocelyn, the naval
officer in charge of the monitor, and Colonel Sharman
were present, it was decided to send the 67th Cana-
dian Battery up the Dvina to the support of what
was known as the River column. The section of the
68th Battery still not in action was to proceed up the
Vaga to the Vaga column — the two columns compris-
ing the ^^ Dvina force.'' Men were at once despatched
to Tulgas, a few miles up-stream and about ten miles

226 CANADA IN THE GEEAT WOELD WAE

from the front line, to purchase horses to haul the
guns. The peasants, although only recently set free
from the Bolsheviki, were unwilling to sell their
horses, but after much persuasion some twenty-eight
ponies were secured at an average price of eight hun-
dred roubles, the equivalent of about seventy-five
dollars at that time. Meanwhile the barges with the
guns of the 67th Battery proceeded to Gunner's
Bridge, a point two miles south of Tulgas, and the
scene of several local struggles during the following
months. There, all final arrangements were com-
pleted for landing, and on the night of October 13th
one barge was moved up to Selzo, where the battery
was unloaded and placed under cover, as, in daylight,
the Bolsheviki had complete observation from the
opposite bank. Eifles had been issued to every artil-
leryman and Lewis machine guns to each of the bat-
teries. This provision, so contrary to artillery regu-
lations early in the war, made it possible to save the
field-guns from capture on more than one occasion,
and enabled the gunners to give invaluable assistance
to the infantry where the latter were hard pressed.

For several days previous the infantry defences
had been subjected to such heavy shelling from the
long-range guns of the Bolsheviki that the column
commander decided to retire at once and issued
orders for the field artillery just disembarked to be
moved back to Tulgas that evening. The withdrawal
of the Eiver column, consisting of British and Amer-
icans, though necessary, was carried out with too
great haste, which resulted in the loss of considerable
quantities of supplies, and the column commander
was relieved of his position shortly after. Allied in-
fantry held the village of Kurgomen, directly across
the Dvina from Tulgas, and also the village of Topsa,
situated on a cliff about eight thousand yards from
the river. This latter position afforded an excellent
view of the Dvina valley for several miles, but it had

THE CAMPAIGN IN NOETHERN RUSSIA 227

to be abandoned for lack of a sufficient number of
troops. Guns were ferried across the river to sup-
port the infantry in the village of Kurgomen.

On the 18th of October the 68th Battery, which had
been delayed because of lack of transport, was able
to proceed up the Vaga river to Shenkursk, a journey
that occupied three days. This town was the only one
that the Canadians assisted in garrisoning in North-
ern Russia, where the citizens had taken the initiative
in driving out the Bolsheviki. A series of blockhouses
was in course of erection about the town when the
Canadians arrived and good fields of fire laid out.
Two Russian batteries were assisting to defend the
place, but their discipline was quite demoralized and
their guns and stores were in a hopeless condition, for
the Russian gunner possessed a perfect genius for
losing equipment. Both batteries were taken down-
stream to Beresnik, where an artillery school was
established for their benefit.

During the succeeding three weeks every effort was
devoted to getting ready for the winter campaign.
Trenches were dug, wire entanglements put out, and
work on log blockhouses pushed forward as quickly
as possible. In order to create some measure of
efficiency in the Russian batteries, Canadian officers
were given administrative control of them until, later
on, British liaison officers assumed this duty. Cana-
dian fitters kept all the guns in repair, — Russian as
well as Canadian, — and in the same manner Cana-
dian shoeing-smiths shod all the horses. This plan was
rather hard on the Canadian personnel, but it was the
means of keeping several guns in action during the
winter, that otherwise would have been quite useless.

In the meantime the enemy artillery had been very
active against the River column. Their gunboats had
succeeded in sinking the scow with the only 130-m.m.
gun possessed by the column. The six Canadian field-
guns were now the only artillery supporting the in-

228 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

fantry at Tulgas and Kurgomen. On Armistice day,
the Bolsheviki staged a heavy attack on the two vil-
lages. Infantry advanced along both banks of the river
and their artillery and gunboat fire swept both vil-
lages. Suddenly from out of the woods on the Tulgas
bank and only a few hundred yards from the village,
a party of some five hundred Bolsheviki rushed the
rear portion of the village, which was occupied by the
hospital. No resistance was offered and they ad-
vanced to the artillery billets. The gunners were, of
course, busy in repelling the frontal attack and were
still unaware of the danger in their rear. But a
veterinary sergeant and twenty-three drivers quickly
formed a line of defence. Although hopelessly out-
numbered, they poured a heavy rifle fire into the ranks
of the Bolsheviki. The latter wavered long enough to
make it possible to warn the Canadian gunners of
their danger. The drivers then fell back to the guns.
For nine hours the fight continued. Machine guns,
rifles, and even bombs were requisitioned. The frontal
attack kept the field-guns busy most of the day and
the machine-gun fire prevented the gunners froni
turning their guns. Finally, at dusk, two guns were
turned and gun fire at shrapnel zero was poured into
the Bolshevik ranks. In addition, high-explosive
shells were dropped into the billets which the enemy
had seized in the morning. That completed the over-
throw of the attacking force. About twenty prisoners
were taken and nearly two hundred Bolsheviki
wounded were treated in the hospital. Many other
wounded perished in the woods in an effort to escape.
It was learned by later reports that very few of the
attacking force ever rejoined their own ranks. The
policy of issuing small arms to the artillery and train-
ing the men in their use was thus clearly vindicated.

For a few days the enemy artillery continued to
pound the Tulgas position. Winter was unusually late
in setting in and their gunboats and barges, bearing

THE CAMPAIGN IN NORTHERN RUSSIA 229

guns having a range of 8,500 yards or more, came into
full view and poured 1,000 to 1,200 shells into the vil-
lage every day. The Canadians' field-guns, with a
range of only 6,000 yards, could only retaliate by
shelling the enemy infantry. By means of skilful
rapid fire, too, an e:ffort was made to puzzle the enemy
as to the number of guns in action. This ruse was
successful. A few days later a Bolshevik officer
deserter came into the Allies' lines. On being ques-
tioned, he referred to the six field-guns which the Ca-
nadians had on the Tulgas side of the river. There
were in reality but two.

News of the Armistice in France had tended to
lower the fighting spirit of the Allied troops in Rus-
sia. But this determined activity of the Bolshevik!
aroused the men and did much for Allied moral.

With the coming of winter the enemy's gunboats
retired well within their own lines. All thought of
forcing the enomy farther back had to be abandoned.
The lines of communication were already dangerously
long and further reinforcements were refused by the
War Office. In addition, the British troops on the
Dvina, although of high moral, were in a low category
physically, for they had all been casualties in France.
Throughout the winter, however, there was but little
activity on the River column front. There were occa-
sional minor bombardments, but the Allies maintained
a moral superiority which was much enhanced when
a section of British 4.5 howitzers reached the River
front in January. The shells used by these guns were
fitted with very sensitive fuses and detonated with ex-
ceptional violence. Consequently, the Bolsheviki soon
learned to have a very wholesome respect for them.

Although there were no important engagements on
this front, the critical situation on the Vaga front,
farther to the west, during the winter made it im-
perative to carry out detailed reconnaissance work
back of the lines. Positions were selected to which

230 CANADA IN THE GREAT .WORLD WAR

the several units might retire, in case either a forced
or a voluntary retreat became necessary. Ammuni-
tion was carefully distributed at such positions, so
that in case of a hasty or prolonged retirement a
minimum would be lost. Such comprehensive recon-
naissance work demonstrated that the Russian mili-
tary maps were hopelessly inaccurate and incomplete.
To remedy this, maps were prepared in the field. In
spite of a lack of proper facilities for such work,
these maps were drawn to scale and showed very
many important details that were not indicated on the
Russian maps.

The gun emplacements used during the winter were
substantially constructed of logs. They were kept as
nearly as possible at a temperature of 50 degrees F.,
in order to avoid the effects that wide variations of
temperature would have on the ammunition. The
occasional need for firing the guns in any direction
was provided for by constructing wooden tracks from
the gun-pits to open ground several yards in front, so
that the guns could be run out quickly and their fire
directed at targets on any point of the compass.

During the winter the Canadians brought three 60-
pounder howitzers from Archangel to the position oc-
cupied by the River column at Kurgomen and to the
Vaga column at Mai Beresnik. It was a task that
seemed well-nigh impossible under the conditions that
prevailed in Northern Russia. British and Allied
officers were frankly sceptical, but at the same time
it was agreed that the experience during the autumn
proved the assistance of long-range guns to be an
absolute necessity in the spring. Without them, the
Allied forces would be at the mercy of the big guns
that the Bolsheviki had mounted on their gunboats
and scows, for the breaking up of the ice in the upper
portions of the rivers would enable them to get into
action several days sooner than the British monitors
farther down-stream. Early in the winter, therefore,

THE CAMPAIGN IN NORTHEBN RUSSIA 231

Captain Gillis and a farrier sergeant, both of the 67th
Canadian Battery, were sent to Archangel to make an
attempt to bring the 60-pounders up the river. These
guns had reached Archangel in the autumn, but no
attempt had been made to send them up-stream while
the river was open, as the ammunition for them had
been lost at sea. The guns were dismantled and
divided into loads of about two tons each. Special
sleighs were constructed, and after much hard labour
two of the guns were safely transported to the River
column and mounted at Kurgomen, and a third at Mai
Beresnik, with the Vaga column. The transportation
of the ammunition was an even more nerve-trying
problem. It did not leave England until March 1st
and it required the aid of four ice-breakers to bring
the ammunition ship through the White Sea. How-
ever, excellent transport was arranged by General
Headquarters, and in nine days from the time the boat
reached Archangel, 2,500 rounds were at the guns,
three hundred miles up-stream.

If the River column was comparatively free from
attack during the winter, the Vaga column was
scarcely so fortunate. At the end of October this
force was supported by one section of the 68th Battery,
Canadian Field Artillery, some fixed defence guns
manned by Canadians, and a section of a Russian field
battery. The fighting front was about seventy miles
south of the confluence of the Vaga and Dvina in the
vicinity of the small town of Shenkursk. As on the
River front, the defences were stoutly built, log block-
houses with wire entanglements surrounding both the
infantry and artillery positions. This latter precau-
tion was rendered necessary because the infantry
force was too small to attempt any defence of the guns
in positions where attacks might break from the for-
est on any quarter at any time. Owing to successive
retreats during the winter, it was impossible for the
artillery with the Vaga column to keep its ammunition

232 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

at a uniform temperature, as was done in the excellent
blockhouses built by the River column. This caused
the cordite to deteriorate, so that it lacked uniformity
and reliability. Early in the winter an attack was
planned on a Bolshevik stronghold about fifty miles
east of Shenkursk. The little expedition was in charge
of Captain Mowat, of the 68th Battery, whose force
consisted of small parties of Cossacks and American
and Russian infantry with one 18-pounder field-gun
in support. The plan was to advance on the strong-
hold simultaneously from three sides, the Cossacks to
attack the front and the Americans and Russians the
respective flanks. Each of the parties was to notify
Captain Mowat in writing when they were ready to
proceed. The firing of the field-gun was to be the signal
to attack. The Russian infantry carried out its task,
but the Cossacks were much less steady, although
they succeeded in advancing to the outskirts of the
little town. The Americans did not advance. Instead,
they made their way to the rendezvous three miles in
the rear and from there were reported to Captain
Mowat as ready to return to Shenkursk. Captain
Mowat was thus forced to withdraw all his little force
without having captured the stronghold.

The succeeding month was quiet — ominously quiet,
for it preceded a better organized and more vigorous
series of attacks than had been made by the Bolshe-
viki up to that time. As a result, the Allies of the
Vaga column were forced back over sixty miles, to
within a short distance of the junction of the Vaga
and Dvina rivers. The enemy was completely suc-
cessful in concealing his plans. The Allies' Intelli-
gence Service was in ignorance of all the preliminary
movement of troops, guns, and ammunition that must
have been necessary, a circumstance that indicated
the difficulties of fighting in a semi-hostile country.
The first attack opened on the 18th of January.
Heavy bombardments preceded each of the infantry

THE CAMPAIGN IN NORTHERN RUSSIA 233

thrusts, for the Bolsheviki had concentrated a large
number of guns with abundant ammunition. The
troops holding the outposts a few miles south of
Shenkursk were steadily driven in by weight of num-
bers. Another field-gun, under Captain Mowat, was
moved forward to strengthen these troops, but the
gun was put out of action by shell fire and the whole
crew either killed or wounded. Captain Mowat, who
was among the wounded, died a few days later. Shen-
kursk had to be abandoned after being badly wrecked
by shell fire, for the Bolsheviki were surrounding the
town with an overwhelming number of infantry and
almost succeeded in capturing the entire Allied force
at that point. One complete company of Russians
deserted in a body during the progress of the attack.
The Russian aviators did excellent service. In spite
of heavy casualties and weather about forty degrees
below zero, they flew low over the enemy troops, pour-
ing machine-gun fire into their ranks as well as bring-
ing back very valuable information.

The column fell back some twenty-five miles to She-
govari, whither quantities of blankets, food, and other
supplies were rushed from points further down the
river. As Colonel Sharman was temporarily in com-
mand of the column during the absence of the com-
mander at that time, he was prevented by the urgency
of events from visiting his own brigade headquarters
at Piander, a few miles below the junction of the
Dvina and Vaga rivers, for several days. The Cana-
dians there, acting on their own initiative, therefore
organized a refugee relief station, which performed
a fine service in assisting the starving and freezing
inhabitants who had been forced from their homes by
the enemy.

For some weeks the enemy did not press their ad-
vantage other than to bombard the Allied positions
at intervals. This lull made it possible to strengthen
defences and to generally re-align the troops and the

234 CANADA IN THE GEEAT WORLD WAR

officers for the next attack. One of the British 4.5
howitzers was moved from the River to the Vaga col-
mnn during this period.

Late in February the Bolsheviki again launched an
attack, preceded by a heavy and remarkably accurate
artillery fire. The entire force at Vistafka was sur-
rounded and the Canadian gunners resorted to rifles
and machine guns to defend their positions. The en-
emy were finally forced back in the rear and communi-
cation was re-established. But they were successful
in driving in the frontal defences. An emergency
section of mountain guns manned by Canadian and
Russian gunners had to be abandoned on the position
being evacuated by command of the British officer in
charge. Vistafka was evacuated and a position taken
up farther to the rear. Fighting continued at inter-
vals during which the new position was destroyed by
shell fire and a further retirement of about ten miles
was made necessary. This proved to be the last impor-
tant attack during the winter. It was learned some
weeks later that the enemy losses had been so serious
that their troops refused to continue on the offensive.
It had been anticipated that as soon as the ice moved in
the upper river in the spring the enemy would bring
their water craft into action in an attempt to force
a decision before the Allies' gunboats and monitors
could ascend the river. Consequently everything pos-
sible had been done to prepare for a defensive fight
during that period. However, on the night that the
ice went out of the Dvina, the infantry at Tulgas,
which was exclusively Russian, killed many of their
officers and handed the town over to the enemy. The
Russian artillery at Tulgas remained loyal and even
turned their guns on the mutinous infantry that de-
serted to the enemy ranks. Help could not be brought
across the river because of the moving ice, but a
covering artillery fire from the opposite bank enabled
the Russian artillery to withdraw seven miles to Shu-

THE CAMPAIGN IN NORTHERN RUSSIA 235

shega, where they were under the protection of the
artillery at Pless and also where they could receive
infantry support. However, the enemy held Tulgas,
from which they had easy observation of the Allies'
position in Kurgomen. Their artillery observers took
every advantage of this and their guns poured a
heavy fire into the Kurgomen defences. Fortunately,
the Canadian gun positions were exceptionally strong
and were able to withstand the bombardment remark-
ably well. The 60-pounder howitzers received much
attention from the 130-m.m. guns of the enemy fleet,
but by almost continuous firing they were able to keep
the water craft of the Bolsheviki from closing to de-
cisive range. Major Arnoldi's brilliant handling of
the guns at his disposal kept the casualties reduced to
a minimum. With the arrival of the British monitors
and gunboats the situation cleared materially, but it
was evident to the officers on the ground that Tulgas
should be captured. Strict orders had been issued to
the force commander not to undertake any offensive
until July, when it was intended to carry out a heavy
attack. To avoid clashing with these orders, it was
resolved that the task of seizing Tulgas should be
attempted under the guise of ** Artillery Instruction. ' '
Colonel Sharman was given command of both the
land forces and the British naval units operating on
the Dvina above the Vaga. The whole plan of attack
was carefully studied and rehearsed in part, so that it
was perfectly clear to each of the officers in charge.
Heavy bombardments were to precede each advance
of the infantry and the monitors were to keep the
enemy fleet at a distance. Unfortunately, the naval
guns used by the Bolsheviki outranged those of the
British, as the deck fittings of the latter prevented
them from getting sufficient elevation for their guns.
Moreover the British naval gunners were not well
trained in indirect ranging. However, the latter diffi-
culty was mastered by giving the naval gunners artil-

236 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

lery practice and the range of the monitors was in-
creased by flooding the starboard side, which of
course gave the guns added elevation. With these
changes the tables were turned and the enemy fleet
was forced to retire. The artillery poured a most
searching fire into the enemy position as planned and
the Tulgas villages were reoccupied by the infantry
without a single casualty. This remarkable demon-
stration changed the whole attitude of the enemy on
the Dvina river front. Their aggressive attitude of a
week before disappeared and an unusually large num-
ber of deserters found their way into the Allied lines.
The position was thus firmly held when the Canadians
were relieved toward the end of May.

Not to be outdone by the River column, the Vaga
column decided to carry out an attack on the enemy
in front of Mai Beresnik. In the raid that resulted,
they captured two officers and seventy-nine other
raiis, without suffering any casualties themselves.

During the long winter the little party of Canadians
with the Murmansk forces had led an active life.
They were under the command of Colonel Leckie, who
had charge of the greater portion of the forward area
that centred on Onega bay. They did not encounter
the exhausting forced marches, the heavy manual
labour, the fierce battles with the enemy, generally
against heavy odds, such as confronted their fellow
Canadians who were with the Dvina and Vaga
forces. But they performed valuable service as
instructors, as supervisors of supply convoys, and as
moving spirits in numerous minor raids on the enemy.
By the end of April, 1919, the troops on the Mur-
mansk front were disgruntled and dissatisfied. Cer-
tain of the Allied troops claimed that they had not
been sent to Russia to fight, but to carry on propa-
ganda amongst the Russians. This they attempted to
do, their officers actually exchanging literature with
the officers of the Bolsheviki forces when in the fight-

THE CAMPAIGN IN NORTHEEN RUSSIA 23?

ing line. Naturally such conduct lowered the moral
of the whole force. The Canadians had 'opportunities
for combatting this evil, for they supplied ^^stiffen-
ing'' for many local encounters, and the Russians who
were with the Allied forces asserted that they felt
more confident when the Canadians were present.
They were the last of the Canadians to leave Russia,
spending the greater portion of the summer in the
region about lake Onega.

The Canadians of the River and Vaga columns were
relieved by British troops early in June and on the
afternoon of the 7th they embarked on scows at a
village near the mouth of the Vaga, for the voyage
down-stream to Archangel, where they arrived the
evening of the following day. Before embarking on
the S.S. Czaritza for England, General Ironside ex-
pressed to the Canadian artillery his deep apprecia-
tion of the services of the Canadians, and on the oc-
casion of a small dinner for some of the officers, the
Base Commandant, General Crosby, stated : '^We
shall probably never meet again; but never forget
that we know your boys saved the situation for us
time and again and shall always remember the Cana-
dian Field Artillery and be grateful to them.''

Colonel Sharman received the C.M.G. and Major
Arnoldi a bar to his D.S.O. Seven officers received
the M.C. and over fifty other British decorations were
given to members of other ranks.

The Governor-General of North Russia, before bid-
ding an official farewell to the brigade, presented
every officer, who had not already received one, with
a Russian military decoration. In addition, he paid
the Canadians an even more unique compliment by
presenting ten St. George Crosses (the Russian equiv-
alent to the Victoria Cross) and ten St. George Med-
als to the twenty bravest men in the brigade. No
other soldier of the Allies had up to that time been
given a St. George Cross or Medal for services in

238 CANADA IN THE GEEAT WORLD WAR

Northern Russia. With a nice sense of the honour
thus done the Canadians, the Russian custom of se-
lecting the men who should receive the coveted dec-
orations was followed, that is, the men themselves
were allowed to select the twenty bravest among them.
In all, forty-eight Russian decorations were bestowed
upon the members of the Canadian Field Artillery.

Seven months to the day after Germany signed the
Armistice with the Allies, the 16th Canadian Artillery
Brigade and their gallant comrades in the lonely epic
struggles in the forests of Northern Russia, the Royal
Scots, sailed from Archangel for Scotland, arriving
at Leith on the 19th of June, 1919.

Another development of the Russian situation was
the Allied decision to send a force to Siberia in the
autumn of 1918. The primary reason for this move
was the relief of some four thousand Czecho-Slovaks
who had worked their way across Siberia as far as
lake Baikal. There they were surrounded by Bolshe-
vik forces and prevented from proceeding to Vladi-
vostok, where they had planned to embark for the
Western front. Had the war continued into 1919, it
is conceivable that a strong Allied force in Siberia
would have been of considerable military value.

The expedition was comprised of units from all the
Allied nations, but the Canadians constituted nearly
three-fourths of the British quota. The Canadians
totalled 4,188 of all ranks and were under the command
of Brigadier-General J. H. Elmsley, C.B., C.M.G.,
D.S.O. Practically every arm of the Service was rep-
resented, but two battalions of infantry made up more
than half of the force. The first convoy left Canada
on the 11th of October, 1918, just one month before
the signing of the Armistice, and the last on the 27th
of March, 1919.

The relief of the Czecho-Slovaks was accomplished
before the Canadians reached Vladivostok. Moreover,

THE CAMPAIGN IN NOETHEEN EUSSIA 23»

the signing of the Armistice cancelled any further
military reasons for the presence of Allied troops in
Enssian territory. Nevertheless, some 3,500 of the
Canadians were despatched after the 11th of Novem-
ber, 1918.

The only casualties suffered by the Canadian Ex-
peditionary Force to Siberia were three accidentally
killed and sixteen deaths from disease. The force,
with the exception of a few stragglers, was returned
to Canada between the 9th of April and the end of
June, 1919.

CHAPTER VII
DEMOBILIZATION

WHEN the Armistice was signed there were
overseas 277,439 Canadian troops. Approx-
imately two-thirds of these were in France
and Belgium and the remainder in England. The de-
cision to demobilize was reached within two days
after hostilities ceased, and the British Ministry of
Shipping at that time communicated to th« Ministry
of the Canadian Overseas Forces an offer to provide
ships for the return of troops to Canada at once. The
first large party of Canadian troops to return left the
United Kingdom on the 23rd of November, when the
Aquitania brought thirty-nine hundred soldiers and
fifty-one dependents to Halifax. Five days earlier
the instructions for the demobilization of the forces
in Canada had been published in orders.

Demobilization was begun quickly and carried
through with creditable speed. It was thought in ad-
vance that the process would take at least eighteen
months, while as a matter of fact nine-tenths of the
troops were back within half that period. Prepara-
tions for the process were not, however, made in a
night. As early. as December, 1916, the Deputy Min-
ister of Militia and Defence, Major-General Sir
Eugene Fiset, proposed the appointment of a general
officer in charge of repatriation, whose duties were to
include ^^all that pertains to demobilization.'' This
recommendation was not put into effect at the time,
240

DEMOBILIZATION 24i

but consultations then begun led directly to tlie draw-
ing up of the plans for the dispersal of the Canadian
Expeditionary Force.

The consultations and discussions which followed
were conducted in part at Ottawa, in part with the
officers of the Ministry of the Overseas Military
Forces of Canada, and in part with the Imperial au-
thorities. The first-fruit of these discussions was the
adoption of an Order-in-Council which laid the basis
of the system that was put into operation immediately
following the Armistice. The main principle then
decided was that each soldier should be allowed to
choose his destination in Canada on his return. This
involved the reorganization of the C. E. F. units ac-
cording to the destination of their members and the
division of the Dominion into dispersal areas, each
with its dispersal centre, at which the soldiers for des-
tinations within that area could be discharged. In
selecting these dispersal areas, the Mihtary Districts
were retained as a basis, though it was found neces-
sary to divide them for convenience in dispersal.
Some of the Military Districts were given two or
three dispersal centres, while others were limited to
a single centre. In all there were twenty-two dis-
persal centres, stretching from Halifax to Victoria.

This Order-in-Council also laid down the principle
that men with the longest service should come home
first; but this principle was modified in several ways.
It was modified as a result of the decision to bring the
troops of the Canadian Corps home in the units in
which they had fought. It was modified by a priority
given to married men and to widowers with children.
The duration of the war from August 4th, 1914, to the
end of 1918 was divided into seventeen periods, and
two groups of soldiers were assigned to each period.
The first seventeen groups were composed of married
men and of widowers with children; and the last
seventeen of single men and of widowers without

242 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

children. Those with dependents were given the first
opportunity to come home, but as among married men
or as among single men, the man with longest service
came home first.

Plans were made, in Canada as in England, to
bring home the troops in accordance with the need for
them in industrial or agricultural life. In both in-
stances it was found impracticable to adhere to these
plans, though they were probably followed to a greater
extent in the United Kingdom than with us. As far
as Canada is concerned, it may be safely added that
little was lost by surrendering them, although on
economic grounds discharge by occupations would ap-
pear to be desirable. The object of occupational dis-
charge was, of course, to prevent a glut of the labour
market; and this Canada did not suffer from during
the year of demobilization. What saved us from such
a cataFi'rophe was probably that the troops came
home, the ^^peak load'^ at least, in summer, when the
demand for labour is at its greatest; and this saving
influence was powerfully supported by the grant of
a War Savings Gratuity and by the assistance given
to returned men by the Department of Soldiers' Civil
Re-establishment, the Soldier Settlement Board, and
the Board of Pension Commissioners.

The decision to set aside the plans for discharge by
occupations was brought about by representations on
the part of Sir Arthur Currie of the desire of the
Canadian Corps to come home in the units in which
they had fought. Such a desire is natural enough to
troops at all times, and it was greatly intensified by
the victories of the last One Hundred Days. It was
estimated at the time that the units of the corps
would number about one hundred thousand men; but
as it turned out they did not number much over sixty
thousand. The strength of the divisions and of the
other units of the corps, as they came home, is as
follows ; —

^'M^S^'*:;

DEMOBILIZATION 243

OFFICERS OTHER RANKS

First Division 538 11,671

Second Division 669 12,861

Third Division 452 9,427

Fourth Division 606 13,128

Corps troops and Line of Communi-
cation units 214 4,444

Heavy and Siege Artillery Ill 2,470

Cavalry Brigade 77 1,162

Total 2,667 55,163

These figures give a total of 57,830. In addition
there is an allowance to be made for certain units for
which the records are not at present available; but
even with these included the figure is not likely to go
much over sixty thousand.

The divisions were not brought home in the exact
order in which they were raised, although an effort
was made to follow this plan as far as possible. At
the time the decision was reached to bring the corps
home by units, the 1st and 2nd Divisions were on
their way to the Ehine, where they occupied half the
bridge-head held by the British Empire. The choice
then lay between the 3rd and 4th, and, as Sir Arthur
Currie explained in a letter read to the House of
Commons, the 3rd had been first organized and there-
fore he selected it. It may be remarked in addition
that included in the 3rd Division were the *^ Princess
Pats,'^ the first Canadian battalion to come under fire
in France. The 3rd Division came home in March,
the first party of troops belonging to it embarking on
March 1st. It was followed by the 1st Division, which
began to embark for Canada on March 27th. The 2nd
Division sailed for home on May 1st, and the 4th
began embarkation in the last week of the same
month.

The Canadian Corps, some sixty thousand strong,
came home in their fighting units and in their fighting
kit, and the remaining three-quarters of the Canadian
Expeditionary Force in dispersal drafts. For both

244 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

mucli the same procedure had to be gone through and
the same records taken. When the demobihzation
order was issued, the troops were scattered in various
base camps in England and in France from Boulogne to
the front, with some units in the Vosges and others near
Bordeaux. All troops were concentrated in the Cana-
dian camps in England to be prepared for home-
coming, and organized according to dispersal areas.
This applied to corps units as to all other troops.
Members of a corps unit who chose a destination
other than within the dispersal area to which the unit
was proceeding, did not go forward with the unit un-
less their destination was west of the centre at which the
unit was to be dispersed. A member of a corps unit
who chose to go home in a dispersal draft was quite
at liberty to do so. The same liberty of choice was
given to every soldier. He picked out his destination
in Canada or the United States and he was provided
Avith transportation to that point. The result was
that units and reinforcements alike were subject to
reconstruction according to the destinations chosen
by the men. For the troops in France (152,264), units
and reinforcements, this reconstruction was made in
France, and they arrived in England arranged ac-
cording to dispersal areas. For the troops in Eng-
land (123,024), it was done at the base camp of the
unit, which in turn became the concentration camp.

Of the Canadian troops in France at the time of the
Armistice, the 3rd Division was at Mons, having en-
tered that famous town on the morning of the signing
of the terms of truce, and the other divisions and re-
inforcements were behind upon the lines of communi-
cation. Demobilization did not at first affect the corps
itself, but certain non-fighting categories. Documents
for men of **B'' category were almost immediately
ordered from the Canadian Record Office in London,
and on the fourth of December a record office was
opened at Etaples for the purpose of demobilization.

DEMOBILIZATION 245

Five days later the General Officer Commanding of
the Canadian Section at the General Headquarters
was given instructions for the repatriation to England
of the troops on the lines of communication, with
directions to co-operate in the demobilization of the
troops composing the corps. On December 20th a
concentration camp was authorized for the Canadian
troops in France, and shortly afterwards a record
office was opened at Havre, from which port Canadian
troops embarked for the British Isles. Here early in
January an embarkation camp was established,
through which passed the great bulk of the Canadian
forces in France. By the end of December, 1918, ten
thousand Canadian troops, consisting of *^B'' cate-
gory men, casuals and ambulance cases, had been sent
to the concentration camps in England.

The Canadian concentration camp in France in
fact never came into actual operation, its place being
taken by the embarkation camp at Havre. The rea-
son for this alteration in plans was the decision that
the corps should return to Canada in the units in
which they had fought and that they should be given
the right to visit the British Isles before sailing for
home. The concentration camp was, however, par-
tially organized at Aubin St. Vaast, which was the
site of the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp, the
intention being that this camp, which had fed rein-
forcements to the front line, should receive the troops
of the four divisions back from the front and send
them on their way to Canada. During January it was
decided to move the camp to England, where it was
set up in the Bramshott and Witley areas in time to
receive the 3rd Division on its arrival in February.

On February 2nd the ^^ Princess Pats'' and the
Royal Canadians, the vanguard of the 3rd Divi-
sion, began to arrive at the embarkation camp at
Havre. The decision to demobilize the 3rd Divi-
sion first of the corps was reached in December;

246 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

but its transport was delayed by congestion on the
railways owing to the necessity of conveying food
and clothing to the Army of Occupation, and in
the meantime repatriation of the forestry and rail-
way troops was begun. The forestry troops began to
arrive at Havre on the first of January; and the
movement of these and of the railway troops con-
tinued all this month and the next, being practically
concluded by the end of February. In the interval
the 3rd Division had been concentrated in the Lille-
Tournai area, where they had been documented and
prepared for demobilization.

The demobilization of the 3rd Division was carried
out by units without regrouping according to dis-
persal area. The other three divisions were re-
arranged in France on the dispersal area basis. The
corps troops, that is, arms attached to the corps gen-
erally, the Fifth Divisional Artillery, and the Cana-
dian Cavalry Brigade, were handled under the same
system as the 3rd Division. In all instances, the unit
formation was retained; but in the case of the 1st,
2nd, and 4th Divisions there was a reallotment of
troops among the units in accordance with the dis-
persal area to which each soldier was returning. The
reallotment and documentation, as far as was practi-
cable, were performed in the concentration area of the
unit, and from this point it proceeded by train to the
embarkation camp at Havre. The 3rd Division
passed through Havre in the month of February, and
the 4th, the last to leave, in the early part of May. In
the intervals between the movement of the divisions
were handled the corps troops, who sailed for Eng-
land in ^ ^ flights ' ' at the rate of approximately a thou-
sand a day.

Apart from the main operation of despatching the
four divisions and the corps troops to England, a
number of difficult problems of detail had to be
worked out by the officer of the Adjutant-General's

BRIG.-GEN. F. W. HILL, C.B., C.M.G., BKlu.-GEN. J. M. ROSS, C.M.G.,
D.S.O. D.S.O.

MAJ.-GEN. H. D. B. KETCHEN, C.B., C.M.G.
BRIG.-GEN. D. C. DRAPER, C.M.G., BRIG.-GEN. H. A. PANET, C.B.,

D.S.O. C.M.G., D.S.O.

CANADIAN GENERALS

DEMOBILIZATION 247

branch in charge of what are known as ** personal
services/' One of these was the recall of Canadian
officers and other ranks who were seconded or attached
to the Imperial forces. These were called back to the
Canadian forces as soon as the exigencies of the
Army of Occupation would allow; and came back to
Canada in dispersal drafts in the same manner as the
members of the C.E.F. In addition to these there
were a considerable body of Canadians who had ac-
cepted commissions or had enlisted in the British
army. These were repatriated to Canada, not by the
Canadian, but by the Imperial Government; but they
returned to the Dominion on the Canadian troop-
ships. Some of the Canadian soldiers had been
joined in France by their families ; others were given
permission to marry in France or Belgium. These
dependents were brought to their new home in Can-
ada by the Canadian authorities; and between the
15th of March and the 10th of June two hundred and
sixty-two families of other ranks were collected by
** personal services'' and sailed from Havre for Bux-
ton in England, whence they were returned to Canada
in company with the dependents of Canadian soldiers
in the United Kingdom.

In order to release all personnel of the Canadian
Expeditionary Force in France it was necessary to
provide for the care of Canadian equipment. For
this purpose an arrangement was made with the Brit-
ish army, which took over all ordnance equipment, in-
cluding mechanical transport. The horse transport
of the Canadian forces was disposed of to the Belgian
Government. The Belgian Government made use of
some of the horses for its cavalry, but the larger part
were in turn sold to farmers and others who required
horses throughout the country. A large number of
animals belonging to the British army were likewise
sold in Belgium.

At the embarkation camp at Havre, through which

248 ^ CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

nearly all the Canadian troops moved to England,
special efforts were made for the comfort and enter-
tainment of the men. Games, amusements, and phys-
ical training were organized, and there was accommo-
dation which enabled all the men in the camp to be
under cover at one time without being confined to
their sleeping quarters. ** Great satisfaction,'' says
an official report on the subject, ^*was obtained from
an airship hangar which was kindly lent to us by
the French Admiralty and in which it was possible to
carry on all kinds of games and physical exercise
which the winter weather and lack of suitable grounds
would otherwise have rendered either unpleasant or
impossible. . . . The work done by various voluntary
t^-ganizations, the Canadian Y.M.C.A., the Catholic
Army Huts, and the Salvation Army, was also of the
highest value in keeping the transient personnel con-
tented and comfortable during their stay at Havre.''
Troops embarked at Havre and, after a ten-hour
voyage, disembarked at Weymouth, whence they were
transported by train to the Canadian concentration
camps in England.

These Canadian concentration camps in England
occupied a vital place in the demobilization machinery.
If the work of the C.C.C, as they were called in offi-
cial documents, was well done, it went a long way to
ensuring a speedy and comfortable discharge; and if
not, there was sure to be trouble and delay. There
were in all in England nine concentration camps, but
all were not in operation throughout the whole period
of demobilization. The four divisions of the corps
were concentrated at Bramshott and Witley. The
corps artillery came to Witley; the corps engineers
went to Seaford; the cavalry and cyclists to Ripon;
and the medical corps to Shorncliife. At Purfleet
gathered the railway battalions; and the forestry at
Sunningdale. Buxton was a special concentration
camp for soldiers who had dependents. Kirkdale was

DEMOBILIZATION 249

the centre at which the Medical Services prepared
convalescents for embarkation. Kinmel Park was a
^'staging camp'^ for troops, in both France and Eng-
land, who were not attached to the corps and who
came there to await shipping accommodation.

The concentration camps were divided into ^^ wings,''
twenty-two in number, corresponding to the twenty-
two dispersal areas into which the Dominion was
divided. On arrival at the concentration camp the
troops were sent to the **wing" which prepared
drafts for the dispersal area to which they were pro-
ceeding. On his first day at the camp the soldier
filled out his application for war service gratuity, a
document which called for answers to twenty ques-
tions, some of them involving a good deal of detail,
which had to be sworn to before a commissioner for
the administration of oaths. On his second day he
registered his name for the purpose of having his
documents completed, a process which involved the
compilation of the man's history since he joined the
army; and on the same day he paraded before the
medical officer of his unit or draft as a preliminary
for being passed upon by a medical board on the day
following. On the fourth day he had a dental board,
was issued with any clothing or equipment which he
needed, and was given an issue of pay for his fur-
lough. On the fifth day he proceeded on two weeks'
leave, at the end of which he reported and was posted
to the shipping company to await a sailing. As soon
as a sailing was assured, each soldier was given an
embarkation card which entitled him to a berth on
shipboard.

The medical board, before which each officer and
other rank appeared at the concentration camp, sat
for the purpose of establishing his physical condition
at the time of discharge. On this depended his claim
for pension or for assistance on the part of the De-
partment of Soldiers' Civil Ee-establishment. These

250 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

boards were conducted with an effort to combine
thoroughness in examination (according to insurance
standards) with rapidity in operation. The prelim-
inary examination which every soldier underwent at
the hands of the M.O. of his unit was instituted with
the object of saving the time of the medical boards.
If the unit M.O. found that the soldier was in good con-
dition and had suffered no disability during the war,
he was given what was called a * * short board. ' ' This
meant that a short form of medical history sheet was
filled out for him; and it implied that he was not
eligible for a pension. If he was found to be suffer-
ing from a disability or if his health was in any man-
ner affected, he was put through a detailed examina-
tion and given what was called a **long board,'' a
sheet being filled out which gave full information as
to his medical history and his condition at the time of
the examination. Where the soldier was suffering
from a serious disability, he was examined by a spe-
cialist. Some curious tests were employed by the
medical officers. In order to promote rapidity in
handling the men, thirty had their hearing tested at
once, the men standing on the chalk line of a circle
drawn around the M.O. A soldier who failed to re-
spond to a command given in a low tone was sent be-
fore an aurist. For other conditions other tests were
adopted. An injured knee joint was carefully meas-
ured and the angle of flexion was recorded in the
medical report. A man who had lost part of two fin-
gers and had had his elbow injured, had his power to
**grip" measured as a percentage of the **grip" of
the other hand.

The record of the proceedings of the medical board
was one of the most important of the documents in-
cluded in the compilation of the history of the sol-
dier's life in the army. It was, however, only one of
a lucky thirteen which were necessary to his dis-
charge. The foundation of all was the attestation

BRIG.-GEN. D. M. HOGARTH, BRIG.-GEN. R. W. PATTERSON^

D.S.O. C.M.G., D.S.O.

BRIG.-GEN. H. E. MACDONALD, D.S.O.

BRIG.-GEN. J. S. STEWART, BRIG.-GEN. J. H. MACBRIEN,

C.M.G., D.S.O. C.M.G., D.S.O.

CANADIAN GENERALS

DEMOBILIZATION 251

paper, which the soldier signed on entering the army.
For the volunteer, — and five-sixths of the Canadian
Expeditionary Force were volunteers, — this attesta-
tion paper suppHed the authority under which he was
held in the army. For the soldier who was drafted
under the Military Service Act, the place of the
attestation paper was taken by the particulars of re-
cruit. This was a much less important document
than the attestation paper, for the drafted man was
held under the authority of the M.S. A., while the vol-
unteer owed obedience to his superior officers because
he had made a contract to serve the King for the
period of the war and for six months thereafter. At
the time of the soldier's entry into the army, in ad-
dition to his attestation paper or particulars of re-
cruit, there were also opened for him a medical his-
tory sheet, a dental history sheet, a casualty form, and
two conduct sheets, one for his company and the other
for his battalion. The medical and the dental history
sheets contained, as their names indicate, a record of
his condition and of treatments received. The con-
duct sheet told the story of his behaviour in the army ;
a ** clean sheet'' was the best record a man could have.
The casualty form was one of the most important
documents in the dossier. It contained a record of all
his promotions or reductions or transfers; in short,
of his *^ casualties" or of anything which affected his
pay or service. All these documents had gone over-
seas with the soldier and they all had to be collected
at the concentration camp and enclosed in the sol-
dier's file. The conduct sheets were not essential, for
their place had in the meantime been taken by a field
conduct sheet, which contained the record of the
man's *^ conduct" on active service; this was essential.
All these documents came with the soldier to the
concentration camp or else they had to be collected
and brought there. At the camp seven other docu-
ments had to be created. The proceedings of the

252 CANADA IN THE GREAT WOELD WAR

medical board have already been mentioned. Corre-
sponding to its report there was for the Dental Serv-
ices a document known as * * dental examination on dis-
charge, ' ' which was accompanied by a * ' dental certifi-
cate on discharge'' where the soldier was entitled to
further dental treatment in Canada. An ** equipment
and clothing statement ' ' was prepared by the Quarter-
master-GeneraPs Branch, showing what issues of
clothing or equipment had been made to him. A dis-
persal certificate was made out as authority for send-
ing the soldier back to Canada. The discharge certifi-
cate, the document which finally turned the soldier
into a civilian, was prepared in duplicate, one copy
on parchment for the soldier and one on less expen-
sive paper for the official records. A cover for all the
documents, called ^ * proceedings on discharge," con-
tained a record of the soldier's identity and of the
authority for his discharge — which after the Armis-
tice was ^^demobilization," ** medically unfit," or
^* misconduct."

In this account of the ** documentation" of the sol-
dier one important item has been omitted; that is
the record of his pay, and for this record two doc-
uments had to be completed. The first was his pay
book, which he had carried with him at all times, even
in hospital This was virtually his bank book, and it
was made up for him at the concentration camp. In
addition to the pay book the paymaster at the camp
also handed to the soldier a last pay certificate. This
certificate was prepared in London and contained a
statement of the account between the soldier and the
army up to the date at which he was expected to sail
for Canada. This pay certificate was handed to the
soldier for his examination, and for his signature if
he accepted it as correct. If he did not accept it as
correct, it was open to him to refuse to sign it. As a
matter of fact, the soldiers did not refuse to sign ; but
their signature did not prevent them from raising the

DEMOBILIZATION 253

issue after they were safe in Canada, if they were not
satisfied with the account. The Paymaster-General
in Canada recognized that soldiers would sign any
document put before them in order to get home; and
while he did not recognize any claims for more money
which were not well proven, he did not attempt to
hold the soldiers to the letter of their signatures
given in the United Kingdom.

This system of documentation has served a four-
fold purpose. During the war it supplied the means
by which track was kept of the forces available and
was the basis of the statistics on which the Com-
mander-in-Chief depended in making his plans for
action. During demobilization and afterwards it pro-
vided protection for the public treasury against un-
worthy claims for pensions or for medical care at
public expense ; in this light the cost of the upkeep of
the Eecord Office (where the soldier's documents are
kept) is in the nature of an insurance premium. The
same records are frequently of direct and material
value to the soldier himself, for the information avail-
able at the Eecord Office may enable him to prove a
claim against an insurance company; and it is on the
basis of these records that his claim to a war service
badge, certificate, decoration, or war service gratuity
has been and is still being decided. For the purpose
of demobilization itself the system of documentation
was of value, because in the long run it facilitated)
and did not delay discharge.

Having been ^^ documented'' and ** medically
boarded" and having had his furlough and being in
possession of an embarkation card, the returning sol-
dier left the concentration camp for the seaport at
which he was to embark for Canada. Up to the time
he went on shipboard he was under the authority of
the Minister of the Overseas Military Forces of Can-
ada ; but once on board ship he passed again under the
control of the Department of Militia and Defence,

254 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

Canada, with headquarters at Ottawa. Representing
the Minister of Militia on board ship was the officer
commanding the permanent conducting staff. The
permanent conducting staffs, of which there were
thirty in commission at the **peak load'' of the troop
movement, were first established in the winter of 1918
to supervise the conducting of drafts to the training
camps in England. They proved their worth in this
service, for they supplied an element of discipline
which it had been impossible to secure while the officer
commanding had been the senior officer among the
officers commanding the drafts and had therefore
changed with every ship. The officers commanding
the permanent conducting staffs had an opportunity
to become familiar with their duties and so discipline
improved under their authority. Each staff, under
the officer commanding, consisted of an adjutant, a
medical officer, a paymaster, a sergeant-major, an
orderly room sergeant and orderly room clerk, and
two pay clerks. Later the medical staff was strength-
ened by the addition of a second officer; while the
medical officers were assisted by a staff of nurses, the
staff varying in size with the number of troops on
board ship. Attached to the staff during demobiliza-
tion was a representative of the Department of Sol-
diers' Civil Re-establishment and a representative of
the Y.M.C.A. with honorary military rank. A chaplain,
too, was usually attached, but, as chaplains were se-
lected from among those returning for demobilization,
there was not always one available, and sometimes
there were three or four on board.

The voyage was a busy time for the conducting staff.
In addition to the problem of discipline, every man's
documents had to be checked and a new pay book
made out, no small task when there were five thousand
men on board. The new pay book was an innovation
made for demobilization. Under the old system the
soldier's pay book had shown only one side of his

DEMOBILIZATION 255

account. It had had entered in it only the payments
made to him; there was no provision for the entry of
credits, of which he was expected to keep track him-
self. The new pay book, which was handed to the
troops on shipboard, however, had in it columns for
the entry of credits, for cash payments, for deferred
pay, for assigned pay, and for the balance, debit or
credit. The new pay book, in fact, gave the soldier
fuller details of his account than are given to de-
positors in savings banks. These books were made
out on shipboard and in addition the last pay certifi-
cate, prepared at the concentration camp, was entered
up to the date at which the soldier was to be dis-
charged. At the concentration camp the soldier's
account had been made up to the date at which he was
to leave England and he had been given pay before
going on furlough. When he came on shipboard he
received one pound as boat expense money and during
the voyage he was handed a train expense card to
be exchanged for five dollars on leaving the ship. The
conducting paymaster on board took the balance of
the man's account as he left England as his starting
point, — this might include entries, called ^* endorse-
ments," of extra allowance issued on account of delay
in the sailing of a troop-ship, — and with that balance
made up a statement of the account as it would stand
on his arrival at the dispersal station. This account
included, besides the balance, on the credit side his
pay and allowances to the expected date of discharge,
a civilian clothing allowance of thirty-five dollars,
and the first instalment of war service gratuity, which
was a minimum of seventy dollars. On the debit side
would be shown the boat and train expense money,
the man's assigned pay to the date of discharge, and
the amount of a cheque for the balance, the cheque
being issued to him at the dispersal station. No sol-
dier was allowed to leave the army with less than
seventy dollars, unless the paymaster knew that there

256 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

was a debit balance against him larger than the total
amount of war service gratuity due to him. The last
pay certificate, as just described, was handed to the
soldier on board ship, and he was given an opportu-
nity of asking for any explanations which he desired.
If he found the statement satisfactory, his account
was considered settled; if not, any points in dispute
were referred to the Paymaster-General at Ottawa.
The last pay certificate was in duplicate, one copy
going forward with the man's documents to the dis-
persal station, the other being retained by the con-
ducting paymaster and sent on to Ottawa through the
chief conducting paymaster at the clearing depot.

The clearing depots — situated at Quebec, Halifax,
and St. John — were at the centre of the whole scheme
of demobilization. Situated at the seaports in Can-
ada, they welcomed the returning soldiers after their
voyage and sent them on their way, either to their
homes or to the dispersal stations, where they re-
ceived their discharge from the army. In the case of
the great body of the troops the clearing services
merely ^^ cleared'' the way for the soldiers into the
interior of the Dominion, leaving the discharge to be
given at the dispersal stations. Those troops, how-
ever, who came home accompanied by their dependents,
were given their discharge at the clearing depot and
went on their way as civilians. Towards the end of
the demobilization period, when there were few sol-
diers to be handled, the clearing depot issued dis-
charge papers to all. The clearing services grew out
of the discharge depots, which were established at the
seaports early in the war to handle returning troops,
and their later function was merely a return to an
earlier phase. The original name, *^ discharge de-
pots," was changed to ** clearing depots" to accord
with an alteration in function, when the operation of
discharge had been passed on to the Military Dis-
tricts,

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DEMOBILIZATION 257

The method of *^ clearing'* a shipload of troops
where they went forward for discharge at the dis-
persal station was speedy, the soldiers passing
through the depot at the rate of fifteen or twenty per
minute. The soldiers arrived in port with their doc-
uments arranged according to the dispersal stations
to which they were proceeding. Disembarkation be-
gan as soon as the customs and health officers had
given the ship ^* clearance." A train of ten or fifteen
cars was standing ready in the depot — at Quebec
alongside the building, at Halifax within it. At Hali-
fax there was room within the depot for two trains,
while at Quebec there was accommodation for three
or four trains just alongside. The soldiers for a
given dispersal area were paraded on deck and came
down the gangplank one by one. As each man
landed he handed in his train expense card and re-
ceived in exchange ^ve dollars for pocket money on
the train; his meals were, of course, supplied him.
The soldier then proceeded direct to his train. The
cars were filled one at a time, the accommodation
varying from forty to fifty-two per car. As one car
was filled another was opened. When the entire train
for a dispersal area was filled, it drew out and an-
other took its place. The documents for the train
were handed over by the permanent conducting staff
to the officer in charge of records at the clearing
depot, who in turn handed them on to the officers in
charge of drafts.

Where troops returned with their dependents, the
process was longer and partook more of the nature of
a welcome. In this process the clearing services and
the immigration officers of the port co-operated.
While the soldiers were receiving their discharge, the
soldiers* dependents were being passed by the immi-
gration authorities. Soldiers' dependents were ex-
empt from the immigration regulations, but had to
conform to the requirements of the health authorities.

258 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

They had been collected in the United Kingdom by the
Immigration Department and had had their passage
paid by the Government. Accompanying them on
shipboard had been a representative of the Y.W.C.A.
to look after the women and children, as the welfare
of the soldiers was provided for by the Y.M.C.A.
Each dependent was on shipboard given a landing
card and this was authority for the port officials to
pass her or him.

While the soldiers were receiving their discharge
papers in one part of the depot, in another the women
and children were being examined by the immigration
officers and having their wants attended to by various
patriotic organizations which co-operated with the
two departments in welcoming them. Both at Que-
bec and at Halifax there was a creche for the children
of returning soldiers. Here they were received by
representatives of the Y.W.C.A., of the Imperial
Order of Daughters of the Empire, and of local ladies '
committees. While the mother was resting, her chil-
dren were cared for by skilled hands and babies were
bathed, fed, and supplied with clean clothes, where
that might be necessary. The Canadian Patriotic
Fund was the guardian of every returning dependent.
Not in every case was aid given or needed ; but where
there was need, the assistance of the fund was always
forthcoming. Where soldiers and dependents re-
turned on the same ship, the husband or father had
his pay cheque, which he could cash at the depot. But
sometimes the husband was lying in French or Bel-
gian soil, and the mother and her children were in
need of financial aid and counsel. Under the Canadian
law immigrants are required to have at least twenty-
five dollars in their possession on entering the coun-
try. Civilians who do not possess the required
amount are turned back; soldiers' dependents in like
case were sent on to the Patriotic Fund, which not
only provided the necessary money, but looked after

DEMOBILIZATION 259

the welfare of the dependents until they arrived at
their destination. Even dependents of soldiers who
had fought under our flag but whose homes were in
the United States, were looked after by the Canadian
Patriotic Fund, which in these cases was reimbursed
by the American Eed Cross. The Canadian Red
Cross was also represented at the clearing depots and
provided skilled attention for any soldiers or depend-
ents suffering from wounds, accident, or illness. The
Salvation Army likewise was active, having a hostel
at Halifax, and at Quebec a rest room in the clearing
depot.

The permanent conducting staff and the clearing
services acted under the authority of the Adjutant-
General. The transport of the troops from the clear-
ing depot to the dispersal station was conducted un-
der the authority of the Quartermaster-General.
The Q.M.G. — or rather the Q.M.G.'s immediate sub-
ordinate, the Director of Supplies and Transport —
was represented at the seaports by a military land-
ing officer, sometimes called a railway transport
officer. This officer had charge of the military side
of the entraining of the troops on their departure for
the dispersal station. Under the Military Landing
Officer in turn was a train conducting officer, who ac-
companied the train to its destination. He was re-
quired to inspect the train before its departure from
the clearing depot, to see that all was in order. In
this inspection he was accompanied by the officer
commanding the troops, that is, the senior draft con-
ducting officer, and the representative at the clearing
depot of the railway concerned. A report of this in-
spection was made in writing to the Director of Sup-
plies and Transport; and in addition the Train Con-
ducting Officer sent in telegraphic reports during the
journey. On each troop train, in addition to the officer
commanding troops and a train conducting officer,
were a medical officer and a representative of the

260 CANADA IN THE GEEAT WORLD WAE

Y.M.C.A. On trains carrying dependents there was
also a representative of the Y.W.C.A., and on hospital
trains there was a nurse to assist the medical officer.
The agreement between the Department of Militia and
the railway companies provided that the trains should
consist of standard sleeping cars, colonist cars, com-
missariat cars, and standard dining cars when required.
The cars were equipped with bedding, and porters were
supplied by the railway company to see to their clean-
liness. The trains carrying dependents were sim-
ilarly made up and similarly equipped. Special pro-
vision was, however, made for supplying food to de-
pendents at low cost, food packages being sold at a
moderate price by the clearing depot canteen at Que-
bec, while at Halifax and St. John similar packages
were provided by the immigration authorities and by
the Canadian Pacific Railway, respectively.

The troop train carried the returning soldiers to
the dispersal centre. It was at the dispersal station
that by far the greater number of the troops said
farewell to the army. It was in the dispersal centres
— en route from the railway depot to the dispersal -
station — that the great public welcomes took place.
It was at the dispersal station that the soldiers met
their friends after the separation of years and after
the dangers of the battle-field. The proceedings in
the dispersal centres varied as there was a public
welcome or as the troops returned in drafts for dis-
persal only. In the former case there was a parade,
in which the soldiers marched with rifles, bayonets,
and steel caps ; in the latter they were taken direct to
the dispersal station by train or conveyed there by the
motor trucks of the Army Service Corps. On arrival
at the dispersal station they were dismissed for half
an hour to mingle with relatives and friends, after
which they were called to attention for the procedure
of dispersal.

Speed was of the essence of the problem. The dis-

LIEUT. DALTON STRYPE, M.C. LIEUT. L. W. HARRON, M.C.

MAJOR S. H. FELLOWES, M.C. LIEUT. C. O. FELLOWES, M.C.

TYPES OF CANADIAN OFFICERS

DEMOBILIZATION 261

persal stations were, therefore, organized in queues.
Each queue — of which there might be half a dozen,
as at Toronto — was designed to look after the dis-
charge of a group of soldiers whose names brought
them within certain letters of the alphabet. Each
queue was fully equipped for the procedure of dis-
persal. The first step in the process was passing the
ordnance officer, to whom the soldier turned in his
arms and equipment; if he returned with his unit he
carried his rifle with him; if not, he had already-
turned it in on shipboard. He was allowed to keep
his steel helmet and his clothing. Having passed the
ordnance, the soldier went on to the paymaster. Here
he received his cheque, which might, including de-
ferred pay and war service gratuity, amount to a
thousand or twelve hundred dollars. Next came the
record officer, who issued him with his discharge cer-
tificate and his war service badge. He then passed
before the medical and the dental officers, who signed
his medical history sheet and his dental certificate.
At the end of the queue the transportation officer
issued him a warrant, which he could exchange at the
railway offices within the dispersal station for a ticket
to his home. Here also he found a bank, at which he
could cash his cheque or make a deposit to be trans-
ferred to a bank at his destination. Moreover, there
were at the dispersal stations representatives of the
leading churches, who worked under the direction of
the Chaplain Services. At the seaport each soldier
had been presented with a booklet on behalf of the
Chaplain Services. This booklet contained a message
of welcome from each of the leading denominations
and religious organizations, including the Y.M.C.A.,
the Knights of Columbus, the Salvation Army, and
the Jewish faith. In each of these booklets was a de-
tachable page, on which the soldier was asked to fill
in his name and address and the name and address of
his home church. These pages were collected on the

262 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

troop train by the Y.M.C.A. officer, and at the dis-
persal station were delivered to the representative of
the appropriate denomination. These representatives
in turn put themselves in touch with the minister of
the church named by the soldier, and in this way a
welcome was assured for him by his home church.

A brief account has now been given of the progress
of the returning soldier from his camp in France,
Belgium, on the Rhine, or in Great Britain until he
has reached his home in Canada. But in so doing
quite inadequate attention has been paid to the trans-
portation phase which was the crux of the problem.
In advance of experience it was assumed that the
chief difficulty would be in obtaining sufficient ships.
It turned out, however, that the greatest obstacle to be
overcome was land transport in Canada. Two days
after the Armistice was signed the British Ministry
of Shipping advised the Minister, Overseas Military
Forces of Canada, that shipping could be supplied to
return fifty thousand troops to Canada each month.
The Minister of Militia called to his aid the Minister
of Railways, and the presidents of the Canadian
National, the Canadian Pacific, and the Grand Trunk
Railways, who advised him that this number was in
excess of the capacity of the railways of Canada. A
committee of the Railway War Board was established
to have special oversight of demobilization and every
effort was made to provide increased accommodation
for the home-coming troops. As a result of their
endeavours, arrangements were made so that, in ad-
dition to caring for ten thousand civilians, it would
be possible to handle twenty thousand troops in Jan-
uary, thirty thousand each for the next three months,
forty thousand in May, and forty-five thousand
monthly thereafter. This programme was main-
tained, and a little more than maintained, through-
out demobilization; in March nearly forty-two thou-
sand troops were carried on Canadian railways and

DEMOBILIZATION 263

in May nearly fifty thousand. It was expected
in advance also that delays might occur during the
railway transportation of the troops, and, in order to
cope with these, rest stations were equipped, where
several thousand soldiers might be housed and fed;
but so smoothly did the railway systems work that
at no time were the rest stations brought into opera-
tion.

The chief difficulties which had to be faced on ship-
board arose out of berthing, food, service, and seating
accommodation on deck. Early in the demobilization
period, in fact in January, 1919, there was a public
investigation of conditions on board the troop-ship
Northland. Mr. Justice Hodgins, who conducted the
inquiry, found that there was plenty of food on board,
that the cooking was good, but that there were minor
instances of bad food being served. He found, how-
ever, that berthing and messing accommodation were
too crowded; that discipline on shipboard was bad,
largely because the permanent conducting staff failed
in its duties; and that stewards had made a practice
of selling food to the soldiers. He recommended the
addition of a light supper to the regular meal hours.
This investigation had an excellent effect upon the
troop-ship service. The recommendation of the judge
in regard to a supper just before * lights out'' was
adopted and was highly appreciated by the men. His
remarks on the functions of the permanent conducting
staffs were taken to heart and sympathetic handling
on the part of the officers naturally induced a con-
tented feeling among the troops. Sale of food did
occur at intervals, but it was severely punished and
did not again become troublesome. Berthing at times
was the cause of many complaints and there were
protests against using hammocks in place of berths.
Some conducting officers nevertheless preferred ham-
mocks to berths on the ground that they conduced to
better ventilation and greater cleanliness. Seating

264 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

accommodation on deck on the ships carrying depend-
ents was always short; and it was always difficult to
obtain proper berthing for the sub-staff in the orderly
room. Taken all in all, however, discontent was rare
among the troops on shipboard, which may be re-
garded as very satisfactory, considering that some of
the larger ships brought back as many as five thou-
sand, the population of a good-sized town, crowded
into narrow quarters under conditions which the tur-
bulance of the ocean at times made anything but com-
fortable. No doubt a great part of the credit for
the comparative absence of discontent is due to the
Y.M.C.A. officers and to the chaplains, who devoted
themselves so successfully to the provision of amuse-
ment and occupation during the voyage.

Some serious troubles occurred at the Canadian
concentration camps in the United Kingdom. The
main cause of these troubles was the impossibility of
bringing the soldiers back to Canada as rapidly as
they desired to come. In certain instances there was
special discontent because sailings were cancelled
after they had been announced; and at times dis-
satisfaction was created because certain officers and
men were brought home in advance of their normal
time of return. The camp staff fully understood that
it was impossible to count absolutely on regular sail-
ings at the close of a submarine war and that labour
troubles frequently prevented the repair of a ship or
its loading; but it was natural that these conditions
would be lost sight of by troops whose one thought
was a desire to get home and who were not fully in-
formed as to the situation. It was natural, too, that
these soldiers would not understand that special per-
mission for discharge in advance of the normal time
was granted only after careful investigation and for
very good reasons. There is no doubt, however, spe-
cial discharges and shipping delays played only a
secondary part in the troubles at the camps in Eng-

, DEMOBILIZATION 265

land. The main trouble was that the soldiers wanted
to get home more quickly than ships and rolling-stock
existed to carry them. This is a consideration cuat
should be kept in mind in judging of conditions on
shipboard. It was an effort to meet this over-ruling
desire that led to the use of hammocks and that led
to the overcrowding of berthing and messing accom-
modation.

The problems and the procedure so far described
relate to the demobilization of the Canadian Expedi-
tionary Force, which served in Europe. There were
in addition at the Armistice 71,654 officers and other
ranks on the strength in Canada. One week after the
Armistice there was promulgated in orders the de-
cision that this force would be reduced immediately
to the lowest point consistent with efficiency. Certain
units, such as the Clearing Services Command and the
District Depots, it was necessary to retain at full
strength for the purposes of demobilization; other
units were retained for the maintenance of the
Militia and of the Permanent Force ; the rest were to
be reduced at once. In the selection of men to keep
the forces up to the required strength, preference was
given to men with overseas service who desired to
remain with the colours; but allowance being made
for this, reductions were to be made in the following
order : —

(1) All personnel with overseas service who de-

sired discharge and who could be spared.

(2) Married men who desired discharge and could

be spared.

(3) Personnel of lower categories who were un-

able to render efficient service.

(4) Personnel by occupations required for eco-

nomic reasons as might be directed by Mi-
litia headquarters.

(5) All others whose services were not required.

266 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

In connection with the demobilization of soldiers
who were on special leave at the time of the Armis-
tice, the Adjutant-General made special arrangements
which saved the country some thousands of dollars.
Instead of having these men come back to the district
depot to receive their discharge, a form of discharge
was sent to them to be signed. In signing this the
soldier released the Government from all liability in
relation to compensation for injuries while in the
service. At the same time the Government saved the
expense of railway transportation for some twelve
thousand men from their homes to the discharge
depots.

The demobilization of the Siberian Expeditionary
Force was not carried out until the spring of 1919.
This force, which numbered 311 officers and 3,786
other ranks, was recalled at the end of February ; and
its members were discharged immediately after their
arrival in Canada. The first comers reached Canada
in April, but the great majority, 3,202 in number,
came home in May, a small party remaining behind
with the British forces.

In addition to the soldiers who returned to Canada
for discharge, to those of the Siberian force, and to
those who were struck off the strength in Canada and
had never proceeded overseas, there were 15,182 Ca-
nadian troops who took their discharge in the United
Kingdom after the Armistice. Besides these, some
7,136 had taken their discharge in the United King-
dom before that time. At no period did the Canadian
Government view with favour the discharge of our
soldiers in England; and every possible obstacle was
put in the way of such action. In fact, every soldier
who took his discharge in Great Britain had to sign
away his right to free transportation to Canada. Fur-
ther, he had to produce evidence that he had a bona
fide offer of employment, or independent means of
support, or family ties requiring his presence on that

MAJOR R. J. GILL, M.C.

CAPT. W. N. GRAHAM, M.C.
Killed in action

LIEUT. W. H. COMSTOCK

TYPES OF CANADIAN OFFICERS

DEMOBILIZATION 267

side of the water. The grounds for this attitude on
the part of the Government were twofold: they de-
sired to keep the British-born settlers for Canada and
they were confident that opportunities for the men
themselves would be better in Canada than they could
possibly be in the United Kingdom at the close of a
long war. In spite of government discouragement, as
already stated, a large number of the British-born,
and possibly some Canadian-born, among our fighting
men did stay in the British Isles, and unfortunately
in many cases it was found necessary that govern-
ment assistance be given to them later on.

Many of our soldiers who went overseas to fight in
our defence were later joined in Great Britain by
their families. Others married overseas while on
service. To both children were born in the United
Kingdom. In these ways it came about that at the
Armistice there was a large community of soldiers'
dependents in the British Isles. The Canadian au-
thorities decided in January, 1919, to repatriate these
dependents at public expense, a decision which un-
doubtedly met with public approval. It was decided
later to refund passage money to all soldiers' depend-
ents who had returned to Canada before the Armis-
tice. Those who returned after the Armistice were
brought home on special ships with their soldier rel-
atives. Special trains were provided in Canada to
take them to their homes. The care of the dependents
was assumed by the Department of Immigration and
Colonization, while the returning soldiers were under
the control of the permanent conducting staffs of the
Department of Militia. On the ships carrying de-
pendents, in addition to the permanent conducting
staff, there was a representative of the Department of
Immigration and a representative of the Y.W.C.A.
The Y.W.C.A. representative made it her special duty
to look after the wants of the soldiers' dependents,
who in addition received the attention of the nurses

268 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

attached to the permanent conducting staff. The
Y.M.C.A. officer, who was a member of the permanent
conducting staff, arranged entertainments and provided
literature as on the troop-ships. By these means, there-
fore, the tedium and discomforts of a voyage were min-
imized. The accommodation provided at public ex-
pense was third-class passage, as was provided for
the troops themselves; but those who desired better
accommodation were allowed to secure it by paying
the additional cost out of their own means. The num-
ber of soldiers' dependents who returned home after
the Armistice is put by the Immigration Department
at thirty-seven thousand five hundred; and it is esti-
mated that about seventeen thousand had come home
before that time.

Demobilization was not complete until the soldier
was re-established in civil life. In order to tide over
the time between discharge and the time when the
soldier should have obtained employment the Depart-
ment of Militia granted war service gratuities. These
gratuities consisted in a continuance of the pay and
allowance of the soldier, and the period over which
they were paid ranged, for overseas men, from two to
six months, according to the length of service of each
soldier. The minimum paid to a single man for the
two months was one hundred and forty dollars and to
a married man two hundred dollars. The soldier who
had served three years, of which at least six months
had been spent overseas, was entitled to pay and
allowances — as a minimum, seventy dollars monthly
without or one hundred dollars with dependents — for
six months. In addition, opportunities for land settle-
ment were offered by the Soldiers' Settlement Board
under the Department of the Interior; while disabled
soldiers could obtain a pension and vocational train-
ing under the Board of Pension Commissioners and
the Department of Soldiers' Civil Re-establishment.
The same department had representatives in the

DEMOBILIZATION 269

Government employment offices, federal and provin-
cial, to look after the special interests of returned sol-
diers. There is little doubt that it is owing in a con-
siderable degree to these provisions by the Govern-
ment, that Canada has escaped — or at least post-
poned— that industrial crisis which economic ex-
perience associates with a flooding of the labour
market.

CHAPTER Vni

HEROIC DEEDS ^

Lieutenant Wallace Lloyd Algie, V.C.

Late 20th Battalion

" I ^OR most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice

K^ on the 11th of October, 1918, north-east of

•^ Cambrai, when with attacking troops which

came under heavy enfilade machine-gun fire from a

neighbouring village.

*^ Rushing forward with nine volunteers, he shot
the crew of an enemy machine gun, and, turning it on
the enemy, enabled his party to reach the village. He
then rushed another machine gun, killed the crew,
captured an officer and ten of the enemy, and thereby
cleared the end of the village. Lieutenant Algie, hav-
ing established his party, went back for reinforce-
ments, but was killed when leading them forward.
His valour and personal initiative in the face of in-
tense fire saved many lives and enabled the position
to be held.''

Majob (afterwards Lieut. -Colonel) William Geoege
Bakkeb, V.C, D.S.O., M.C. and two Bars, D.F.C.

Royal Air Force

'*0n the morning of the 27th of October, 1918, this
officer observed an enemy two-seater over the Foret
de Mormal. He attacked this machine, and after a

1 The stories are official ; as given in the London Gazette.
270

LT.-COL. RAYMOND COLLISHAW, LT.-COL. W. A. BISHOP, V.C.,
D.S.O., M.C., D.F.C., CROIX DE D.S.O. AND BAR, M.C.,

GUERRE R.F.C., CROIX DE GUERRE

LT.-COL. W. G. BARKER, V.C, M.C. AND TWO BARS, D.F.C.

CANADA'S GREATEST ACES

HEEOIC DEEDS 271

short burst it broke up in the air. At the same time
a Fokker biplane attacked him, and he was wounded
in the right thigh, but managed, despite this, to shoot
down the enemy aeroplane in flames. He then found
himself in the middle of a large formation of Fokkers,
who attacked him from all directions, and was again
severely wounded in the left thigh, but succeeded in
driving down two of the enemy in a spin. He lost
consciousness after this, and his machine fell out of
control. On recovery he found himself being again
attacked heavily by a large formation, and singling
out one machine, he deliberately charged and drove
it down in flames. During this fight his left elbow
was shattered and he again fainted, and on regaining
consciousness he found himself still being attacked,
but, notwithstanding that he was now severely
wounded in both legs and his left arm shattered, he
dived on the nearest machine and shot it down in
flames. Being greatly exhausted, he dived out of the
fight to regain our lines, but was met by another for-
mation, which attacked and endeavoured to cut him
off, but after a hard fight he succeeded in breaking
up this formation and reached our lines, where he
crashed on landing.

**This combat, in which Major Barker destroyed
four enemy machines (three of them in flames),
brought his total success up to fifty enemy machines
destroyed, and is a notable example of the exceptional
bravery and disregard of danger which this very gal-
lant officer has always displayed throughout his dis-
tinguished career."

CoBPOBAL Colin Babbon, V.C.
3rd Battalion

**For conspicuous bravery when, in attack [Novem-
ber 6th, 1917, at Passchendaele Eidge], his unit was
held up by three machine guns. Corporal Barron

272 CANADA IN THE GEEAT WORLD WAR

opened on them from a flank at point-blank range,
rushed the enemy guns single-handed, killed four of
the crew and captured the remainder. He then, with
remarkable initiative and skill, turned one of the
captured guns on the retiring enemy, causing them
severe casualties. The remarkable dash and deter-
mination displayed by this non-commissioned officer
in rushing the guns produced far-reaching results and
enabled the advance to be continued."

Captain Edward Donald Bellew, V.C.

7th Battalion

**For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty
near Keerselaere on the 24th of April, 1915, during
the Grerman attacks on the Ypres salient, Captain (then
Lieutenant) Bellew, as battalion machine-gun officer,
had two guns in action on the high ground overlooking
Keerselaere. The enemy's attack broke in full force
on the morning of the 24th against the front and right
flank of the battalion, the latter being exposed owing
to a gap in the line. The right company was soon put
out of action, but the advance was temporarily stayed
by Captain Bellew, who had two of his guns on the left
of the right company. Reinforcements were sent for-
ward, but they in turn were surrounded and destroyed.
With the enemy in strength less than one hundred
yards from him, with no further assistance in sight,
and with his rear threatened. Captain Bellew and
Sergeant Peerless, each operating a gun, decided to
stay where they were and fight it out. Sergeant Peer-
less was killed and Captain Bellew was wounded and
fell. Nevertheless he got up and maintained his fire
till anamunition failed and the enemy rushed the po-
sition. Captain Bellew then seized a rifle, smashed his
machine gun, and, fighting to the last, was taken
prisoner. ' '

HEROIC DEEDS 273

Captain (afterwards Lieut.-Colonel) William Avery

Bishop, V.C, D.S.O. and Bar, M.C., R.F.C.,

Croix de Guerre

Royal Flying Corps

**For most conspicuous bravery, determination, and
skill.

^^ Captain Bishop, who had been sent out [near the
Foret de Mormal] to work independently, flew first of
all to an enemy aerodrome ; finding no machines about,
he flew on to another aerodrome about three miles
south-east, which was at least twelve miles the other
side of the line. Seven machines, some with their
engines running, were on the ground. He attacked
these from about fifty feet, and a mechanic, who was
starting one of the machines, was seen to fall. One of
the machines got off the ground, but at a height of
sixty feet Captain Bishop fired fifteen rounds into it
at a very close range, and it crashed to the ground.
A second machine got off the ground, into which he
fired thirty rounds at one hundred and fifty yards
range, and it fell into a tree. Two more machines
then rose from the aerodrome. One of these he en-
gaged at a height of one thousand feet, emptying the
rest of his drum of ammunition. This machine
crashed three hundred yards from the aerodrome,
after which Captain Bishop emptied a whole drum
into the fourth hostile machine and then flew back to
his station. Four hostile scouts were about one thou-
sand feet above him for about a mile of his return
journey, but they would not attack. His machine was
very badly shot about by machine-gun fire from the
ground. * '

274 CANADA IN THE GEEAT WOELD WAE

Corporal (afterwards Sergeant)
Alexander Brereton, V.C.

8th Battalion

** For most conspicuous bravery during rn attack
[August 9th, 1918, east of Amiens], when a line of
hostile machine guns opened fire suddenly on his
platoon, which was in an exposed position and no
cover available. This gallant N.C.O. at once appre-
ciated the critical situation and realized that unless
something was done at once the platoon would be
annihilated. On his own initiative, without a mo-
ment's delay, and alone, he sprang forward and
reached one of the hostile machine-gun posts, where
he shot the man operating the machine gun and bay-
oneted the next one who attempted to operate it,
whereupon nine others surrendered to him. Corporal
Brereton 's action was a splendid example of resource
and bravery, and not only undoubtedly saved many of
his comrades' lives, but also inspired his platoon to
charge and capture the five remaining posts.''

Lieutenant John Brillant, V.C, M.C.

Late 22nd Battalion

** For most conspicuous bravery and outstanding
devotion to duty when in charge of a company which
he led in attack [east of Meharicourt] during two
days [8th and 9th August, 1918] with absolute fear-
lessness and extraordinary ability and initiative, the
extent of the advance being twelve miles. On the
first day of operations, shortly after the attack had
begun, his company's left flank was held up by an
enemy machine gun. Lieutenant Brillant rushed and
captured the machine gun, personally killing two of
the enemy crew. Whilst doing this he was wounded,
but refused to leave his command. Later, on the same

SERGT. G. H. MULLIN, V.C., M.M. SERGT. ALEX. BRERETON, V.C.

SERGT. THOMAS W. HOLMES, V.C.
CORP. COLIN BARRON, V.C. CORP. F. G. COPPINS, V.C.

WINNERS OF THE VICTORIA CROSS

HEEOIC DEEDS 275

day, Ms company was held up by heavy machine-gun
fire. He reconnoitred the ground personally, organ-
ized a party of two platoons, and rushed straight for
the machine-gun nest. Here one hundred and fifty
enemy and fifteen machine guns were captured, Lieu-
tenant Brillant personally killing five of the enemy,
being wounded a second time. He had this wound
dressed immediately, and again refused to leave his
company. Subsequently this gallant officer detected a
field gun firing on his men over open sights. He
immediately organized and led a * rushing party ^ to-
wards the gun. After progressing about six hundred
yards, he was again seriously wounded. In spite of
this third wound, he continued to advance for some
two hundred yards more, when he fell unconscious
from exhaustion and loss of blood. Lieutenant Bril-
lant's wonderful example throughout the day inspired
his men with an enthusiasm and dash which largely
contributed towards the success of the operations.''

Private Harry Brown, V.C.
Late 10th Battalion

**For most conspicuous bravery, courage, and de-
votion to duty.

** After the capture of a position [August 16th,
1917, at Hill 70, near Loos], the enemy massed in
force and counter-attacked. The situation became
very critical, all wires being cut. It was of the utmost
importance to get word back to Headquarters. This
soldier and one other were given the message, with
orders to deliver the same at all costs. The other
messenger was killed. Private Brown had his arm
shattered, but continued on through an intense bar-
rage until he arrived at the close support lines and
found an officer. He was so spent that he fell down
the dug-out steps, but retained consciousness long

276 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

enough to hand over his message, saying * Important
message.' He then became unconscious, and died in
the dressing station a few hours later. His devotion
to duty was of the highest possible degree imaginable,
and his successful delivery of the message undoubt-
edly saved the loss of the position for the time and
prevented many casualties."

Sergeant Hugh Cairns, V.C, D.C.M.
Late 46th Battalion

* * For most conspicuous bravery before Valenciennes
on the 1st of November, 1918, when a machine gun
opened on his platoon. Without a moment's hesita-
tion. Sergeant Cairns seized a Lewis gun and single-
handed, in the face of direct fire, rushed the post,
killed the crew of five, and captured the gun. Later,
when the line was held up by machine-gun fire, he
again rushed forward, killing twelve enemy and cap-
turing eighteen and two guns. Subsequently, when
the advance was held up by machine guns and field
guns, although wounded, he led a small party to out-
flank them, killing many, forcing about fifty to sur-
render, and capturing all the guns. After consolida-
tion he went with a battle patrol to exploit Marly and
forced sixty enemy to surrender. Whilst disarming
the party he was severely wounded. Nevertheless he
opened fire and inflicted heavy losses. Finally he was
rushed by about twenty enemy and collapsed from
weakness and loss of blood. Throughout the opera-
tion he showed the highest degree of valour, and his
leadership greatly contributed to the success of the
attack. He died on the 2nd of November from
wounds.''

HEROIC DEEDS 277

Lieutenant Frederick William Campbell, V.C.
Late 1st Battalion

**For most conspicuous bravery on the 15tli of
June, 1915, during the action at Givenchy.

*^ Lieutenant Campbell took two machine guns over
the parapet, arrived at the German first line with one
gun, and maintained his position there, under very
heavy rifle, machine-gun, and bomb fire, notwithstand-
ing the fact that almost the whole of his detachment
had been killed or wounded. When our supply of
bombs had become exhausted, this officer advanced
his gun still further to an exposed position and, by
firing about one thousand rounds, succeeded in hold-
ing back the enemy's counter-attack. This very gal-
lant officer was subsequently wounded, and has since
died."

Acting-Corporal Leonard Clarke, V.C.
Late 2nd Battalion

**For most conspicuous bravery [September 10th,
1916, near Pozieres].

**He was detailed with his section of bombers to
clear the continuation of a newly captured trench, and
cover the construction of a ^ block.' After most of
his party had become casualties, he was building a
* block' when about twenty of the enemy with two
officers counter-attacked. He boldly advanced against
them, emptied his revolver into them and afterwards
two enemy rifles, which he picked up in the trench.
One of the officers attacked him with the bayonet,
wounding him in the leg, but he shot him dead. The
enemy ran away, pursued by Corporal Clarke, who
shot four more and captured a fifth. Later, he was
ordered to the dressing station, but returned next day
to duty."

278 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

LiEUT.-CoLONEL W. H. Clabk-Kennedy/ V.C, C.M.G.,
D.S.O. and Bar

24th Battalion

**For most conspicuous bravery, initiative, and skil-
ful leading [at Arras] on the 27tli and 28th of Au-
gust, 1918, when in command of his battalion.

**0n the 27th, he led his battalion with great brav-
ery and skill from Crow and Aigrette Trenches in
front of Wancourt to the attack on the Fresnes-
Rouvroy Line. From the outset the brigade, of
which the 24th Battalion was a central unit, came un-
der very heavy shell and machine-gun fire, suffering
many casualties, especially among the leaders. Units
became partially disorganized and the advance was
checked. Appreciating the vital importance to the
brigade front of a lead by the centre, and undismayed
by annihilating fire, Lieut.- Colonel Clark-Kennedy,
by sheer personality and initiative, inspired his men
and led them forward. On several occasions he set an
outstanding example by leading parties straight at
the machine-gun nests which were holding up the
advance and overcame these obstacles. By controlling
the direction of neighbouring units and collecting men
who had lost their leaders, he rendered valuable serv-
ices in strengthening the line, and enabled the whole
brigade front to move forward. By the afternoon, very
largely due to the determined leadership of this offi-
cer, and disregard for his own life, his battalion, de-
spite heavy losses, had made good the maze of
trenches west of Cherisy and Cherisy village, had
crossed the Sensee river bed, and had occupied Occi-
dent Trench in front of the heavy wire of the Fresnes-
Rouvroy Line ; under continuous fire he then went up
and down his line until far into the night, improving

iSee Vol. Ill, p. 112.

HEROIC DEEDS 279

the position, giving wonderful encouragement to Ms
men, and sent back very clear reports.

* * On the next day he again showed valorous leader-
ship in the attack on the Fresnes-Rouvroy Line and
Upton Wood. Though severely wounded soon after
the start, he refused aid, and dragged himself to a
shell hole, from which he could observe. Realizing
that his exhausted troops could advance no further,
he established a strong line of defence and thereby
prevented the loss of most important ground. De-
spite intense pain and serious loss of blood, he re-
fused to be evacuated for over five hours, by which
time he had established the line in a position from
which it was possible for the relieving troops to con-
tinue the advance.

**It is impossible to overestimate the results
achieved by the valour and leadership of this officer. ' '

Lieutenant Robert Grierson Combe, V.C.
Late 27th Battalion -^

**For most conspicuous bravery and example.

**He steadied his company under intense fire [May
3rd, 1917, south of Acheville], and led them through
the enemy barrage, reaching the objective with only
five men. With great coolness and courage, Lieuten-
ant Combe proceeded to bomb the enemy, and inflicted
heavy casualties. He collected small groups of men
and succeeded in capturing the company's objective,
together with eighty prisoners. He repeatedly
charged the enemy, driving them before him, and,
whilst personally leading his bombers, was killed by
an enemy sniper. His conduct inspired all ranks, and
it was entirely due to his magnificent courage that the
position was carried, secured, and held."

280 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR
Corporal Frederick George Coppins, V.C.

8th Battalion

**For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty
when, during an attack [August 9th, 1918, at Beaufort
Wood], his platoon came unexpectedly under fire of
numerous machine guns. It was not possible to ad-
vance or to retire, and no cover was available. It be-
came apparent that the platoon would be annihilated
unless the enemy machine guns were silenced im-
mediately. Corporal Coppins, without hesitation and
on his own initiative, called on four men to follow
him and leaped forward in the face of intense machine-
gun fire. With his comrades he rushed straight for
the machine guns. The four men with him were
killed, and Corporal Coppins wounded. Despite his
wound, he reached the hostile machine guns alone,
killed the operator of the first gun and three of the
crew, and made prisoner four others who surrendered.
Corporal Coppins, by this act of outstanding valour,
was the means of saving many lives of the men of his
platoon and enabled the advance to be continued. De-
spite his wound, this gallant N.C.O. continued with his
platoon to the final objective, and only left the line
when it had been made secure and when ordered to
do so."

Private John Bernard Croak, V.C.

Late 13th Battalion

**For most conspicuous bravery in attack [August
8th, 1918, near Amiens], when, having become sep-
arated from his section, he encountered a machine-
gun nest, which he bombed and silenced, capturing
the gun and taking the crew prisoner. Shortly after-
wards he was severely wounded, but refused to de-
sist. Having rejoined his platoon, a very strong
point, containing several machine guns, was encoun-

HEROIC DEEDS 281

tered. Private Croak, however, seeing an opportu-
nity, dashed forward alone and was ahnost immedi-
ately followed by the remainder of the platoon in a
brilliant charge. He was the first to arrive at the
trench line, into which he led his men, capturing three
machine guns and bayoneting or capturing the entire
garrison. The perseverance and valour of this gal-
lant soldier, who was again severely wounded and
died of his wounds, were an inspiring example to all. ' '

Private Thomas Dinesen, V.C.
42nd Battalion

**For most conspicuous and continuous bravery
displayed during ten hours of hand-to-hand fight-
ing [August 12th, 1918, at Parvillers], which re-
sulted in the capture of over a mile of strongly garri-
soned and stubbornly defended enemy trenches. Five
times in succession he rushed forward alone, and
single-handed put hostile machine guns out of action,
accounting for twelve of the enemy with bomb and
bayonet. His sustained valour and resourcefulness
inspired his comrades at a very critical stage of the
action and were an example to all."

Lance-Corporal Frederick Fisher, V.C.
Late 13th Battalion

"On the 23rd of April, 1915, in the neighbourhood
of St. Julien, he went forward with the machine gun
of which he was in charge, under heavy fire, and most
gallantly assisted in covering the retreat of a battery,
losing four men of his gun team. Later, after ob-
taining four more men, he went forward again to the
firing line and was himself killed while bringing his
machine gun into action, under very heavy fire, in
order to cover the advance of supports."

282 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

Lieutenant Gordon Muriel Flowerdew, V.C.
Late Lord Strathcona's Horse

**For most conspicuous bravery and dash when in
command of a squadron detailed for Special Service
of a very important nature [March 30th, 1918, north-
east of Bois de Moreuil]. On reaching the first ob-
jective, Lieutenant Flowerdew saw two lines of the
enemy, each about sixty strong, with machine guns in
the centre and flanks, one line being about two hun-
dred yards behind the other. Realizing the critical
nature of the operation and how much depended
upon it. Lieutenant Flowerdew ordered a troop under
Lieutenant Harvey, V.C, to dismount and carry out
a special movement, while he led the remaining three
troops to the charge. The squadron, less one troop,
passed over both lines, killing many of the enemy with
the sword; and wheeling about, galloped at them
again. Although the squadron had then lost about
seventy per cent, of its numbers killed and wounded,
from rifle and machine-gun fire directed on it from
the front and both flanks, the enemy broke and re-
tired. The survivors of the squadron then established
themselves in a position where they were joined, after
much hand-to-hand fighting, by Lieutenant Harvey's
party.

** Lieutenant Flowerdew was dangerously wounded
through both thighs, during the operation, but con-
tinued to cheer on his men. There can be no doubt
that this officer's great valour was the prime factor
in the capture of the positions.''

Corporal (afterwards Sergeant)
Herman James Good, V.C.

13th Battalion

**For most conspicuous bravery and leading when,
in attack [August 8th, 1918, at Hangard Wood], his

PTE. THOMAS DINESEN, V.C. SERGT.-MAJOR F. W. HALL, V.C.

Killed in action
SERGT. HERMAN J. GOOD, V.C.
SERGT. W. L. RAYFIELD, V.C. SERGT.-MAJOR ROBERT HANNA, V.C.

WINNERS OF THE VICTORIA CROSS

HEEOIC DEEDS 283

company was held up by heavy fire from three ma-
chine guns, which were seriously delaying the ad-
vance. Eealizing the gravity of the situation, this
N.C.O. dashed forward alone, killing several of the
garrison and capturing the remainder. Later Cor-
poral Good, while alone, encountered a battery of
5.9-inch guns, which were in action at the time. Col-
lecting three men of his section, he charged the bat-
tery under point-blank fire and captured the entire
crews of three guns."

Lieutenant Milton Fowler Gregg, V.C,
M.C. and Bar

Royal Canadian Regiment

**For most conspicuous bravery and initiative dur-
ing operations near Cambrai, 27th of September to
1st of October, 1918.

**0n the 28th of September, when the advance of
the brigade was held up by fire from both flanks and
by thick uncut wire, he crawled forward alone and
explored the wire until he found a small gap, through
which he subsequently led his men, and forced an
entry into the enemy trench. The enemy counter-
attacked in force, and, through lack of bombs, the
situation became critical. Although wounded. Lieu-
tenant Gregg returned alone under terrific fire and
collected a further supply. Then, rejoining his party,
which by this time was much reduced in numbers, and
in spite of a second wound, he reorganized his men
and led them with the greatest determination against
the enemy trenches, which he finally cleared. He
personally killed or wounded eleven of the enemy and
took twenty-five prisoners in addition to twelve ma-
chine guns captured in this trench. Remaining with
his company in spite of wounds, he again, on the 30th
of September, led his men in attack until severely

284 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

wounded. The outstanding valour of this officer saved
many casualties and enabled the advance to con-
tinue.''

Oompany-Sekgeant-Major Frederick William
Hall, V.C.

Late 8th Battalion

'*0n the 24th of April, 1915, in the neighbourhood
of Ypres, when a wounded man, who was lying some
fifteen yards from the trench, called for help, Com-
pany-Sergeant-Major Hall endeavoured to reach him
in the face of a very heavy enfilade fire which was
being poured in by the enemy. The first attempt
failed, and a non-commissioned officer and private
soldier, who were attempting to give assistance, were
both wounded. Company-Sergeant-Major Hall then
made a second most gallant attempt; and was in the
act of lifting up the wounded man to bring him in,
when he fell mortally wounded in the head."

Company-Sergeant-Major (afterwards Lieutenant)
Robert Hanna, V.C.

29th Battalion

**For most conspicuous bravery in attack [August
21st, 1917, at Lens], when his company met with most
severe resistance and all the company officers became
casualties. A strong point, heavily protected by wire,
was held by a machine gun and had beaten off three
assaults of the company with heavy casualties. This
warrant officer, under heavy machine-gun and rifle
fire, coolly collected a party of men, and, leading them
against this strong point, rushed through the wire and
personally bayoneted three of the enemy and brained
the fourth, capturing the position and silencing the
machine gun.

HEROIC DEEDS 285

**Tliis most courageous officer displayed courage
and personal bravery of the highest order at this
most critical moment of the attack and was responsi-
ble for the capture of a most important tactical point ;
but for his daring action and determined handling of
a desperate situation, the attack would not have suc-
ceeded. C.S.M. Hanna's outstanding gallantry, per-
sonal courage, and determined leading of his company
is deserving of the highest possible reward/'

Lieutenant Frederick Maurice Watson Harvey,
V.C., M.C., Croix de Guerre

Lord Strathcona's Horse

**For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to
duty.

** During an attack [March 27th, 1917] by his regi-
ment on a village [Guyencourt], a party of the enemy
ran forward to a wired trench just in front of the vil-
lage and opened rapid rifle and machine-gun fire at a
very close range, causing heavy casualties in the lead-
ing troop. At this critical moment, when the enemy
showed no intention whatever of retiring and fire was
still intense, Lieutenant Harvey, who was in command
of the leading troop, ran forward well ahead of his
men and dashed at the trench, still fully manned,
jumped the wire, shot the machine gunner and cap-
tured the gun. His most courageous act had a de-
cisive effect on the success of the operation.'*

Sergeant Frederick Hobson, V.C.

Late 20th Battalion

** During a strong enemy counter-attack [August
15th, 1917, north-west of Lens] , a Lewis gun, in a for-
ward post in a communication trench leading to the
enemy's lines, was buried by a shell, and the crew,

286 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

with the exception of one man, killed. Sergeant Hob-
son, though not a gunner, grasped the great impor-
tance of the post, rushed from the trench, dug out the
gun, and got it into action against the enemy, who
were now advancing down the trench and across the
open. A jam caused the gun to stop firing. Though
wounded he left the gunner to correct the stoppage,
rushed forward at the advancing enemy, and, with
bayonet and clubbed rifle, single-handed, held them
back until he himself was killed by a rifle shot. By
this time, however, the Lewis gun was again in action,
and, reinforcements shortly afterwards arriving, the
enemy were beaten off. The valour and devotion to
duty displayed by this non-commissioned officer gave
the gunner the time required to again get the gun in
action and saved a most serious situation.''

Private (afterwards Sergeant) Thomas William
Holmes, V.C.

4tli Canadian Mounted Rifles

'*For most conspicuous bravery and resource when
the right flank of our attack was held up by heavy
machine-gun and rifle fire, from a ^pill-box' strong
point [October 26th, 1917, near Passchendaele] .
Heavy casualties were producing a critical situation
when Private Holmes, on his own initiative and single-
handed, ran forward and threw two bombs, killing
and wounding the crews of two machine guns. He then
returned to his comrades, secured another bomb, and
again rushed forward alone, under heavy fire, and
threw the bomb into the entrance of the * pill-box,'
causing the nineteen occupants to surrender. By this
act of valour at a very critical moment. Private
Holmes undoubtedly cleared the way for the advance
of our troops and saved the lives of many of his
comrades.''

LIEUT. J. E. TAIT, V.C., M.C. LIEUT. M. F. GREGG, V.C., M.C.

LIEUT. HUGH MACKENZIE, V.C, D.C.M.
LIEUT. G. M. FLOWERDEW, V.C. LIEUT. F. W. H. HARVEY, V.C,

M.C, CROIX DE GUERRE

WINNERS OF THE VICTORIA CROSS

s

HEEOIC DEEDS 287

Lieutenant Samuel Lewis Honey, V.C, D.C.M., M.M.
Late 78th Battalion

**For most conspicuous bravery during the Bourlon
Wood operations, 27tli of September to the 2nd of
October, 1918.

* ^ On the 27th of September, when his company com-
mander and all other officers of his company had be-
come casualties. Lieutenant Honey took command and
skilfully reorganized under very severe fire. He con-
tinued the advance with great dash and gained the
objective. Then, finding that his company was suf-
fering casualties from enfilade machine-gun fire, he
located the machine-gun nest and rushed it single-
handed, capturing the guns and ten prisoners. Sub-
sequently he repelled four enemy counter-attacks and,
after dark, again went out alone, and, having located
an enemy post, led a party which captured the post
and three guns. On the 29th of September he led his
company against a strong enemy position with great
skill and daring and continued in the succeeding days
of the battle to display the same high example of
valour and self-sacrifice. He died of wounds received
during the last day of the attack by his battalion."

Captain Beluenden Seymour Hutcheson, V.C, M.C.

C.A.M.C. att. 75th Battalion

**For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to
duty on September 2nd, 1918, when, under most in-
tense shell, machine-gun, and rifle fire, he went
through the Queant-Drocourt Support Line with the
battalion. Without hesitation and with utter dis-
regard of personal safety he remained on the field
until every wounded man had been attended to. He
dressed the wounds of a seriously wounded officer un-
der terrific machine-gun and shell fire, and, with the

288 CANADA IN THE GEEAT WORLD WAR

assistance of prisoners and of his own men, succeeded
in evacuating him to safety, despite the fact that the
bearer party suffered heavy casualties. Immediately
afterwards he rushed forward, in full view of the
enemy, under very heavy machine-gun and rifle fire,
to tend a wounded sergeant, and, having placed him
in a shell hole, dressed his wounds. Captain Hutche-
son performed many similar gallant acts, and, by his
coolness and devotion to duty, many lives were
saved.''

Corporal Joseph Kaeble, V.C, M.M.
Late 22nd Battalion

*^For most conspicuous bravery and extraordinary
devotion to duty when in charge of a Lewis gun sec-
tion in the front-line trenches [June 8th and 9th, 1918,
at Neuville Vitasse], on which a strong enemy raid
was attempted.

** During an intense bombardment Corporal Kaeble
remained at the parapet with his Lewis gun shoul-
dered ready for action, the field of fire being very
short. As soon as the barrage lifted from the front
line, about fifty of the enemy advanced towards his
post. By this time, the whole of his section except
one had become casualties. Corporal Kaeble jumped
over the parapet and, holding his Lewis gun at the
hip, emptied one magazine after another into the
advancing enemy, and, although wounded several
times by fragments of shells and bombs, he continued
to fire and entirely blocked the enemy by his de-
termined stand. Finally, firing all the time, he fell
backwards into the trench, mortally wounded. While
lying on his back in the trench, he fired his last car-
tridges over the parapet at the retreating Grermans,
and, before losing consciousness, shouted to the
wounded about him: *Keep it up, boys; do not let
them get through. We must stop them.' The com-

HEROIC DEEDS 289

plete repulse of the enemy attack at this point was
due to the remarkable personal bravery and self-
sacrifice of this gallant non-commissioned officer, who
died of his wounds shortly afterwards. ' '

Lieutenant George Eraser Kerr, V.C, M.C, M.M.

3rd Battalion

**For most conspicuous bravery and leadership dur-
ing the Bourlon Wood operations on the 27th of Sep-
tember, 1918, when in command of the left support
company in attack.

**He handled his company with great skill, and gave
timely support by outflanking a machine gun which
was impeding the advance. Later, near the Arras-
Oambrai road, the advance was held up by a strong
point. Lieutenant Kerr, far in advance of his com-
pany, rushed this strong point single-handed and cap-
tured four machine guns and thirty-one prisoners.
His valour throughout this engagement was an in-
spiring example to all.*'

Private John Chipman Kerr, V.C.
49th Battalion

"For most conspicuous bravery. During a bomb-
ing attack [September 16th 1916, at Courcelette] , he
was acting as bayonet man, and knowing that bombs
were running short, he ran along the parados under
very heavy fire until he was in close contact with the
enemy, when he opened fire on them at point-blank
range and inflicted heavy loss. The enemy, thinking
they were surrounded, surrendered, sixty-two prison-
ers were taken, and two hundred and fifty yards of
enemy trench captured.

** Before carrying out this very plucky act, one of

290 CANADA IN THE GREAT .WORLD .WAR

Private Kerr's fingers had been blown off by a
bomb. Later, with two other men, he escorted back
the prisoners under fire, and then returned to report
himself for duty before having his wound dressed.''

Private Cecil John Kinross, V.C.
49th Battalion

*^For most conspicuous bravery in action during
prolonged and severe operations [November 10th and
11th, 1917, at Passchendaele Ridge].

^^ Shortly after the attack was launched, the com-
pany to which he belonged came under intense artil-
lery fire, and further advance was held up by a very
severe fire from an enemy machine gun. Private
Kinross, making a careful survey of the situation,
deliberately divested himself of all his equipment save
his rifle and bandolier, and, regardless of his personal
safety, advanced alone over the open ground in
broad daylight, charged the enemy machine gun, kill-
ing the crew of six, and seized and destroyed the gun.
His superb example and courage instilled the great-
est confidence in his company and enabled a further
advance of three hundred yards to be made and a
highly important position to be established. Through-
out the day, he showed marvellous coolness and cour-
age, fighting with the utmost aggressiveness against
heavy odds until seriously wounded. ' '

Sergeant Arthur George Knight, V.C,
Croix de Guerre

Late 10th Battalion

*^For most conspicuous bravery, initiative, and de-
votion to duty, when, after an unsuccessful attack
[September 2nd, 1918, at Villers-les-Cagnicourt] ,

HEROIC DEEDS 291

Sergeant Knight led a bombing section forward, un-
der very heavy fire of all descriptions, and engaged
the enemy at close quarters. Seeing that his party
continued to be held up, he dashed forward alone,
bayoneting several of the enemy machine gunners and
trench-mortar crews, and forcing the remainder to
retire in confusion. He then brought forward a Lewis
gun and directed his fire on the retreating enemy, in-
flicting many casualties. In the subsequent advance
of his platoon in pursuit. Sergeant Knight saw a
party of about thirty of the enemy go into a deep
tunnel which led off the trench. He again dashed
forward alone, and, having killed one officer and two
N.C.O.'s, captured twenty other ranks. Subsequently
he routed, single-handed, another enemy party which
was opposing the advance of his platoon. On each
occasion he displayed the greatest valour under fire
at very close range, and by his example of courage,
gallantry, and initiative was a wonderful inspiration
to all. This very gallant N.C.O. was subsequently
fatally wounded.''

Private (Acting-Corporal) Filip Konowal, V.C.

47th Battalion

*^For most conspicuous bravery and leadership
when in charge of a section in attack [August 22nd-
24th, 1917, at Lens] . His section had the difficult task
of mopping up cellars, craters, and machine-gun em-
placements. Under his able direction, all resistance
was overcome successfully, and heavy casualties in-
flicted on the enemy. In one cellar he himself bay-
oneted three enemy, and attacked single-handed seven
others in a crater, killing them all. On reaching the
objective, a machine gun was holding up the right
flank, causing many casualties. Corporal Konowal
rushed forward and entered the emplacement, killed

292 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

the crew, and brought the gun back to our lines. The
next day he again attacked, single-handed, another
machine-gun emplacement, killed three of the crew
and destroyed the gun and emplacement with ex-
plosives. This non-commissioned officer alone killed
at least sixteen of the enemy, and during the two
days' actual fighting carried on continuously his good
work until severely wounded. ' '

Captain (Acting-Major) O'Kill Massey Leakmonth,

V.C, M.C.

Late 2nd Battalion

^ * For most conspicuous bravery and exceptional de-
votion to duty.

'^During a determined counter-attack on our new
positions [August 18th, 1917, east of Loos], this
officer, when his company was momentarily surprised,
instantly charged and personally disposed of the at-
tackers. Later, he carried on a tremendous fight with
the advancing enemy. Although under intense bar-
rage fire and mortally wounded, he stood on the
parapet of the trench, bombed the enemy continuously,
and directed the defence in such a manner as to in-
fuse a spirit of utmost resistance into his men. ' '

Lieutenant Graham Thompson Lyall, V.C.
102nd Battalion

**For most conspicuous bravery and skilful leading
during the operations north of Cambrai.

**0n September 27th, 1918, whilst leading his pla-
toon against Bourlon Wood, he rendered invaluable
support to the leading company, which was held up
by a strong point, which he captured by a flank move-
ment, together with thirteen prisoners, one field gun,

LIEUT. H. STRACHAN, V.C, M.C. LT.-COL. G. R. PEARKES, V.C,

D.S.O., M.C.
LIEUT. G. T. LYALL, V.C. LIEUT. G. B. MCKEAN, V.C, M.M.

WINNERS OF THE VICTORIA CROSS

HEKOIC DEEDS 293

and four machine guns. Later, his platoon, now much
weakened by casualties, was held up by machine guns
at the southern end of Bourlon Wood. Collecting
any men available, he led them towards the strong
point, and, springing forward alone, rushed the po-
sition single-handed and killed the officer in charge,
subsequently capturing at this point forty-five pris-
oners and five machine guns. Having made good his
final objective, with a further capture of forty-seven
prisoners, he consolidated his position and thus pro-
tected the remainder of the company. On October 1st,
in the neighbourhood of Blecourt, when in command
of a weak company, by skilful dispositions he cap-
tured a strongly defended position, which yielded
eighty prisoners and seventeen machine guns. Dur-
ing two days of operations Lieutenant Lyall captured
in all three officers, 182 other ranks, twenty-six ma-
chine guns, and one field gun, exclusive of heavy
casualties inflicted. He showed throughout the utmost
valour and high powers of command."

Captain (afterwards Major) Thain Wendell
MacDowell, V.C, D.S.O.

38th Battalion

*^For most conspicuous bravery and indomitable
resolution in face of heavy machine-gun and shell fire
[April 9th-13th, 1917, at Vimy Eidge].

**By his initiative and courage, this officer, with the
assistance of two runners, was enable"H, in the face of
great difficulties, to capture two machine guns, besides
two officers and seventy-five men. Although wounded
in the hand, he continued for five days to hold the
position gained, in spite of heavy shell fire, until
eventually relieved by his battalion. By his bravery
and prompt action he undoubtedly succeeded in
rounding up a very strong enemy machine-gun post."

294 CANADA IN THE GEEAT WORLD WAR
Oaptain John MacGregor, V.C, M.C, D.C.M.

2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles

*^For most conspicuous bravery, leadership, and
self-sacrificing devotion to duty near Cambrai from
the 29th of September to the 3rd of October, 1918.

**B[e led his company under intense fire, and when
the advance was checked by machine guns, although
wounded, pushed on and located the enemy guns. He
then ran forward in broad daylight, in face of heavy
fire from all directions, and, with rifle and bayonet,
single-handed, put the enemy crews out of action,
killing four and taking eight prisoners. His prompt
action saved many casualties and enabled the ad-
vance to continue. After reorganizing his command
under heavy fire, he rendered most useful support to
neighbouring troops. When the enemy were showing
stubborn resistance, he went along the line regardless
of danger, organized the platoons, took command of
the leading waves, and continued the advance. Later,
after a personal daylight reconnaissance under heavy
fire, he established his company in Neuville St. Remy,
thereby greatly assisting the advance into Tilloy.
Throughout the operations. Captain MacGregor dis-
played magnificent bravery and heroic leadership.^'

Lieutenant George Burton McKean, V.C, M.M.
14th Battalion

**For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to
duty during a raid on the enemy's trenches [April
27th-28th, 1918, in the Gavrelle sector].

** Lieutenant McKean 's party, which was operating
on the right flank, was held up at a block in the com-
munication trench by most intense fire from hand-
grenades and machine guns. This block, which was
too close to our trenches to have been engaged by the

HEROIC DEEDS 295

preliminary bombardment, was well protected by wire
and covered by a well protected machine gun thirty
yards behind it. Realizing that if this block were not
destroyed, the success of the whole operation might
be marred, he ran into the open to the right flank of
the block, and, with utter disregard of danger, leaped
over the block, head first, on top of the enemy.
Whilst lying on the ground on top of one of the enemy
another rushed at him with fixed bayonet. Lieutenant
McKean shot him through the body and then shot the
enemy underneath him, who was struggling violently.
This very gallant action enabled this position to be
captured. Lieutenant McKean 's supply of bombs ran
out at this time, and he sent back to our front lines
for a fresh supply. Whilst waiting for them, he en-
gaged the enemy single-handed. When the bombs
arrived, he fearlessly rushed the second block, killed
two of the enemy, captured four others, and drove
the remaining garrison, including a hostile machine-
gun section, into a dug-out. The dug-out, with its
occupants and machine gun, was destroyed.

**This officer's splendid bravery and dash undoubt-
edly saved many lives, for, had not this position been
captured, the whole of the raiding party would have
been exposed to dangerous enfilading fire during the
withdrawal. His leadership at all times has been
beyond praise.''

Lieutenant Hugh McKenzie, V.C, D.C.M.
Late 7th Canadian Machine-Gun Company

"For most conspicuous bravery and leading when
in charge of a section of four machine guns accom-
panying the infantry in an attack [October 30th, 1917,
at Meetcheele Spur near Passchendaele] .

** Seeing that all the officers and most of the non-
commissioned officers of an infantry company had be-

296 CANADA IN THE GEEAT WORLD WAR

come casualties, and that the men were hesitating be-
fore a nest of enemy machine guns, which were on
commanding ground and causing them severe casual-
ties, he handed over command of his guns to an
N.C.O., rallied the infantry, organized an attack, and
captured the strong point. Finding that the position
was swept by machine-gun fire from a * pill-box' which
dominated all the ground over which the troops were
advancing, Lieutenant McKenzie made a reconnais-
sance and detailed flanking and frontal attacking
parties which captured the ^pill-box,' he himself being
killed while leading the frontal attack.

*^By his valour and leadership, this gallant officer
ensured the capture of these strong points and so
saved the lives of many men and enabled the objective
to be obtained."

2nd Lieutenant Alan Arnett McLeod, V.C.
Late Royal Air Force

** Whilst flying with his observer (Lieutenant A. W.
Hammond, M.C.), attacking hostile formations by
bombs and machine-gun fire, he was assailed at a
height of 5,000 feet by eight enemy triplanes which
dived at him from all directions, firing from their
front guns. By skilful manoeuvring he enabled his
observer to fire bursts at each machine in turn, shoot-
ing three of them down out of control. By this time
Lieutenant McLeod had received five wounds, and
whilst continuing the engagement a bullet penetrated
his petrol tank and set the machine on fire. He then
climbed out on to the left bottom plane, controlling his
machine from the side of the fuselage, and by side-
slipping steeply kept the flames to one side, thus
enabling the observer to continue firing v until the
ground was reached.

**The observer had been wounded six times when

LATE LIEUT. .IRNETT MCLEOD, V.C.
CAPT. C. P. J. O 'KELLY, V.C. LIEUT. C. S. RUTHERFORD, V.C,

M.C., M.M.

WINNERS OF THE VICTORIA CROSS

HEROIC DEEDS 297

the machine crashed in *No Man's Land' and 2nd
Lieutenant McLeod, notwithstanding his own wounds,
dragged him away from the burning wreckage at
great personal risk from heavy machine-gun fire from
the enemy's lines. This very gallant pilot was again
wounded by a bomb whilst engaged in this act of
rescue, but he persevered until he had placed Lieuten-
ant Hammond in comparative safety, before falling
himself from exhaustion and loss of blood."

Sebgeant William Meerifield, V.C.
4th Battalion

*'For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to
duty during the attack near Abancourt on the 1st of
October, 1918. When his men were held up by an
intense fire from two machine-gun emplacements, he
attacked them both single-handed. Dashing from
shell hole to shell hole, he killed the occupants of the
first post, and, although wounded, continued to attack
the second post, and with a bomb killed the occupants.
He refused to be evacuated and led his platoon until
again severely wounded.

^^ Sergeant Merrifield served with exceptional dis-
tinction on many former occasions, and throughout
the action on the 1st of October showed the highest
qualities of valour and leadership."

Lance- Corporal William Henry Metcalf, V.C, M.M.

16th Battalion

*'For most conspicuous bravery, initiative, and de-
votion to duty in attack [September 4th, 1918, at
Arras], when, the right flank of his battalion being
held up, he realized the situation and rushed forward
under intense machine-gun fire to a passing tank on

298 CANADA IN THE GEEAT WORLD WAR

the left. With his signal flag he walked in front of
the tank, directing it along the trench in a perfect
hail of bullets and bombs. The machine-gun strong
points were overcome, very heavy casualties were in-
flicted on the enemy, and a very critical situation was
relieved. Later, although wounded, he continued to
advance until ordered to get into a shell hole and have
his wounds dressed. His valour throughout was of
the highest standard.''

Private William Johnstone Milne, V.C.
Late 16th Battalion

**For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to
duty in attack [April 9th, 1917, near Thelus].

**0n approaching the first objective. Private Milne
observed an enemy machine gun firing on our ad-
vancing troops. Crawling on hands and knees, he
succeeded in reaching the gun, killing the crew with
bombs and capturing the gun. On the line reforming,
he again located a machine gun in the support line,
and, stalking this second gun as he had done the first,
he succeeded in putting the crew out of action and
capturing the gun. His wonderful bravery and re-
source on these two occasions undoubtedly saved the
lives of many of his comrades. Private Milne was
killed shortly after capturing the second gun."

Corporal Harry Garnet Bedford Miner, V.C.

58th Battalion

**For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to
duty in attack [August 8th, 1918, at Demuin], when,
despite severe wounds, he refused to withdraw. He
rushed an enemy machine-gun post single-handed,
killed the entire crew, and turned the gun on the

HEROIC DEEDS 299

enemy. Later, with two others, he attacked another
enemy machine-gun post, and succeeded in putting the
gun out of action. Corporal Miner then rushed,
single-handed, an enemy bombing post, bayoneting
two of the garrison and putting the remainder to
flight. He was mortally wounded in the performance
of this gallant deed.''

Captain Coulson Noeman Mitchell, V.C, M.C.
4th Battalion Canadian Engineers

**For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to
duty on the night of 8th-9th October, 1918, at the
Canal de PEscaut, north-east of Cambrai.

^^He led a small party ahead of the first wave of
infantry in order to examine the various bridges on
the line of approach, and, if possible, to prevent their
demolition. On reaching the canal he found the
bridge already blown up. Under a heavy barrage, he
crossed to the next bridge, where he cut a number
of 4ead' wires. Then, in total darkness and unaware
of the position or strength of the enemy at the bridge-
head, he dashed across the main bridge over the canal.
This bridge was found to be heavily charged for dem-
olition, and whilst Captain Mitchell, assisted by his
N.C.O., was cutting the wires, the enemy attempted
to rush the bridge in order to blow the charges, where-
upon he at once dashed to the assistance of his sentry,
who had been wounded, killed three of the enemy, cap-
tured twelve, and maintained the bridge-head until
reinforced. Then, under heavy fire, he continued his
task of cutting wires and removing charges, which
he well knew might at any moment have been fired by
the enemy. It was entirely due to his valour and
decisive action that this important bridge across the
canal was saved from destruction."

300 CANADA IN THE GREAT iWORLD WAB,
Sergeant George Harry Mullin, V.C, M.M.

Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry

**For most conspicuous bravery in attack [October
30th, 1917, at Passchendaele] , when, single-handed,
he captured a commanding ^pill-box,' which had with-
stood the heavy bombardment and was causing heavy
casualties to our forces and holding up the attack.
He rushed a sniper ^s post in front, destroyed the gar-
rison with bombs, and, crawling on to the top of the
* pill-box,' he shot the two machine gunners with his
revolver. Sergeant Mullin then rushed to another
entrance and compelled the garrison of ten to sur-
render.

^^His gallantry and fearlessness were witnessed by
many and, although rapid fire was directed upon him,
and his clothes were riddled by bullets, he never
faltered in his purpose and not only helped to save
the situation, but also indirectly saved many lives."

Private Claude Joseph Patrick Nunney, V.C,
D.C.M., M.M.

Late 38th Battalion

^^For most conspicuous bravery during the opera-
tions against the Drocourt-Queant Line on the 1st and
2nd of September, 1918.

*^0n the 1st of September, when his battalion was
in the vicinity of Vis-en-Artois, preparatory to the
advance, the enemy laid down a heavy barrage and
counter-attacked. Private Nunney, who was at this
time at Company Headquarters, immediately, on his
own initiative, proceeded through the barrage to the
company outpost lines, going from post to post and
encouraging the men by his own fearless example.
The enemy were repulsed and a critical situation was
saved. During the attack on the 2nd of September
his dash continually placed him in advance of his

HEROIC DEEDS 301

companions and his fearless example undoubtedly
helped greatly to carry the company forward to its
objectives. He displayed throughout the highest de-
gree of valour until severely wounded. [Private
Nunney died of his wounds in a clearing station on
September 18th.]''

Captain Christophee Patrick John 0 'Kelly,
V.C, M.C.

52nd Battalion

*^For most conspicuous bravery in an action [Octo-
ber 26th, 1917, south-west of Passchendaele] in which
he led his company with extraordinary skill and de-
termination.

** After the original attack had failed and two com-
panies of his unit had launched a new attack, Captain
0 'Kelly advanced his command over one thousand
yards under heavy fire without any artillery barrage,
took the enemy positions on the crest of the hill by
storm, and then personally organized and led a series
of attacks against ^pill-boxes,' his company alone cap-
turing six of them, with one hundred prisoners and
ten machine guns. Later on in the afternoon, under
the leadership of this gallant officer, his company re-
pelled a strong counter-attack, taking more prisoners,
and subsequently, during the night, captured a hostile
raiding party consisting of one officer, ten men, and a
machine gun. The whole of these achievements were
chiefly due to the magnificent courage, daring, and
abiUty of Captain 0 'Kelly."

Private Michael James O'Rourke, V.C.

7th Battalion

"For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to
duty during prolonged operations.
**For three days and nights [August 15th-17th, 1917,

302 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

at Hill 60, near Lens] Private O'Rourke, who is a
stretcher-bearer, worked unceasingly in bringing the
wounded into safety, dressing them and getting them
food and water. During the whole period the area
in which he worked was subjected to very severe
shelling and swept by heavy machine-gun and rifle
fire. On several occasions he was knocked down and
partially buried by enemy shells. Seeing a comrade
who had been blinded stumbling around ahead of our
trench, in full view of the enemy, who were sniping
him, Private O'Rourke jumped out of his trench and
brought the man back, being himself heavily sniped
while doing so. Again he went forward about fifty
yards in front of our barrage under very heavy and
accurate fire from enemy machine guns and snipers,
and brought in a comrade. On a subsequent occasion,
when the line of advanced posts was retired to the
line to be consolidated, he went forward under very
heavy enemy fire of every description and brought
back a wounded man who had been left behind. He
showed throughout an absolute disregard for his own
safety, going wherever there were wounded to suc-
cour, and his magnificent courage and devotion in
continuing his rescue work, in spite of exhaustion and
the incessant heavy enemy fire of every description,
inspired all ranks and undoubtedly saved many lives. ' '

Private John George Pattison, V.C.

50th Battalion

*'For most conspicuous bravery in attack.

**When the advance of our troops [April 10th, 1917,
at Vimy Ridge] was held up by an enemy machine
gun, which was inflicting severe casualties. Private
Pattison, with utter disregard of his own safety,
sprang forward and, jumping from shell hole to shell
hole, reached cover within thirty yards of the enemy

HEEOIC DEEDS 303

gun. From this point, in face of heavy fire, he hurled
bombs, killing and wounding some of the crew, then
rushed forward, overcoming and bayoneting the sur-
viving five gunners. His valour and initiative un-
doubtedly saved the situation, and made possible the
further advance to the objective.''

Majoe (afterwards Lieut.-Colonel) George Randolph
Pearkes, V.C, D.S.O., M.C.

5th Canadian Mounted Rifles

*'For most conspicuous bravery and skilful hand-
ling of the troops under his command during the cap-
ture and consolidation of considerably more than the
objectives allotted to him, in an attack [October 30th-
31st, 1917, near Passchendaele] .

**Just prior to the advance Major Pearkes was
wounded in the left thigh. Regardless of his wound,
he continued to lead his men with the utmost gal-
lantry, despite many obstacles. At a particular stage
of the attack, his further advance was threatened by
a strong point, which was an objective of the battalion
on his left, but which they had not succeeded in cap-
turing. Quickly appreciating the situation, he cap-
tured and held this point, thus enabling his further
advance to be successfully pushed forward. It was
entirely due to his determination and fearless per-
sonality that he was able to maintain his objective
with the small number of men at his command against
repeated enemy counter-attacks, both his flanks being
unprotected for a considerable depth meanwhile. His
appreciation of the situation throughout and the re-
port rendered by him were invaluable to his com-
manding officer in making dispositions of troops to
hold the position captured. He showed throughout
a supreme contempt of danger and wonderful powers
of control and leading.''

304 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

LlEUT.-COLONEL CyRUS WeSLEY PeCK,

V.C, D.S.O., M.P.

16th Battalion

**For most conspicuous bravery and skilful leading
when in attack under intense fire [September 2nd,
1918, at Cagnicourt].

/^His command quickly captured the first objective,
but progress to the further objective was held up by
enemy machine-gun fire on his right flank. The situ-
ation being critical in the extreme, Colonel Peck
rushed forward and made a personal reconnaissance
under heavy machine-gun and sniping fire, across a
stretch of ground which was heavily swept by fire.
Having reconnoitred the position, he returned, re-
organized his battalion, and, acting upon the knowl-
edge personally gained, pushed them forward and
arranged to protect his flanks. He then went out
under the most intense artillery and machine-gun fire,
intercepted the tanks, gave them the necessary direc-
tions, pointing out where they were to make for, and
thus pave the way for a Canadian infantry battalion
to push forward. To this battalion he subsequently
gave requisite support. His magnificent display of
courage and fine qualities of leadership enabled the
advance to be continued, although always under heavy
artillery fire, and contributed largely to the success
of the brigade attack."

Private Walter Leigh Rayfield, V.C.
7th Battalion

**For most conspicuous bravery, devotion to duty,
and initiative during the operations east of Arras,
from the 2nd to the 4th of September, 1918.

** Ahead of his company, he rushed a trench occu-
pied by a large party of the enemy, personally bay-
oneting two and taking ten prisoner. Later he located

HEROIC DEEDS 305

and engaged with great skill, under constant rifle fire,
an enemy sniper who was causing many casualties. He
then rushed the section of trench from which the
sniper had been operating, and so demoralized the
enemy by his coolness and daring that thirty others
surrendered to him. Again, regardless of his per-
sonal safety, he left cover under heavy machine-gun
fire and carried in a badly wounded comrade. His
indomitable courage, cool foresight, and daring recon-
naissance were invaluable to his company commander
and an inspiration to all ranks."

PsrvATE (Pipee) James Eichardson, V.C.

Late 16th Battalion

**For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to
duty when, prior to attack [October 8th, 1916, at
Regina Trench], he obtained permission from his
commanding officer to play his company *over the
top.' As the company reached the objective, it was
held up by very strong wire, and came under in-
tense fire, which caused heavy casualties and demoral-
ized the formation for the moment. Realizing the
situation. Piper Richardson strode up and down out-
side the wire, playing his pipes with the greatest cool-
ness. The effect was instantaneous. Inspired by his
splendid example, the company rushed the wire with
such fury and determination that the obstacle was
overcome and the position captured. Later, after
participating in bombing operations, he was detailed
to take back a wounded comrade and prisoners. After
proceeding about two hundred yards. Piper Richard-
son remembered that he had left his pipes behind.
Although strongly urged not to do so, he insisted on
returning to recover his pipes. He has never been
seen since, and death has been presumed accordingly,
owing to lapse of time/*

306 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

Private James Peter Robertson, V.C.

Late 27th Battalion

'*For most conspicuous bravery and outstanding de-
votion to duty in attack [November 6th, 1917, at
Passchendaele] . When his platoon was held up by
uncut wire and a machine gun causing many casual-
ties, Private Robertson dashed to an opening on the
flank, rushed the machine gun and, after a desperate
struggle with the crew, killed four and then turned
the gun on the remainder, who, overcome by the fierce-
ness of his onslaught, were running towards their
own lines. His gallant work enabled the platoon to
advance. He inflicted many more casualties among
the enemy, and then, carrying the captured machine
gun, he led his platoon to the final objective. He
there selected an excellent position and got the gun
into action, firing on the retreating enemy, who by
this time were quite demoralized by the fire brought
to bear on them. During the consolidation. Private
Robertson's most determined use of the machine gun
kept down the fire of the enemy snipers ; his courage
and his coolness cheered his comrades and inspired
them to the finest efforts. Later, when two of our
snipers were badly wounded in front of our trench,
he went out and carried one of them in under very
severe fire. He was killed just as he returned with
the second man.''

Lieutenant Charles Smith Rutherford,
V.C, M.C., M.M.

5th Canadian Mounted Rifles

**For most conspicuous bravery, initiative, and de-
votion to duty. When in command of an assaulting
party [August 26th, 1918, at Monchy-le-Preux] ,
Lieutenant Rutherford found himself a considerable

HEROIC DEEDS 307

distance ahead of his men, and at the same moment
observed a fully armed strong enemy party outside a
* pill-box' ahead of him. He beckoned to them with his
revolver to come to him ; in return they waved to him to
come to them. This he boldly did, and informed them
that they were prisoners. This fact an enemy officer
disputed and invited Lieutenant Rutherford to enter
the ^pill-box,' an invitation he discreetly declined. By
masterly bluff, however, he persuaded the enemy that
they were surrounded, and the whole party of forty-
five, including two officers and three machine guns,
surrendered to him. Subsequently he induced the
enemy officer to stop the fire of an enemy machine
gun close by, and Lieutenant Rutherford took ad-
vantage of the opportunity to hasten the advance of
his men to his support. Lieutenant Rutherford then
observed that the right assaulting party was held up
by heavy machine-gun fire from another 'pill-box.'
Indicating an objective to the remainder of his party,
he attacked the * pill-box' with a Lewis gun section
and captured a further thirty-five prisoners with
machine guns, thus enabling the party to continue
their advance. The bold and gallant action of this
officer contributed very materially to the capture of
the main objective and was a wonderful inspiration
to all ranks in pressing home the attack on a very
strong position."

Captain (afterwards Lieut.-Colonel) Fbancis Alex.
Caeon Scrimgee, V.C.

Medical Officer 14th Battalion

*'0n the afternoon of the 25th of April, 1915, in the
neighbourhood of Ypres, when in charge of an ad-
vanced dressing station in some farm buildings which
were being heavily shelled by the enemy, he directed,
under heavy fire, the removal of the wounded, and he

308 CANADA IN THE GEEAT WOELD WAE

himself carried a severely wounded ojfificer out of a
stable in search of a place of greater safety. When
he was unable alone to carry this officer further, he
remained with him under fire till help could be ob-
tained. Captain Scrimger, during the very heavy
fighting between the 22nd and 25th of April, displayed
continuously, day and night, the greatest devotion to
his duty among the wounded at the front.''

Lieutenant (afterwards Captain) Eobebt
Shankland, V.C, D.C.M.

43rd Battalion

"For most conspicuous bravery and resource in
action [October 26th, 1917, at Passchendaele] under
critical and adverse conditions.

** Having gained a position, he rallied the remnant
of his own platoon and men of other companies, dis-
posed of them to command the ground in front, and
inflicted heavy casualties upon the retreating enemy.
Later he dispersed a counter-attack, thus enabling
supporting troops to come up unmolested. He then
personally communicated to Battalion Headquarters
an accurate and valuable report as to the position of
the brigade frontage, and, after doing so, rejoined his
command and carried on until relieved. His courage
and splendid example inspired all ranks and coupled
with his great gallantry and skill undoubtedly saved a
very critical situation."

Lance-Sebgeant Ellis Welwood Sifton, V.C.

Late 18th Battalion

**For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to
duty.
*' During the attack on enemy trenches [April 9th,

HEROIC DEEDS 309

1917, at Neuville St. Vaast], Sergeant Sif ton's com-
pany was held up by machine-gun fire, which inflicted
many casualties. Having located the gun, he charged
it single-handed, killing all the crew. A small enemy
party advanced down the trench, but he succeeded in
keeping these off till our men had gained the position.
In carrying out this gallant act, he was killed, but his
conspicuous valour undoubtedly saved many lives,
and contributed largely to the success of the opera-
tion.''

Sergeant Robert Spall, V.C.

Late Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry

**For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice
when, during an enemy counter-attack [August 12th-
13th, 1918, near Parvillers], his platoon was isolated.
Thereupon Sergeant Spall took a Lewis gun and,
standing on the parapet, fired upon the advancing
enemy, inflicting very severe casualties. He then
came down the trench directing the men into a sap
seventy-five yards from the enemy. Picking up an-
other Lewis gun, this gallant N.C.O. again climbed
the parapet, and by his fire held up the enemy. It
was while holding up the enemy at this point that
he was killed. Sergeant Spall deliberately gave his
life in order to extricate his platoon from a most
difficult situation, and it was owing to his bravery
that the platoon was saved."

Lieutenant (afterwards Major) Harcus Strachan,

V.C, M.C.

Fort Garry Horse

**For most conspicuous bravery and leadership dur-
ing operations [November 20th, 1917, at Masnieres].
**He took command of the squadron of his regiment

310 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

when the squadron leader, approaching the enemy
front line at a gallop, was killed. Lieutenant Strachan
led the squadron through the enemy line of machine-
gun posts, and then, with the surviving men, led the
chargp on the enemy battery, killing seven of the
gunnirs with his sword. All the gunners having been
killed and the battery silenced, he rallied his men and
fought his way back at night through the enemy's
lineJ bringing all unwounded men safely in, together
with fifteen prisoners. The operation, which resulted
in me silencing of an enemy battery, the killing of the
whjf)le battery personnel and many infantry, and the
culiting of three main lines of telephone communica-
tiop two miles in rear of the enemy's front line, was
on.y rendered possible by the outstanding gallantry
and fearless leading of this officer.''

Lieutenant James Edward Tait, V.C, M.C.
Late 78th Battalion

'^For most conspicuous bravery and initiative in
atikck [August 8th-llth, 1918, near Amiens]. The
advance having been checked by intense machine-gun
fird. Lieutenant Tait rallied his company and led it
forward with consummate skill and dash under a hail
of tullets. A concealed machine gun, however, con-
tinued to cause many casualties. Taking a rifle and
bayonet. Lieutenant Tait dashed forward alone and
killea the enemy gunner. Inspired by his example,
his men rushed the position, capturing twelve machine
guns and twenty prisoners. His valorous action
cleared the way for his battalion to advance. Later,
when the eaemy counter-attacked our positions under
intense artillery bombardment, this gallant officer
displayed outstanding courage and leadership and,
though mortally wounded by a shell, continued to
direct and aid his men until his death."

SERGT. ROBERT E. SPALL, V.C.
Killed in action

PTE. JOHN FRANCIS YOUNG, V.C.

WINNERS OF THE VICTORIA CROSS

CORP. FREDERICK FISHER, V.C.
Killed in action

ide

HEROIC DEEDS 311

Private John Francis Young, V.C.
87th Battalion

**For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to
duty in attack at Dury-Arras sector on the 2nd of
September, 1918, when acting as stretcher-bearer at-
tached to D Company of the 87th Battalion, Quebec
regiment.

^^This company, in the advance over the ridge, suf-
fered heavy casualties from shell and machine-gun
fire. Private Young, in spite of the complete absence
of cover, without the least hesitation, went out, and in
the open fire-swept ground dressed the wounded.
Having exhausted his stock of dressings, on more
than one occasion he returned, under intense fire, to
his company headquarters for a further supply. This
work he continued for over an hour, displaying
throughout the most absolute fearlessness. To his
courageous conduct must be ascribed the saving of
the lives of many of his comrades. Later, when the
fire had somewhat slackened, he organized and led
stretcher parties to bring in the wounded whom he
had dressed. All through the operations of the 2nd,
3rd, and 4th of September, Private Young continued
to show the greatest valour and devotion to duty."

Sergeant Raphael Lewis Zengel, V.C, M.M.

5th Battalion

**For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to
duty when protecting the battalion right flank [Au-
gust 9th, 1918, east of Warvillers]. He was leading
his platoon gallantly forward to the attack, but had
not gone far when he realized that a gap had oc-
curred on his flank, and that an enemy machine gun
was firing at close range into the advancing line.
Grasping the situation, he rushed forward some two

312 CANADA IN THE GEEAT WORLD WAR

hundred yards ahead of the platoon, tackled the ma-
chine-gun emplacement, killed the officer and operator
of the gun and dispersed the crew. By his boldness
and prompt action, he undoubtedly saved the lives of
many of his comrades. Later, when the battalion was
held up by very heavy machine-gun fire, he displayed
much tactical skill and directed his fire with destruc-
tive results. Shortly afterwards he was rendered
unconscious for a few minutes by an enemy shell, but
on recovering consciousness he at once continued to
direct harassing fire on the enemy. Sergeant Zengel's
work throughout the attack was excellent and his
utter disregard for personal safety, and the confi-
dence he inspired in all ranks, greatly assisted in
bringing the attack to a successful end."

APPENDICES

APPENDIX I

COMMANDING OFFICERS OVERSEAS UNITS

Headquarters, France

APPOINTED retired

Headquarters Canadian Army Corps

Lt.-Gen. Sir E. A. H. Alderson, K.C.B. Sept. 13, 15 May 28, 16
Lt.-Gen. Hon. Sir J. H. G. Byng,

K.C.B., K.C.M.G., M.V.O May 28, '16 June 8, 17

Lt.-Gen. Sir A. W. Currie, G.C.M.G.,
K.C.B June 9,17 Demob.

Headquarters Ist Division

Lt.-Gen. E. A. H. Alderson, C.B Sept. 22, 14 Sept. 13, 15

Maj.-Gen. Sir A. W. Currie, K.C.M.G.,

C.B Sept.13,15 June 9,17

Maj.-Gen. Sir A. C. Macdonell, K.C.B.,
C.M.G., D.S.O June 9, 17 Demob.

Headquarters 2nd Division

Maj.-Gen. Sir S. B. Steele, K.C.M.G.,

C.B., M.V.O May 25, 15 June 6, 15

Maj.-Gen. Sir R. E. W. Turner, V.C,

K.C.M.G., C.B., D.S.O Aug. 17, 15 Dec. 15, 16

Maj-Gen. Sir H. E. Burstall, K.C.B.,

K.C.M.G., A.D.C Dec. 15, 16 Demob.

Headquarters 3rd Division

Maj.-Gen. M. S. Mercer, C.B Nov. 20, 15 June 3, 16

Maj.-Gen. L. J. Lipsett, C.B., C.M.G. June 16, 16 Sept. 13, 18
Maj.-Gen. Sir F. O. W. Loomis,
K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O Sept. 13, 18 Demob.

Headquarters J^th Division

Brig.-Gen. Lord Brooke, C.M.G.,

M.V.O Nov. 19, 15 May 11, 16

Maj.-Gen. Sir D. Watson, K.C.B.,

C.M.G May 11, 16 Demob.

Headquarters 5th Division (disbanded
Feb. 28, '18)
Maj.-Gen. G. B. Hughes, C.B., C.M.G.,
D.S.O Jan. 22, 17 Feb. 28, 18

315

316 CANADA IN THE GEEAT WOELD WAE

G.O.C/s Headquarters, England

Headqtiarters O. M. F. C. appointed retired

Lt.-Gen. Sir R. E. W. Turner, V.C,
K.C.B., K.C.M.G., D.S.O Dec. 5, '16 May 18, 18

Chief of General Staff

Lt.-Gen. Sir R. E. W. Turner, V.C,
K.C.B., K.C.M.G., D.S.O May 18, *18 Nov. 22, 19

Canadian Training Division, Shomcliffe

Maj.-Gen. J. C. MacDougall, C.M.G... Sept. 1, 15 Nov. 7,16

Brig.-Gen. E. C. Ashton Nov. 7, 16 Apr. 1, 17

Col. F. St. D. Skinner Apr. 1, 17 Apr. 18, 17

Brig.-Gen. C. A. Smart, C.M.G Apr. 18, 17 Dec. 15, 18

Canadian Training Division, Bramshott

(closed and moved to Ripon, Jan.

27, '19)

Brig.-Gen. F. S. Meighen Aug. 10, 16 June 19, 18

Col. J. G. Rattray, C.M.G., D.S.O.. . . June 19, 18 June 27, 18
Brig.-Gen. J. H. Elmsley, C.B.,C.M.G.,

D.S.O June 27, 18 Aug. 7,18

Col. J. G. Rattray, C.M.G., D.S.O.... Aug. 7,18 Sept. 18, 18
Brig.-Gen. R. Rennie, C.B., C.M.G.,

D.S.O Sept.l8, 18 Feb. 21, 19

Canadian Concentration Camps, Witley
and Bramshott
Brig.-Gen. A. H. Bell, C.M.G., D.S.O. Apr. 1, 19 Demob.

Canadian Training Division, Ripon

Lt.-Col. Homer Dixon, D.S.O Jan. 23,19 Jan. 30,19

Brig.-Gen. R. Rennie, C.B., C.M.G.,

D.S.O Jan. 30, 19 Feb. 21, 19

Brig.-Gen. D. M. Ormond, C.M.G.,

D.S.O Feb. 21, 19 Demob.

Headquarters, Brighton (closed Jan.
2, '17)
Maj.-Gen. J. C. MacDougall, C.M.G. Nov. 7, 16 Dec. 21, 16
Brig.-Gen. J. P. Landry Dec. 21, 16 Jan. 2, 17

Headquarters, Witley

Brig.-Gen. R. G. E. Leckie, C.M.G.. . . Dec. 16, 16 Feb. 13, 17
Maj.-Gen. G. B. Hughes, C.M.G.,

D.S.O Feb. 13, 17 July 22, 18

Col. C. H. L. Sharman, C.B.E July 22, 18 July 26, 18

Brig.-Gen. F. W. Hill, C.B., C.M.G.,

D.S.O July 27, 18 Mar. 31, 19

Headquarters, Seaford

Lt.-Col. S. D. Gardner, M.C Oct. 21,16 Aug. 22, 17

Lt.-Col. C. H. Rogers Aug. 22, 17 Sept. 22, 17

Lt.-Col. S. D. Gardner, M.C Sept. 22, 17 June 13, 18

Lt.-Col. F. V. Anderson, D.S.O June 13, 18 June 26, 18

Lt.-Col. S. D. Gardner, C.M.G., M.C. June 28, 18 July 18, 18

Canadian Offtcial Photograph

MAJ.-GEN. SIR F. O. W. LOOMIS, K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.

COMMANDING OFFICERS OVERSEAS 317

APPOINTED

RETIRED

Lt-Col. P. J. Daly, C.M.G., D.S.O... July 18, '18 July 27, '18

Lt.-Col. S. D. Gardner, C.M.G., M.C. July 27, '18 Sept. 12, '18

Brig.-Gen. H. M. Dyer, C.M.G., D.S.O. Sept. 12, '18 Mar. 25, '19

Col. J. G. Rattray, C.M.G., D.S.O... . Mar. 25, '19 Aug. 3, '19

Headquarters, Crowborough (disbanded)

Col. C. A. Smart Oct. 31, '16 Apr. 16, '17

Lt.-Col. H. T. Hughes, C.M.G Apr. 16, '17 Apr. 22, '17

Lt.-Col. J. L. H. Bogart Apr. 23, '17 May 1, '17

Brig.-Gen. W. St. P. Hughes, D.S.O. May 1, '17 July 31, '17

Headquarters, Hastings

Col. H. H. Matthews, D.S.O Nov. 22, '16 Sept. 6, '17

Lt.-Col. A. C. Critchley, D.S.O Sept. 6, '17 Sept. 16, '17

Headquarters, Bordon (disbanded)
Brig.-Gen. C. H. MacLaren, C.M.G.,

D.S.O Nov. 4, '18 Jan. 31, '19

Headquarters, Shoreham (disbanded)
Brig.-Gen. J. P. Landry, C.M.G... .

Oct. 30, '16 Jan. 2, '17

Infantry Brigades

Ist Infantry Brigade

Brig.-Gen. M. S. Mercer, C.B Sept. 22, '14 Nov. 20, '15

> Brig.-Gen. G. B. Hughes, C.M.G.,

D.S.O Nov. 25, '15 Feb. 13, '17

Brig.-Gen. W. A. Griesbach, C.B.,

C.M.G., D.S.O Feb. 14, '17 Feb. 15, '19

Brig.-Gen. G. E. McCuaig, C.M.G.,

D.S.O Feb. 27, '19 Demob.

2nd Infantry Brigade

Brig.-Gen. A. W. Currie, C.B Sept. 22, '14 Sept. 13, '15

Brig.-Gen. L. J. Lipsett, C.M.G Sept. 13, '15 June 16, '16

Brig.-Gen. F. O. W. Loomis, C.M.G.,

D.S.O July 2, '16 Dec. 27, '17

Brig.-Gen. J. F. L. Embury, C.M.G. Jan. 1, '18 Mar. 16, '18
Brig.-Gen. F. O. W. Loomis, C.B.,

C.M.G., D.S.O Mar. 18, '18 Sept. 13, '18

Lt.-Col. W. F. Gilson, D.S.O Sept. 13, '18 Oct. 6, '18

Brig.-Gen. R. P. Clark, C.M.G., D.S.O.,

M.C Oct. 6, '18 Demob.

Srd Infantry Brigade

Brig.-Gen. R. E. W. Turner, V.C,

C.B., D.S.O Sept.22,'14 Aug. 12, '15

Brig.-Gen. R. G. E. Leckie, C.M.G.. . . Aug. 12, '15 Feb. 18, '16
Brig.-Gen. F. O. W. Loomis, C.M.G.,

D.S.O • Mar. 9, '16 Mar. 12, '16

Brig.-Gen. G. S. Tuxford,C.B., C.M.G.,

D.S.O Mar.l2,'16 Demob.

318 CANADA IN THE GEEAT WORLD WAR

APPOINTED RETIRED

J^th Infantry Brigade

Col. S. J. A. Dennison May 15, 16 June 25, '15

Brig.-Gen. Lord Brooke, C.M.G.,

M.V.O June25,'15 Nov. 10, 15

Brig.-Gen. R. Rennie, C.B., C.M.G.,

M. V.O., D.S.O Nov. 10, 15 Sept. 12, 18

Brig.-Gen. G. E. McCuaig, C.M.G.,

D.S.O Sept.l4, 18 Feb. 27, 19

Brig.-Gen. R. Rennie, C.B., C.M.G.,

M.V.O., D.S.O Feb. 27, 19 Demob.

5th Infantry Brigade

Col. J. P. Landry May 20, 15 Aug. 30, 15

Brig.-Gen. D. Watson, C.B Aug. 30, 15 Apr. 22, 16

Brig.-Gen. A. H. Macdonell, C.M.G.,

D.S.O Apr. 24, 16 July 23, 17

Brig.-Gen. J. M. Ross, C.M.G., D.S.O. July 23, 17 Aug. 9, 18
Brig.-Gen. T. L. Tremblay, C.M.G.,

D.S.O Aug. 10, 18 Demob.

6th Infantry Brigade

Brig.-Gen. H. D. B. Ketchen, C.M.G. May 29, 15 Apr. 20, 18

Brig.-Gen. A. H. Bell, C.M.G., D.S.O. Apr. 23, 18 Oct. 2, 18

Brig.-Gen. A. Ross, C.M.G., D.S.O... Oct. 2,18 Demob.

7th Infantry Brigade

Brig.-Gen. A. C. Macdonell, C.M.G.,

D.S.O Dec. 23, 15 Feb. 20, 16

Brig.-Gen. G. S. Tuxford, C.M.G... . Mar. 11, 16 Mar. 12, 16
Brig.-Gen. F. 0. W. Loomis, D.S.O... Mar. 14, 16 May 6,16
Brig.-Gen. A. C. Macdonell, C.B.,

C.M.G., D.S.O May 6,16 June 9,17

Brig.-Gen. H. M. Dyer, C.B., C.M.G.,

D.S.O June 9,17 Sept.12,18

Brig.-Gen. J. A. Clark, C.M.G., D.S.O. Sept. 12, 18 Demob.

8th Infantry Brigade

Brig.-Gen. V. A. S. Williams Dec. 23, 15 June 3, 16

Brig.-Gen. J. H. Elmsley, C.M.G.,

D.S.O June 15, 16 May 25, 18

Brig.-Gen. D. C. Draper, C.M.G.,

D.S.O May 25, 18 Demob.

9th Infantry Brigade

Brig.-Gen. F. W. Hill, C.M.G., D.S.O. Jan. 9, 16 July 21, 18
Brig.-Gen. D. M. Ormond, C.M.G.,

DS.O July 21, 18 Feb. 21, 19

Lt.-Col. W. W. Foster, D.S.O Feb. 21,19 Demob.

10th Infantry Brigade

Col. G. S. Tuxford, C.M.G Jan. 11, 16 Mar. 9,16

Lt.-Col. H. Snell Mar. 9, 16 Apr. 14, 16

Col. F. S. Meighen Apr. 14, 16 July 16, 16

Brig.-Gen. W. St. P. Hughes, D.S.O. July 16, 16 Jan. 18, 17

Brig.-Gen. E. Hilliam, C.M.G., D.S.O. Jan. 18, 17 Nov. 12, 17

Canadidit Offivial Photograph

MAJ.-GEN. SIR DAVID WATSON, K.C.B., C.M.G.

COMMANDING OFFICERS OVERSEAS 319

APPOINTED

RETIRED

Brig.-Gen. R. J. F. Hayter, C.B.,

C.M.G., D.S.O Dec. 4, '17 Oct. 28, '18

Brig.-Gen. J. M. Ross, C.M.G., D.S.O. Oct. 28, '18 Demob.

11th Infantry Brigade

Col. C. A. Smart Jan. 9, '16 Feb. 6, '16

Brig.-Gen. F. O. W. Loomis, D.S.O.. . May 16, '16 July 2, '16
Brig.-Gen. V. W. Odium, C.B., C.M.G.,

D.S.O July 10, '16 Demob.

12th Infantry Brigade

Col. F. O. W. Loomis, D.S.O Jan. 5, '16 Mar. 9, '16

Brig.-Gen. Lord Brooke, C.M.G.,

M.V.O May 11, '16 Sept.ll,'16

Brig.-Gen. J. H. MacBrien, C.B.,

C.M.G., D.S.O Sept. 13, '16 Dec. 13, '18

Brig.-Gen. J. Kirkcaldy, C.M.G., D.S.O. Dec. 13, '18 Demob.

13th Infantry Brigade (disbanded)

Brig.-Gen. J. F. L. Embury, C.M.G.. . Nov. 1, '16 Mar. 11, '18

IJ^th Infantry Brigade (disbanded)

Lt.-Col. J. E. Leckie, D.S.O Nov. 29, '16 Jan. 3, '17

Brig.-Gen. A. E. Swift, D.S.O Jan. 22, '17 Mar. 11, '18

15th Infantry Brigade (disbanded)

. Brig.-Gen. E. C. Ashton Apr. 2, '17 Nov. 6, '17

Lt.-Col. A. E. Ings Nov. 5, '17 Nov. 17, '17

Lt.-Col. D. M. Sutherland Nov. 19, '17 Mar. 11, '18

Training Brigades

1st Training Brigade (disbanded)

Col. S. M. Rogers Sept.l5, '15 Feb. 6, '16

Col. C. A. Smart Feb. 6, '16 Oct. 31, '16

Lt.-Col. F. W. Fisher Oct. 31, '16 Jan. 3, '17

2nd Training Brigade (disbanded)

Brig.-Gen. J. P. Landry Sept. 15, '15 Oct. 31, '16

Lt.-Col. F. C. McCordick , Oct. 31, '16 Jan. 3, '17

8rd Training Brigade (disbanded)

Col. E. C. Ashton Sept. 15, '15 Oct. 28, '16

Lt.-Col. E. E. W. Moore Oct. 28, '16 Jan. 4, '17

J^th Training Brigade (disbanded)

Col. J. H. Cowen Sept.l5, '15 Jan. 4, '17

5th Training Brigade (disbanded)

Col. S. M. Rogers May 6, '16 May 10, '16

Lt.-Col. F. B. Black May 10, '16 Oct. 7, '16

Lt./Col. A. E. Carpenter Oct. 7, '16 Jan. 2, '17

320 CANADA IN THE GREAT WOELD WAR

APPOINTED RETIRED

6th Training Brigade (disbanded)

Lt.-Col. E. E. W. Moore May 9, 16 Oct. 25, '16

7th Training Brigade (disbanded)

Lt.-Col. J. W. H. McKinnery Aug. 14, '16 Jan. 1, '17

8th Training Brigade (disbanded)

Lt.-Col. W. O. H. Dodds, C.M.G Sept. 20, '16 Oct. 2, '16

Lt.-Col. A. H. Borden Oct. 2, '16 Oct. 28, '16

Lt.-Col. M. A. Colquhoun, D.S.O Oct. 28, '16 Jan. 1, '17

9th Training Brigade (disbanded)

Lt.-Col. H. Snell Aug. 29, '16 Nov. 3, '16

Lt.-Col. J. G. Rattray, D.S.O Nov. 3, '16 Jan. 1, '17

10th Training Brigade (disbanded)

Lt.-Col. J. G. Rattray, D.S.O Sept. 10, '16 Nov. 1, '16

Lt.-Col. J. F. L. Embury Nov. 1, '16 Jan. 1, '17

11th Training Brigade (disbanded)

Lt.-Col. E. F. Mackie, D.S.O Oct. 4, '16 Nov. 3, '16

Lt.-Col. A. E. Swift Nov. 3, '16 Jan. 1, '17

12th Training Brigade (disbanded)

Lt.-Col. J. Stanfield Oct. 22, '16 Jan. 1, '17

Bramshott Training Brigade (absorbed
in C.T.D.)
Col. F. S. Meighen July 16, '16 Aug. 10, '16

Reserve Brigades

Ist Reserve Brigade (disbanded)

Lt.-Col. E. E. W. Moore Jan. 2, '17 Apr. 6, '17

Lt.-Col. W. S. Buell Apr. 6, '17 Apr. 20, '17

Col. M. A. Colquhoun, D.S.O Apr. 20, '17 Apr. 15, '18

2nd Reserve Brigade (disbanded)

Col. J. E. Leckie, C.M.G., D.S.O Jan. 2, '17 Apr. 15, '18

3rd Reserve Brigade

Col. S. D. Gardner, M.C Jan. 2, '17 Aug. 22, '17

(See Headquarters, Seaford, for continuation.)

J^th Reserve Brigade

Brig.-Gen. J. P. Landry, C.M.G Jan. 2, '17

5th Reserve Brigade (disbanded)

Lt.-Col. J. A. Gunn, D.S.O Jan. 2, '17 Feb. 21, '18

Lt.-Col. H. S. Tobin Feb. 21, '18 Apr. 15, '18

6th Reserve Brigade (disbanded)

Col. J. G. Rattray, D.S.O Jan. 2, '17 Apr. 15, '18

f

COMMANDING OFFICERS OVERSEAS 321

Infantry Battalions

APPOINTED

P.P.C.L./.

Lt.-Col. F. D. Farquhar, D.S.O...

Lt.-Col. H. C. BuUer

Lt.-Col. R. T. Pelly, D.S.O

Lt.-Col. H. C. BuUer, D.S.O

Lt.-Col. A. A. M. Adamson, D.S.O.

Lt.-Col. R. T. Pelly, D.S.O

Lt.-Col. A. A. M. Adamson, D.S.O.
Lt.-Col. C. J. T. Stewart, D.S.O....

Capt. J. Edgar, M.C

Capt. G. W. Little

Lt.-Col. A. G. Pearson, D.C.M

Royal Canadian Regiment

Lt.-Col. A. E. Carpenter

Lt.-Col. A. H. Macdonell, D.S.O

Lt.-Col. C. H. Hill, D.S.O

Lt.-Col. C. R. E. Willets, D.S.O.

Lt.-Col. C. H. Hill. D.S.O

Lt.-Col. C. R. E. Willets, D.S.O.
Lt.-Col. G. W. McLeod, D.S.O..

1st Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. F. W. Hill, D.S.O

Lt.-Col. F. A. Creighton

Lt.-Col. G. C. Hodson, D.S.O

Lt.-Col. A. W. Sparling, D.S.O

2nd Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. D. Watson

Lt.-Col. A. E. Swift, D.S.O

Major W. M. Yates

Lt.-Col. R. P. Clark, M.C

Lt.-Col. L. T. McLaughlin, D.S.O....

Major R. Vanderwater, D.S.O

Lt.-Col. L. T. McLaughlin

3rd Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. R. Rennie, M.V.O

Lt.-Col. W. D. Allan, D.S.O

Lt.-Col. J. B. Rogers, C.M.G., D.S.O.,
M.C

J^th Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. R. H. Labatt

Lt.-Col. A. B. Birchall

Lt.-Col. J. B. Rogers

Lt.-Col. R. H. Labatt

Lt.-Col. M. A. Colquhoun, D.S.O

Lt.-Col. W. Rae, D.S.O

Lt.-Col. A. T. Thomson, D.S.O., M.C.
Lt.-Col. L. H. Nelles, D.S.O., M.C...

Maj. G. G. Blackstock

Lt.-Col. L. H. Nelles, D.S.O., M.C...

Sept.

Mar.

May

Dec.

June

Aug.

Oct.

Mar.

Sept.

Sept.

Oct.

22, '14
21, '15

15, '15
7, '15

17, '16

3, '16

31, '16

27, '18

28, '18

29, '18

16, '18

Aug. 26, '15
Nov. 26, '15
Apr. 20, '16
Oct. 20, '16
Apr. 7, '18
July 4, '18
Oct. 14, '18

Sept. 22, '14
Jan. 24, '16
June 27, '16
Aug. 17, '17

Sept. 22, '14
Aug. 26, '15
Oct. 26, '16
Jan. 10, '17
May 12, '17
Aug. 30, '18
Oct. 10, '18

Sept. 22, '14
Nov. 10. '15

RETIRED

Mar. 21, '15
May 5, '15
Dec. 7, '15
June 17, '16
Aug. 3, '16
Oct. 31, '16
Mar. 27, '18
Sept. 28, '18
Sept. 29, '18
Oct. 16, '18
Demob.

Nov. 26, '15
Apr. 20, '16
Oct. 20. '16
Apr. 7, '18
July 4, '18
Oct. 14, '18
Demob.

Jan. 17, '16
June 16, '16
Aug. 17, '17
Demob.

Aug. 26, '15
Oct. 26, '16
Dec. 20, '16
May 12, '17
Aug. 30, '18
Oct. 10, '18
Demob.

Nov. 10, '15
Sept. 5, '16

Oct. 1, '16 Demob.

Sept. 22, '14
Feb. 26, '15
Apr. 29, '15
May 14, '15
June 7, '15
June 25, '16
June 2, '17
Nov. 20, '17
Aug. 10, '18
Sept. 4, '18

Feb. 26, '15
Apr. 24, '15
May 14, '15
June 7, '15
June 3, '16
June 2, '17
Nov. 19, '17
Aug. 9, '18
Sept. 4, '18
Demob.

322 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

5th Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. G. S. Tuxford

Lt.-Col. H. M. Dyer, D.S.O

Lt.-Col. L. P. O. Tudor, D.S.O. .
Lt.-Col. L. L. Crawford, D.S.O. .
Lt.-Col. L. P. 0. Tudor, D.S.O...

6th Infantry Battalion (See Fort Garry
Horse)

7th Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. W. Hart McHarg

Lt.-Col. V. W. Odium, D.S.O

Lt.-Col. S. D. Gardner

Lt.-Col. W. F. Gilson, D.S.O

APPOINTED

Sept. 22, '15
Jan. 11, '16
June 29, '17
Mar. 8, '18
Apr. 4, '18

Sept. 22, '14
Apr. 29, '15
July 20, '16
Oct. 9. '16

RETIRED

Jan. 11, '16
June 29, '17
Mar. 8, '18
Apr. 4, '18
Demob.

Apr. 29, '15
July 10, '16
Oct. 9, '16
Demob.

8th Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. L. J. Lipsett, C.M.G. . . .
Lt.-Col. H. H. Matthews, D.S.O.

Lt.-Col. K. C. Bedson

Lt.-Col. J. M. Prower, D.S.O....
Lt.-Col. T. H. Raddall, D.S.O.

Sept. 22, '14 Sept. 13, '15

Sept. 28, '15 June 18, '16

July 14, '16 Aug. 3, '16

Aug. 3, '16 Apr. 20, '18

Apr. 20, '18 Aug. 9, '18

Lt.-Col. A. L. Saunders, D.S.O., M.C. Aug. 13, '18 Demob.

9th Infantry Battalion (Reserves)

Lt.-Col. S. M. Rogers Sept. 22, '14 May 4, '15

Lt.-Col. E. E. W. Moore May 8, '15 Apr. 25, '16

Lt.-Col. E. B. Clegg Apr. 25, '16 Jan. 2, '17

(See Reserve Battalions for continuation.)

10th Infantry Brigade

Lt.-Col. R. L. Boyle Sept. 22, '14 Apr. 25, '15

Lt.-Col. J. G. Rattray, D.S.O June 1, '15 Sept. 10, '16

Lt.-Col. D. M. Ormond, D.S.O Sept. 25, '16 May 24, '18

Lt.-Col. E. W. McDonald, D.S.O., M.C. May 24, '18 Demob.

11th Infantry Battalion (Reserves)

Lt.-Col. R. Burritt Sept. 22, '14 Aug. 23, '15

Lt.-Col. A. Dulmage Aug. 23, '15 Sept. 15, '15

Lt.-Col. A. E. Carpenter Nov. 26, '15 Apr. 27, '16

Lt.-Col. P. Walker . , May 8, '16 Jan. 4, '17

(See Reserve Battalions for continuation.)

12th Infantry Battalion (Reserves)

Lt.-Col. H. F. McLeod Sept. 22, '14 Feb. 2, '15

Lt.-Col. F. A. Howard June 2, '15 Sept. 15, '15

Lt.-Col. H. F. McLeod Sept. 15, '15 July 6, '16

Lt..CoL R. Pellatt Sept. 19, '16 Jan. 4, '17

(See Reserve Battalions for continuation.)

ISth Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. F. O. W. Loomis, D.S.O Sept. 22, '14 Jan. 5, '16

Lt.-Col. V. C. Buchanan, D.S.O Jan. 5, '16 Sept. 26, '16

LT.-COL. GAULT MCCOMBE, D.S.O. LT.-COL. J. B. ROGERS, C.M.G.,

D.S.O., M.C. WITH BAR
X.T.-COL. L. G. CASEWELL, M.C. LT.-COL. C. H. VANDERSLUYS, M.C.

TYPES OF CANADIAN BATTALION COMMANDERS

COMMANDING OFFICERS OVERSEAS 323

APPOINTED

Lt.-Col. G. E. McCuaig, D.S.O Sept. 27, 16

Lt.-Col. K. M. Perry, D.S.O Dec. 20, '17

Lt.-Col. C. E. McCuaig, C.M.G., D.S.O. Apr. 1, '18

Maj. J. M. R. Sinclair, D.S.O., M.C. . . . Sept. 14, '18

Lt.-Col. K. M. Perry, D.S.O.. Oct. 14 ,'18

Maj. J. M. R. Sinclair, D.S.O., M.C. . . Feb. 28, '19

lU Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. F. S. Meighen

Lt.-Col. W. W. Burland, D.S.O. .

Lt.-Col. F. W. Fisher

Lt.-Col. R. P. Clark, M.C

Lt.-Col. Gault McCombe, D.S.O. .
Lt.-Col. D. Warrall, D.S.O., M.C.

15th Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. J. A. Currie

Lt.-Col. W. B. Marshall, D.S.O. .

Lt.-Col. C. E. Bent, D.S.O

Lt.-Col. J. W. Forbes, D.S.O

Lt.-Col. C. E. Bent, C.M.G., D.S.O
Lt.-Col. J. P. Girvan, D.S.O., M.C.
Lt.-Col. C. E. Bent, C.M.G., D.S.O

16th Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. R. G. E. Leckie, C.M.G.
Lt.-Col. J. E. Leckie, D.S.O. . . .
Lt.-Col. C. W. Peck, V.C, D.S.O.

Maj. J. Hope, D.S.O

Lt.-Col. J. A. Scroggie, M.C. . . .

Sept. 22, '14
June 19, '15
July 29, '15
Mar. 19, '16
Jan. 15, '17
Apr. 19, '18

Sept. 22, '14
June 28, '15
May 20, '16
Dec. 29, '17
Apr. 15, '18
Aug. 10, '18
Oct. 3, '18

Sept. 22, '14
Aug. 12, '15
Nov. 13, '16
Jan. 3, '19
Mar. 28, '19

17th Infantry Battalion (Reserves)

Lt.-Col. S. G. Robertson Sept. 22, '14

Lt.-Col. E. B. Worthington Jan. 30, '15

Lt.-Col. D. D. Cameron Sept. 1, '15

(See Reserve Battalions for continuation.)

18th Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. E. W. S. Wigle Apr. 18, '15

Lt.-Col. H. L. Milligan, D.S.O July 8, '16

Lt.-Col. G. F. Morrison, D.S.O Oct. 9, '16

Lt.-Col. L. E. Jones, C.M.G., D.S.O.. . Apr. 19, '17

19th Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. J. I. McLaren

Lt.-Col. W. R. Turnbull

Lt.-Col. J. H. Millen

Lt.-Col. H. C. Hatch, D.S.O..
Lt.-Col. L. H. Millen, D.S.O..

20th Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. J. A. W. Allan

Lt.-Col. C. H. Rogers

Lt.-Col. H. V. Rorke, D.S.O

Lt.-Col. B. 0. Hooper, D.S.O., M.C.

May 22, '15
July 18, '16
Dec. 30, '16
Feb. 15, '18
June 22, '18

May 24, '15
Aug. 21, '15
Dec. 4, '16
July 26, '18

RETIRED

Dec. 6, '17
Apr. 1,'18
Sept. 14, '18
Oct. 14, '18
Feb. 28, '19
Demob.

June 19, '15
July 29, '15
Mar. 18, '16
Jan. 15, '17
Apr. 19, '18
Demob.

June 28, '15
May 19, '16
Dec. 29, '17
Apr. 15, '18
Aug. 10, '18
Oct. 3, '18
Demob.

Aug. 12, *15
Nov. 13, '16
Jan. 3, '19
Mar. 28, '19
Demob.

Jan. 30, '15
Sept. 1,'15
Jan. 4, '17

July 8, '16
Oct. 9, '16
Apr. 19, '17
Demob.

July 18, '16
Dec. 30, '16
Feb. 15, '18
June 22, '18
Demob.

Aug. 21, '15
Nov. 20, '16
June 27, '18
Demob.

324 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

APPOINTED

RETIRED

21st Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. W. St. P. Hughes May 6, 15 July 18, '16

Lt.-Col. E. W. Jones, D.S.O July 18, '16 Jan. 7, '17

Lt.-Col. T. F. Elmitt Jan. 7, '17 July 1, '17

Lt.-Col. E. W. Jones, D.S.O July 1, '17 Aug. 8, '18

Lt.-Col. H. E. Pense, D.S.O., M.C. . . . Aug. 8, '18 Demob.

22nd Infantry Battalion

Col. F. M. Gaudet May 20, '15 Jan. 25, '16

Lt.-Col. T. L. Tremblay, D.S.O Jan. 25, '15 Sept. 25, '16

Lt.-Col. A. E. Dubuc, D.S.O Oct. 24, '16 Feb. 5, '17

Lt.-Col. T. L. Tremblay, C.M.G., D.S.O. Feb. 15, '17 Aug. 8, '18

Lt.-Col. A. E. Dubuc, D.S.O Aug. 9, '18 Aug. 27, '18

Maj. G. P. Vanier, M.C Aug. 27, '18 Aug. 28, '18

Maj. G. E. A. Dupuis, M.C Aug. 28, '18 Sept. 10, '18

Lt.-Col. M. J. R. H. DesRosiers Sept. 10, '18 Demob.

23rd Infantry Battalion (Reserves)

Lt.-Col. F. W. Fisher Mar. 8, '15 July 4, '15

Lt.-Col. F. C. Bowen July 4, '15 Apr. 22, '16

Maj. D. A. McKay Apr. 22, '16 July 12, '16

Lt.-Col. C. F. Bick July 12, '16 Sept. 6, '16

(See Reserve Battalions for continuation.)

2Jfth Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. J. A. Gunn, D.S.O May 11, '15 Oct. 31, '16

Lt.-Col. R. O. Alexander, D.S.O Nov. 1, '16 Dec. 7, '16

Lt.-Col. C. F. Ritchie Dec. 7, '16 Apr. 14, '17

Lt.-Col. R. O. Alexander, D.S.O Apr. 14, '17 Aug. 4, '17

Lt.-Col. C. F. Ritchie, M.C Aug. 4, '17 Jan. 22, '18

Lt.-Col. W. H. Clark-Kennedy, V.C,

C.M.G., D.S.O Jan. 22, '18 Aug. 28, '18

Lt.-Col. C. F. Ritchie, D.S.O., M.C... Sept. 5, '18 Demob.

25th Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. G. A. LeCain May 20, '15 Oct. 26, '15

Lt.-Col. E. Hilliam Oct. 26, '15 Jan. 18, '17

Maj. J. A. De Lancy, M.C Jan. 18, '17 Apr. 4, '17

Lt.-Col. D. S. Bauld, D.S.O Apr. 4, '17 July 9, '17

Lt.-Col. A. S. Blois, D.S.O July 9, '17 Apr. 19, '18

Lt.-Col. J. W. Wise, D.S.O., M.C. ... Apr. 19, '18 Aug. 8, '18

Lt.-Col. F. P. Day Aug. 9, '18 Oct. 13, '18

Lt.-Col. C. J. Mersereau, D.S.O Oct. 13, '18 Demob.

26th Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. J. L. McAvity June 15, '15 May 29, '16

Lt.-Col. A. E. G. McKenzie, D.S.O.. . . May 29, '16 July 2, '17

Lt.-Col. W. R. Brown, D.S.O July 2, '17 Oct. 4, '17

Lt.-Col. A. E. G. McKenzie, D.S.O.. . . Oct. 4, '17 Sept. 29, '18

Maj. C. G. Porter, D.S.O Aug. 28, '18 Sept. 5, '18

Lt.-Col. W. R. Brown, D.S.O Sept. 5, '18 Demob.

27th Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. J. R. Snider May 17, '15 Apr. 15, '16

Lt.-Col. G. J. Daly, C.M.G., D.S.O.. . . Apr. 15, '16 Apr. 4, '18

Lt.-Col. H. J. Riley, D.S.O Apr. 4, '18 Demob.

LT.-COL. E. DUBUC, D.S.O. AND BAR, CHEVALIER DE LA
LEGION d'hONNEUR

COMMANDING OFFICERS OVERSEAS 325

APPOINTED RETIRED

28th Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. J. F. L. Embury, C.M.G May 29, '15 Sept. 17, 16

Lt.-Col. A. Ross, D.S.O Sept. 17, '16 Oct. 1, '18

Maj. G. F. D. Bond, M.C Oct. 2, '18 Nov. 6, '18

Maj. A. F. Simpson, D.S.O Nov. 6, '18 Dec. 16, '18

Lt.-Col. D. E. Maclntyre, D.S.O., M.C. Dec. 16, '18 Demob.

29th Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. H. S. Tobin May 20, '15 July 20, '16

Lt.-Col. J. S. Tait Aug. 20, '16 Sept.lO, '16

Lt.-Col. J. M. Ross Sept. 10, '16 Dec. 16, '16

Lt.-Col. J. S. Tait Dec. 16, '16 Jan. 22, '17

Lt.-Col. J. M. Ross, D.S.O Jan. 22, '17 July 23, '17

Lt.-Col. W. S. Latta, D.S.O July 23, '17 Aug. 16, '18

Maj. L. A. Wilmott, M.C Aug. 16, '18 Sept. 5, '18

Lt.-Col. H. S. Tobin, D.S.O Sept. 5, '18 Demob.

30th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by 1st
Reserve Battalion)

Lt.-Col. J. A. Hall Feb. 26, '15 June 9, '15

Lt.-Col. C. F. De Salis June 10, '15 Nov. 6, '15

Lt.-Col. S. Booth Nov. 7, '15 Jan. 2, '17

31st Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. A. H. Bell, D.S.O May 29, '15 Apr. 23, 18

Lt.-Col. E. S. Doughty, D.S.O Apr. 23, '18 Oct. 6, '18

Lt.-Col. N. Spencer, D.S.O Oct. 6,18 Demob.

32nd Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
15th Reserve Battalion)

Lt.-Col. H. J. Cowan Mar. 7, '15 Sept. 15, '15

Lt.-Col. C. D. Macpherson Sept. 15, '15 Aug. 1, '16

Lt.-Col. F. J. Clarke Aug. 2, '16 Jan. 2, '17

33rd Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
36th Battalion)

Lt.-Col. A. Wilson Mar. 17, '16 June 2, '16

Maj. A. E. Bywater June 2, '16 Aug. 2, '16

3j^th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
36th Battalion)
Lt.-Col. A. J. Oliver Oct. 23, '15 July 6, '16

35th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
Jfth Reserve Battalion)

Lt.-Col. F. C. McCordick Oct. 16, '15 Oct. 24, '16

Maj. F. C. Dunham Oct. 24, '16 Jan. 4, '17

36th Infantry Battalion (disbanded on
reorganization)

Lt.-Col. E. C. Ashton Aug. 16, '15 Sept. 15, '15

Maj. A. N. Ashton Sept. 15, '15 Apr. 24, '16

Lt.-Col. W. S. Buell Apr. 24, '16 Jan. 2, '17

37th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
39th Battalion)
Lt.-Col. C. F. Bick Nov. 28, '15 July 6, 16

326 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

APPOINTED

S8th Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. C. M. Edwards, D.S.O May 30, 16

Maj. R. F. Parkinson, D.S.O Apr. 23, 17

Lt.-Col. C. M. Edwards, D.S.O June 1, 17

Maj. S. English Jan. 8, 18

Maj. R. F. Parkinson, D.S.O Mar. 17, 18

Col. H. C. Sparling, D.S.O June 17, 18

Lt.-Col. C. M. Edwards, D.S.O July 17, 18

Lt.-Col. S. D. Gardner, C.M.G., M.C. Sept. 10, 18

Lt.-Col. A. D. Cameron, M.C Sept. 29, 18

S9th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
6th Reserve Battalion)

Lt.-Col. J. A. V. Preston June 24, 15

AOth Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
17th Reserve Battalion)

Lt.-Col. A. G. Vincent Oct. 18, 15

Ulst Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
10th Reserve Battalion)

Lt.-Col. L. H. Archambeault Oct. 18, 15

Jf2nd Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. G. S. Cantlie June 10, 15

Maj. R. L. H. Ewing Dec. 24, 16

Maj. S. C. Norsworthy Jan. 2, 17

Lt.-Col. B. McLennan, D.S.O Apr. 6,17

Lt.-Col. R. L. H. Ewing, D.S.O., M.C. Aug. 3, 18

RETIRED

Apr. 9,17
June 1,17
Jan. 8, 18
Mar. 16, 18
June 17, 18
July 17, 18
Sept. 10, 18
Sept. 28, 18
Demob.

Jan. 4,17
Jan. 4,17
Apr. 4,16

Dec. 24, 16
Jan. 2, 17
Apr. 6,17
Aug. 3,18
Demob.

USrd Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. R. McD. Thomson June 1,15 Oct. 8,16

Lt.-Col. W. Grassie, D.S.O Oct. 9, 16 Nov. 4, 17

Lt.-Col. W. K. Chandler Nov. 4, 17 Dec. 23, 17

Lt.-Col. H. M. Urquhart, D.S.O., M.C. Dec. 23, 17 Aug. 16, 18

Lt.-Col. W. K. Chandler, D.S.O Aug. 16, 18 Demob.

UUth Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. E. R. Wayland Oct. 22, 15 Dec. 11, 16

Lt.-Col. J. H. Sills Dec. 27, 15 Jan. 16, 17

Lt.-Col. R. D. Davies, D.S.O Jan. 22, 17 Demob.

U5th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
11th Battalion)

Lt.-Col. F. J. Clarke Mar. 17, 16 July 13, 16

J!^6th Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. H. Snell Oct. 22, 15 Aug. 29, 16

Lt.-Col. H. J. Dawson, C.M.G., D.S.O. Aug. 29, 16 Demob.

U7th Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. W. N. Winsby Nov. 13, 15 Apr. 24, 17

Lt.-Col. M. J. Francis Apr. 24, 17 Dec. 14, 17

Lt.-Col. R. H. Webb, M.C Dec. 14, 17 Apr. 24, 18

Lt.-Col. H. L. Keegan, D.S.O Apr. 24, 18 Demob.

COMMANDING OFFICEES OVERSEAS 327

Ji,8th Infantry Battalion (See 3rd Pio-
neer Battalion)

49th Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. W. A. Griesbach, D.S.O

Lt.-Col. R. H. Palmer, D.S.O.

Lt.-Col. C. Y. Weaver, D.S.O

Lt.-Col. R. H. Palmer, D.S.O

50th Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. E. G. Mason

Maj. R. B. Eaton

Maj. C. B. Worsnop, D.S.O

Lt.-Col. L. F. Page, D.S.O

51st Infantry Battalion (disbanded)

Lt.-Col. R. de L. Harwood

Maj. W. J. Shortreed

Lt.-Col. W. T. Stewart

52nd Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. A. W. Hay

Lt.-Col. D. M. Sutherland .
Lt.-Col. W. B. Evans, D.S.O.

Maj. E. A. C. Wilcox

Lt.-Col. W. W. Foster, D.S.O.
Lt.-Col. D. M. Sutherland, D.S.O.
Lt.-Col. W. W. Foster, D.S.O. . . .

APPOINTED

June 4, '15
Feb. 14,17
July 1,'18
Oct. 2, 18

Oct. 27,15
Nov. 11, 16
Jan. 1, 17
Mar. 11, 17

Apr. 19, 16
July 10, 16
Sept. 20, 16

Nov. 23, 15
July 27, 16
Sept. 25, 16
July 11, 17
Aug. 4,17
Sept. 24, 18
Oct. 9, 18

RETIRED

Feb. 11,17
July 1,18
Oct. 1, 18
Demob.

Nov. 11, 16
Jan. 1, 17
Mar. 11, 17
Demob.

July 10, 16
Sept. 20, 16

June 3,16
Sept. 25, 16
July 11, 17
Aug. 4,17
Sept. 24, 18
Oct. 9, 18
Demob.

53rd Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
15th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. R. M. Dennistoun Apr. 1,16 Aug. 1,16

5Uth Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. A. G. H. Kemball,C.B., D.S.O. Nov. 22, 15 Mar. 1, 17

Lt.-Col. V. V. Harvey, D.S.O Mar. 2, 17 Aug. 24, 17

Lt.-Col. A. B. Carey, C.M.G., D.S.O. Aug. 24, 17 Demob.

55th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
JfOth Battalion)

Lt.-Col. J. R. Kirkpatrick Oct. 30, 15 May 5, 16

Maj. H. I. Jones May 5, 16 May 13, 16

56th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
9th Battalion)
Lt.-Col. W. C. G. Armstrong Apr. 1, 16 July 6, 16

57th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
10th Reseirve Battalion)
Reinforcements only under Maj. A. L.
H.Renaud. Left Canada, June 2,16

58th Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. H. A. Genet, D.S.O Nov. 22, 15 Jan. 11, 18

Lt-Col. R. A. McFarlane, D.S.O. , . . Jan. 12, 18 Demob.

328 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

APPOINTED RETIRED

59th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
S9th Battalion)
Lt.-Col, H. J. Dawson Apr. 1, '16 Aug. 11, '16

60th Infantry Battalion (withdrawn
from France)
Lt.-Col. F. A. de L. Gascoigne Nov. 6, '15 June 6, '17

61st Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
11th Battalion)
Lt.-Col. F. J. Murray Apr. 1, '16 July 6, '17

62nd Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
30th Battalion)
Lt.-Col. J. H. D. Hulme Apr. 1, '16 July 6, '16

6Srd Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
9th Battalion)
Lt.-Col. G. B. McLeod Apr. 25, '16 July 6, '16

6i.th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
40th Battalion)
Lt.-Gol. H. M. Campbell Apr. 1, '16 July 6, '16

65th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
51st Battalion)
Lt.-Col. N. Lang June 20, '16 Sept. 25, '16

66th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
9th Battalion)
Lt.-Col. J. W. H. McKinery May 1, '16 Aug. 14, '16

67th Infantry Battalion (See Uth Pio-
neer Battalion)

68th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
32nd Battalion)
Lt.-Col. T. E. Perrett May 1, '16 July 6, '16

69th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
10th Battalion)
Lt.-Col. J. A. Dansereau Apr. 19, '16 Jan. 4, '17

70th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
39th Battalion)
Lt.-Col. R. I. Towers Apr. 25, '16 July 6, '16

71st Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
51st Battalion)

Lt.-Col. D. M. Sutherland Apr. 1, '16 June 4, '16

Lt.-Col. A. J. McCausland June 4, '16 July 19, '16

Maj. J. C. Massie July 19, '16 Sept. 1, '16

Maj. J. A. C. Makins Sept. 1, '16 Sept. 28, '16

72nd Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. J. A. Clark, D.S.O Apr. 25, '16 Sept. 12, '18

Lt.-Col. G. H. Kirkpatrick, D.S.O... . Sept. 12, '18 Demob.

i

COMMANDING OFFICERS OVERSEAS 329

APPOINTED RETIRED

73rd Infantry Battalion (withdrawn
from France)

Lt.-Col. P. Davidson Apr. 1, 16 Dec. 12, 16

Lt.-Col. H. C. Sparling, D.S.O Dec. 12, 16 Apr. 19, 17

7Uth Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
51st Battalion)

Lt.-Col. A. J. McCausland Mar. 27, 16 June 4, 16

Lt.-Col. D. M. Sutherland June 4, 16 July 18, 16

Lt.-Col. A. J. McCausland July 19, 16 Sept. 25, 16

75th Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. S. G. Beckett Apr. 1, 16 Mar. 1, 17

Lt.-Col. C. B. Worsnop, D.S.O Mar. 11, 17 Apr. 16, 17

Lt.-Col. C. C. Harbottle, D.S.O Apr. 16, 17 Demob.

76th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
36th Battalion)
Lt.-Col. J. Ballantine, D.S.O Apr. 25, 16 July 9, 16

77th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
51st Battalion)
Lt.-Col. D. R. Street June 19, 16 Sept. 13, 16

78th Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. J. Kirkcaldy, D.S.O May 22, 16 Nov. 15, 17

Lt.-Col. J. N. Semmens Nov. 16, 17 Mar. 19, 18

Lt.-Col. J. Kirkcaldy, C.M.G., D.S.O. Mar. 19, 18 Demob.

79th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
17th Battalion)
Lt.-Col. G. Clingan Apr. 25, 16 July 12, 16

80th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
51st Battalion)
Lt.-Col. W. G. Ketcheson May 22, 16 Sept. 25, 16

81st Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
35th Battalion)
Lt.-Col. B. H. Belson May 1, 16 July 5, 16

82nd Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
9th Battalion)
Lt.-Col. W. A. Lowry May 5, 16 July 18, 16

8Srd Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
12th Battalion)
Lt.-Col. R. Pellatt May 1, 16 Aug. 17, 16

8Uth Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
51st Battalion)
Lt.-Col. W. T. Stewart June 20, 16 Sept. 20, 16

85th Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. A. H. Borden Oct. 12, 16 July 6, 17

" j. J. L. Ralston, D.S.O July 31, 17 Sept. 11, 17

330 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

APPOINTED RETIRED

Lt.-Col. A. H. Borden Sept. 11, '17 Apr. 26, '18

Lt.-Col. J. L. Ralston, C.M.G., D.S.O. Apr. 26, '18 Oct. 23, '18

Maj. J. M. Miller, D.S.O., M.C Oct. 23, '18 Nov. 19, '18

Lt.-Col. J. L. Ralston, C.M.G., D.S.O. Nov. 19, '18 Demob.

86th Infantry Battalion (Machine Gun
Battalion)
Lt.-Col. W. W. Stewart. See M. G. Depot.

87th Infantry Battalion

Lt-Col. J. P. Rexford Apr. 25, '16 July 22, '16

Lt.-Col. R. W. Frost, D.S.O July 27, '16 Mar. 24, '17

Maj. H. LeR. Shaw Mar. 24, '17 May 8, '17

Lt.-Col. J. V. P. O'Donahoe, D.S.O. . . May 8, '17 Apr. 4, '18

Maj. J. S. Ralston, M.C Apr. 5, '18 May 5, '18

Lt.-Col. K. M. Perry, D.S.O May 5, '18 Oct. 14, '18

Lt.-Col. F. S. Meighen, C.M.G Oct. 14, '18 May 7, '19

Lt.-Col. R. Bickerdike, D.S.O May 7, '19 Demob.

88th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
11th Battalion)
Lt.-Col. H. J. R. CuUin June 2, '16 July 18, '16

89th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
9th Battalion)
Lt.-Col. W. W. Nasmyth June 2, '16 Aug. 1, '16

90th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
11th Battalion)
Lt.-Col. W. A. Munro June 2, '16 July 19, '16

91st Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
12th Battalion)
Lt.-Col. W. J. Green June 28, '16 July 15, '16

92nd Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
5th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. G. T. Chlsholm May 20, '16 Jan. 4, '17

9Srd Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
S9th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. T. J. Johnston Sept. 19, '16 Oct. 6, '16

QJ^th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
S2nd Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. H. A. C. Machin June 28, '16 July 18, '16

95th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
5th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. R. K. Barker June 2, '16 Dec. 22, '16

96th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by

92nd Reserve Battalion) ^ ^ .. «

Lt-Col. J. Glenn Oct. 6, '16 Oct. 8, '16

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COMMANDING OFFICERS OVERSEAS 331

APPOINTED RETIRED

$7th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
6th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. W. L. Jolly Sept. 18, '16 Dec. 24, '16

98th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
12th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. H. A. Rose July 8, '16 Oct. 6, '16

99th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
J^th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. T. B. Welch June 2, '16 July 5, '16

100th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
11th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. J. B. Mitchell Sept. 18, '16 Jan. 4, '17

101st Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
17th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. D. McLean June 28, '16 Aug. 21, '16

102nd Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. J. W. Warden, D.S.O June 18, '16 Jan. 11, '18

Lt.-Col. F. Lister, C.M.G.,D.S.O.,M.C. Jan. 11, '18 Sept. 27, '18

Lt.-Col. E. J. W. Ryan, D.S.O Sept. 28, '18 Nov. 19, '18

Lt.-Col. F. Lister, C.M.G., D.S.O., M.C. Nov. 19, '18 Demob.

103rd Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
16th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. E. C. J. Henniker July 23, '16 Nov. 7, '16

lOIfth Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
13th Reserve Battalion)

Lt.-Col. G. W. Fowler June 28, '16 Jan. 22, '17

Lt.-Col. A. E. Ings Jan. 22, '17 Mar. 2, '18

105th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
lOAth Battalion)
Lt.-Col. A. E. Ings July 15, '16 Jan. 22, '17

106th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
J^Oth Battalion)
Lt.-Col. R. Innes Ji;ily 15, '16 Oct. 5, '16

107th Infantry Battalion (See 107th
Pioneer Battalion)

108th Infantry Battalio7i (absorbed by
nth Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. G. H. Bradbury Sept. 18, '16 Dec. 15, '16

109th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
12th Reserve Battalion)

Lt.-Col. J. J. H. Fee July 23, '16 Nov. 15, '16

Lt.-Col. J. Ballantine, D.S.O Nov. 15. '16

332 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

APPOINTED RETIRED

110th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
8th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. J. L. Youngs Oct. 31, 16 Jan. 2, 17

111th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
S5th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. J. D. Clarke Oct. 6, 16 Oct. 13, 16

112th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
26th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. H. B. Tremaine July 23, 16 Dec. 4, 16

113th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
17th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. A. W. Pryce Jones Oct. 6, 16 Oct. 8, 16

mth Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
36th Battalion)
Lt.-Col. A. 'j. . Thompson Oct. 31, 16 Nov. 11, 16

115th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
13th and 17th Reserve Battalions)
Lt.-Col. F. V. Wedderburn July 23, 16

116th Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. S. S. Sharpe July 23, 16 Dec. 28, 17

Lt-Col. G. R. Pearkes, V.C, M.C. .. Dec. 28,17 Sept. 17, 18

Lt.-Col. D. Carmichael, D.S.O., M.C. Sept. 18, 18 Nov. 25, 18
Lt.-Col. G. R. Pearkes, V.C, D.S.O.,

M.C Nov. 25, 18 Demob.

117th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
23rd Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. L. J. Gilbert Aug. 14, 16 Jan. 6, 17

118th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
23rd Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. W. M. O. Lochead Jan. 23, 17

119th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
8th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. T. P. T. Rowland Aug. 8, 16 Mar. 1, 18

120th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
2nd Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. D. G. Fearman Aug. 14, 16 Jan. 22, 17

12l8t Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
16th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. A. W. McLelan Aug. 14, 16 Jan. 10, 17

12Srd Infantry Battalion (see 123rd
Pioneer Battalion)

12Uth Infantry Battalion (see 124th
Pioneer Battalion)

COMMANDING OFFICERS OVERSEAS 333

APPOINTED RETIRED

125th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
8th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. M. E. B. Cutcliffe Aug. 6, *16 Apr. 16, 18

126th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
8th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. F. J. Hamilton Aug. 14, '16

127th Infantry Battalion (renamed 2nd
Battalion Railway Troops)

128th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
15th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. F. Pawlett Aifg. 15, 16 May 27, 17

129th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
12th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. W. E. S. Knowles Aug. 23, 16 Dec. 24, 16

ISOth Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
12th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. J. E. de Hertel Oct. 6, 16 Oct. 6, 16

ISlst Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
SOth Battalion)
Lt.-Col. J. D. Taylor Oct. 31, 16 Jan. 5, 17

132nd Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
13th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. G. W. Mersereau Oct. 26, 16 Jan. 20, 17

133rd Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
3rd Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. A. C. Pratt Oct. 30, 16 Nov. 11, 16

13J^th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
12th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. A. A. Miller Aug. 8, 16 Feb. 28, 16

135th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
8th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. B. Robson Aug. 23, 16 Dec. 24,16

136th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
6th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. R. W. Smart Oct. 6, 16 Oct. 6, 16

137th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
21st Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. G. W. Morfitt Aug. 23, 16 Jan. 10, 17

138th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
21st Reserve Battalion,)
Lt.-Col. R. Belcher Aug.23,16

334 CANADA IN THE GEEAT WORLD WAR

APPOINTED RETIRED

139th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
3rd Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. W. H. Floyd Oct. 6, 16 Oct. 6, 16

lUOth Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
13th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. L. H. Beer Oct. 6, '16 Nov. 2, 16

IJflst Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
18th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. D. C. McKenzie Apr. 29, 17

H2nd Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
23rd Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. C. M. R. Graham Nov. 11, 16 Nov. 11, 16

IJ^Srd Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
1st Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. A. B. Powley Feb. 17, 17

HJtth Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
18th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. A. W. Morley Sept. 18, 16 Jan. 12, 17

IJ^Sth Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
21st Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. W. E. Forbes Oct. 1, 16 Oct. 26, 16

1^6th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
12th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. C. A. Low Sept. 25, 16 Oct. 6, 16

lJ^7th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
8th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. G. F. McFarland Nov. 13, 16 Jan. 1, 17

H8th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
20th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. A. A. Magee Oct. 6, 16 Jan. 8, 17

H9th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
Uth Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. W. W. MacVicar Mar. 28, 17

150th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
10th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. H. Barre Oct. 6, 16 Feb. 28, 18

151st Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
11th and 21st Reserve Battalions)
Lt.-Col. J. W. Arnott Oct. 3, 16 Oct. 26, 16

152nd Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
15th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. S. B. Nelles Oct. 3, 16 Oct. 21, 16

COMMANDING OFFICEES OVEESEAS 335

APPOINTED RETIRED

ISSrd Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
J^th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. R. T. Pritchard Mar. 29, 17

15Ji.th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
6th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. A. G. F. MacDonald Oct. 25, '16 Jan. 4, '17

155th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
6th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. M. K. Adams Oct. 17, 16 Jan. 17, 17

156th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
6th Reserve Battalion)

Lt.-Col. T. C. D. Bedell Oct. 17, 16 Mar. 14, 17

Lt.-Col. C. M. R. Graham .-. . Mar. 14, 17 Feb. 27, 18

157th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
8th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. D. H. MacLaren Oct. 17, 16 Dec. 24, 16

158th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
1st Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. C. Milne Nov. 13, 16 Jan. 7, 17

159th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
8th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. E. F. Armstrong Oct. 31, 16 Jan. 7, 17

160th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
Uth Reserve Battalion)

Lt.-Col. A. Weir Oct. 17, 16 May 6, 17

Lt.-Col. D. M. Sutherland May 6, 17 Dec. 1, 17

Maj. A. M. Moffatt Dec. 1, 17 Feb. 23, 18

161st Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
J^th Reserve Battalion)

Lt.-Col. H. B. Combe Oct. 30, 16 May 16, 17

Lt.-Col. R. Murdie, D.S.O June 28, 17 Feb. 23, 18

162nd Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
SIkth and 4th Battalions)
Lt.-Col. J. M. Arthurs Oct. 31, 16 Jan. 4, 17

16Srd Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
10th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. H. DesRosiers Nov. 27, 16 Jan. 2, 17

164th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
8th Reserve Battalion)

Lt.-Col. P. Domville Apr. 22, 17 June 19, 17

Lt.-Col. B. M. Green June 19, 17 Apr. 16, 18

165th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
Canadian Forestry Corps)
Lt.-Col. L. C. D'Aigle Mar. 28, 17

336 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

APPOINTED RETIRED

166th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
12th Reserve Battalion)
Lt-Col. W. G. Mitchell Oct. 12, '16 Jan. 4, '17

168th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
j^th and 6th Reserve Battalions)
Lt.-Col. W. K. McMuUen Oct. 30, '16 Jan. 4, '17

169th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
5th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. J. C. Wright Oct. 17, '16 Jan. 7, '17

170th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
12th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. Le Grand Reed Oct. 25, '16 Jan. 1, '17

17l8t Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
20th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. Sir Wm. Price Nov. 23, '16 Jan. 7, '17

172nd Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
24.th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. J. R. Vicars Oct. 25, '16 Jan. 1, '17

173rd Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
2nd Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. W. H. Bruce Nov. 13, '16 Jan. 4, '17

174th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
11th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. H. F. Osier Apr. 29, '17

175th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
21st Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. N. Spencer Oct. 4, '17

176th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
12th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. D. Sharpe Apr. 29, '17

178th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
10th Reserve Battalion)
Drafts only

179th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
nth Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. J. Y. Reid Oct. 3, '16 Jan. 4, '17

180th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
3rd Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. R. H. Greer Nov. 13, '16 Jan. 6, '17

181st Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
18th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. D. W. Beaubier Apr. 18, '17

STANDING: LIEUT. ^NEAS MCb. BELL-IRVING; MAJOR M. MCr.
BELL-IRVING, D.S.O., M.C., R.F.C. ; MAJOR A. D. BELL-IRVING,
M.C. AND BAR, CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM.

SEATED : MAJOR R. O. G. BELL-IRVING, D.S.O., M.C. (Killed in ac-
tion) ; LIEUT. H. B. BELL-IRVING, D.S.C. AND BAR; LT.-COL. R.
BELL-IRVING, O.B.E.

SOLDIER BROTHERS

COMMANDING OFFICERS OVERSEAS 337

APPOINTED RETIRED

183rd Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
Manitoba Regiment)
Lt.-Col. W. T. Edgecombe Oct. 3, '16

18Uth Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
11th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. W. H. Sharpe Oct. 31, 16 Nov. 12, *16

185th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
17th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. F. P. Day Oct. 12, '16 Feb. 23, *18

186th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
J^th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. Smith Neil Mar. 28, '17

187th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
21st Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. C. W. Robinson Dec. 16, '16 Jan. 22, '17

188th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
15th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. S. J. Donaldson Oct. 12, '16 Jan. 4, '17

189th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
10th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. P. A. Puize Oct. 6, '16 Oct. 6, '16

191st Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
21st Reserve Battalion)
Drafts only

192nd Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
21st Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. H. E. Lyon Nov. 1, '16 Nov. 11, '16

193rd Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
17th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. R. J. S. Langf ord Oct. 12, '16 Jan. 19, '17

19J^th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
21st Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. W. C. Craig Nov. 13, '16

195th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
S2nd Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. A. C. Garner Oct. 31, '16 Dec. 22, '16

196th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
19th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. D. S. MacKay Nov. 11, '16 Dec. 31, '16

197th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
11th Reserve Battalion)
Prafts only.

338 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

APPOINTED RETIRED

198th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
3rd Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. J. A. Cooper Mar. 28, '17 Feb. 28, '18

199th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
23rd Reserve Battalion)

Lt-Col. H. J. Trihey Dec. 26, '16 Jan. 10, '17

Lt.-Col. J. V. O'Donahoe Jan. 10, '17 Apr. 11, '17

200th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
11th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. A. L. Bonnycastle Apr. 3, '17

202nd Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
9th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. P. E. Bowen Nov. 23, '16 Apr. 27, '17

203rd Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
18th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. J. E. Hansford Oct. 26, '16 Jan. 12, '17

20Jfth Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
8th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. W. H. Price Mar. 28, '17

205th Infantry Battalion
Drafts only.

206th Infantry Battalion
Drafts only.

207th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
6th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. C. W. McLean June 2, '17

208th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
2nd and 8th Reserve Battalions)

Lt.-Col. T. H. Lennox Apr. 3, '17 June 20, '17

Lt.-Col. W. P. Malone June 20, '17 Jan. 11 ,'18

209th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
21st Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. W. O. Smyth Oct. 31, '16 Dec. 5, '16

210th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
5th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. W. E. Seaborn Apr. 11, '17

211th Infantry Battalion (part of 8th
Brigade Troops, March 15, '17)

21Sth Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
Uth Reserve Battalion)
Drafts only.

COMMANDING OFFICERS OVERSEAS 339

APPOINTED RETIRED

21j^th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
15th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. J. H. Hearn Apr. 18, '17

215th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
8th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. H. E. Snider Apr. 29, 17

216th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
3rd Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. F. L. Burton Apr. 18, '17

217th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
15th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. A. B. Gillis June 2, '17

218th Infantry Battalion (See 8th Bri-
gade Battery Troops)
Lt.-Col. J. K. Cornwall Feb. 17, '17 Feb. 27, '17

219th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
17th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. W. H. Muirhead Oct. 12, '16 Jan. 23, '17

220th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
Srd Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. B. H. Brown Jan. 26, '17

221st Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
11th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. V. A. V. McMeans Apr. 18, '17

222nd Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
19th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. J. Lightfoot Nov. 13, '16 Dec. 31, '16

223rd Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
11th Reserve Battalion)
Maj. H. M. Hannesson May 3, '17

224th Infantry Battalion (Forestry)

225th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
1st Reserve Battalion)
Drafts only.

226th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
lUth Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. R. A. Gillespie Dec. 26, '16 Jan. 4, '17

228th Infantry Battalion (renamed 6th
Battalion Railway Troops)

229th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
15th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. H. D. Pickett Apr. 4, '17

340 CANADA IN THE GEEAT WORLD WAR

APPOINTED RETIRED

230th Infantry Battalion (Forestry)

Lt.-Col. R. De Salaberry Jan. 23/17

2Sl8t Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
1st Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. F. E. Leach Apr. 11, *17

2Sj^th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
12th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. W. O. Morris Apr. 18, '17

2S5th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
Srd Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. S. B. Scobell May 3, *17

2S6th Infantry Battalion

Lt.-Col. P. A. Guthrie May 13, '16 Feb. 28, '18

238th Infantry Battalion (Forestry)

Lt.-Col. W. R. Smyth Sept. 13, '16

239th Infantry Battalion (Renamed 3rd
Battalion Railway Troops)

2Ji.0th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
6th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. E. J. Watt May 3, '17

2j^lst Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
12th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. W. L. McGregor Apr. 29, '17

242nd Infantry Battalion (Forestry)

Lt.-Col. J. B. White Nov. 23, '16

243rd Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
15th Reserve Battalion)
Maj. G. G. Smith June 2, '17

24,5th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
23rd Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. C. C. Ballantyne May 3, '17

246th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
17th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. N. H. Parsons June 2, '17

248th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
7th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. J. H. Rorke June 2, '17

252nd Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
6th Reserve Battalion)
Maj. G. J. Thomson June 2, '17

254th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
6th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. A. P. Allan June 2, '17

LT.-COL. W. J. OSBORNE
SIGNALLER J. G. OSBORNE CAPT. H. P. OSBORNE

Killed in action

SOLDIER FATHER AND SOLDIER SONS

COMMANDING OFFICERS OVERSEAS 341

255th Infantry Battalion (absorbed by
12th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. G. C. Royce

256th Infantry Battalion (renamed 10th
Battalion Railway Troops)

257th Infantry Battalion (renamed 7th
Battalion Railway Troops)

APPOINTED

June 6, '17

RETIRED

Reserve Battalions

let Canadian Reserve Battalion

Lt.-Col. J. H. D. Hulme Jan. 2, '17 May 21, '17

Lt.-Col. G. S. Pragnell May 21, '17 July 6, '17

Maj. J. L. R. DeMorinni July 6, '17 July 31, '17

Lt.-Col. G. S. Pragnell July 31, '17 Feb. 23, '18

Lt.-Col. C. B. Worsnop, D.S.O Feb. 23, '18 Demob.

2nd Canadian Reserve Battalion (ab-
sorbed by 8th Reserve Battalion)

Lt.-Col. W. H. Bruce Jan. 2, '17 June 1, '17

Lt.-Gol. W. C. Towers June 1, '17 Feb. 15, '18

Srd Canadian Reserve Battalion

Lt.-Col. W. S. Buell Jan. 2, '17 Demob.

4th Canadian Reserve Battalion

Lt.-Col. F. C. McCordick Jan. 2, '17 Jan. 22, '18

Lt.-Col. H. A. Genet, D.S.O Jan. 23, '18 Apr. 24, '18

Maj. L. B. Unwin Apr. 24, '18 May 17, '18

Lt.-Col. C. H. Rogers May 17, '18 Demob,

6th Canadian Reserve Battalion (ab-
sorbed by 12th Reserve Battalion)

Lt.-Col. G. T. Chisholm Jan. 2, '17 June 8, '17

Lt.-Col. J. D. McCrimmon June 8, '17 Feb. 16, '18

6th Canadian Reserve Battalion

Lt.-Col. M. A. Colquhoun, D.S.O Jan. 2, '17 Apr. 24, '17

Lt.-Col. A. C. Pratt Apr. 24, '17 June 5, '17

Maj. C. R. Cameron June 5, '17

7th Canadian Reserve Battalion (ab-
sorbed by 6th Reserve Battalion)

Lt.-Col. A. E. Carpenter Jan. 1, '17 June 4, '17

Maj. D. A. Clarke, M.C June 4, '17 Feb. 15, '18

8th Canadian Reserve Battalion

Lt.-Col. G. F. McFarland Jan. 2, '17 June 12, '17

Lt.-Col. H. D. L. Gordon, D.S.O June 12, '17 July 22, '17

Maj. G. D. Fleming July 22, '17 Sept. 12, '17

Lt.-Col. H. D. L. Gordon, D.S.O Sept. 12, '17

342 CANADA IN THE GREAT WOELD WAR

APPOINTED RETIRED

$th Canadian Reserve Battalion

Lt.-Col. W. C. D. Armstrong Jan. 2, '17

10th Canadian Reserve Battalion

Lt.-Col. H. DesRosiers Jan. 2,17

11th Canadian Reserve Battalion

Lt.-Col. P. Walker Jan. 2, '17 May 7, '18

Lt.-Col. P. G. Daly, C.M.G., D.S.O... May 7, '18

12th Canadian Reserve Battalion

Lt.-Col. W. G. Mitchell Jan. 2, '17 June 2, '17

Lt.-Col. B. 0. Hooper, M.C June 2, '17 May 2, '18

Lt.-Col. L. Ross May 2, '18

13th Canadian Reserve Battalion

Lt.-Col. G. W. Fowler Jan. 2, '17 July 9, '17

Maj. A. Sterling July 7, '17

IJ^th Canadian Reserve Battalion (ab-
sorbed by 11th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. I. R. Snider Jan. 2, '17 Oct. 15, '17*

15th Canadian Reserve Battalion

Lt.-Col. F. J. Clark July 14, '16 Jan. 2, '17

Lt.-Col. A. Dulmage Jan. 2, '17 May 28, '17

Lt.-Col. J. A. Cross May 28, '17

16th Canadian Reserve Battalion (ab-
sorbed by 1st Reserve Battalion)

Lt.-Col. E. C. J. L. Hanniker Jan. 2, '17 May 3, '17

Lt.-Col. J. C. L. Bott May 3, '17 Feb. 15, 18

17th Canadian Reserve Battalion

Lt.-Col. D. D. Cameron Jan. 2, '17 Feb. 12, '17

Lt.-Col. W. H. Muirhead Feb. 12, '17

18th Canadian Reserve Battalion

Lt.-Col. K. C. Bedson Jan. 9, '17 Feb. 10, '17

Lt.-Col. W. A. Dyer Feb. 10, '17

19th Canadian Reserve Battalion (ab-
sorbed by 15th Reserve Battalion)
Lt.-Col. D. S. MacKay Jan. 2, '17 Oct. 15, '17

20th Canadian Reserve Battalion

Lt.-Col. A. A. Magee Jan. 2, '17 May 27, '17

Lt.-Col. G. S. Cantlie, D.S.O May 27, '17

21st Canadian Reserve Battalion

Lt.-Col. J. D. R. Stewart Jan. 2, '17 May 27, '17

Lt.-Col. W. H. Hewgill May 28, '17

22nd Canadian Reserve Battalion (ab-
sorbed by 23rd Reserve Battalion)

Lt.-Col. W. W. Burland, D.S.O Jan. 3, '17 Apr. 2, '17

Maj. R. E. Popham Apr. 2, '17 May 9, '17

COMMANDING OFFICEES OVERSEAS 343

APPOINTED

RETIRED

23rd Canadian Reserve Battalion
Lt.-Col. F. C. Bowen

Maj. D. P. McKay Apr. 1, '16

Lt.-Col. F. W. Fisher Jan. 2, '17

24th Canadian Reserve Battalion

Lt.-Col. G. H. Kirkpatrick Jan. 2, '17 Apr. 21, '17

Lt.-Col. G. S. Pragnell, D.S.O Apr. 21, '17 May 20, '17

25th Canadian Reserve Battalion, Pio-
neer (absorbed by 4th Reserve Bat-
talion)

Lt.-Col. N. C. Hoyles Jan. 4, '17 July 10, '17

Maj. H. D. Meredith Jones July 10, '17 Oct. 1, '17

Lt.-Col. N. C. Hoyles Oct. 1, '17 Feb. 15, '18

26th Canadian Reserve Battalion (ab-
sorbed by 17th Reserve Battalion)

Lt.-Col. A. G. Vincent Jan. 2, '17 May 19, '17

Lt.-Col. A. W. P. Weston May 19, '17 Oct. 15, '19

Mounted Infantry

Ist Brigade Canadian Mounted Rifles
(disbanded on reorganization)
Lt.-Col. F. O. Sissons June 12, '15 Dec. 17, '15

2nd Brigade Canadian Mounted Rifles
(disbanded on reorganization)
Col. C. A. Smart July 18, '15 Jan. 9, '16

1st Canadian Mounted Rifle Battalion

Lt.-Col. H. I. Stephenson June 12, '15 Jan. 12, '16

Lt.-Col. A. E. Shaw Jan. 12, '16 June 3, '16

Lt.-Col. R. C. Andros June 3, '16 Apr. 24, '18

Lt.-Col. B. Laws Apr. 24, '18 Demob.

2nd Canadian Mounted Rifle Battalion

Lt.-Col. J. C. L. Bott June 12, '15 Nov. 27, '16

Lt.-Col. G. C. Johnston, D.S.O., M.C. Nov. 27, '18 Demob.

Srd Canadian Mounted Rifle Battalion
(disbanded on reorganization)
Lt.-Col. L. J. Whittaker June 12, '15 Jan. 13, '16

4th Canadian Mounted Rifle Battalion

Lt.-Col. S. F. Smith July 18, '15 Mar. 6, '16

Lt.-Col. J. F. H. Ussher Mar. 6, '16 June 3, '16

Lt.-Col. H. D. L. Gordon, D.S.O June 7, '16 May 27, '17

Lt.-Col. W. R. Patterson, D.S.O May 28, '17 Demob.

5th Canadian Mounted Rifle Battalion

Lt.-Col. G. H. Baker July 18, '15 June 3, '16

Lt.-Col. D. C. Draper, D.S.O June 3, '16 May 25, '18

Lt.-Col. W. Rhoades, D.S.O., M.C. . . May 25, '18 Demob.

344 CANADA IN THE GKEAT WOELD WAR

APPOINTED RETIRED

6th Canadian Mounted Rifle Battalion
(disbanded on reorganization)

Lt.-Col. R. H. Ryan July 18, '15 Oct. 1, '15

Lt.-Col. A. E. Shaw Oct. 1, '15 Jan. 1, '16

7th Canadian Mounted Rifle Battalion
(" C " Squadron only)
Maj. E. L. McCoU Feb. 23, '15 Mar. 5, '15

8th Canadian Mounted Rifle Battalion
(absorbed)
Lt.-Col. J. R. Munro Oct. 13, '15 Mar. 2, '16

9th Canadian Mounted Rifle Battalion
(absorbed)
Lt.-Col. G. C. Hodson Dec. 2, '15 Feb. 8, '16.

10th Canadian Mounted Rifle Battalion
Drafts only.

11th Canadian Mounted Rifle Battalion
(absorbed)
Lt.-Col. G. H. Kirkpatrick July 8, '16 Jan. 1, '17

12th Canadian Mounted Rifle Battalion
(absorbed)
Lt.-Col. G. Macdonald Oct. 13, '15 Feb. 8, '16

13th Canadian Mounted Rifle Battalion
(absorbed)
Lt.-Col. V. H. Holmes June 28, '16 July 19, '16

Cavalry

Headquarters Canadian Cavalry Brigade
Brig.-Gen. the Rt. Hon. J. E. B. Seely,

C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O Jan. 28, '15 May 20, '18

Brig.-Gen. R. W. Paterson, C.M.G.,

D.S.O. May 20, '18 Demob.

Lord Strathcona's Horse ("Royal Ca-
nadians ")

Lt.-Col. A. C. Macdonell, D.S.O Sept. 17, '15 Dec. 23, '15

Lt.-Col. J. A. Hesketh, D.S.O Dec. 23, '15 Sept. 28, '17

Lt.-Col. M. Doherty, D.S.O Sept. 28, '17 Dec. 1, '17

Lt.-Col. D.G. MacDonald, D.S.O., M.C. Dec. 1, '17 Apr. 3, '18

Lt.-Col. C. Goodday Apr. 3, '18 June 14, '18

Lt.-Col. D. G. MacDonald, D.S.O., M.C. June 14, '18 Nov. 28, '18

Lt.-Col. C. Goodday Nov. 28, '18 Demob.

Royal Canadian Dragoons

Lt.-Col. C. M. Nelles, C.M.G. ....... Sept. 22, '14 Mar. 13, '17

Lt.-Col. C. T. van Straubenzee Mar. 13, '17 Oct. 10, '18

Lt.-Col. T. Newcomen, M.C Oct. 10, '18 Apr. 3, '19

Lt.-Col. W. H. Bell Apr. 3, '19 Demob.

COMMANDINa OFFICERS OVERSEAS 345

APPOINTED

RETIRED

Fort Garry Horse

Lt.-Col. R. W. Paterson, D.S.O Sept. 23, 14 Feb. 17,18

Maj. R. F. Bingham Feb. 17, '18 Mar. 27, '18

Lt.-Col. R. W. Paterson, D.S.O Mar. 27, '18 May 20, '18

Lt.-Col. H. I. Stevenson, D.S.O May 20, '18 Demob.

Canadian Light Horse — formerly Ca-
nadian Corps Cavalry Regiment

Lt.-Col. J. H. Elmsley, D.S.O May 12, '16 June 19, '16

Lt.-Col. E. I. Leonard June 19, '16 June 27, '16

Lt.-Col. C. T. van Straubenzee June 27, '16 Mar. 13, '17

Lt.-Col. E. I. Leonard, D.S.O Mar. 15, '17 Nov. 6, '18

Lt.-Col. S. F. Smith, D.S.O Nov. 6, '18 Demob.

1st Divisional Cavalry Sqttadron — 19th
Alberta Dragoons (absorbed in Cor-
nadian Corps Cavalry Regiment)
Lt.-Col. F. C. Jamieson Sept. 22, '14 May 12, '16

2nd Divisional Cavalry Squadron (ab-
sorbed in Canadian Corps Cavalry
Regiment)
Lt.-Col. E. 1. Leonard June 8, '15 May 12, '16

Srd Divisional Cavalry Squadron (ab-
sorbed in Canadian Corps Cavalry
Regiment)
Maj. T. W. Wright Jan. 22, '16 May 12, '16

4th Divisional Cavalry Squadron (ab-
sorbed in Canadian Cavalry Depot)
Lt.-Col. R. A. Carman May 1, '16 May 12, '16

Royal Canadian Horse Artillery

Lt.-Col. H. A. Panet, D.S.O Sept.22,'14 Dec. 17, '16

Lt.-Col. W. H. P. Elkins, D.S.O Dec. 17, '16 Demob.

Cavalry Reserve Regiment — formerly
Canadian Cavalry Depot

Lt.-Col. R. W. Paterson Sept.22,'14 Jan. 17, '16

Lt.-Col. D. D. Young Jan. 28, '16 Apr. 4, '17

Col. C. M. Nelles, C.M.G Apr. 4, '17 Apr. 2, '19

Maj. M. V. Allen, D.S.O Apr. 2, '19 Demob.

Cyclist Company

Canadian Corps Cyclist Battalion

Maj. A. McMillan, D.S.O May 12, '16 Dec. 11, '16

Capt. R. S. Robinson Dec. 11, '16 Jan. 25, '17

Maj. A. E. Humphrey, D.S.O Jan. 25, '17 Dec. 22, '18

Capt. F. J. G. Chadwick, M.C Dec. 22, '18 Demob.

1st Divisional Cyclist Company (ab-
sorbed by Corps Cyclist Battalion)
Capt. R. S. Robinson Sept. 22, '14 May 12, '16

346 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

APPOINTED

RETIRED

2nd Divisional Cyclist Company (ab-
sorted by Corps Cyclist Battalion)

Lt.-Col. G. T. Denison May 16, '15 Sept. 11, 15

Maj. T. L. Kennedy Sept. 11, *15 Apr. 24, '16

Capt. A. E. Humphrey Apr. 24, '16 May 12, '16

3rd Divisional Cyclist Company (ab-
sorbed by Corps Cyclist Battalion)
Capt. L. P. O. Picard Feb. 25, '16 May 12, '16

4th Divisional Cyclist Company (dis-
banded)

Capt. G. L. Berkeley Apr. 28, '16 May 18, '16

Capt. G. B. Schwartz May 18, '16 May 24, '16

Canadian Reserve Cyclist Company

Capt. F. B. Goodwillie Apr. 3, '15 Aug. 3, '15

Capt. L. P. O. Picard Aug. 3, '15 Feb. 25, '16

Capt. G. B. Schwartz . . . •. Feb. 25, '16 May 18, '16

Capt. G. L. Berkeley May 18, '16 Aug. 1, '16

Capt. F. B. Goodwillie Aug. 1, '16 Jan. 25, '18

Maj. C. E. Bush Jan. 25, '18 Demob.

Artillery

G.O.C., R.A. Corps

Brig.-Gen. H. E. Burstall, C.B Sept. 3, '15 Dec. 14, '16

Maj. -Gen. Sir E. W. B. Morrison,
K.C.M.G., C.B., D.S.O Dec. 14, '16 Demob.

1st Divisional Artillery

Brig.-Gen. H. E. Burstall, C.B Sept. 22, '14 Sept. 13, '15

Brig.-Gen. E. W. B. Morrison, D.S.O. Sept. 13, '15 Sept. 27, '15
Brig.-Gen. H. C. Thacker, C.B.,

C.M.G., D.S.O Sept.27,'15 Demob.

2nd Divisional Artillery

Brig.-Gen. H. C. Thacker, C.M.G. . . . June 7, '15 June 25, '15

Brig.-Gen. E. W. B. Morrison, D.S.O. June 25, '15 Sept. 13, '15

Lt.-Col. W. 0. H. Dodds, C.M.G Sept. 28, '15 Oct. 2, '15

Brig.-Gen. E. W. B. Morrison, D.S.O. Oct. 2, '15 Dec. 14, '16
Brig.-Gen. H. A. Panet, C.B., C.M.G.,

D.S.O Dec. 14, '16 Demob.

3rd Divisional Artillery

Lt.-Col. W. O. H. Dodds, C.M.G Mar. 11, '16 Mar. 13, '16

Lt.-Col. W. Eaton Mar. 13, '16 June 20, '16

Brig.-Gen J. H. Mitchell, D.S.O June 20, '16 Dec. 9, '17

Brig.-Gen. J. S. Stewart, C.M.G.,

D.S.O Dec. 9, '17 Demob.

4th Divisional Artillery

Brig.-Gen. C. H. MacLaren, D.S.O... June 20, '17 Nov. 3, '17
Brig.-Gen. W. B. M. King, C.M.G.,

D.S.O Nov. 27, '17 Demob.

i

UEUT. DONALD S. MACPHERSON, CAPT. J. ROSS MACPHERSON, D.S.O.

M.M. Killed in action, August 26th, 1918

UEUT. EW ART G. MACPHERSON LIEUT. DOUGLAS W. MACPHERSON, M.C.

SOLDIER BROTHERS

COMMANDING OFFICEES OVERSEAS 347

APPOINTED

RETIRED

May 26, '17
July 2, '17

Jan. 9, '19
Demob.

Aug. 19, '17
Nov. 25, '17
Sept. 2, '18
Feb. 14, '19
Demob.

Sth Divisional Artillery

Brig.-Gen. W. O. H. Dodds, C.M.G... Oct. 2, '16

Lt.-Col. A. T. Ogilvie May 26, '17

Brig.-Gen. W. O. H. Dodds, C.M.G.,

D.S.O July 2, '17

Brig.-Gen. C. H. Ralston, D.S.O Jan. 9, '19

Headquarters Reserve Artillery

Lt.-Col. J. E. Mills, D.S.O Feb. 18, '16

Lt.-Col. W. B. M. King, D.S.O Aug. 20, '17

Col. C. H. L. Sharman Nov. 26, '17

Brig.-Gen. C. H. McLaren, D.S.O. .. Sept. 2, '18

Lt.-Col. J. F. McParland Feb. 14, '19

1st Brigade C.F.A.

Lt.-Col. E. W. B. Morrison, D.S.O. . . Sept. 22, '14 Aug. 28, '15

Lt.-Col. C. H. McLaren, D.S.O Aug. 28, '15 June 20, '17

Lt.-Col. J. G. Piercey, D.S.O June 23, '17 Nov. 18, '18

Lt.-Col. L. V. M. Cosgrave, D.S.O. . . Nov. 19, '18 Demob.

2nd Brigade C.F.A.

Lt.-Col. J. J. Creelman, D.S.O Sept. 22, '14 Feb. 26, '17

Maj. J. A. McDonald, D.S.O Feb. 26, '17 Mar. 23, '17

Lt.-Col. S. B. Anderson, D.S.O Mar. 23, '17 Demob.

3rd Brigade C.F.A.

Lt.-Col. J. H. Mitchell Sept. 22, '14

Lt.-Col. S. B. Anderson June 9, '16

Lt.-Col. E. W. Leonard, D.S.O June 21, '16

Lt.-Col. H. D. J. Crerar Apr. 10, '17

Lt.-Col. J. A. McDonald, D.S.O May 2, '17

Jtth Brigade C.F.A.

Lt.-Col. W. J. Brown May 20, '15

Lt.-Col. G. A. Carruthers July 19, '16

Lt.-Col. C. H. L. Sharman July 25, '16

Lt.-Col. J. S. Stewart, D.S.O Mar. 19, '17

Lt.-Col. M. N. Ross, D.S.O Dec. 29, '17

Sth Brigade C.F.A.

Lt.-Col. W. O. H. Dodds, C.M.G Sept. 6, '15

Lt.-Col. G. A. Carruthers Mar. 11, '16

Lt.-Col. W. O. H. Dodds, C.M.G May 21, '16

Lt.-Col. R. H. Britton, D.S.O Sept. 20, '16

Lt.-Col. C. F. Constantine, D.S.O. .. May 3, '17

6th Brigade C.F.A.

Lt.-Col. E. W. Rathbun Mar. 1, '15

Lt.-Col. W. B. M. King, D.S.O Sept. 17, '15

Lt.-Col. J. K. McKay, D.S.O Aug. 19, '17

Maj. E. Flexman, D.S.O May 8, '18

Lt.-Col. J. F. McParland Aug. 6, '18

7th Brigade C.F.A. (disbanded on re-
organization)

Lt.-Col. J. S. Stewart, D.S.O Aug. 10, '15 Oct. 31, '16

Lt.-Col. J. K. McKay, D.S.O Nov. 1, '16 Jan. 19, '17

Lt.-Col. J. S. Stewart, D.S.O Jan. 27, '17 Mar. 19, '17

June 9, '16
June 21, '16
Jan. 1, '17
May 1,'17
Demob.

July 19, '16
July 25, '16
Mar. 19, '17
Dec. 29, '17
Demob.

Sept. 28, '15
May 21, '16
Sept. 20, '16
May 2, '17
Demob.

Sept. 17, '15
Aug. 19, '17
May 8, '18
Aug. 6, '18
Demob.

348 CANADA IN THE GEEAT WORLD WAR

8th Brigade C.F.A. (disbanded on re-
organization)

Maj. A. B. Gillies

Lt.-Col. V. Eaton

Maj. F. T. Coghlan, D.S.O

Lt.-Col. J. S. Stewart

APPOINTED

RETIRED

Feb. 5, '16 Mar. 9, '16

Mar. 9, '16 Apr. 11, '17

May 5, '17 July 3, '17

July 3, '17 July 8, '17

9th Brigade C.F.A.

Lt.-Col. H. G. Carscallen, D.S.O Mar. 11, '16 Mar. 3, '18

Lt.-Col. F. T. Coghlan, D.S.O Mar. 13, '18 Demob.

10th Brigade C.F.A.

Lt.-Col. G. H. Ralston, D.S.O Mar. 25, '16 Jan. 9, '19

Maj. A. A. Durkee Jan. 9, '19 Demob.

11th Brigade C.F.A. (disbanded on re-
organization)

Lt.-Col. A. G. L. McNaughton

Lt.-Col. F. T. Coghlan,, D.S.O

Mar. 11, '16 Jan. 27, '17
Jan. 27, '17 May 5, '17

12th Brigade C.F.A. (disbanded on re-
organization)
Lt.-Col. S. B. Anderson

June 21, '16 Mar. 20, '17

13th Brigade C.F.A.

Lt.-Col. Count H. R. V. de Bury de

Bocarme Sept.18, '16 Jan. 23, '17

Lt.-Col. E. G. Hanson, D.S.O Jan. 23, '17 Dec. 19, '18

Lt.-Col. W. V. Plummer, D.S.O Dec. 19, '18 Apr. 15, '19

Lt.-Col. C. V. Stockwell, D.S.O Apr. 15, '19 Demob.

Uth Brigade C.F.A.

Lt.-Col. J. L. MacKinnon . . .
Lt.-Col. A. T. Ogilvie, D.S.O.

Lt.-Col. S. C. Oland

Lt.-Col. E. R. Greene, D.S.O.
Lt.-Col. A. T. Ogilvie, D.S.O.

15th Brigade C.F.A. (disbanded on re-
organization)
Lt.-Col. A. T. Ogilvie

Sept. 11, '16
Dec. 31, '17
Nov. 1,'18
Dec. 20, '18
Mar. 16, '19

Dec. 31, '17
Nov. 1,'18
Dec. 20, '18
Mar. 16, '19
Demob.

Sept. 11, '16 Dec. 31, '17

16th Brigade C.F.A. (arrived from Can-
ada as 12th Brigade C.F.A.) ^

Lt.-Col. E. G. Hanson Sept. 11, '16

Col. C. H. L. Sharman, C.M.G., C.B.E. Aug. 22, '18

Dec. 31, '17
Demob.

Reserve Brigade C.F.A.
Lt.-Col. E. W. Rathbun .
Lt.-Col. J. E. Mills, D.S.O.
Lt.-Col. W. Simpson

Feb. 18, '15 Feb. 18, '16
Feb. 18, '16 Aug. 19, '17
Aug. 19, '17

1 Disbanded Dec. 31, '17, and reorganized for Siberia on Aug. 22, '18.

COMMANDING OFFICERS OVERSEAS 349

Headquarters Canadian Corps, Heavy

Artillery

Brig.-Gen. A. C. Currie, C.M.G

Brig.-Gen. R. H. Massie, C.M.G

Brig.-Gen. A. G. L. McNaughton,

C.M.G., D.S.O

let Brigade Canadian Garrison Artil-
lery ^formerly 1st Heavy Artillery
Group

Lt.-Col. F. M. Cole

Lt.-Col. W. B. Prowse, D.S.O

2nd Brigade Canadian Garrison Artil-
lery— formerly 1st Heavy Artillery
Group
Lt.-Col. F. C. Magee, D.S.O

3rd Brigade Canadian Garrison Artil-
lery— formerly 1st Heavy Battery
Lt.-Col. W. G. Beeman, D.S.O

APPOINTED

Aug. 12, '16
Jan. 25, '17

RETIRED

Jan. 25, '17
Nov. 10, '18

Nov. 10, '18 Demob.

Jan. 8, '16
Feb. 23, '18

Feb. 23, '18
Demob.

Feb. 10, '17 Demob.
Jan. 22, '18 Demob.

Ist Heavy Battery

Maj. F. C. Magee, D.S.O Sept. 22, '14 June 22, '16

Capt. G. F. Inches June 22, '16 Oct. 3, '16

Maj. F. C. Magee, D.S.O Oct. 3, '16 Feb. 10, '17

Maj. G. F. Inches, M.C Feb. 10, '17 Demob.

2nd Heavy Battery

Lt.-Col. J. W. Odell June 13, '15 Sept. 7, '15

Maj. W. G. Scully Sept. 7, '15 Sept. 25, '16

Maj. J. W. Stanley Sept. 25, '16 Aug. 20, '17

Maj. R. J. Leach Aug. 27, '17 Sept.l8, '17

Maj. H. P. McKeen Sept. 18, '17 Nov. 24, '19

Maj. S. T. Layton Nov. 24, '19 Demob.

1st Siege Battery — formerly 97th
Siege Battery

Maj. F. M. Cole Nov. 22, '15 Jan. 8, '16

Maj. W. G. Beeman, D.S.O Jan. 8, '16 Aug. 12, '17

Maj. W. H. Dobbie, D.S.O Sept. 20, '17 Demob.

2nd Siege Battery — formerly 98th
Siege Battery ^

Maj. A. G. Peake Nov. 28, '15 Feb. 2, '16

Maj. W. B. Prowse, D.S.O Feb. 23, '16 Feb. 7, '18

Capt. S. T. Layton Feb. 7, '18 Feb. 28, '18

Maj. H. R. N. Corbett Feb. 28, '18 Nov. 28, '18

Maj. L. C. Ord Nov. 28, '18 Demob.

3rd Siege Battery — formerly 107'th
Siege Battery

Maj. E. G. M. Cape, D.S.O Dec. 27, '15 May 28, '17

Maj. W. Leggat, M.C May 30, '17 Sept. 9, '18

Maj. E. R. W. Hebden, M.C Sept. 9, '18 Demob,

350 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

,^, -,. „ . , APPOINTED RETIRED

J^th Siege Battery — formerly ISlst
Siege Battery
Maj. L. W. Barker, D.S.O Apr. 2, '16 Demob.

5th Siege Battery — formerly 165th
Siege Battery

Maj. G. H. Maxwell May 18, '16 Nov. 28, '16

Lieut. D. J. Maxwell Nov. 28, '16 Feb. 18, '17

Maj. T. iV. F. Macdonald Feb. 18, '17 Mar. 29, '18

Maj. N. P. McLeod, M.C Mar. 29, '18 Demob.

eth Siege Battery — formerly 176th
Siege Battery

Maj. L. T. Allen June 2, '16 Sept.ll, '17

Maj. T. E. Ryder, M.C Oct. 4, '17 Feb. 27, '18

Maj. C. J. McMillan Feb. 27, '18 Demob.

7th Siege Battery — formerly 271st
Siege Battery

Maj. W. D. Tait Sept.l8, '16 Feb. 27, '18

Maj. T. E. Ryder, M.C Feb. 27, '18 Demob.

8th Siege Battery — formerly 272nd
(arrived from Canada as 5th Siege
Battery)

Maj. A. G. Peake Oct. 6, '16 June 16, '17

Maj. R. A. Ring June 16, '17 Nov. 19, '17

Maj. W. G. Scully Nov. 24, '17 Feb. 7, '18

Maj. R. A. Ring Feb. 7, '18 Demob.

9th Siege Battery — formerly 273rd
(arrived from Canada as 8th Siege
Battery)

Maj. S. A. Howard Oct. 6, '16 Apr. 30, '18

Capt. J. E. Lean Apr. 30, '18 May 30, '18

Capt. A. T. Seaman May 30, '18 July 13, '18

Maj. W. G. Scully July 13, '18 Demob.

10th Siege Battery

Maj. H. F. Geary Aug. 20, '17 Oct. 15, '17

Maj. L. C. Ord Oct. 15, '17 Nov. 28, '18

Lieut. R. Cruit Nov. 28, '18 Jan. 20, '19

Capt. D. V. White, M.C Jan. 20, '19 Demob.

11th Siege Battery

Maj. A. G. Peake Nov. 7, '17 Jan. 24, '18

Capt. J. P. Hooper, M.C Jan. 24. '18 Apr. 30, '18

Maj. S. A. Howard Apr. 30, '18

Maj. W. G. Scully July 13, '18

Maj. J. P. Hooper, M.C July 13, '18 Demob.

12th Siege Battery

Maj. F. A. Robertson Feb. 1, '18

Maj. C. MacKay, M.C Demob.

COMMANDING OFFICEES OVERSEAS 351

Ammunition Columns

appointed

Ist Divisional Ammunition Column
Lt.-Col. J. J. Penhale, D.S.O

2nd Divisional Ammunition Column
Lt.-Col. W. H. Harrison, D.S.O

Srd Divisional Ammunition Column
Lt.-Col. W. G. Hurdman, D.S.O

^th Divisional Ammunition Column
Lt.-Col. E. T. B. Gillmore, D.S.O. . . .

5th Divisional Column (arrived from
Canada as Uth Div. Amm. Col.)
Lt.-Col. R. Costigan, D.S.O

RETIRED

Sept. 22, '14 Demob.

May 10, '15 Demob.

Mar. 11, 16 Demob.

June 19, '17 Demob.

Mar. 18, '16 Demob.

Canadian Machine Gun Corps

Machine Quit Officer Canadian Corps

Lt.-Col. R. Brutinel, D.S.O Oct. 28, '16 Mar. 26, '18

Machine Gun Corps

Brig.-Gen. R. Brutinel, C.B., C.M.G.,
D.S.O Mar. 26, '18 Demob.

Ist Motor Machine Gun Brigade

Lt.-Col. R. Brutinel, D.S.O Sept. 22, '14 Oct. 28, '16

Lt.-Col. F. A. Wilkin, M.C Oct. 28, '16 Mar. 17, '18

Lt.-Col. W. K. Walker, D.S.O., M.C. Mar. 17, '18 Demob.

2nd Motor Machine Gun Brigade

Lt.-Col. H. F. V. Meurling, D.S.O.,
M.C June 7, '18 Demob.

Borden's Motor Machine Gun Battery
(absorbed as " C " Battery 1st
C.M.M.G.B.)

Maj. E. J. Holland, V.C May 8, '16 Sept. 19, '16

Capt. P. A. G. McCarthy Sept. 19, '16 May 5, '17

Capt. W. C. Nicholson June 4, '17 Mar. 28, '18

Capt. F. P. O'Reilly, M.C Mar. 28, '18 May 8, '18

Capt. R. F. Inch May 8, '18 June 7, '18

Eaton's Motoir Machine Gun Battery
(absorbed as " C " Battery 2nd
C.M.M.G.B.)

Maj. W. J. Morrison June 4, '15 Nov. 28, '15

Maj. E. L. Knight Jan. 18, '16 Sept. 26, '16

Maj. H. H. Donnelly Sept. 27, '16 Feb. 4, '17

Capt. G. T. Scroggie Feb. 4, '17 Nov. 2, '17

Capt. R. D. Harkness, M.C Nov. 4, '17 Apr. 3, '18

' Lieut. W. J. Campbell Apr. 3, '18 June 7, '18

352 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

APPOINTED RETIRED

Yukon Motor Machine Gun Battery
(absorbed as " A " Battery 2nd
CMM.G.B.)
Maj. H. F. V. Meurling, M.C June 14, 16 June 7, 18

Canadian Machine Gun Depot — form-
erly 86th Battalion

Lt.-Col. W. W. Stewart, D.S.O May 22, 16 Mar. 16, '17

Lt.-Col. W. M. Balfour, D.S.O Mar. 16, 17 Oct. 8, 18

Lt.-Col. W. N. Moorhouse, D.S.O. . . . Oct. 31, 18 Mar. 18, 19

Lt.-Col. W. M. Balfour, D.S.O Mar. 18, 19 Demob.

1st Canadian Machine Gun Battalion

Lt.-Col. S. W. Watson, C.M.G., D.S.O. Feb. 22, 18 Jan. 22, 19

Maj. R. Murdie, D.S.O Jan. 22, 19 Feb. 23, 19

Lt.-Col. E. W. Sansom Feb. 23,19 Demob.

2nd Canadian Machine Gun Battalion

Lt.-Col. J. G. Weir, D.S.O., M.C Feb. 22, 18 Oct. 3, 18

Lt.-Col. E. W. Sansom Oct. 4, 18 Jan. 5, 19

Lt.-Col. J. G. Weir, D.S.O., M.C Jan. 5, 19 Demob.

3rd Canadian Gun Battalion

Lt.-Col. W. N. Moorhouse, D.S.O. .. Feb. 22,18 Oct 8,18

Lt.-Col. W. M. Balfour, D.S.O Oct. 8, 18 Mar. 10, 19

Lt.-Col. G. W. MacLeod, D.S.O Mar. 10, 19 Demob.

^th Canadian Machine Gun Battalion

Lt.-Col. M. A. Scott, D.S.O Feb. 22, 18 Demob.

Ist Canadian Machine Gun Company
(absorbed in 1st Machine Gun Bat-
talion)

Lieut. J. T. Anglin Jan. 14, 16 June 11, 16

Capt. W. J. A. Lalor, M.C June 11, 16 Dec. 2, 16

Maj. W. M. Pearce Dec. 2,16 Oct. 7,17

Maj. W. J. A. Lalor, M.C Oct. 7, 17 Feb. 3, 18

Capt. R. H. Matthews, M.C Feb. 3, 18 Mar. 27, 18

2nd Canadian Machine Gun Company
(absorbed in 1st Machine Gun Bat-
talion)

Capt. T. H. Raddall Feb. 1, 16 June 22, 16

Maj. R. M. Stewart June 22, 16 Jan. 3,18

Capt. G. C. Ferrie Jan. 3,18 Mar. 13, 18

Lieut. J. A. Dewart, M.C Mar. 13, 18 Mar. 27, 18

3rd Canadian Machine Gun Company
(absorbed in 1st Machine Gun Bat-
talion)

Maj. E. J. Houghton, M.C Dec. 18, 15 June 5, 17

Capt. H. Donald June 5, 17 Oct. 8, 17

Maj. E. R. Mprris , Oct. 8, 17 Mar. 27, 18

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COMMANDING OFFICEES OVEESEAS 353

APPOINTED RETIRED

J^th Canadian Machine Gun Company
(absorbed in 2nd Machine Gun Bat-
talion)

Capt. J. M. C. Edwards Dec. 22, '15 Oct. 27, '16

Maj. W. J. Forbes-Mitchell, D.S.O... Oct. 27, '16 Sept. 7, '17
Maj. W. M. Pearce Oct. 8, '17 Mar. 21, '18

5th Canadian Machine Gun Company
(absorbed in 2nd Machine Gun Bat-
talion)

Capt. S. W. Watson Jan. 8, 16 Aug. 25, '16

Capt. J. E. McCorkell Aug. 25, '16 Nov. 7, '16

Maj. S. W. Watson, D.S.O Nov. 7, '16 July 27, '17

Capt. J. E. McCorkell July 27, '17 Jan. 31, '18

Lieut. F. L. Much Feb. 1, '18 Mar. 21, '18

6th Canadian Machine Gun Company
(absorbed in 2nd Machine Gun Bat-
talion)

Capt. T. A. H. Taylor Dec. 16, '15 Apr. 11, *16

Capt. A. Eastham Apr. 11, '16 July 8, '16

Capt. T. A. H. Taylor July 8, '16 Nov. 16, '16

Maj. A. Eastham, M.C Nov. 16, '16 Sept. 4, '17

Maj. C. V. Grantham, M.C Sept. 29, '17 Mar. 21, '18

7th Canadian Machine Gun Company
(absorbed in 3rd Machine Gun Bat-
talion)

Maj. H. T. Cock Dec. 28, '15 Aug. 28, '16

Maj. J. W. H. T. H. Van Den Berg. . Aug. 28, '16 Mar. 23, '17

Lieut. D. S. Forbes, M.C Mar. 23, '17 Apr. 9, '17

Lieut. F. A. Hale Apr. 9, '17 Aug. 19, '17

Maj. J. G. Weir, M.C Aug. 19, '17 Dec. 28, '17

Capt. F. W. Burnham Dec. 28, '17 Mar. 23, '18

8th Canadian Machine Gun Company
(absorbed in 3rd Machine Gun Bat-
talion)

Maj. W. M. Balfour Apr. 9, '16 Dec. 21, '16

Capt C. W. Laubach Dec. 21, '16 Feb. 14, '17

Maj. J. R. Coull Feb. 14, '17 July 27, '17

Maj. A. J. R. Parks July 27, '17 Mar. 23, '18

9th Canadian Machine Gun Company
(absorbed in 3rd Machine Gun Bat-
talion)

Capt. W. H. Bothwell Jan. 22, '16 July 9, *16

Capt. I. McKinnon July 9, '16 Oct. 8, '16

Maj. W. McNaul Oct. 8, '16 Mar. 23, '18

10th Canadian Machine Gun Company
(absorbed in Uth Machine Gun Bat-
talion)

Lieut. C. T. Bowring May 16, '16 July 12, '16

Maj. J. Mess July 12, '16 Feb. 4, '17

Maj. J. C. Britton Mar. 14, '17 Mar. 29, '18

354 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

APPOINTED RETIRED

11th Canadian Machine Chin Company
(absorbed in 4th Machine Gun Bat-
talion)
Maj. B. M. Clerk, M.C June 8, '16 Mar. 29, '18

12th Canadian Machine Gun Company
(absorbed in Uth Machine Gun Bat-
talion)

Capt. H. E. Hodge May 21, '16 Oct. 26, '16

Maj. L. F. Pearce, M.C Oct. 26, '16 Mar. 29, '18

13th Canadian Machine Gun Company
(absorbed in 1st Machine Gun Bat-
talion)
Maj. J. Kay, M.C Jan. 16, '17 Mar. 27, '18

lUth Canadian Machine Gun Company
(absorbed in 2nd Machine Gun Bat-
talion)
Maj. J. Basevi Jan. 16, '17 Mar. 21, '18

15th Canadian Machine Gun Company
(absorbed in 3rd Machine Gun Bat-
talion)

Maj. W. N. Moorhouse Feb. 21, '17 July 1, '17

Maj. J. C. Hartley, M.C, M.M July 1, '17 Mar. 23, '18

16th Canadian Machine Gun Company
(absorbed in ^th Machine Gun Bat-
talion)
Maj. E. W. Sansom Dec. 27, '16 Mar. 29, '18

17th Canadian Machine Gun Company
(absorbed in 2nd Canadian Machine
Gun Brigade)

Maj. H. A. Webb May 18, '17 July 18, '17

Capt. G. Black July 18, '17 June 7, '18

18th Canadian Machine Gun Company
(absorbed in 1st Canadian Motor
Machine Gun Brigade)
Capt. G. W. Beresford Feb. 6, '17 June 7, '18

19th Canadian Machine Gun Company
(absorbed in 2nd Canadian Motor
Machine Gun Brigade)
Maj. J. H. Brownlee Feb. 12, '17 June 7, '18

Machine Gun Squadron Cavalry Brigade

Capt. W. T. Lawless Feb. 20, '16 Mar. 5, '16

Maj. W. R. Walker, D.S.O., M.C. . . . Mar. 5, '16 Mar. 16, '18

Maj. J. H. Boulter Mar. 16, '18 Dec. 20, '18

Maj. D. G. McNeil, M.C Dec. 20, '18 Demob.

COMMANDING OFFICERS OVERSEAS 355

Engineers

APPOINTED RETIRED

Chief Engineer, Canadian Corps

Brig.-Gen. C. J. Armstrong, C.M.G... Sept. 13, '15 Mar. 7, '16
Brig.-Gen. W. B. Lindsay, C.B.,
C.M.G., D.S.O Mar. 7, '16 Demob.

C.R.E. Corps Troops

Col. H. T. Hughes, C.M.G May 2, '18 June 26, '18

Lt.-Col. J. Houliston, D.S.O June 26, '18 Demob.

Ist Divisional Engineers (reorganized as

1st Engineer Brigade)

Lt.-Col. C. J. Armstrong Sept. 22, '14 Sept. 13, '15

Lt.-Col. W. B. Lindsay Sept. 17, '15 Mar. 7, '16

Lt.-Col. A. Macphail, D.S.O Mar. 7, '16 Dec. 30, '17

Lt.-Col. H. F. H. Hertzberg, D.S.O.,

M.C Dec. 30, '17 May 28, '18

2nd Divisional Engineers (reorganized
as 2nd Engineer Brigade)

Lt.-Col. J. Houliston May 4, '15 Sept. 9, '15

Lt.-Col. H. T. Hughes Sept. 9, '15 Dec. 22, '16

Lt.-Col. S. H. Osier, G.M.G., D.S.O... Dec. 22, '15 June 6, '18

3rd Divisional Engineers (reorganized
as 3rd Engineer Brigade)

Lt.-Col. T. V, Anderson Jan. 16, '16 Apr. 8, '17

Lt.-Col. J. Houliston Apr. 8, '17 May 26, '18

4th Divisional Engineers (reorganized
as 4th Engineer Brigade)

Lt.-Col. C. A. Inksetter May 29, '16 Oct. 15, '16

Lt.-Col. T. C. Irving, D.S.O Oct. 15, '16 Oct. 29, '17

Maj. W. P. Wilgar, D.S.O Oct. 29, '17 Nov. 18, '17

Lt.-Col. W. L. Malcolm Nov. 18, '17 May 26, '18

5th Divisional Engineers (disbanded)

Lt.-Col. W. L. Malcolm Mar. 1, '17 Nov. 8, '17

Maj. G. H. Shaw Nov. 16, '17 Dec. 9, '17

Lt-Col. A. Macphail, D.S.O Jan. 5, '18 Feb. 28, '18

Ist Engineer Brigade

Lt.-Col. H. F. H. Hertzberg, D.S.O.,

M.C May 28, '18 June 6, '18

Col. A. Macphail, C.M.G., D.S.O June 6, '18 Demob.

2nd Engineer Brigade

Col. S. H. Osier, C.M.G., D.S.O June 6, '18 Demob.

Srd Engineer Brigade

Lt.-Col. J. Houliston May 26, '18 June 26, '18

Col. H. F. H. Hertzberg, C.M.G.,
D.S.O., M.C. . . . , July 25, '18 Demob.

356 CANADA IN THE GEEAT WORLD WAR

J^th Engineer Brigade

Lt.-Col. W. L. Malcolm

Col. H. T. Hughes, C.M.G., D.S.O.

APPOINTED

RETIRED

May 26, '18 June 18, '18
June 26, '18 Demob.

let Field Company C.E. (reorganized
as 1st Battalion C.E.)

Maj. W. W. Melville Sept. 22, '14 Feb. 16, '16

Maj. J. P. Fell Feb. 16, '16 May 21, '16

Maj. H. F. H. Hertzberg, M.C May 21, '16 Dec. 30, '17

Maj. J. M. Rolston Jan. 1, '18 May 28, '18

2nd Field Company C.E. (reorganized
as 2nd Battalion C.E.)

Maj. W. B. Lindsay Sept. 22, '14 Apr. 7, '15

Capt. T. C. Irving Apr. 7, '15 May 16, '15

Maj. W. B. Lindsay May 16, '15 Sept. 13, '15

Maj. T. C. Irving, D.S.O Sept. 13, '15 May 26, '16

Maj. H. F. H. Hertzberg, M.C June 17, '16 July 21, '16

Maj. T. C. Irving, D.S.O July 21, '16 Oct. 13, '16

Capt. G. R. Turner, M.C, D.C.M.... Oct. 13, '16 Feb. 26, '17

Maj. E. F. Lynn, D.S.O., M.C Feb. 26, '17 May 28, '18

Srd Field Company C.E. (reorganized
as Srd Battalion C.E.)

Maj. G. B. Wright, D.S.O Sept. 22, '14 May 21, '15

Maj. A. Macphail, D.S.O May 21, '15 Mar. 7, '16

Maj. H. F. H. Hertzberg, M.C Mar. 7, '16 May 21, '16

Maj. E. Pepler, D.S.O May 21, '16 May 28, '18

4th Field Company C.E. (reorganized
as Uth Battalion C.E.)

Maj. C. H. Inksetter Apr. 28, '15 May 29, '16

Maj. H. D. Smith, D.S.O May 29, '16 June 4, '18

5th Field Company C.E. (reorganized
as 5th Battalion C.E.)

Maj. S. H. Osier Sept.l3,'15 Dec. 22, '16

Maj. A. L. Mieville, M.C Dec. 22, '16 June 4, '18

6th Field Company C.E. (reorganized
as 6th Battalion C.E.)

Maj. W. L. Malcolm Sept. 13, '15 Feb. 24, '17

Maj. D. S. Ellis Feb. 24, '17 Dec. 19, '17

Maj. E. W. Harrison Dec. 19, '17 June 4/18

7th Field Company C.E. (reorganized
as 7th Battalion C.E.)

Maj. J. B. P. Dunbar Feb. 18, '16 Oct. 1, '16

Maj. J. P. Fell Oct. 1, '16 Feb. 26, '17

Maj. K. Stuart, M.C Feb. 26, '17 May 26, '18

8th Field Company C.E. (reorganized
as 8th Battalion C.E.)

Maj. E. R. Vince, M.C Feb. 18, '16 Sept. 20, '16

Maj. W. E. Manhard Sept.20, '16 May 26, '18

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COMMANDING OFFICERS OVERSEAS 357

APPOINTED RETIRED

9th Field Company CJS7. (reorganized
as 9th Battalion C.E.)
Maj. N. R. Robertson, D.S.O Feb. 18, 16 May 26, '18

10th Field Company C.E. (reorganized
as 10th Battalion C.E.)
Maj. W. P. WUgar, D.S.O May 12, '16 May 26, 18

11th Field Company C.E. (reorganized
as nth Battalion C.E.)
Maj. H. L. Trotter, D.S.O May 12, 16 May 26, 18

12th Field Company C.E. (reorganized
as 12th Battalion C.E.)

Maj. P. Ward May 20, 16 July 10, '16

Maj. C. T. Trotter, D.S.O July 19, 16 July 2, 17

Maj. E. J. C. Schmidlin, M.C July 4, 17 May 26, 18

13th Field Company C.E. (disbanded)

Maj. G. H. Shaw Mar. 2, 17 Nov. 18, 17

Maj. J. B. P. Dunbar Jan. 5, 18 Feb. 28, '18

IJ^th Field Company C.E. (disbanded)

Maj. F. R. Henshaw Mar. 21, '17 Feb. 28, '18

15th Field Company (disbanded)

Maj. E. W. Harrison Mar. 1, '17 Feb. 28, 18

1st Battalion C.E.

Lt.-Col. H. C. Walkem May 28, '18 June 7, 18

Lt.-Col. H. F. H. Hertzberg, D.S.O.,

M.C June 7, '18 July 22, '18

Lt-Col. C. B. Russell, D.S.O July 22, '18 Demob.

2nd Battalion C.E.

Lt.-Col. J. M. Rolston, D.S.O May 31, '18 Demob,

3rd Battalion C.E.

Lt.-Col. E. Pepler, D.S.O. May 28, '18 Demob.

Uth Battalion C.E.

Lt.-Col. H. D. S. Smith, D.S.O June 4, '18 Demob.

5th Battalion C.E.

Lt.-Col. C. W. Allen, D.S.O June 4, 18 Feb. 7, '19

Maj. J. A. Morphy, D.S.O Feb. 7, '19 Demob.

6th Battalion C.E.

Maj. C. B. Russell, D.S.O June 4, '18 July 22, '18

Lt.-Col. A. L. Mieville, M.C July 22, '18 Demob.

7th Battalion C.E.

Lt.-Col. W. B. Kingsmill, D.S.O May 26, 18 July 30, 18

Maj. K. Stuart, M.C July 30, '18 Aug. 23, 18

Lt.-Col. J. L. H. Bogart Aug. 23, '18 Demob.

358 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

8th Battalion C.E.

Lt.-Col. E. J. C. Schmidlin, M.C. .
Lt.-Col. W. E. Manhard, D.S.O. . .

9th Battalion C.E.
Lt.-Col. N. R. Robertson, D.S.O. . .

10th Battalion C.E.

Lt.-Col. W. P. Wilgar, D.S.O

11th Battalion C.E.

Lt.-Col. H. L. Trotter, D.S.O

12th Battalion C.E.

Lt.-Col. J. T. C. Thompson, D.S.O...

Lt.-Col. G. H. Shaw

Lt.-Col. E. J. C. Schmidlin, M.C. . . .

APPOINTED RETIRED

. May 26, '18 Nov. 6, '18
. Nov. 19, '18 Demob.

. May 26, '18 Demob.
. May 26, '18 Demob.
. May 26, '18 Demob.

May 26, '18 Sept. 25, '18
Sept. 25, '18 Nov. 3, '18
Nov. 6, '18 Demob.

Signals

Headquarters Canadian Corps Signal-
ling Company

Maj. R. H. Willan Sept. 18, '15 Aug. 9, '16

Maj. W. L. de M. Carey Sept. 22, '16 Jan. 23, '17

Cap. P. Earnshaw, M.C Jan. 24, '17 July 5, '17

Maj. F. G. Mallock, M.C July 5, '17 July 8, '18

Maj. G. A. Cline, D.S.O July 8, '18 Demob.

Ist Divisional Signalling Company

Maj. F. A. Lister, D.S.O Sept. 22, '14 Dec. 6, '15

Maj. E. Ford, D.S.O Dec. 6, '15 Aug. 1, '17

Maj. G. A. Cline Aug. 1, '17 Feb. 1, '18

Maj. P. Earnshaw, D.S.O., M.C Feb. 1, '18 Demob.

2nd Divisional Signalling Company

Maj. J. L. H. Bogart May 15, '16 Sept. 11, '16

Capt. G. A. Cline Sept.ll, '16 Mar. 5, '17

Maj. A. A. Anderson, D.S.O Mar. 14, '17 Demob.

3rd Divisional Signalling Company

Maj. T. E. Powers May 5, '16 Oct. 16, '16

Maj. A. Leavitt, M.C Dec. 15, '16 Aug. 10, '18

Maj. K. M. Campbell Aug. 10, '18 Jan. 1, '19

Maj. A. Leavitt, M.C Jan. 1, '19 Demob.

J^th Divisional Signalling Company

Maj. A. G. Lawson, M.C May 30, '16 Oct. 23, '17

Maj. M. S. Parnell-Smith Oct. 25, '17 Dec. 15, '17

Maj. A. G. Lawson, M.C Dec. 15, '17 July 12, '18

Maj. F. G. Mallock, M.C July 12, '18 Demob.

5th Divisional Signalling Company (diS"
handed, except Artillery Section)

Maj. W. M. Miller, M.C Feb. 14, '17 Feb. 28, '18

COMMANDING OFFICEES OVERSEAS 359

APPOINTED RETIRED

Sth Divisional Signalling Company (Ar-
tillery Section)

Capt. M. L. Maitland Aug. 29, '17

Capt. F. S. McPherson Demob.

Cavalry Brigade Signalling Company

Capt. L. P. Haviland June 17, '15 Aug. 5, '17

Capt. S. A. Lee Aug. 5, '17 Demob.

Army Troops Companies Canadian Engineers

1st Army Troops Company C.E.

Capt. K. Stuart Jan. 18, '16 Feb. 26, '17

Capt. R. S. Worsley, M.C Feb. 26, '17 June 6, '18

Capt. G. W. G. Booker June 6, '18 Demob.

2nd Army Troops Company C.E.

Capt. G. H. Shaw Oct. 23, '15 Feb. 26, '17

Capt. R. L. Junkin, M.C Feb. 26, '17 July 21, '17

Capt. H. B. Boswell July 21, '17 June 4, '18

Capt. F. M. Brickenden June 4, '18 Demob.

3rd Army Troops Company C.E.

Maj. E. S. Hill June 9, '16 Jan. 26, '18

Capt. O. B. McCuaig, M.C Jan. 26, '18 Demob.

J^th Army Troops Company C.E.

Maj. C. B. Russell Oct. 31, '16 June 6, '18

Capt. H. S. Fellowes June 6, '18 Feb. 14, '19

Lieut. H. C. Holman Feb. 14, '19 Demob.

Sth Army Troops Company C.E.

Maj. E. R. Vince, M.C Apr. 11, '17 June 10, '18

Capt. J. S. Oliver June 10, '18 Nov. 30, '19

Lieut H. L. Bunting, M.C Nov. 30, '19 Demob.

Tunnelling Companies

let Tunnelling Company C.E. (dis-
banded)

Maj. R. P. Rogers Jan. 1, '16 Apr. 25, '16

Maj. C. B. North Apr. 25, '16 July 11, '18

2nd Tunnelling Company C.E. (dis-
banded)

Maj. R. W. Coulthard Jan. 30, '16 July 20, '16

Maj. L. N. B. Bullock, D.S.O July 20, '16 Mar. 16, '17

Capt. F. A. Brewster, M.C Mar. 16, '17 Nov. 1, '17

Maj. L. N. B. Bullock, D.S.O Nov. 1, '17 Nov. 17, '17

Maj. F. A. Brewster, M.C Nov. 17, '17 Dec. 22, '17

Maj. A. B. Ritchie, M.C Dec. 22, '17 July 2, '18

Capt. F. A. Brewster, M.C July 2, '18 July 7, '18

360 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

L

APPOINTED RETIRED

Srd Tunnelling Company C.E.

Maj. A. W. Davis, D.S.O Dec. 25, '15 Aug. 10, 17

Maj. A. Hibbert, D.S.O., M.C Dec. 22, '17 Demob.

Uth Tunmlling Company C.E. (absorbed
by Engineer Training Depot)
Maj. J. R. Roaf Aug. 8, '16

Entrenching Battalions

1st Entrenching Battalion (disbanded)

Lt.-Col. F. J. Dingwall July 15, '16 Oct. 3, '17

2nd Entrenching Battalion (disbanded)

Lt.-Col. C. R. Hill July 17, '16 Oct. 1, '17

Srd Entrenching Battalion (disbanded)

Lt.-Col. A. K. Hobbins, D.S.O June 27, '16 Oct 6, '17

^th Entrenching Battalion (disbanded)

Lt.-Col. H. B. Verret, D.S.O Aug. 29, '16 Sept. 15, '17

,Lt.-Col. H. Snell Sept. 15, '17 Oct. 3, '17

Pioneer Battalions

1st Pioneer Battalion (renamed 9th
Battalion Railway Troops)

Lt.-Col. A. E. Hodgins Nov. 20, '15 Oct. 20, '16

Lt.-Col. J. A. Macdonell Oct. 20, '16 Jan. 8, '17

Maj. W. H. Moodie Jan. 8, '17 Mar. 6, '17

(See 9th Battalion Railway Troops for continuation.)

2nd Pioneer Battalion (absorbed on re-
organization)

Lt.-Col. W. M. Davis Dec. 6, '15 Jan. 17, '16

Lt.-Col. G. E. Sanders, C.M.G., D.S.O. Feb. 7, '16 Aug. 7, '17
Lt.-Col. C. W. Allen Sept. 8, '17 June 4, '18

Srd Pioneer Battalion (disbanded)

Lt.-Col. W. J. H. Holmes, D.S.O July 1, '15 May 31, '17

Uth Pioneer Battalion — formerly 67th
Infantry Battalion (disbanded)
Lt.-Col. L. Ross, D.S.O Apr. 2, '16 Apr. 30, '17

5th Pioneer Battalion (disbanded)

Lt.-Col. P. Weatherbe Sept. 12, '16 Dec. 2, '16

107th Pioneer Battalion (absorbed on

reorganization) ^ ^„.. « ^ . «,^„

Lt.-Col. G. Campbell, D.S.O Sept. 18, '16 Oct. 9, 17

Lt.-Col. H. C. Walkem Oct. 9, '17 May 28, '18

COMMANDING OFFICERS OVERSEAS 361

APPOINTED RETIRED

123rd Pioneer Battalion (absorbed on
reorganization)
Lt.-Col. W. B. Kingsmill Aug. 7, '16 May 24, 18

12ith Pioneer Battalion (absorbed on
reorganization)

Lt.-Col. W. C. V. Chadwick Aug. 7, 16 Oct. 18, '17

Lt.-Col. J. T. C. Thompson Oct. 18, '17 May 26, '18

Labour Commandant^ Canadian Corps

Col. A. W. R. Wilby Mar. 1, '18 Demob.

Canadian Labour Group

Lt.-Col. J. W. H. McKinery, D.S.O... Sept. 14, 18 Demob.

1st Infantry Works Battalion — jorm^
erly 1st Labour Battalion (absorbed
by Canadian Labour Group on re-
organization)

Lt.-Col. H. A. C. Machin Dec. 6, '16 June 16, '17

Lt.-Col. R. H. Nelland, D.S.O June 16, 17 Sept. 14, '18

2nd Infantry Works Battalion — form-
erly Ji.th Labour Battalion (absorbed
by Canadian Labour Group on re-
organization)
Lt.-Col. J. W. H. McKinery, D.S.O... Jan. 26,17 Sept. 17, 18

Labour Battalions

1st Labour Battalion (See 1st Infantry
Works Battalion)

2nd Labour Battalion (See 12th Bat-
talion Railway Troops)

3rd Labour Battalion (See 11th Bat-
talion Railway Troops)

Uth Labour Battalion (See 2nd Infantry
Works Battalion)

Divisional Trains

1st Divisional Train

Lt.-Col. W. A. Simson, D.S.O Sept. 22, 14

Lt.-Col. W. D. Greer Nov. 24, '17

Lt.-Col. C. A. Corrigan, D.S.O Mar. 3, 18

Lt.-Col. E. J. Cleary, D.S.O Jan. 1, 19

2nd Divisional Train

Lt.-Col. A. E. Massie, D.S.O Apr. 17, '15

Maj. J. A. McLennan Jan. 11, '18

Lt.-Col. C. M. Scott Feb. 24, '18

Lt.-Col. H. J. Freeman Jan. 25, '19

Nov. 24, '17
Mar. 3, '18
Jan. 1, 19
Demob.

Jan. 11,18
Feb. 24,18
Jan. 25,19
Demob.

362 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

APPOINTED

3rd Divisional Train

Lt.-Col. C. H. Loughead Jan. 17/16

Lt.-Col. W. H. D. A. Findlay Jan. 29, '16

Ji-th Divisional Train

Lt.-Col. R. H. Webb, D.S.O., M.C. . . . Jan. 7, 16

Lt.-Col. W. H. Robinson July 14, 17

Lt.-Col. W. D. Greer Mar. 20, 18

5th Divisional Train (Artillery Section)

Maj. G. M. Cooper Aug. 17, 17

RETIRED

Jan. 28,16
Demob.

July 14, 17
Mar. 20, 18
Demob.

Demob.

Supply Columns ^

Canadian Corps Supply Column (dis-
banded on reorganization)
Maj. E. M. Harris, D.S.O Feb. 1, 17 Apr. 14, 18

Canadian Corps Troops Supply Column

(absorbed by Corps Troops M.T.

Co.)

Maj. F. B. Eaton Sept.l4, 15 Dec. 14, 15

Maj. H. C. Greer Dec. 14, 15 Jan. 17, 16

Maj. A. C. Larter Jan. 17, 16 Apr. 10, 16

Maj. J. G. Parmelee Apr. 10, 16 Apr. 14, 18

1st Divisional Supply Column (absorbed
by 1st Divisional M.T. Co.)

Maj. M. Moore Apr. 8, 15 Oct. 22, 15

Capt. G. H. Gordon Oct. 22, 15 Dec. 14, 15

Maj. F. B. Eaton Dec. 14,15 Dec. 24,16

Capt. T. J. Turpin Dec. 31, 16 Dec. 9, 17

Lieut. E. de la Mare Dec. 9, 17 Feb. 2, 18

Maj. H. W. Webster Feb. 2, 18 Apr. 10, 18

Capt. E. de la Mare Apr. 10, 18 Apr. 14, 18

2nd Divisional Supply Column (absorbed
by 2nd Divisional M.T. Co.)

Maj. E. M. Harris Apr. 10, 15 July 18, 15

Maj. A. C. Larter Apr. 11, 16 Nov. 15, 16

Capt. J. C. Ellard Nov. 15, 16 Dec. 11, 16

Maj. F. G. Arnold Dec. 11, 16 Apr. 10, 18

Maj. H. W. Webster Apr. 10, 18 Apr, 14, 18

3rd Divisional Supply Column (absorbed
by 3rd Divisional M.T. Co.)

Maj. H. O. Lawson Jan. 28, 16 July 30, 17

Capt. J. C. Ellard July 30, 17 Apr. 14, 18

Ifth Divisional Supply Column (absorbed
by Jfth Divisional M.T. Company)

Maj. F. T. McKean July 19, 16 Jan. 25, 17

Capt. E. R. Birchard Feb. 8, 17 Nov. 7, 17

Capt. C. G. MacKinnon Nov. 7, 17 Apr. 14, 18

1 All supply columns were reorganized on April 14, 18, to Me-
chanical Transport Companies.

COMMANDING OFFICERS OVERSEAS 363

APPOINTED

l8t Canadian Cavalry Brigade Supply
Column (changed to Canadian Sec-
tion 5th Cavalry Division Supply
Column)

Maj. R. F. Bingham Nov. 29, 15

Lieut. A. G. Cleghorn Dec. 30, '16

Capt. H. P. Blackwood Jan. 12, '17

Lieut. A. G. Cleghorn June 6, '17

Capt. D. Shepherd Aug. 1, '17

Capt. G. W. Chaplin Sept. 29, '17

RETIRED

Dec. 30, 16
Jan. 12, '17
June 6, '17
Aug. 1,'17
Sept. 29, 17
Apr. 14, '18

Canadian Corps Mechanical Transport

Headquarters Canadian Corps Mechan-
ical Transport Column
Maj. F. T. McKean, D.S.O Apr. 15, '18

Corps Troops Mechanical Transport
Company

Maj. J. G. Parmelee Apr. 15, '18

Capt. D. Shepherd Mar. 18, '19

Ist Divisional Mechanical Transport

Maj. N. J. Lindsay Apr. 15, '18

Maj. G. W. Chaplin July 11, '18

2nd Divisional Mechanical Transport
Company

Maj. H. W. Webster Apr. 15, '18

Capt. J. H. McLachlin Apr. 25, '19

3rd Divisionxil Mechanical Transport
Company
Maj. E. M. Harris Apr. 15, '18

Ji,th Divisional Mechanical Transport
Company
Maj. G. H. Gordon Apr. 15, '18

Canadian Engineers Mechanical Trans-
port Company

Maj. N. J. Lindsay July 11, '18

Capt. W. H. Munroe Jan. 3, '19

Canadian Motor Machine Gun Mechan-
ical Transport Company
Maj. F. G. Arnold June 1, '18

Ist Canadian Army Auxiliary Horse
Company — formerly No. 1 Re-
serve Park

Maj. C. Adams Sept.22, '14

Maj. E. J. Cleary Nov. 10, '16

Capt. J. R. Patterson Dec. 31, '18

Demob.

Mar. 18, '19
Demob.

July 11, 18
Demob.

Apr. 20, '19
Demob.

Demob.

Demob.

Jan. 3, '19
Demob.

Demob.

Nov. 10, 16
Dec. 29,18
Demob.

364 CANADA IN THE GEEAT WORLD WAR

APPOINTED RETIRED

2nd Canadian Army Auxiliary Horse
Company — formerly No. 2 Re-
serve Park

Maj. H. A. Stewart, D.S.O May 15, '15 Feb. 18, 18

Capt. H. Burnett Feb. 18, '18 May 24, 18

Maj. C. Ermatinger May 24, 18 Demob.

Ammunition Parks ^

Ctmadian Corps Ammunition Park (ab-
sorbed by M.T. Column)

Lt.-Col. A. de M. Bell Sept. 15, 15 Feb. 9, 17

Maj. F. T. McKean, D.S.O Feb. 9, 17 Apr. 14, 18

1st Divisional Ammunition Sub-Park
(absorbed by 1st M.T. Company)

Maj. A. de M. Bell Sept. 22, 14 Sept. 15, 15

Maj. E. C. Goldie Sept. 15, 15 Apr. 25, 16

Maj. W. J. Morrison July 3, 16 Feb. 23, 17

Lieut. F. E. H. Johnson Feb. 23, 17 Mar. 8, 17

Maj. N. J. Lindsay Mar. 8, 17 Apr. 14, 18

Snd Divisional Ammunition Sub-Park
(absorbed by 2nd M.T. Company)

Lt.-Col. G. F. C. Poussette May 15, 15 Sept. 11, 15

Maj. H. W. Webster Sept. 11, 15 Nov. 17, 17

Capt. W. S. Goodeve, M.C Nov. 17, 17 Mar. 13, 18

Lieut. R. W. Whittome Mar. 16, 18 Apr. 14, 18

Srd Divisional Ammunition Sub-Park
(absorbed by Srd M.T. Company)

Maj. N. J. Lindsay Mar. 9, 16 Mar. 8, 17

Capt. W. H. Munroe Mar. 8, 17 Apr. 14, 18

J^th Divisional Ammunition Sub-Park
(absorbed by j^th M.T. Company)
Maj. G. H. Gordon July 19, 16 Apr. 14, 18

1st Canadian Cavalry Brigade Ammu-
nition Column (disbanded)

Maj. W. J. Morrison Nov. 29, 15 July 3, 16

Capt. H. G. Cochrane July 3, 16 July 20, 16

Lieut. T. R. Young July 20, 16 Feb. 12, 17

Railway Troops

Headquarters Canadian Railway Troops
(France)
Maj .-Gen. J. W. Stewart, C.B.,C.M.G. Mar. 2,17 Demob.

^ All Ammunition Sub-Parks were absorbed into Mechanical
Transport Companies on April 14, 18.

COMMANDING OFFICEES OVEESEAS 365

APPOINTED RETIRED

Headquarters Canadian Railway Troops
(England)

Col. J. W. Stewart Oct. 7, '16 Mar. 2, '17

Col. B. M. Humble, C.M.G., D.S.O. . . Mar. 18, '17 Demob.

1st Battalion Railway Troops (from No.
1 Construction Company, Feb. 5, '17)
Lt.-Col. B. Ripley, C.B.E., D.S.O. ... Sept. 12, '16 Demob.

2nd Battalion Railway Troops (from
127th Infantry Battalion, Nov.
8, '16)
Lt.-Col. F. F. Clarke, D.S.O Aug. 23, '16 Demob.

3rd Battalion Railway Troops — form-
e7'ly 239th Battalion
Lt.-Col. J. B. L. MacDonald, D.S.O. Dec. 16, '16 Demob.

Jfth Battalion Railway Troops

Lt.-Col. C. L. Hervey, D.S.O Jan. 29, '17 June 15, '18

Lt.-Col. J. B. Harstone, D.S.O June 15, '18 Demob.

»

5th Battalion Railway Troops

Lt.-Col. A. E. Griffin Feb. 5, '17 Jan. 8, '19

Maj. L. F. Grant Jan. 8, '19 Demob.

6th Battalion Railway Troops (from
228th Battalion, Mar. 8, '17)
Lt.-Col. A. Earchman, C.B.E., D.S.O. Feb. 17, '17 Demob.

7th Battalion Railway Troops (from,
257th Battalion, Mar. 8, '17)
Lt.-Col. L. T. Martin, D.S.O Feb. 17, '17 Demob.

8th Battalion Railway Troops (from
218th Battalion, Mar. 8, '17)
Lt.-Col. J. K. Cornwall, D.S.O Feb. 29, '17 Demob.

9th Battalion Railway Troops (from 1st
Pioneer Battalion, Mar. 6, '17)
Lt.-Col. W. H. Moody, D.S.O Mar. 6, '17 Demob.

10th Battalion Railway Troops (from
256th Battalion, Apr. 10, '17)
Lt.-Col. W. A. MacConnell, D.S.O. . . Mar. 28, '17 Demob.

11th Battalion Railway Troops — form-
erly 3rd Labour Battalion
Lt.-Col. W. A. Munro, D.S.O Feb. 2, '17 Demob.

12th Battalion Railway Troops — form-
erly 2nd Labour Battalion
Lt.-Col. A. C. Garner, D.S.O Feb. 8, '17 Demob.

13th Battalion Railway Troops

Lt.-Col. S. P. McMordie, D.S.O. ..... Mar. 13, '18 Demob.

366 CANADA IN THE GREAT WOELD WAE

APPOINTED RETIRED

Canadian Overseas Railway Construc-
tion Corps

Lt.-Col. C. W. P. Ramsey June 10, 15 Oct. 23, 16

Lt.-Col. J. G. Reid, D.S.O Oct. 23, 16 Demob.

No. 1 Construction Company (See 1st
Battalion Railway Troops)

No. 2 Construction Company

Maj. D. H. Sutherland Mar. 28, 17 Demob.

Canadian Forestry Corps

Directorate of Timber Operations

Maj.-Gen. A. McDougall, C.B Sept. 28, 16 Demob.

Canadian Forestry Corps (France)

Col. J. B. White, D.S.O Apr. 22, 17 Nov. 29, 18

Lt.-Col. J. B. Donnelly (acting) Nov. 29, 18 Demob.

Headquarters Central Group

Lt.-Col. E. W. Rathbun Nov. 30, 16 June 15, 17

Maj. P. Garratt June 15, 17 Aug. 1,17

Lt.-Col. C. H. L. Jones Aug. 1, 17 Sept. 1, 18

Lt.-Col. W. F. Cooke, D.S.O Sept. 1, 18 Demob.

Headquarters Jura Group

Lt.-Col. G. H. Johnson, C.B.E Jan. 11,17 Demob.

Headquarters Bordeaux Group

Lt.-Col. J. L. Miller, C.B.E Feb. 16, 18 Mar. 30, 19

Lt-Col. W. Herd Mar. 30, 19 Demob.

Headquarters Mame Group

Lt.-Col. P. D. L. Lyall, M.B.E July 1, 18 Demob.

Headquarters No. 1 District

Lt.-Col. F. J. Carew, O.B.E July 27, 17 Demob.

Headquarters No. 2 District

Lt.-Col. K. H. McDougall, D.S.O. ... Sept. 15, 17 Oct. 21,18
Lt.-Col. W. F. Cooke, D.S.O Oct. 21, 18 Demob.

Headquarters No. U District

Lt.-Col. J. Wilson Aug. 2,17 Demob.

Headquarters No. 5 District

Lt.-Col. G. M. Strong Apr. 22, 18 July 28, 18

Lt.-Col. G. B. Klock July 28, 18 Demob.

Headquarters No. 6 District

Maj. W. H. Milne Sept. 9, 17 Jan. 28, 18

Lt.-Col. T. Hale Jan. 28, 18 Jan. 15, 19

Maj. G. O. Spence Jan. 15, 19 Demob.

COMMANDING OFFICERS OVERSEAS 367

APPOINTED RETIRED

Headquarters No. 9 District

Lt.-Col. W. F. Cooke, D.S.O May 12, 17 Aug. 27, '18

Maj. A. J. Bell Aug. 27, 18 Oct. 21, 18

Lt.-Col. K. H. McDougall, D.S.O. . . . Oct. 21, 18 Jan. 9, 19

Maj. A. J. Bell Jan. 9, 19 Demob.

Headquarters No. 10 District

Maj. T. Hale Nov. 2, 17 Jan. 26, 18

Maj. G. B. Klock Feb. 2, 18 July 28, 18

Lt.-Col. G. M. Strong, D.S.O July 28,18 Sept. 24, 18

Maj. W. A. Ferguson Sept. 24, 18 Feb. 7, 19

Lieut. C. Cockshutt Feb. 7, 17 Demob.

Headquarters No. 11 District

Lt.-Col. W. S. Fetherstonhaugh Aug. 10, 18 Demob.

Headquarters No. 12 District

Lt.-Col. J. L. Miller Aug. 1, 17 Feb. 16, 18

Lt.-Col. W. Herd Feb. 16, 18 Demob.

Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps

Director-General of Medical Services

Maj.-Gen. G. LaF. Foster, C.B July 16, 18 Demob.

Director of Medical Services (London)

Surg.-Gen. G. C. Jones, C.M.G Sept. 22, 14 Feb. 9, 17

Surg.-Gen. G. LaF. Foster, C.B Feb. 9, 17 July 16, 18

Director of Medical Services (France)

Brig.-Gen. A. E. Ross, C.B., C.M.G... July 16, 18 Demob.

D.D.M.S. Corps

Col. G. LaF. Foster, C.B Sept. 13, 15 Feb. 9, 17

Col. A. E. Ross, C.B., C.M.G Feb. 9, 17 July 16, 18

Col. A. E. Snell, C.M.G., D.S.O Aug. 29, 18 Dec. 14, 18

Col. R. M. Simpson, D.S.O Dec. 14, 18

D.D.M.S. (London)

Col. M. MacLaren, C.M.G July 16, 18 Demob.

A.D.M.S. 1st Division

Col. G. LaF. Foster, C.B Sept. 22, 14 Sept. 13, 15

Col. A. E. Ross, C.M.G Sept. 13, 15 Feb. 9. 17

Col. F. S. L. Ford, C.M.G Feb. 9, 17 June 20 17

Col. R. P. Wright, C.M.G., D.S.O. . . . June 20, 17 Dec. 28, 18

Col. G. J. Boyce, D.S.O Dec. 28, 18 Demob.

A.D.M.S. 2nd Division

Col. J. T. Fotheringham, C.M.G Nov. 5,14 Mar. 9,17

Col. H. M. Jacques, D.S.O Mar. 9, 17 Dec. 27, 17

Col. R. M. Simpson Feb. 2, 18 Dec. 14, 18

Col. R. H. MacDonald, M.C Dec. 14,18 Demob

368 CANADA IN THE GKEAT WOELD WAR

APPOINTED RETIRED

A,D.M.S. Srd Division

Col. J. W. Bridges Feb. 23, '16 June 22, '16

Col. A. E. Snell, D.S.O June 22, '16 Aug. 29, '18

Col. C. P. Templeton, C.B., D.S:0. . . Aug. 29, '18 Demob.

A.D.M.S. Uth Division

Col. H. A. Chisholm, D.S.O May 1, '16 May 14, '17

Col. C. A. Peters May 14, '17 Jan. 18, '19

Col. P. G. Bell Jan. 18, '19 Demob.

No. 1 Field Ambulance

Lt.-Col. A. E. Ross Sept. 22, '14 Sept. 12, '15

Lt.-Col. R. P. Wright Sept. 13, '15 June 20, '17

Lt.-Col. G. J. Boyce, D.S.O. .... June 20, '17 Feb. 27, '19

Lt.-Col. R. M. Filson Feb. 27, '19 Demob.

No. 2 Field Ambulance

Lt.-Col. D. W. MacPherson Sept. 22, '14 Nov. 17, '15

Lt.-Col. E. B. Hardy, D.S.O Nov. 17, '15 Nov. 25, '16

Lt.-Col. J. J. Eraser, D.S.O Nov. 25, '16 Mar. 26, '18

Lt.-Col. J. H. Wood, D.S.O Dec. 18, '18 Demob.

No. 3 Field Ambulance

Lt.-Col. W. L. Watt Sept. 22, '14 Sept. 3, '15

Lt.-Col. J. A. Gunn Sept. 3, '15 Feb. 27, '16

Lt.-Col. C. P. Templeton Feb. 26, '16 Feb. 9, '17

Lt.-Col. A. S. Donaldson Feb. 9, '17 Demob.

No. U Field Ambulance

Lt.-Col. W. Webster, D.S.O Apr. 18, '15 May 24, '17

Lt.-Col. C. F. McGuffin, D.S.O May 24, '17 Dec. 16, '17

Maj. R. H. McDonald, M.C Dec. 16, '17 Jan. 18, '19

Maj. G. W. Treleaven, D.S.O., M.C... Jan. 18, '19 Feb. 22, '19

Maj. T. H. Bell, M.C Feb. 22, '19 Demob.

No. 5 Field Ambulance

Lt.-Col. G. D. Farmer Apr. 18, '15 Nov. 7, '16

Lt.-Col. C. F. McGuffin Nov. 7, '16 May 24, '17

Maj. J. F. Burgess May 24, '17 June 29, '17

Lt.-Col. D. P. Kappele, D.S.O. June 29, '17 Oct. 13, '18

Maj. H. W. McGill, M.C Oct. 13, '18 Mar. 3, '19

Maj. G. W. Treleaven, D.S.O., M.C... Mar. 5, '19 Demob.

No. 6 Field Ambulance

Lt.-Col. R. P. Campbell Apr. 29, '15 Sept. 16, '16

Lt.-Col. T. J. R. Murphy, D.S.O Sept. 16, '16 Sept. 14, '18

Lt.-Col. R. H. M. Hardisty, D.S.O.,

M.C Sept.l4,'18 Demob.

No. 7 Ambulance (Cavalry Brigade)

Lt.-Col. D. P. Kappele Jan. 10, '15 June 29, '17

Maj. A. C. Rankin June 29, '17 June 12, '18

Maj. W. A. G. Bauld June 12, '18 June 24, '18

Maj. W. J. E. Mingie June 24, '18 July 6, '18

Lt.-Col. W, A. G. Bauld July 6, '18 Demob.

LT.-COL. C. P. TEMPLETON, D.S.O.

COMMANDING OFFICERS OVERSEAS 369

APPOINTED

No. 8 Field Ambulance

Lt.-Col. S. W. Hewetson Apr. 1/16

Lt.-Col. J. N. Gunn Jan. 27, 17

Maj. E. R. Selby Dec. 9, '17

Lt.-Col. J. N. Gunn Jan. 13, '18

Lt.-Col. E. R. Selby Feb. 27, '18

No. 9 Field Ambulance

Lt.-Col. C. A. Peters Jan. 3, '16

Lt.-Col. A. T. Bazin, D.S.O Nov, 2, '16

Lt.-Col. C. W. Vipond, D.S.O Nov. 18, '17

No. 10 Field Ambulance

Lt.-Col. A. W. Tanner Mar. 2, '16

Lt.-Col. G. R. Philip June 3, '16

Lt.-Col. T. McC. Leask, D.S.O Apr. 21, '17

No. 11 Field Ambulance

Lt.-Col. J. D. McQueen May 22, '16

Lt.-Col. H. E. Moshier Sept. 22, '17

Lt.-Col. S. Paulin, D.S.O Aug. 30, '18

No. 12 Field Ambulance

Lt.-Col. H. F. Gordon June 24, '16

Lt.-Col. P. G. Bell, D.S.O Jan. 11, '17

Maj. G. Hall Jan. 5, '19

Maj. F. C. Clarke, M.C Jan. 25, '19

Lt.-Col. E. A. Neff Feb. 13, '19

No. 13 Field Ambulance

Lt.-Col. J. L. Biggar July 1, '16

Lt.-Col. A. L. C. Gilday Jan. 29, '17

Lt.-Col. W. H. K. Anderson, D.S.O.. . Apr. 23, '18

No. lU Field Ambulance

Lt.-Col. R. S. Pentecost May 30, '17

Lt.-Col. G. G. Corbet May 12, '18

No. 15 Field Ambulance

Maj. R. M. Filson Apr, 10, '17

Lt.-Col. E. L. Stone May 14, '17

No. 16 Field Ambulance (disbanded)

Lt.-Col. G. G. Corbet Apr. 10, '17

No. 1 Canadian Clearing Station

Lt.-Col. F. S. L. Ford Sept. 22, '14

Lt.-Col. T. W. H. Young June 20, '16

Lt.-Col. C. H. Dickson Mar. 18, '17

Lt.-Col. A. E. H. Bennett Feb. 16, '18

Maj. R. B. Robertson Feb. 28, '19

No. 2 Canadian Clearing Station

Col. G. S. Rennie Apr. 18, '15

Col. W. A. Scott May 4, '15

Lt.-Col. J. E. Davey Aug. 24, '15

Lt-Col. P. G. Brown Nov. 16, '17

RETIRED

Jan. 27, '17
Dec. 9, '17
Jan. 13, '18
Feb. 27, '18
Demob.

Nov. 2, '16
Nov. 3, '17
Demob.

June 3, '16
Apr. 21, '17
Demob.

Sept. 22, '17
Aug. 30, '18
Demob.

Jan. 11, '17
Jan. 5, '19
Jan. 25, '19
Feb. 13, '19
Demob.

Jan. 3, '17
Apr. 23, '18
Demob.

Feb. 28, '18
Demob.

May 14, '17
Feb. 28, '19

Feb. 28, '18

June 20, '16
Mar. 18, '17
Feb. 7, '18
Feb. 28, '19
Demob.

May 4, '15
Aug. 24, '15
Nov. 16, '17
Demob.

370 CANADA IN THE GTREAT WORLD WAR

APPOINTED

RETIRED

No. 3 Canadian Clearing Station

Lt.-Col. R. J. Blanchard July 1, 15 Nov. 14, '17

Lt.-Col. J. L. Biggar Nov. 14, '17 June 12, '18

Lt.-Col. F. A. Young June 22, '18 Demob.

No. 4 Canadian Clearing Station

Lt.-Col. S. W. Prowse June 19, '16 Dec. 14, '17

Lt.-Col. S. Campbell Dec. 15, '17 Jan. 28, '19

Maj. J. L. Cock Jan. 28, '19 Demob.

No. 1 Stationary Hospital (changed to
No. 13 Canadian General Hospital)

Lt.-Col. L. Drum Sept. 22, '14 Feb. 12, '15

Lt.-Col. S. H. McKee Feb. 12, '15 Dec. 27, '15

Lt.-Col. E. J. Williams Dec. 27, '15 Dec. 2, '17

No. 2 Stationary Hospital

Lt.-Col. A. T. Shillington Sept. 22, '14 Nov. 22, '15

Lt.-Col. J. T. Clarke Nov. 22, '15 Nov. 28, '16

Lt.-Col. G. D. Farmer Nov. 28, '16 Dec. 8, '17

Lt.-Col. D. Donald Dec. 9, '17 Aug. 29, '18

Lt.-Col. G. Clingan Aug. 30, '18 Jan. 16, '19

Lt.-Col. J. Hayes, D.S.O Jan. 17, '19 Demob.

No. 3 Stationary Hospital

Lt.-Col. H. R. Casgrain Feb. 6, '15 Aug. 29, '15

Lt.-Col. E. G. Davis, C.M.G Aug. 29, '15 May 1, '17

Lt.-Col. C. H. Reason, D.S.O May 1, '17 Demob.

No. U Stationary Hospital (renamed
No. 8 General Hospital)
Lt.-Col. A. Mignault May 6, '15 July 8, '16

No. 5 (Queen*s University) Stationary
Hospital (renamed No. 7 General
Hospital)
Lt.-Col. F. Etherington May 6, '15 Jan. 26, '16

No. 7 (Dalhousie University) Stationary
Hospital

Lt.-Col. J. Stewart Jan. 10, '16 Nov. 18, '16

Maj. E. V. Hogan Nov. 19, '16 Dec. 12, '16

Lt.-Col. J. Stewart Dec. 12, '16 Mar. 7, '18

Lt.-Col. E. V. Hogan Mar. 7, '18 Demob.

No. 8 Stationary Hospital

Lt.-Col. H. E. Munroe May 19, '16 Demob.

No. 9 (St. Francis Xavier College)

Stationary Hospital (changed to

No. 12 General Hospital)

Lt.-Col. R. C. McLeod June 19, '15 Jan. 4, '17

Lt.-Col. H. E. Kendall Jan. 4, '17 Mar. 8, '17

Lt.-Col. C. H. Gilmour Mar. 8, '17 Apr. 7, '17

Lt.-Col. H. E. Kendall Apr. 7, '17 Sept. 30, '17

COMMANDING OFFICERS OVERSEAS 371

APPOINTED RETIRED

No. 9 (St. Francis Xavier College)
Stationary Hospital (reorganized
Nov. 22, '17)

Lt.-Col. H. E, Kendall Nov. 22, '17 Aug. 29, '18

Col. R. St. J. Macdonald Aug. 29, '18 Demob.

No. 10 (Western University) Stationary
Hospital
Lt.-Col. E. Seaborn Aug. 23, '16 Demob.

No. 1 General Hospital

Col. M. Maclaren, C.M.G Sept. 21, '14 May 11, '16

Col. C. F. Wilde May 11, '16 Sept.15, '17

Col. R. M. Simpson Sept. 15, '17 Feb. 2, '18

Col. J. A. Gunn Feb. 27, '18 Nov. 13, '18

Col. W. H. Delaney Nov. 13, '18 Feb. 4, '19

Lt.-Col. N. B. Gwyn Feb. 4, '19 Demob.

No. 2 General Hospital

Col. J. W. Bridges Apr. 10, '15 Feb. 6, '16

Col. K. Cameron Feb. 6, '16 May 10, '17

Col. G. S. Renaie, G.M.G May 16, '17 Demob.

No. 3 (McGill University) General Hos-
pital

Col. H. S. Birkett, C.B Mar. 5, '15 Nov. 7, '17

Col. J. M. Elder, C.M.G Nov. 7, '17 July 8, '18

Lt.-Col. A. T. Bazin July 9, '18 Aug. 1, '18

Col. Lome Drum Aug. 1, '18 June 10, '19

Lt.-Col. L. H. McKim June 10, '19 Demob.

No. U General Hospital (took over Ba-
singstoke Military Hospital, Sept.
20, '17)

Col. J. A. Roberts May 15, '16 Dec. 18, '16

Col. W. B. Hendry, D.S.O Jan. 30, '17 Demob.

No. 5 General Hospital (took over Mili-
tary Hospital, Kirkdale,Oct.l3,'17)

Col. E. C. Hart, C.M.G May 15, '15 Dec. 14, '17

Col. G. D. Farmer Dec. 14, '17 Mar. 1, '19

Col. P. Burnett Mar. 1, '19 Demob,

No. 6 (Laval University) General Hos-
pital
Col. G. E. Beauchamp Mar. 23, '16 Demob.

No. 7 (Queen's University) General
Hospital — formerly No. 5 Station^
ary Hospital
Col. F. Etherington, C.M.G Mar. 2, '16 Demob.

No. 8 General Hospital — formerly No. 4
Stationary Hospital

Lt.-Col. A. Mignault July 8, '16 July 17, '16

Lt.-Col. A. E. Le Bel July 17, '16 Nov. 6, '17

Col. H. R. Casgrain Nov. 6, '17 Nov. 14, '18

Lt.-Col. R. de L. Harwood Nov. 14, '18 Demob.

372 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

APPOINTED RETIRED

No. 9 General Hospital (Canadian Mili-
tary Hospital, Shorncliffe)

Lt.-Col. C. A. Reason June 18, '16 May 7, '17

Col. E. G. Davis, C.M.G May 8, '17 Apr. 29, '18

Lt.-Col. E. J. Williams, D.S.O Apr. 29, '18 Demob.

No. 10 General Hospital — formerly
Kitchener War Hospital

Lt.-Col. A. T. Shillington Mar. 14, '17 Sept. 10, '17

Col. C. F. Wilde Sept.l6, '17 Feb. 22, '18

Col. W. McKeown Feb. 22, '18 Demob.

No. 11 General Hospital (Moore Bar-
racks Hospital)
Col. W. A. Scott, C.M.G July 9, '15 Demob.

No. 12 General Hospital (took over

Bramshott Military Hospital from

No. 9 Stationary Hospital, Sept.

21, '17)

Lt.-Col. H. E. Kendall Sept. 21, '17 Nov. 20, '17

Col. W. Webster, D.S.O Nov. 20, '17 Mar. 12, '18

Col. M. Robertson, C.B.E Mar. 12, '18 Demob.

No. 13 General Hospital — formerly
No. 1 Stationary Hospital

Lt.-Col. E. J. Williams, D.S.O Oct. 2, '17 Apr. 14, '18

Lt.-Col. H. C. S. Elliott Apr. 14, '18 Demob.

No. lU General Hospital — formerly
No. 10 Stationary Hospital

Lt.-Col. A. E. Seaborn Sept. 10, '17 Nov. 28, '17

Lt.-Col. R. D. Panton Nov. 28, '17 Demob.

No. 15 Hospital (from Duchess of Con-
naught Red Cross Hospital, Dec. '17)

Lt.-Col. F. S. L. Lord Dec. 16, '14 Feb. 2, '15

Col. C. W. F. Gorrell Feb. 2, '15 Sept. 24, '16

Lt.-Col. D. W. McPherson, C.M.G. .. Sept. 29, '16 Jan. 29, '17

Col. J. A. Roberts, C.B Jan. 29, '17 Apr. 4, '17

Col. W. L. Watts, C.M.G Apr. 4, '17 Aug. 6, '18

Col. P. G. Goldsmith Aug. 27, '18 Demob.

No. 16 General Hospital (from Onta-
rio Military Hospital, Orpington,
Dec. '17)

Lt.-Col. I. H. Cameron Jan. 31, '16 Apr. 10, '16

Lt.-Col. D. W. McPherson, C.M.G.... Apr. 10, '16 Sept. 29, '16

Lt-Col. G. Chambers Sept. 29, '16 Jan. 29, '17

Col. D. W. McPherson, C.M.G Jan. 29, '17 Demob.

APPENDIX n

DECOEATIONS AWARDED CANADIANS

Beitish

V.C 64

K.C.B 8

C.B 45

G.C.M.G 1

K.G.M.G 6

C.M.G 172

D.S.O 710

Bar to D.S.O 89

2nd Bar to D.S.O 15

C.B.E 50

G.B.E 259

M.B.E 100

M.V.0 2

M.C 2,877

Bar to M.C 294

2nd Bar to M.C 16

R.R.C 338

Bar to R.R.C 4

D.F.C 40

Bar to D.F.C 6

A.F.C 16

D.F.M 1

D.C.M 1,930

Bar to D.C.M 38

2nd Bar to D.C.M 1

M.M 12,316

Bar to M.M 836

2nd Bar to M.M 38

M.S.M 1,553

King's Police Medal 1

Albert Medal 1

American

D.S.M 2

373

374 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

Foreign

Legion d'Honneur Croix de Commandeur 8

Legion d'Honneur Croix d'Officier 18

Legion d'Honneur Croix de Chevalier 34

Croix de Guerre 710

Medaille Militaire 54

Decoration Militaire 8

Medaille d'Honneur avec Glaives (en Vermeil) 3

Medaille d'Honneur avec Glaives (en Argent) 11

Medaille d'Honneur avec Glaives (en Bronze) 22

Medaille des fipidemies (en Argent) 4

Medaille des ifepidemies (en Vermeil) 1

Ordre du Merite Agricole Chevalier 52

Ordre du Merite Agricole Officier 4

Medaille de la Reconnaissance (en Bronze) 4

Medaille Civique (Belgium) 1

Palmes Academie Officier de I'lnstruction Publique 1

Ordre de Leopold Commandeur 2

Ordre de Leopold Officier 2

Ordre de Leopold Chevalier 6

Ordre de la Couronne Officier 4

Ordre de la Couronne Chevalier 1

Medaille de la Reine Elizabeth 3

Ordre de la Couronne Commandeur 1

Order of St. Stanislas 31

Order of Ste. Anne 19

Order of St. George 103

Medal of St. George 25

Order of St. Vladimir 2

Order of the Crown of Italy 5

Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus 3

Silver Medal for Military Valour 4

Bronze Medal for Military Valour 22

Order of the White Eagle 4

Order of St. Sava 5

Gold Medal for Zealous Service 1

Order of Danilo 8

Silver Medal for Bravery 2

Military Order of Avis 4

Portuguese Military Medal for Good Service (Copper) 2

Order of the Star of Roumania Chevalier 3

Order of the Crown of Roumania Chevalier 2

Croix de Virtute Militara 4

Medaille Barbatie si Credinta 6

MILITARY CROSS

f^/|

DISTINGUISHLD CONDUCT
Hi TH£ FIELD

DECOKATIONS AWARDED CANADIANS 375

Order of Regina Maria 1

Order of the White Elephant .' 2

Order of the Crown of Siam 2

Order of Wen-Hu 3

Mentioned in Despatches 5,467

Name brought to the Notice af the Secretary of State for

War ... .^. 100

APPENDIX m
STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF THE C.E.F.

T

HE total number of men enlisted in Canada from
the beginning of the war to November 15th,
1918, was 595,441.

The details are: —

Obtained by voluntary enlistment 465,984

Drafted or reporting voluntarily after the Military Serv-
ice Act came into force 179,933

Granted leave or discharged 24,933

Overseas Service other than C.E.F.: —

Royal Air Force 21,169

Imperial Motor Transport 710

Inland Water Transport 4,701

Naval Service 2,814

Jewish Palestine Draft 42

The nnmber of men of the Canadian Expeditionary
Force who had gone overseas on November 15th, 1918,
was 418,052.

The movement overseas by years was as follows : —

Before December 31st, 1914 30,999

Calendar year 1915 84,334

Calendar year 1916 165,553

Calendar year 1917 63,536

January 1st to November 15th, 1918 73,630

The distribution of Canada's troops was as fol-
lows : —

C.E.F. proceeded overseas 418,052

On September 30th, 1918, about 160,000 men were in France and
sbout 116,000 men in England.

376

STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF THE C.E.F. 377

On the strength of the C.E.F. in Canada and St. Lucia,
including those under training as overseas reinforce-
ments, Siberian Expeditionary Force, Canadian Gar-
rison Regiment, Military Police Corps, Medical and
Administrative Services, etc 36,533

On harvest leave without pay 15,405

Granted leave of absence without pay as compassionate

and hardship cases 7,216

Number discharged in Canada who had not proceeded
overseas for the following among other reasons: as
below medical standard, absentees, aliens, to accept
commissions, deaths, on transfer to British Army and
Royal Air Force 95,306

The total casualties sustained by the Canadian Ex-
peditionary Force, and reported up to January 15tli,
1919, were 218,433. The details are : —

Killed in action 35,684

Died of wounds 12,437

Died of disease 4,057

Wounded 155,839

Prisoners of war 3,049

Presumed dead 4,682

Missing 398

Deaths in Canada 2,287

Total 218,433

The Canadians* longest line was in front of Vimy,
probably one tenth of the British front.

In the closing days of the war they were continually
used as spear-head troops, leading the attack at Amiens
on August 9th, 1918, at Arras on August 26th, and on
the Drocourt-Queant Line (Hindenburg Line) on Sep-
tember 24th, 1918.

APPENDIX IV

TERMS OF ARMISTICE WITH GERMANY

(Signed at 5 a.m. on November 11th)

A. — Clauses relating to Western Front

I. — Cessation of operations by land and in the air six hours
after the signature of the Armistice [viz., at 11 a.m.].

II. — Immediate evacuation of invaded countries — Bel-
gium, France, Alsace-Lorraine, Luxemburg — so ordered as
to be completed within fourteen days from the signature of
the Armistice.

German troops which have not left the above-mentioned
territories within the period fixed will become prisoners of
war.

Occupation by the Allied and United States Forces jointly
will keep pace with evacuation in these areas.

All movements of evacuation and occupation will be reg-
ulated in accordance with a Note (Annexure 1).

III. — Repatriation, beginning at once, to be completed
within fourteen days, of all inhabitants of the countries above
enumerated (including hostages, persons under trial, or con-
victed).

IV. — Surrender in good condition by the German Armies
of the following equipment : —

5,000 guns (2,500 heavy, 2,500 field).
30,000 machine guns.
3,000 Minenwerfer.

2,000 aeroplanes (fighters, bombers — firstly D. 7 's — and
night bombing machines).
The above to be delivered in situ to the Allied and United
States troops in accordance with the detailed conditions laid
down in the Note (Annexure 1).

V. — Evacuation by the German Armies of the countries
on the left bank of the Rhine. These countries on the left
378

TEEMS OF ARMISTICE WITH GERMANY 379

bank of the Rhine shall be administered by the local authori-
ties under the control of the Allied and United States Armies
of occupation.

The occupation of these territories will be carried out by
Allied and United States garrisons holding the principal cross-
ings of the Rhine (Mayence, Coblenz, Cologne), together with
bridgeheads at these points of a 30 kilometre [about 19 miles]
radius on the right bank, and by garrisons similarly holding
the strategic points of the regions.

A neutral zone shall be set up on the right bank of the
Rhine between the river and a line drawn 10 kilometres [6%
miles] distant, starting from the Dutch frontier, to the Swiss
frontier. In the case of inhabitants, no person shall be prose-
cuted for having taken part in any military measures previous
to the signing of the Armistice.

No measure of a general or official character shall be taken
which would have; as a consequence, the depreciation of in-
dustrial establishments or a reduction of their personnel.

Evacuation by the enemy of the Rhinelands shall be so
ordered as to be completed within a further period of sixteen
days — in all thirty-one days after the signature of the Armis-
tice.

All movements of evacuation and occupation will be reg-
ulated according to the Note (Annexure 1).

VI. — In all territory evacuated by the enemy there shall
be no evacuation of inhabitants ; no damage or harm shall be
done to the persons or property of the inhabitants.

No destruction of any kind to be committed.

Military establishments of all kinds shall be delivered intact,
as well as military stores of food, munitions, equipment not
removed during the periods fixed for evacuation.

Stores of food of all kinds for the civil population, cattle,
etc., shall be left in situ.

Industrial establishments shall not be impaired in any way,
and their personnel shall not be moved.

VII. — Roads and means of communication of every kind,
railroads, waterways, main roads, bridges, telegraphs, tele-
phones shall be in no manner impaired.

All civil and military personnel at present employed on
them shaU remain.

5,000 locomotives, 150,000 wagons, and 5,000 motor lorries

380 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

in good working order, with all necessary spare parts and
fittings, shall be delivered to the Associated Powers within the
period fixed for the evacuation of Belgium and Luxemburg.

The railways of Alsace-Lorraine shall be handed over within
the same period, together with all pre-war personnel and
material.

Further, material necessary for the working of railways in
the country on the left bank of the Rhine shall be left in situ.

All stores of coal and material for upkeep of permanent
way, signals, and repair shops shall be left in situ and kept in
an efficient state by Germany, as far as the means of communi-
cation are concerned, during the whole period of the Armis-
tice.

All barges taken from the Allies shall be restored to them.
The Note appended as Annexure 2 regulates the detail of these
measures.

VIII. — The German Command shall be responsible for
revealing all mines or delay-action fuses disposed on territory
evacuated by the German troops, and shall assist in their dis-
covery and destruction.

The German Command shall also reveal all destructive
measures that may have been taken (such as poisoning or
pollution of springs, wells, etc.), under penalty of reprisals.

IX. — The right of requisition shall be exercised by the
Allied and United States Armies in all occupied territory,
save for settlement of accounts with authorized persons.

The upkeep of the troops of occupation in the Rhineland
(excluding Alsace-Lorraine) shall be charged to the German
Government.

X. — The immediate repatriation, without reciprocity, ac-
cording to detailed conditions which shall be fixed, of all
Allied and United States prisoners of war ; the Allied Powers
and the United States of America shall be able to dispose of
these prisoners as they wish. However, the return of German
prisoners of war interned in Holland and Switzerland shall
continue as heretofore. The return of German prisoners of
war shall be settled at peace preliminaries.

XI. — Sick and wounded who cannot be removed from
evacuated territory will be cared for by German personnel,
who will be left on the spot, with the medical material re-
quired.

TERMS OF ARMISTICE WITH GERMANY 381

B. — Clauses relating to the Eastern Frontiers
OF Germany

XII. — All German troops at present in any territory which
before the war belonged to Russia, Rumania, or Turkey, shall
withdraw within the frontiers of Germany as they existed on
August 1st, 1914; and all German troops at present in terri-
tories which before the war formed part of Russia must like-
wise return to within the frontiers of Germany as above de-
fined as soon as the Allies shall think the moment suitable,
having regard to the internal situation of these territories.

XIII. — Evacuation by German troops to begin at once;
and all German instructors, prisoners, and civilian as well as
military agents now on the territory of Russia (as defined on
August 1st, 1914), to be recalled.

XIV. — German troops to cease at once all requisitions and
seizures, and any other undertaking with a view to obtaining
supplies intended for Germany in Rumania and Russia, as
defined on August 1st, 1914.

XV. — Abandonment of the Treaties of Bukarest and Brest-
Litovsk and of the Supplementary Treaties.

XVI. — The Allies shall have free access to the territories
evacuated by the Germans on their Eastern frontier, either
through Danzig or by the Vistula, in order to convey supplies
to the populations of these territories or for the purpose of
maintaining order.

C. — Clause relating to East Africa

XVII. — Unconditional evacuation of all German forces
operating in East Africa within one month.

D. — General Clauses

XVIII. — Repatriation, without reciprocity, within a max-
imum period of one month, in accordance with detailed con-
ditions hereafter to be fixed, of all civilians interned or de-
ported who may be citizens of other Allied or Associated
States than those mentioned in Clause III.

XIX. — With the reservation that any future claims and

382 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

demands of the Allies and United States of America remain
unaffected, the following financial conditions are required : —

Reparation for damage done.

While the Armistice lasts no public securities shall be re-
moved by the enemy which can serve as a pledge to the Allies
for the recovery or reparation for war losses.

Immediate restitution of the cash deposit in the National
Bank of Belgium, and, in general, immediate return of all
documents, specie, stocks, shares, paper money, together with
plant for the issue thereof, touching public or private interests
in the invaded countries.

Restitution of the Russian and Rumanian gold yielded to
Germany or taken by that Power.

This gold to be delivered in trust to the Allies until the
signature of peace.

E. — Naval Conditions

XX. — Immediate cessation of all hostilities at sea, and
definite information to be given as to the location and move-
ments of all German ships.

Notification to be given to neutrals that freedom of navi-
gation in all territorial waters is given to the Naval and
Mercantile Marines of the Allied and Associated Powers, all
questions of neutrality being waived.

XXI. — All Naval and Mercantile Marine prisoners of war
of the Allied and Associated Powers in German hands to be
returned, without reciprocity.

XXII. — Handing over to the Allies and the United States
of all submarines (including all submarine cruisers and mine-
layers) which are present at the moment with full comple-
ment in the ports specified by the Allies and the United States.
Those that cannot put to sea to be deprived of crews and
supplies, and shall remain under the supervision of the Allies
and the United States. Submarines ready to put to sea shall
be prepared to leave German ports immediately on receipt of
wireless order to sail to the port of surrender, the remainder
to follow as early as possible. The conditions of this Article
shall be carried [out] within fourteen days after the signing
of the Armistice.

XXIII. — The following German surface warships, which

TERMS OF ARMISTICE WITH GERMANY 383

shall be designated by the Allies and the United States of
America, shall forthwith be disarmed and thereafter interned
in neutral ports, or, failing them. Allied ports, to be desig-
nated by the Allies and the United States of America, and
placed under the surveillance of the Allies and the United
States of America, only caretakers being left on board,
namely : —

6 Battle Cruisers.
10 Battleships.

8 Light Cruisers, including two minelayers.
50 Destroyers of the most modern types.

All other surface warships (including river craft) are to
be concentrated in Gferman Naval bases to be designated by
the Allies and the United States of America, and are to be
paid off and completely disarmed and placed under the super-
vision of the Allies and the United States of America. All
vessels of the auxiliary fleet (trawlers, motor- vessels, etc.) are
to be disarmed. All vessels specified for internment shall be
ready to leave German ports seven days after the signing of
the Armistice. Directions of the voyage will be given by wire-
less.

Note. — A declaration has been signed by the Allied Dele-
gates and handed to the German Delegates, to the effect that,
in the event of ships not being handed over owing to the
mutinous state of the Fleet, the Allies reserve the right to
occupy Heligoland as an advanced base to enable them to
enforce the terms of the Armistice. The German Delegates
have on their part signed a Declaration that they will recom-
mend the Chancellor to accept this.

XXIV. — The Allies and the United States of America
shall have the right to sweep up all minefields and obstructions
laid by Germany outside German territorial waters, and the
positions of these are to be indicated.

XXV. — Freedom of access to and from the Baltic to be
given to the Naval and Mercantile Marines of the Allied and
Associated Powers. To secure this, the Allies and the United
States of America shall be empowered to occupy all German
forts, fortifications, batteries, and defence works of all kinds
in all the entrances from the Kattegat into the Baltic, and

384 CANADA IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

to sweep up all mines and obstructions within and without
German territorial waters without any questions of neutrality-
being raised, and the positions of all such mines and obstruc-
tions are to be indicated.

XXVI. — The existing blockade conditions set up by the
Allied and Associated Powers are to remain unchanged, and
all German merchant ships found at sea are to remain liable
to capture. The Allies and United States contemplate the
provisioning of Germany during the Armistice as shall be
found necessary.

XXVII. — All Naval aircraft are to be concentrated and
immobilized in German bases to be specified by the Allies and
the United States of America.

XXVIII. — In evacuating the Belgian coasts and forts Ger-
many shall abandon all merchant ships, tugs, lighters, cranes,
and all other harbour materials, all materials for inland navi-
gation, all aircraft and air materials and stores, all arms and
armaments, and all stores and apparatus of all kinds.

XXIX. — All Black Sea ports are to be evacuated by Ger-
many; all Russian warships of all descriptions seized by Ger-
many in the Black Sea are to be handed over to the Allies
and the United States of America ; all neutral merchant ships
seized are to be released; all warlike and other materials of
all kinds seized in those ports are to be returned, and German
materials as specified in Clause XXVIII are to be aban-
doned.

XXX. — All merchant ships in German hands belonging
to the Allied and Associated Powers are to be restored in ports
to be specified by the Allies and the United States of America
without reciprocity.

XXXI. — No destruction of ships or of materials to be
permitted before evacuation, surrender, or restoration.

XXXII. — The German Government shall formally notify
the neutral Governments of the world, and particularly the
Governments of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Holland,
that all restrictions placed on the trading of their vessels with
the Allied and Associated countries, whether by the German
Government or by private German interests, and whether in
return for specific concessions, such as the export of ship-
building materials, or not, are immediately cancelled.

XXXIII. — No transfers of German merchant shipping of

TERMS OF ARMISTICE WITH GERMANY 385

any description to any neutral flag are to take place after
signature of the Armistice.

F. — Duration of Armistice

XXXIV. — The duration of the Armistice is to be 36 days,
with option to extend. During this period, on failure of
execution of any of the above clauses, the Armistice may be
denounced by one of the contracting parties on 48 hours'
previous notice.

G. — Time Limit for Reply

XXXV. — This Armistice to be accepted or refused by
Germany within 72 hours of notification.

INDEX

INDEX

Adami, Col., 79, 87, 88, 107

Aix Noulette, 50

Albert, 53

Algie, Lieut. W. L. A., V.C, 270

Amiens, 22, 32, 33, 39, 59

Amiens, Battle of, 59, 61, 69

Amy, Mrs. L., 183

Amyot, Col., Ill

Anti- Aircraft Searchlight Co.,

C.E., 65, 66, 70, 71
Aquitania, the, 240
Archangel, 220, 221, 224, 230,

231, 237, 238
Argyll, Duchess of, 212
Armentieres, 27

Army Medical Corps, 75 et seq.
Army Nursing Sisters, the, 81
Army Troops Co., C.E., 54, 60,

70, 71
Arnoldi, Maj. F. F., 222, 235,

237
Arnoldi, Lieut. Joan, 180
Arras, 40, 41

Arras, Battle of, 39, 56, 69
Artillery, the Canadian, 1 et seq.
Aubin St. Vaast, 150

B

Babtie Board, Report of the, 83,

91, 92, 96
Baikal, lake, 238
Barclay, Mrs. G., 185
Barker, Lt.-Col., W. G.,V.C., 270
Barron, Corp. C, V.C, 271
Beaverbrook, Lady, 142
Beaver Hut, the, 141-42
Bell, Dr. J., 76

Bellew, Capt. E. D., V.C, 272
Beresnik, 225, 227, 230, 231, 236
Bergas, Mme., 189
Bergin, Dr. D., 75, 76
Birks, Lt.-Col. G. W., 148, 153
Bishop, Lt.-Col. W. A., V.C, 273
Black, Mrs. G., 183
Bolshevik!, the, 226 et seq.

Borden, Sir F., 76
Borden, Sir R., 156
Boulter, Miss, 182
Bourlon Wood, 45, 53
Bourne, H. E. Cardinal, 155
Brazeau, Mile. T., 189
Brereton, Sergt. A., V.C, 274
Bridges, Lt.-Col. J. W., 83
Brillant, Lieut. J., V.C, 274
Brown, Mrs. G., 186
Brown, Pte. H., V.C, 275
Brown, Lady MacLaren, 180,

182, 207, 208, 209
Browning, Miss E. G., 188
Bruce, Col. H. A., Report of, 83,

84, 90, 91, 92, 95
Bruce, Mrs. J., 198, 200
Bulford, 86
Bully Grenay, 29
Burnham, Miss, 188
Bumham, Mrs. H., 188

Cairns, Sergt. H., V.C, 276

Camblain I'Abbe, 126

Cambrai, 34

Camouflage, 58, 59

Campbell, Lieut. F. W.,V.C., 277

Casualty Clearing Stations, 82,
89

Canadian Daily Record, the, 143

Canal de Conde, 41

Canal de la Sensee, 41, 43

Canal de TE scant, 41

Canal du Nord, 35, 40, 41, 44, 45

Chalford, Canon, 126

Chaplain Service, the, 116 et
seq.

Chase-Casgrain, Mme., 189

Clark, Corp. L., V.C, 277

Clark-Kennedy, Lt.-Col. W. H.,
V.C, 278

Clearing Hospitals, the, 82

Cliveden, 89

Combe, Lieut. R. G., V.C, 279

Connaught, H. R. H. The Duch-
ess of, 201

389

390

INDEX

" Continuous Wave Wireless,"

the, 62
Coppins, Corp. F. W., V.C., 280
Corbett, Capt. D., 153
Corps Dental Laboratory, 108
Corps Pigeon Service, 63
Corps R.E. Parks, 59, 60, 61
Corps Signal Co., 64
Corps Tramway Co's, 53
Cotter, Miss R., 187
Croak, Pte. J. B., V.C, 280
Crosby, Gen., 237
Currie, Sir Arthur, 105-06, 114-

15, 141, 242, 243
Czaritza, the S. S. 237

Davies, W. H., 134
Davignon, Miss, 189
De Longueil, Mile., 189
Demobilization, 240 et seq.
Dennison, Miss J., 187
Dental Department, 108
Despatch Rider Letter Service,

63, 73
Dinesen, Pte. T», V.C, 281
Divisional Engineers, 67
Divisional R.E. Parks, 60
Dobell, Mrs. W. M., 185
Douglas, Surg.-Maj., V.C, 76
Douglas, Mrs. W., 188
Drew, Mrs. W., 184
Drocourt-Queant Switch Line,

34
Drummond, Lady, 179
Duff, Lt.-Col. H. R., 82
Duisans, 59
Dvina, the river, 221, 223-26,

231-35

E

Ellison, Miss G., 185
Elmsley, Brig.-Gen. J. H., 238
Emtsa, the river, 224
Engineers, the Canadian, 37 et

seq.
Engineers, M.T. Co., 61, 66, 69,

70, 72
Staples, 150

Ferris, Mrs. W. D., 181
Festubert, 27

Field Ambulances, 82
Finn, Miss M. I., 180
Fiset, Maj.-Gen. Sir Eugene, 78,

240
Fisher, Corp. F., V.C, 281
Fitz-Randolph, Miss H., 42, 182
Fleet, Miss E., 189
Fleming, Mrs. S., 180
Fleurbaix, 24, 25
Flowerdew, Lieut. G. M., V.C,

282
Forde, Lt.-Col. E., 72
Forgie, A. W., 137
Fort Gassion, 89
Foster, Miss, 189
" Fuller Phone," the, 62

Gatewood, Mrs., 204

Gault, Mrs. Hamilton, 186

Gavin, Lt.-Col., 225

General Hospitals, 82, 85, 86, 89,

97, 111
George, Rt. Hon. David Lloyd,

213
Gillis, Capt., 231
Godman, Mrs. F. T., 182
Good, Sergt. H. J., V.C, 282
Gooderham, Col., 212
Gooderham, Mrs. A. E., 198, 199,

209, 212, 215
Gordon, Mrs. M. R., 180
Graham, C, 137
Graham, E. E., 134
Gregg, Lieut. M. F., V.C, 283
Gunners' Bridge, 226

Haig, Field Marshal Earl, 202,

212
" Halifax Fund," the, 211
Hall, Sergt.-Maj. F. W., V.C,

284
Hanna, Sergt.-Maj. R., V.C, 284
Harvey, Lieut. F. M. W., V.C,

285
Hobson, Sergt. F., V.C, 285
Hodgetts, Lt.-Col., 83
Hodgins, Mr. Justice, 263
Holmes, Sergt. T. W., V.C, 286
Honey, Lieut. S. L., V.C, 287
Home, Gen. Sir H., 116
Hotel d'lena, the, 148, 149
Hughes, Sir Sanv 9Q

INDEX

391

Hutcheson, Capt. B. S., V.C.,

287
Hyde, Maj. W. C, 222, 234, 235

I.O.D.E., War Work of the,

197 et seq.
Inglis, Capt., 44
Ironsides, Maj .-Gen. E., 222, 237

Jeff ray. Miss M., 185
Jocelyn, Lt.-Col., 225
Jones, Surg.-Gen. G. Carleton,
77, 92, 93, 96

Kaeble, Corp. J., V.C, 288

Keenan, Lt.-Col., 78

Kern, 221

Kemp, Sir Edward, 155

Kerr, Miss E., 189

Kerr, Lieut. G. F., V.C, 289

Kerr, Pte. J. C, V.C, 289

Kerr, Miss M., 189

Kingman, A., 153

Kinross, Pte. C J., V.C, 290

K. of C " Catholic Army Huts,"

153 et seq.
Knight, Sergt. A. G., V.C, 290
Kola, 220

Konowal, Corp. F., V.C, 291
Kurgomen, 226, 227, 228, 230,

231, 235

La Bassee, 27

La Coulotte, 51

Langstaff, Mrs. J. M., 205

Lavington, 86

Learmonth, Capt. O'K. M., V.C,

292
Leckie, Col., 236
Lee, Capt., 138
Lens, 7, 50, 52
Le Touquet, 89
Le Treport, 89
Lewis, Miss W., 180, 181
Lievin, 52, 127
Lille, 25

Lindsay, Maj .-Gen. W. B., 67
Lipsett, Gen., 151

Llandovery Castle, the, 114
Lyall, Lieut. G. T., V.C, 292
Lyall, Mrs. P., 189

McAdams, Miss R., 184
McCarthy, Miss L., 189
Macdonald, Miss, 198
MacDougald, Mrs., 204
MacDowell, Maj. T. W., V.C,

293
MacGregor, Capt. J., V.C, 294
McGillivray, Capt., 171
Mclntyre, Miss M., 185
McKean, Lieut. G. B., V.C, 284
McKenzie, Lieut. H., V.C, 295
McLachlin, Miss J., 185, 188
McLeod, Lieut. A. A., V.C, 296
MacMahon, Mrs., 198
McMeares, Miss L., 180
McMillan, Mrs., 175
McMurrich, Miss H., 185
MacNaughton, Brig.-Gen. A. G.

L., 20
McTavish, Miss, 189
Manion, Capt. R. J., 102-03
Marquion, 44, 45, 46
Martin, Miss L., 186
Mathewson, Miss, 186
Merrifield, Sergt. W., V.C, 297
Metcalf, Corp. W. H., V.C, 297
Mezieres, 22
Middleton, Gen., 76
Milne, Pte. W. J., V.C, 298
Miner, Corp. H. G. B., V.C, 298
Minto, Lady, 213
Mitchell, Capt. C N., V.C, 299
Monro, Mrs. G., 186
Mons, 36, 40, 41, 149
Morris, Miss E., 189
Morrison, Maj .-Gen. Sir Ed-
ward, 24
Mowat, Capt., 232, 233
Mowrer, Mrs. L. G., 187
Mullin, Lieut. G. H., V.C, 300
Murray, Mrs. C, 198
Murray, Brig. Mary, 168
Murray, Maj .-Gen., 168

N

Nasmith, Lt.-Col. G. G., 83
Neilson, Col. H., 76, 77
Netheravon, 86
Neuville Vitasse, 58

392

INDEX

Nissen huts, the, 58
Northland, the, 263
Nunney, Pte. C. J. P., V.C, 300

O'Gorman, Rev. J. J., 153
O'Kelly, Capt. C. P. J., V.C, 301
Onega, 221

O'Rourke, Pte. M. J., V.C, 301
Orr, Major, 111

Page, Miss B., 187

Passchendaele, 7, 30, 31, 39

Patricia, H. R. H. Princess, 214

Pattison, Pte. J. G., V.C, 302

Pearkes, Lt.-Col. G. R.,V.C., 303

Pearson, Sir Arthur, 214

Pearson, H. A., 136

Peck, Lt.-Col. C W., V.C, 304

Penfold, Capt., 170

Pequegnat, A., 137

Perley, Sir George, 155

Perley, Lady, 180, 182

Petrograd, 220, 221

Piander, 283

Pinega, the river, 221

Pless, 235

Plummer, Capt. Mary, 180, 200

Pontoon Bridging Co., C.E., 60,

69, 70, 72
Portal, Major, 18

Rayfield, Pte. J. P., V.C, 304
Red Triangle Clubs, 140
Reid, Miss H. R. Y., 193
Richards, Commissioner, 171
Richardson, Pte. J., V.C, 305
Riddett, Mrs., 184
Ridgeway, R., 133
Robertson, Pte. J. P., V.C, 306
Robinson, Capt., 170
Robinson, Mrs. C., 188
Roddick, Dr. T., 75, 76
Rosieres, 56

Ross, Brig.-Gen. A. E., 104-05
Ross, Mrs. J. F. W., 188
Ross, Mrs. J. G., 182
Russia, Campaign in Northern,

219 et seq.
Rutherford, Lieut. CS., V.C, 306
Ryerson, Dr. G. A. S., 76

Salisbury Plain, 85, 86, 89
Salvation Ab^ny, Work of the,

168 et seq\
Sanctuary Wood, 28
Sanitary Section, the, 109-11
Scobie, Miss K., 188
Scott, Lt.-Col. XJ. F., 132-33
Scrimger, Lt.-Cpl. F.A.C, V.C,

307 \

Selzo, 226 ',_

Shankland, Capt. ^l., V.C, 308
Sharman, Lt.-Col. C H. L., 219,

222-25, 233, 235
Shenkursk, 227, 231, 233
Shushega, 234, 235
Sifton, Sergt. E. W., V.C, 308
Signal Service, the, 62-65, 72-73
Smith, Lt.-Col. Clarence F., 159
Snyder, Miss K. J., 188 ,
Somme, Battle of the, 28, 2% 47
Southall, Major, 174
Spall, Sergt. R., V.C, 309
Special Works Go's, R.E., 55
Spencer, Miss S. S., 180 /
Stationary Hospitals, 82, 89, 97,

100, 111, 113
Steele, Capt., 170, 171, 172
Stephen, the S. S., 223
Stitt, Capt. 0. M., 56
Strachan, Maj. H., V.C, 309
Strathy, Mrs. H. S., 198
Sullivan, Dr. M., 76

Tait, Lieut. J. E., V.C, 310
Tate, Miss, 188
Taylor, Miss F., 189
Thomas, Mrs. W. R., 189
Thompson, " Bob," 134
Tinques, 146
Tobin, Dr., 76
Topsa, 226
Tory, Dr. H. M., 151
Tramway Go's, CE., 70, 71, 150
Tulgas, 225,226,228,229,234,236
Tunnelling Go's, C.E., 50, 69, 70,

71
Turner, Gen., 155

Vaga, the river, 221, 225, 226,
231, 233, 235, 237

INDEX

393

Valcartier, 82, 83, 85, 87, 137

Valenciennes, 36, 149

Van Koughnet, Mrs. A., 198

Vimy Ridge, Battle of, 29, 39

Vimy Ridge, Defences of, 47

Vimy Ridge, University of, 152

Vistafka, 234

Vladivostok, 238

Voluntary Aid Hospitals, 94-96

W

Wallis, Miss K., 186
Walton, Capt., 171
Wancourt, 58
Watel, Mrs. P., 189
Watt, Mrs. A. T., 181, 182
Webb, Miss R., 187
Weller, Mrs. K., 185

Whiteman, H., 136
Whitman, Miss J., 189
Wilken, A. G., 134
Wilson, Lt.-Col. F. W. E., Ill
Women, War Work of Canadian,

176 et seq.
Worthington, Col. A. N., 78

Yemelskoe, the river, 224
Young, Pte. J. F., V.C, 311
Y.M.C.A., the, 136 et seq.
Ypres, 25, 27

Zengel, Sergt. R. L., V.C, 311

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