Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2008 with funding from
IVIicrosoft Corporation
http://www.archive.org/details/canadianforestryOObirduoft
?rVcK^^
( V
>
J
No. 1. MAJOR-GENERAL ALEXANDER McDOUGALL, C.B.
Director-General Timber Operations, Great Britain
and France.
JB=^t?^e
THE CANADIAN
FORESTRY CORPS
Its Inception^ Development
and Achievements
PREPARED BY REQUEST OF
THE RT. HON. SIR ALBERT
H. STANLEY, M.P., PRESIDENT
OF THE BOARD OF TRADE
C. W. BIRD
{Timber Supply Department)
Lieutenant J. B. DA VIES
{Canadian Forestry Corps)
LONDON :
PRINTED BY H.M. STATIONERY OIFICE
1919
(oOl
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
1. — Major-General Alexander McDougall, C.B. . . . . Frontispiece
Director-General Timber Operations, Great Britain and France,
2. — A Camp in Hampshire, England . .
3. — A Camp in the Scottish Highlands
4. — Felling in Scotland . .
5. — Carrying Logs by Ropeway across a River in Scotland. .
6. — Log Chute in Scotland
7. — Pole Track in Scotland
8.— Sir James B. Ball, M.Inst.C.E., etc.
Controller of Timber Supplies, Board of Trade.
9. — Donkey Engine at work in Scotland
10. — -Rail Loading Station in Scotland . .
II. — Piling Logs in Scotland
12.— Brig.-Gen. B. R. Hepburn, C.M.G., M.P
Deputy Director-General Timber Operations.
13._Colonel G. V. White. C.B.E.
Director Timber Operations, Great Britain.
14.— Brig.-Gen. J. B. White, D.S.O
Director Timber Operations, France.
15.— Lieut.-Col. D. B. Campbell. M.B.E.
Chief of Technical Staff.
16. — Railing Logs to Station in Scotland
17. — Rail Hauling with Horses ..
18. — Logs in Transit, Bedfordshire, England . .
19. — Logs entering a Mill in Scotland . .
20. — Map showing C.F.C. operations in Britain
21. — Inside a Mill in Scotland
22. — Typical Mills in Britain (1)
23.— Do. do, (2)
24.— Do. do. (3)
25.— A Lumber Avenue ..
26. — Dinner Time . .
27 — Attached Labour. (Portuguese) ..
28 — Women Timber Measurers in Buckinghamshire . .
29.— What the Y.M.C.A. provides
30. — Part of the Technical Warehouse . .
3 1 . — A corner of the Machine Shop
32. — -Railing Logs in the Vosges . .
33. — Truck- load at the end of a 600 ft. Trestle in the Vosges
34. — On the Trestle
35. — Map showing C.F.C. operations in France
36.— Loading on Wagons . .
37. — Loading on Wagons . .
38. — Loading at Railhead in the Vosges
39. — Stables in the Vosges
40. — A Logging Camp in the Jura Group
4L — A Mill for Aircraft Timber, Jura Group . .
42. — A Company and its Mill, Jura Group
43. — Railing Logs : France
44.— Railing Logs : Part of a 2,000 ft. Track which drops 195 ft.
45. — Railhead in the Vosges
46. — Removing Sawdust, France . .
47. — Hauhng from a Mill in the Vosges
48. — Her Majesty Queen Mary presenting Sports Prizes
To face
page
1
6
7
8
8
9
9
11
12
13
13
15
16
17
18
20
20
21
21
22
24
24
25
25
26
26
27
27
28
28
29
34
35
35
36
38
39
39
40
40
41
41
45
46
46
48
48
49
[Acknowledgment is due to the Canadian Y.M.C.A. for assistance
in regard to Illustrations.]
(504) Wt. 41495/321 5/19 1200 D. St.
CONTENTS.
Chapter
I. The First Lumbermen's Battalion
Page
5
II. The Development of the C.F.C
8
III. Some Makers of the C.F.C
15
IV. Operations in Great Britain . .
18
V. Operations in France . .
34
VI. An Imperial Link
50
1
5
Chapter I,
THE FIRST LUMBERMEN'S BATTALION
(The 224th).
Inception. — Among the historic documents of the War must surely be
reckoned the first appeal from Great Britain to Canada for assistance in
exploiting British forests so as to save tonnage and help to counter the
submarine menace. It was on the 15th February, 1916, after a little more than
18 months of War, that the Colonial Secretary cabled to the then Governor-
General of Canada, H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught, the following urgent
message : —
" H.M. Government would be grateful if the Canadian Govern-
ment would assist in the production of timber for War purposes.
Owing to the very serious shortage of freight for munitions, food,
forage and other essentials, which is a matter of the gravest concern
to H.M. Government, it is impossible to continue to import Canadian
timber on a sufficiently large scale to meet War requirements, and
arrangements must therefore be made for felling and converting
English forests,
" Chief difficulty is finding sufficient skilled labour, fellers, hauliers
and sawyers. 1,500 men are urgently needed, and H.M. Government
would suggest that a Battalion of Lumbermen might be formed
of specially enlisted men to undertake exploitation of forests of this
country.
" If proposal commends itself to Canadian Government, would
beg very early action. Suggest that men should be enlisted into
Canadian Expeditionary Force and despatched in small companies
under competent supervision. Government is aware that lumber
season now in progress, but feel sure that men would enlist even at
sacrifice of present employment if the reason of the appeal were made
known to them. Incidence of cost will be arranged as agreeable to
Canadian Government."
A further cable was sent on the 29th February. So quickly did the
Canadian Authorities make up their minds that on the 1st March a cable was
received stating that the Battalion asked for would be provided, with the least
possible delay, and enquiring for further particulars of the kind of men wanted
The Governor-General was informed on the 6th March that the Canadian
Government's action was highly appreciated, and that the lumbermen were
required for all stages from felling to cutting into sleepers, scantlings, etc. It
was suggested that the Battalion might be composed of 700 fellers, 450 sawyers
and assistant sawyers, 250 carters and hauliers, and 100 enginemen. So
urgent was the need that on the 11 th March it was suggested that the Lumbermen
should be sent forward in batches of 50 instead of waiting for the whole Battalion
to be recruited.
The raising of this Battalion affords a splendid example of the readiness
of the Canadian Government to assist in a most unexpected direction, and of
the energy, rapidity and " hustle " for which the Canadians are famous.
Although the first request for assistance was only sent on the 15th February,
1916, an establishment was authorised by the Department of Militia and
Defence as early as 25th February, for the formation of a Forestry BattaUon
to be known as the 224th Canadian Forestry Battalion. In six weeks, 1,600
men were recruited and mobilised at Quebec from all parts of the Dominion ;
machinery to the value of about $250,000 was purchased in Canada, consisting
of mills, lorries, etc. By the 17th March it was reported that an advance
party of about 200 would leave for England at the end of the month
bringing with them a portable mill. Eventually, however, a small advance
party of two subalterns and 15 men was sent, followed about the middle of
April by the first draft numbering some 400 all ranks under Lieut. -Col.
McDougall, who arrived on the 28th April. The second and third drafts
came soon after, and all had arrived by the end of May. On the
12th April, 1916, the advance party landed in England. Sawn lumber was
actually produced in Britain by the Canadian Battalion on the 13th May, 1916
(an unlucky 13th for the Germans), so that within three months the Battalion
was not only raised and fully equipped, but despatched to England with its
machinery, and had produced lumber for the Imperial Government.
The circumstances which led the British Government to appeal for
Canadian help arose out of the shortage of freight for munitions, food and other
essential commodities, which began to make itself seriously felt during 1915,
after the first year of War. In order to economise tonnage and provide
timber for the Army, the British Government had decided to develop the
Home Timber Industry, which before the War had only produced about
900,000 tons of timber, including pit-wood, as against an importation of about
11,500,000 tons. To carry out this policy, a Committee was appointed under
the English Board of Agriculture, known as the Home-Grown Timber Committee,
and this body quickly set to work by purchasing standing timber in various
parts of Britain, and making arrangements for working it. By the latter part
of 1915, the Home-Grown Timber Committee had found that its operations
were very much handicapped by absence of the necessary labour, especially
skilled labour. Very naturally, their thoughts turned to the Dominion where
lumbering has been elevated to a fine art — although under very different
conditions from those ruling in Britain. Fortunately, the Director of Forestry
at Ottawa had met some of the Staff of the Home-Grown Timber Committee
a short time before, and he was approached, the first suggestion being that
men should be obtained from Canada for timber work on lines similar to those
on which they had been recruited for munitions. It was felt better, however,
to raise the men required as a Military body ; and, as a result, the telegram
above quoted was despatched.
It is difficult to conceive the multitude of ways in which timber was used
for War purposes. At the Front, the Army very largely walked on timber,
lorries drove on timber ; railways, light and heavy, required huge numbers
of sleepers or ties. Underground no less than above ground was timber used,
for dugouts, and all the complicated contrivances connected with trench
warfare. From huts to ammunition boxes, from duckboards to stakes for
barbed wire, the uses of timber ranged. At home no less intense a demand
was manifested for different purposes connected with the War, and it will
suffice to mention that every factory and every locomotive and every
coal fire in the country, as well as every ship in the Navy driven by steam,
depended upon an adequate supply of Mining Timber, millions of tons of which
were required every year. The need for the efforts of the Canadian Forestry,
Corps will thus be sufficiently evident.
Equipment. — To save time, and for other reasons, it was arranged that
the Canadians should bring with them their own machinery and equipment
of the kind to which they were accustomed, with the necessary modifications
to adapt it to the conditions in Britain. This matter of equipment is one on
which a word of special praise is due, for the difference in the working
conditions in England and Canada is so great that it required expert knowledge
of the highest order to adapt quickly the Canadian lumbering plant and
organisation to British needs. Not only was this done in double quick time,
but the design of the equipment proved so satisfactory that very few changes
have had to be made ever since.
Arrangements in Britain. — The Canadian lumbermen were somewhat of
an unknown quantity to the timber-workers of Britain, and the conditions
c
(6
"So
c
m
of working in Britain were equally conjectural to many of the Canadians.
It is not, then, to be wondered at that careful consideration was given
to the question of the localities in which the men were to be employed. It
was first suggested to put 100 men at Windsor and 100 in Scotland. Then,
when the number of lumbermen immediately expected became larger, it was
proposed to place 50 in the New Forest, 100 at Stover, in Devonshire, and 140
in Scotland. After various proposals had been made, it was settled that the
first 400 should be concentrated in the South of England, to facilitate organisa-
tion. The small advance party already mentioned was sent to woods near
Lyndhurst, in Hampshire ; but the first main contingent of about 400 officers
and men, and also the second party of about 500 officers and other ranks,
were accommodated in the first instance at Larkhill Camp, near Aldershot.
Similarly the third party of nearly 700 officers and men, which arrived at the
end of May, 1916, were first taken to Bramshott Camp. From these Camps
they were distributed to the areas in which suitable woods had been
acquired. Lieut. -Col. McDougall's own Headquarters were first established at
4, The Sanctuary, Westminster, at the Offices of the Home-Grown Timber
Committee, on the 5th May, 1916. Ten days later they were moved to
2, Millbank, Westminster, only a short distance away. Equipment had
been coming forward at the same time as the men ; the first consignment,
for instance, comprised two sawmills, each of a capacity for cutting
15,000 sq. ft. in ten hours, together with ten logging wagons, four
steam winch hoisting engines, four motor cars, one electric lighting plant,
telephone outfit, tools, harness, metals and miscellaneous stores for 1,500 men.
Eventually, the first actual lumbering operations were carried out at Virginia
Water, and by the middle of June over 500 men were at work as follows : —
Virginia Water (near Egham, Surrey) . . . . . . 124
Rapley Lake (Bagshot, Surrey) . . . . . . . . 49
Norley Wood (Lymington, Hampshire) . . . . . . 71
Stover (Heathfield, near Newton Abbot, Devonshire) . . 217
Dalbeattie and Kirkconnell (Dumfriesshire, Scotland) . . 75
It was not long before the entire Battalion, numbering 1,609 officers and
men, were hard at work exploiting British woods, and so helping to frustrate
the Huns.
In connection with these and subsequent arrangements, the Canadians
received great assistance from tlie Home-Grown Timber Committee, and
particularly they appreciated the valuable advice and co-operation of the
Director, Mr. John Sutherland, who was afterwards appointed Assistant
Director of Forestry in France with the rank of Lieut. -Colonel, later Colonel,
Chapter II.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CANADIAN FORESTRY CORPS.
More, please ! — The subsequent history of the Canadians may be summarised
by repeating " More " — " More " — and " More." Events marched very
rapidly, and as the prospects of finishing the War within a relatively short
time diminished, so did the demand grow for the services of the Canadians to
increase home production and assist in saving tonnage.
Hardly had the Canadians arrived in England when Lord Kitchener,
realising their value, suggested that 500 of them should at once be transferred
to France, with another 500 to follow, in order to fell and convert certain
forests which the French Government had placed at British disposal. Lord
Kitchener wrote personally on the 12th May, 1916, to the above effect to Lord
Selbome (who was at that time at the head of the Board of Agriculture, and
therefore of the Home-Grown Timber Committee), but Lord Selbome was
unwilling to give up any of the Canadians who had so far arrived. German
prisoners who had been offered to the Committee were by no means a substitute,
apart from the disorganisation which would have resulted from the upsetting
of the plans for accommodating the Canadians in Britain. Shortly before
that, it had been proposed to increase the number of Canadians to 1,800, and
it was now suggested to the War Office that the extra men who were
expected might be devoted to work in France as soon as they arrived, and
that more men should be recruited from Canada for work in France if necessary.
The 238th, 242nd, and 230th Battalions.— On the 19th May, 1916, a request
was cabled to Ottawa for an additional 2,000 lumbermen, with plant, to assist
in exploiting certain French forests. This was prefaced by an expression of
keen appreciation of the Canadian Government's action in raising the first
Battalion. The Canadian Government promptly agreed to raise the men,
and arranged that they should be sent forward in small detachments, on account
of the urgency of the case. Later, in June, 1916, the Canadian Minister of
Militia proposed to raise the two new Forestry Battalions, each of about 1,000
men, to be designated the 238th and 242nd Forestry Battalions, the original
first Battalion being known as the 224th. Early in November, 1916, it was
arranged that another Battalion (the 230th) should be converted into a Forestry
Battalion ; but even this was insufficient, and on the 6th November a request
for yet another 2,000 men was cabled, the suggestion being made that this
should consist mainly of men unfit for combatant service. It was felt that a
number of lumbermen scattered throughout the combatant forces of the
Canadian Army could do better work as lumbermen owing to physical disabilities,
such as defective eyesight, flat feet, etc. ; also men over age could be employed.
The following is an extract from Routine Orders by Major-General Sir R. E W.
Turner, V.C, General Officer Commanding Canadian Forces in Great Britain,
dated the 8th December, 1916 :—
" Canadian Forestry Corps^ — ^Transfer of Technical Officers, N.C.O.'s and Men to.
" Officers with the following technical qualifications will be permitted to transfer
to the Canadian Forestry Corps : Actual experience in lumbering operations in its
various branches, logging, manufacturing, shipping, grading, etc., also experience in
the handling of men in construction work. Non-Commissioned Officers and Men who
have experience as mill hands, logging foremen, sawyers, filers, saw hammerers,
engineers, firemen, and all other branches of the Lumber Trade, felling, transport,
manufacture and shipping of finished lumber."
Officers were sent to the various reserve Canadian Bases throughout the
United Kingdom for the purpose of selection, and the men chosen were
despatched to the Base Depot of the Corps.
No. 4.
Felling in Scotland.
No. 5.
Carrying Logs by Ropeway across a River in Scotland.
No. 6.
Log Chute in Scotland.
No. 7.
Pole Track in Scotland,
At the end of November, the War Office enquired whether the 119th
and the 156th BattaUons might be made available to provide the 2,000 men
asked for early in November, and at the same time asked that about 5,000
more Canadian lumbermen might be recruited, particularly French Canadians.
Purchases Ahead. — A point of outstanding interest during the year 1916
is to be found in the fact that in the month of October Colonel McDougall,
after due consideration of the situation and with the advice of the Senior Officers
of the Corps, purchased machinery and equipment for 10,000 men. This was
done before the men were authorised, having in view the development of the
submarine warfare and the fact that the greatest saving had to be made in
timber imports. Later events proved that the purchase was justified, so
much so, in fact, that had it not been made at the time it is open to doubt
whether France or Great Britain could have provided the timber their woods
were ultimately caused to yield during the war.
Company Organisation Adopted. — Meanwhile the organisation of the
Canadians in Battalions was modified by breaking up the Battalions into
Companies, each forming a complete Unit, and the whole of the Canadian
lumbermen in Britain and France were placed under Col. McDougall as
Director of Canadian Timber Operations. This decision was formally notified
by the Canadian Minister of Militia early in November. The Company
organisation has continued ever since. The strength of the Corps at the end of
1916 was as follows : —
Great Britain . . Officers, 103. Other Ranks, 2,303.
France . . . . Officers, 30. Other Ranks, 602.
At the close of that year 11 Companies were operating in Great Britain
and three in France.
On the 6th January, 1917, a proposed Establishment for the Canadian
Forestry Corps was approved by the War Office, based upon the result of the
experience gained during the preceding three months. (Order No. 477. W.E.,
Part XVI., dated War Office (S.D.2), February 22nd, 1917).
This in turn was superseded by Order No. 880, W.E., Part XVI., dated
War Office (S.D.2), 5th December, 1917, which provided for :—
Directorate of Timber Operations, Great Britain and France.
Directorate of Timber Operations, Great Britain.
Directorate of Timber Operations, France.
Audit and Accounting Department, Great Britain and France.
Forestry Branch, Great Britain and France.
Forestry Branch, Paris Detachment.
Mechanical Branch, Great Britain.
Technical Equipment and Supplies Branch, Great Britain and France.
Technical Warehouse, Great Britain.
Technical Warehouse, France.
Transport Department, Great Britain and France.
District Headquarters, Great Britain and France.
Group Headquarters, France.
Forestry Company, Great Britain and France.
District Workshops, France.
Base Depot, Great Britain.
At the close of hostihties the numbers had grown to 41 Companies working
in Britain and 60 Companies in France, a total of some 17,000 men, to which
must be added attached personnel, such as Canadian Army Service Corps,
Canadian Army Medical Corps, etc., and also Prisoners of War, bringing the
total up to approximately 33,000.
On the 6th January, 1917, a Base Depot for the Corps was commenced
at Smith's Lawn, Sunningdale, Berks., within the confines of Windsor Great
Park. This site was given to the Corps by His Majesty the King, and a full
account of the Depot will be found in a later chapter.
10
The Headquarters were moved first to 54, Victoria Street, in October,
1916, and afterwards to 23, Swallow Street, Piccadilly, W., where they
remained at the conclusion of hostilities.
Financial Relations with the Imperial Government.- — In the original request
for help in the shape of a Canadian Lumber Battahon, the British Government
had offered to arrange the incidence of the cost as agreeable to the Canadian
Government. Naturally the provision of the ordinary military outfit of the
men in Canada and the purchase of the Canadian machinery which was sent
over was undertaken by the Canadian Authorities. Similarly the provision
of accommodation and food was undertaken in Britain by the War Office.
Everybody concerned was far too busy getting on with the work to stop to
discuss details of payment. It was not until the end of 1916 that this matter
was definitely settled by the Canadian Government most generously agreeing
to bear the cost of Pay, Pensions and Allowances to the Canadian Units employed
in this work, as well as their initial personal equipment and the cost of
transporting them to this country, while all their expenses of every other kind
connected with their equipment, work or maintenance were to be borne by
the Imperial Government. This arrangement was confirmed by Sir George
Perley on behalf of the Canadian Government in a letter dated 17th January,
1917, in which he says that the arrangement appears to be eminently fair and
reasonable to both sides. The provision of the equipment required from time
to time by the Canadians has been arranged by their technical branch through
the British Timber Supply Department, for the requirements of the operations
both in Britain and in France. A large part has been made by the Corps in its
own machine shops.
Col. McDougall's Report on French Operations. — To return to the earlier
period in May, 1916, when the proposal was first made that Canadians should
be employed in France, it was suggested that some of the officers in charge
of the Canadian technical operations should in the first place proceed to
France and report on the nature and scope of the work to be done, and the
technical plant required. Further suggestions were made with regard to
obtaining and training men and as to the organisation of all the Canadian
lumbering operations in Europe under one Headquarters. These suggestions
were conveyed to Lord Kitchener, and early in June it was arranged that
Col. McDougall should go to France himself, which he did on the 7th of
that month, accompanied by two other officers. His Report, dated the
23rd June, 1916, was both interesting and valuable. It is referred to later
in greater detail in describing the French operations, but is so important
that a brief summary may be given here. He pointed out the necessity
of acquiring pine forests in France besides the beech woods that were
being worked, drew attention to various defects in the existing organisation,
which had been improvised under considerable stress, and suggested closer
co-operation between the Departments supplying timber in England and France,
so that no timber would be imported which could be obtained from French
forests. He also proposed that the Lumbermen's Battalions should all be
controlled from London, and made recommendations as to the equipping and
organising of the Battalions which were then being raised in Canada.
This Report marks a turning point in the history of the Canadian
Forestry Corps. It naturally gave rise to considerable discussion, one
proposal being that a committee should be set up in London representing
the different departments interested, by whom all demands for timber for
Government purposes should be considered. Subsequently it was arranged
that one Canadian Forestry Battalion should be allocated to work for the
French Armies, half the timber produced being delivered to the British.
The War Timber Commission. — At length a new body was set up, with
Headquarters at H.M. Office of Works, London, known as the War Timber
Commission, in accordance with a Convention dated the 15th November, 1916,
No. 8.
SIR JAMES B. BALL, M.Inst. C.E., etc.
Controller of Timber Supplies, Board of Trade.
11
between the British and French Governments. A most important feature of
this arrangement was that the French Government agreed to the working by
Canadian lumbermen of forests in districts remote from the zone of the
Armies, this enabhng more suitable timber to be worked than could be
found in rear of the British Unes. The whole of the Canadian operations, as
previously indicated, were at this time put under Lieut. -Col. McDougall as
Director of Canadian Timber Operations, and he was given the rank of (Temp.)
Colonel. Directions as to what timber he should endeavour to produce in each
country were to be received from the War Timber Commission. This Com-
mission comprised Representatives of the Office of Works, the French War
Ministry and the Belgian War Ministry, also of the British War Office and
Admiralty, the French Ministry of Agriculture, the Home-Grown Timber
Committee, the British Quartermaster-General's Department, and of the 4th
Bureau of the French Staff.
The Timber Supply Department. — The progress of events, however, led to
further modifications of this arrangement. The introduction of unrestricted
submarine warfare and the possible continuation of the War for an indefinite
period caused the timber position early in 1917 to give rise to serious
apprehensions owing to the urgency of further restricting the tonnage available
for importing timber. In February, 1917, the War Office pointed out to the
British Commander-in-Chief in France the difficulties in obtaining supplies
for the Armies from Scandinavia, the White Sea and North America, and drew
attention to the volume of other more necessary traffic. It was urged that
every possible economy in timber should be exercised, and that any men who
could be spared should be put to work in French forests. At the same time it
was decided to create a new Department of Timber Supplies at the War Office
whose functions would be to supply, as far as possible, the timber demanded
for the Armies in France ; to control the use of timber in the United Kingdom
and to induce economy, while stimulating to the utmost home production, and
at the same time to regulate the purchase of such timber as might be imported.
Of this Department, Sir Bampfylde Fuller, K.C.S.I., K.C.I.E., was appointed
Director. It took over the functions of the Home-Grown Timber Committee
in respect of home production, and with them the task of providing woods and
making arrangements for the Canadian lumbermen working in Britain. The
War Office suggested that a special Officer should be appointed by the
Commander-in-Chief of the British Armies in France to bring under one control
the forestry operations carried on by the Director of Works and the Director
of Canadian Lumber Operations in France. As a result, Lord Lovat was
appointed as Director of Forestry in France, but the control of the Canadians
in France working under his Directorate continued to be carried on by
Col. McDougall from London. The Commander-in-Chief now replaced the
War Timber Commission as the source of directions to the Canadians in France
as to what they should cut, and made allowance for their production when
making demands upon Great Britain for timber.
Early in March, 1917, Sir George Perley was able to convey to Lord Derby
the welcome intelligence that a large number of lumbermen would be coming
out from the woods in Canada after the middle of the month, and that it might
be possible to raise perhaps 2,000 men more than had been asked for. Needless
to say, this suggestion was accepted by Sir Bampfylde Fuller, the Director of
Timber Supplies, and it came at a fortunate time, for at the end of March
Lord Lovat, the Director of Forestry in France, intimated that he would at
once be requiring three more Companies, and another a few weeks later, for
working the Jura and Conches areas, as well as possibly a further four Companies
for the Bordeaux district. It had been agreed with Lord Lovat that up to
5,000 officers and men of the Canadian Forestry Corps in all should be
transferred to France. At the date of the agreement there were about 1,000
officers and men in France and 4,000 in the United Kingdom, and in addition
7,000 men were, it was understood, being recruited in Canada, all of whom were
12
to be employed in Britain. By the middle of March, 1917, there were at wor]
in France 66 officers and 1,895 men, while in Britain, including men at the Bas
and Headquarters, there were 102 officers and 3,661 men. Sir Bampfylde Fulle
paid a well-deserved compliment to their efficiency when, on the 22nd May, 1917
he wrote saying, among other things, that the Canadians " are, of course, a
timber-getters, infinitely more efficient than any other agency which is at th
country's disposal." It is only fair to add that this statement was mad
before the arrival of other overseas lumbering units, or the expansion of th
native timber industry that occurred in 1917 and 1918.
The programme in regard to further Companies provided for 56 Companie
in France, of whom 20 had been sent over by the third week in May. Th
others were to be sent forward at the rate of about 10 Companies a month, s(
that by September the quota would be made up to about 10,000 men.
A similar programme was arranged in June, 1917, for Great Britain
providing for a strength of 40 Companies, numbering in all about 7,000 men
In view of the great urgency of the demand for timber, it was arranged that th
Canadians in Great Britain should be assisted by parties of unskilled labourer?
that day and night shifts should be worked, and that to save time 10 surplu
mills should be provided which could be erected ahead of the men by a specia
body of Canadians.
To make up the total of 17,000 men for Britain and France, of whom abou
1 1 ,000 were then at work, there were 2,000 still to come from Canada unde
previous arrangements, and it was hoped to obtain another 2,500. The balano
of 1,500 men it was proposed should be made up of men of the Canadian Force:
unfit for front-line combatant service.
In the sequel, both these programmes were carried out, and at the conclusioi
of the Armistice the 60 Companies in France and 41 Companies in Britain wen
hard at work helping to defeat the Germans no less than if they had been in th(
fighting line. It is a notable feature, of the Canadian Forestry COrps that ■<.
large number of the officers and men composing it were either not within th<
military age limits or were unfitted for service in the fighting line.
The expansion of the operations was marked by the promotion of Col
McDougall to Brigadier-General from 1st April, 1917, and on June 24th he wa:
made Director-General of Timber Operations in Great Britain and France
On 20th December, 1918, he became Major-General.
In May, 1917, the Timber Supply Department had been transferred to th(
Board of Trade, and a new Controller appointed in the person of Mr. (now Sir
J. B. Ball, M.Inst.C.E. M.Inst.M.E., with whom the Canadian Forestrj
Corps have worked in the utmost harmony. To assist in keeping touch, i
number of Liaison Officers were appointed in charge of Major G. L. Courthorpe
M.C., M.P., one of the Assistant Controllers of the Timber Supply Department
One of these officers has been stationed in each of the districts in Britain intc
which the Canadians have divided their operations, for administrative purposes
and these officers have proved very useful in adjusting minor matters anc
maintaining close co-operation. Major Courthorpe is himself a leading authorit}
on Forestry questions, and is President of the English Forestry Associatior
and of the Royal English Arboricultural Society.
Output Policy. — When the Canadians first started their operations the
situation was so serious that it was necessary for them to devote all their energies
to getting the biggest possible output. All concerned have fully realised that
this would only be achieved at some sacrifice of quality. Day and night were
the Canadian mills kept running, so great was the demand. This has to be
borne in mind when comparing their methods and results, either with the
ordinary commercial methods of the English or Scotch timber merchants, or
with normal Canadian practice.
In February, 1918, the Corps was called upon to meet an urgent demand
for lumber at the Front, and in connection with this the following is a text
No. 9. Donkey Engine at work in Scotland.
No. 10.
Rail Loading Station in Scotland.
No. U.
Piling Logs in Scotland.
13
of the letter written on April 12th, 1918. by the Rt. Hon. The Earl of Derby,
Secretary of State for War, to Sir Edward Kemp : —
" I am writing this letter to let you know on behalf of His Majesty's Government,
how warmly they appreciate the splendid work done by the Canadian Forestry Corps in
connection with the urgent demand which was received early in February Icist for some
40,000 tons of timber to be sent to the Front. This was an unexpected demand,
and it was requested that delivery should be completed not later than the 31st March.
Shipment was commenced from the 10th February, and the whole order was completed
on the 20th March, eleven days ahead of the specified time.
" I am informed that this satisfactory result is mainly to be attributed to the energy
put into the work of production by the Canadian Forestry Corps, who supplied no less
than 34,000 tons of the total. When the Corps understood that it was an order of
urgency, and that the material was required for the Front, many of the Companies
voluntarily worked long hours without any extra pay, some of them doing as much as
90 hours per week. They were at work during the whole of the Easter holidays,
so that had any further demand been made at that time, it would have been possible
to deal with it.
" It is, as you are no doubt aware, largely due to the operations of the Units of
this Corps in France that we have, with the exception of sudden and unforeseen demands
such as the present one, practically stopped the shipment of British-grown timber to
France, thus saving cross-channel tonnage ; while we are also enabled to save the ship-
ment of foreign timber by having the production of the Corps in England to meet the
various national demands.
" 1 hope that the Canadian Forestry Corps will realise the real gratitude which we
feel for their admirable work, and for the spirit which they have shown throughout
in sparing no exertions whenever an opportunity has been afforded them of assisting
the fighting men at the Front."
At length matters improved, and to the relief of all concerned the Con-
troller of Timber Supplies in June, 1918, was able to ask General McDougall
to substitute quality of output for quantity as the great desideratum. Sir
James Ball's letter is as follows : —
" Referring to our meeting yesterday regarding future output of the Canadian
Forestry Corps, I confirm that, in view of the difficulty in obtaining additional labour
to supplement that of the Corps and in the altered circumstances, it is necessary to
change the policy which has hitherto been carried out, and pay attention to the quahty
of manufacture rather than the quantity. It will also be necessary for the Corps to do
more of the unskilled work than hitherto, which will, no doubt, be an improvement in
respect of the manner in which it is done.
" In view of the importance of saving tonnage for pitwood, I also expressed my
desire that the Canadian Forestry Corps would include pitwood in their output.
" I do not think at present it is necessary for night work to be continued, and I
understand that you will arrange for it to be stopped.
" I should like to take this opportunity of putting definitely on record my apprecia-
tion of the work of the Corps under your most able direction. This work is specially
noteworthy, inasmuch as we have allotted to your Corps operations which are both
inaccessible and difficult. Your Corps, by reason of their experience and engineering
training, were in a better position to handle such undertakings, especially those of very
large size, than were the officers working directly under this Department, and the results
of your work have justified the high expectations formed of them. To regard these
results from a purely commercial standpoint is quite impossible in view of the exceptional
circumstances in which they were undertaken, coupled with the fact that the output
has never hitherto been regulated on a commercial basis, but according to the exigencies
of the situation as affecting the demands for timber for Military and other purposes
thrown upon the Department.
" In conveying the change of policy to your officers and men, I trust you will
intimate to them my satisfaction with the work they have performed and my reliance
upon their future efforts being no less strenuous and successful than those of the paist."
Early in April, 1918, a demand was made upon the Corps for 500 men for
the Infantry. Volunteers were asked for, and the number offering far exceeded
the demand. Altogether the Corps sent to Infantry battahons 1,270 men.
Musketry training was also taken up by the Corps at this juncture, so that
the men would know how to use a rifle should they be called upon so to do.
The whole Corps, at the time of the German advance in 1918, volunteered
to serve as Engineers ; pointing out that its personnel was of such a nature as
to qualify it for engineering work. Happily for timber production, however,
it was found possible to leave the Corps to its proper work.
Work on Aerodromes. — The Canadians have shown their usefulness in
other directions besides the mere felling and converting of straightforward
14
masses of woods. On the 16th September, 1916, the Corps was asked by the
Home Defence Wing of the Royal Flying Corps for their assistance in the matter
of clearing land in various parts of Great Britain for the purpose of preparing
landing grounds, and 12 days after receipt of this communication a detachment
was at work clearing a site for an aerodrome at Northolt, in the County of
Middlesex, England. This branch of the work undertaken by the Forestry
Corps grew with great rapidity, and eventually the Corps undertook work on the
construction of aerodromes throughout the length and breadth of Great Britain.
Companies were formed, and split up into detachments varying in strength,
and the work consisted of clearing sites, ditching, draining, trimming and
felling trees, hauUng gravel, leveUing, making conduits and drains, grading,
ploughing, scraping, filling depressions, uprooting hedges, re-sodding, cutting
pickets, stripping turf, etc.
Towards the end of 1916 a letter was received from the Heme Defence
Wing of the Royal Flying Corps to the effect that they felt that the services
rendered by the Forestry Corps were such as to increase the efficiency of the
Flying Corps in Great Britain, and were a direct means of assistance in defeating
raiding Zeppelins,
In the summer of 1917 the Air Board invited the assistance of the Canadian
Forestry Corps for similar work, and a few months later the establishment of
two Forestry Corps Aerodrome Companies was authorised. Nos. 123 and 124
Companies were allotted for this work, assisted a little later by labourers from
the Royal Flying Corps. At the end of 1917 a number of companies proceeded
to France for similar work, described in Chapter V At times, no less than
32 detachments were engaged on aerodrome construction in different parts of
England extending from the north of Scotland to Cornwall ; to take one example,
a party of about 40 men were sent to a site in Sussex in February, 1918, and
within 20 working days had completed the work laid down for them ; forthwith
the party was transferred to another area, which in this case happened to be
on the East Coast of Scotland. The 20 days' work included 4,400 cubic yards
of excavation and filling, 13,840 yards of grading, with about three acres of
steam-rolling, as well as the erection of a number of Bessoneau hangars. Each
party made its own camp, erected its own huts and tents, attended to its own
transport and other arrangements. Two machine shops were established for
this work, one at Grantham and the other at Reading, where all the equipment
such as ploughs, scrapers, turning and cutting machines, etc., were manu-
factured. In addition, implements were made for use on similar work in France
and Flanders. In all, during 20 months' work for the Air Board, some 110 aero-
dromes were constructed and improved, an average of 435 of all ranks being
engaged on the work with 135 horses. It is interesting to note that the work
was performed very cheaply.
In the earliest stages of aerodrome construction, the Canadian Forestry
Corps detachments worked independently and reported direct to Headquarters.
Afterwards they were incorporated into No. 54 District, but as the work pro-
gressed and extended, it was found necessary to form them into a District,
which was authorised on August 16th, 1918, and was known as No. 56, with
Headquarters at East Sheen, Surrey.
From Cyprus to Ireland .—Towaids the end of 1917 the possibihty of
getting timber from the Island of Cyprus was being considered. Here, again,
it was proposed to invoke the aid of the Canadians, and, to provide an expert
opinion, officers were sent out to report. On the way they were torpedoed
twice, but duly arrived and reported. Eventually the project was dropped.
Had hostilities continued, it is most probable that the Corps would also
have extended its work to Ireland, for arrangements to that end were well in
hand when the conclusion of the Armistice rendered them unnecessary.
No. 12. BRIG.-GENERAL B. R. HEPBURN, C.M.G., M.P.,
Deputy Director-General Timber Operations
15
Chapter III.
SOME MAKERS OF THE CANADIAN FORESTRY CORPS.
Maj.-Gen. Alexander McDougall, C.B. (Director-General).
Brig.-Gen. B. R. Hepburn, C.M.G., M.P. (Canada) {Deputy Director-General).
Col. G. V. White, C.B.E. {Director of Timber Operations in Great Britain).
Brig.-Gen. J. B. White, D.S.O. {Director of Timber Operations in France).
Lieut. -Col. D. B. Campbell, M.B.E. {Chief of Technical Staff).
Maj.-Gen. Alexander McDougall, C.B. {Director -General of Timber
Operations). — When the Canadian Government first undertook to raise a
Lumbermen's Battalion, they were fortunate in being able to put their hand
on just the right man to command it, in the person of Alexander McDougall,
whose wide experience under varied conditions, and power of organisation,
were well known throughout the Dominion. To him in no small measure is
undoubtedly due the great success which has attended the work of the Canadian
Forestry Corps. Born in Renfrew, Ontario, in January, 1878, he is the son
of J. Lome McDougall (who was at one time Auditor-General for Canada) and
Marion Morris. Educated at Ottawa, Toronto and Cornell, he graduated in
Civil Engineering, and was Gold Medallist at Toronto University in Mathe-
matics. He was first employed by a Contractor, M. P. Davis, as an Engineer
in connection with the abutments of the first Quebec Bridge ; afterwards
he went to Mexico as a Civil Engineer on the Mexican Light and Power Co.
Returning to Canada, he was appointed Engineer for the Ottawa Section of
the Georgian Bay Ship Canal. He then entered into partnership with John
B. McCrae, with the title of the firm as McDougall & McCrae, Consulting
Engineers, Ottawa. During his partnership with McCrae he was retained as
Consulting Engineer for the Canadian Government. In 1907 he formed the
Eastern Construction Company, Ltd., of which he was Managing Director.
This Company took over contracts in the Rainy River district for the construc-
tion of a section of the Transcontinental Railroad. In 1909 he entered into
partnership with his brother, S. McDougall, and M. J. O'Brien, of Renfrew —
the firm being known as O'Brien & McDougall Bros., Railroad Contractors
He is also a partner in the firm of O'Brien, McDougall & O'Gorman, Railroad
Contractors. In the year 1900 he married Miss Florence Chipman, of
Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S.A., and they have two sons. On the 25th
February, 1916, he was appointed Officer Commanding 224th Canadian Forestry
Battalion, with the rank of Lieut. -Colonel. With the expansion and progress
of the Canadian Lumbermen came his promotion until, on the 28th September,
he was appointed Temporary Colonel, and Director of Timber Operations in
Great Britain and France. On the 1st April, 1917, he was appointed Brigadier-
General ; on the 24th June he became Director-General of Timber Operations,
Great Britain and France. In the King's New Year Honours, 1918, he was
awarded the decoration of Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the
Bath (C.B.), and a few months later the French Legion d'Honneur. On 20th
December, 1918, he became Major General.
Brig.-Gen. William Bernard Rickart Hepburn, C.M.G., M.P. {Deputy
Director-General of Timber Operations). — Born in Picton, Ontario, the 26th May,
1876, he is the son of Arthur William Hepburn (for many years engaged in
steamboat business on the Bay of Quinte, St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario)
and Katherine Maria McCuaig, whose father, James S. McCuaig, was Conserva-
tive Member of the House of Commons, representing Prince Edward County,
1878-1882. Educated in Public and High Schools, Picton, and Trinity College
16
School, Port Hope, Ontario, he began his career as Purser with the Ontario
and Quebec Navigation Company, Picton, 1894 ; was appointed General
Manager of the business, 1904 ; President and General Manager, 1907. This
business was in 1913 merged with the Canada Steamship Lines, Ltd.; President,
Hepburn Bros., Ltd., Montreal. At the General Election in 1911 he was
elected to the Canadian House of Commons, representing Prince Edward County,
and was re-elected Conservative Unionist Member during his absence in
England, December, 1917, by a large majority. He joined the 224th Battalion
(first Forestry Battahon) as Major in the spring of 1916. As further Forestry
Battalions were recruited. Col. Hepburn's duties were enlarged, and he has
practically been in charge of the detail work of the Corps, his duties taking
him frequently to France and different parts of England and Scotland. On
New Year's Day, 1918, he was given the distinguished honour of being made a
Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. He married Bertha
E. Wright, daughter of J. B. Wright, San Francisco, California, the 15th
February, 1901.
Col. Gerald Verner White, C.B.E., Director of Timber Operations, Great
Britain. — Born in Pembroke, Ontario, 6th July, 1879, he is the son of the late
Hon. Peter White, P.C, M.P. (who represented the constituency of North
Renfrew, Ontario, in the Canadian House of Commons, 1874-1896 and 1904-1906,
and was Speaker of the House, 1891-1896), and Janet Reid Thomson. Educated
at Pembroke Public and High Schools and McGill University, Montreal, he
graduated as Bachelor of Applied Science in Mining Engineering, McGill
University, 1901. He was employed as Assistant Mining Engineer by the
Canadian Pacific Railway Company in examination of Iron Ore Deposits at
Kitchener, B.C., May-December, 1901, and in Mineral Department of Dominion
Iron and Steel Company, Sydney, N.S., May, 1902-1903. Engaged in lumber
business, 1904-1916, becoming Director of the Pembroke Lumber Company.
He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons as Representative for the
constituency of North Renfrew, Ontario, in October, 1906, at a Bye-Election
occasioned by the death of his father, and was re-elected at General Elections
in 1908 and 1911, but was not a candidate in the General Election of 1917.
His military service is of considerable duration. After being Lieutenant,
42nd Regiment, Lanark and Renfrew, 1904-1910, and Captain in the same
Regiment, 1910-1915 (holding a Field Officer's Certificate), he enlisted for
Overseas Service in November, 1915, and was appointed Second in Command,
130th Battahon, C.E.F., with the rank of Major, Upon the formation of the
224th Canadian Forestry Battahon in February, 1916, was offered and accepted
appointment of Second in Command, and proceeded overseas in May, 1916.
Appointed O.C, 224th Canadian Forestry Battahon, September, 1916, he
subsequently became Director of Timber Operations for Great Britain, having
charge of all Canadian Forestry Corps operations in the British Isles.
He received the honour of Commander of the Order of the British Empire
at the New Year, 1918. He married Mary EUzabeth Trites, daughter of
D. L. Trites, Petitcodiac, N.B., August 15th, 1906.
Brig.-Gen. John Burton White, D.S.O., Director of Timber Operations,
France. — Born at Aylmer Road, Province of Quebec, 1st January, 1874, the
son of Henry White, he was educated at Pubhc and High Schools and Ottawa
Business College, and then went into the lumber business. He has been
Manager for the Hill Lumber Company ; Manager, G. H. Perley and Company ;
Manager, Wood Department and Sawmills, and Director of the Riordon Pulp
and Paper Company ; and Director of the Canadian Forestry Association. A
Major in the 17th D.Y.R.C. Hussars, he commanded " B " Squadron, and left
Canada, 16th April, 1916, as Major in 224th Canadian Forestry Battahon.
Returning to Canada, 16th July, he raised and commanded 242nd Battalion
with the rank of Lieut. -Colonel. He was appointed Director of Timber
Operations (France), 14th June, 1917, having charge of all C.F.C. operations
Xo. 13. COLONEL G. V. WHITE, C.B.E.,
Director Timber Operations, Great Britain.
No. 14.
BRIG.-GENERAL J. B. WHITE, D.S.O.,
Director Timber Operations, France.
17
in France. He received the Distinguished Service Order, 1st January, 1918.
He married Margaret Jane Ferguson, 18th April, 1906.
Lieut. -Col. David Bishop Campbell, M.B.E., Chief of Technical Staff. —
Born in Scotland on 18th August, 1880, he was educated at Glasgow and
Technical College, Portland, Oregon. He engaged in the lumber manufacturing
business, and resided in Vancouver for 14 years.
From 1908 he carried on private business as a Mill Architect and Engineer,
dealing exclusively with Saw Mill and Wood Working plant, and designing new
machinery of various types. A great many of these machines are now in
use in British Columbia, such as labour-saving devices for handhng lumber in
the mills, shingle machines, and machines for preparing shingle timber.
He enUsted in 224th Battalion in March, 1916, coming to England in May
of the same year. Was promoted to the rank of Captain in August, 1916, to
Major in March, 1917, and Lieut. -Colonel, December, 1917. He received the
M.B.E. in February, 1918, in the New Year's Honours List.
(504)
18
Chapter IV.
OPERATIONS IN GREAT BRITAIN.
Work at Windsor. — We have already seen that the Canadians who first
arrived in May, 1916, were drafted from Base Camps in the South of England
to various woods selected for them to operate in different parts of the country.
The same course was followed with successive arrivals, the number of operations
increasing steadily. At an early stage the Canadians were drafted out by
Companies, each Company running one or several operations near together.
The Battalion organisation thus became practically a Company organisation,
although the change was not officially recognised until November, 1916. In
all, the Canadians have tackled over 70 different operations in Britain, a list
of these being given later.
The Canadians, as experts, have often been entrusted with difficult jobs,
that is to say, the working of lots of timber in inaccessible positions, at a distance
it may be, from railways — propositions too large or unremunerative for the
British timber merchant to exploit with sufficient rapidity to meet the urgent
needs of the timber position. This was not merely out of compliment to the
Canadians ; it has to be remembered that the Home-Grown Timber Committee,
with whom the Canadians were at first working, was set up in order to supple-
ment the utmost that the timber trade could do. Naturally, then, the
Canadians, as an organised and expert body, were given large areas where
comprehensive methods could be adopted. Some typical examples will now
be described.
We may well begin with those in the neighbourhood of the Royal town of
Windsor. It was here that the Canadians produced their first British lumber,
on 13th May, 1916 — less than four months after the British Government first
asked for a Lumbermen's Battalion. In the Times newspaper of 10th July,
1916, a description of the work of the Canadians at Windsor was given from
which we cannot do better than quote. The article was headed " Yeomen of
the Axe," and read as follows : —
" If you would know the lumberman of Canada and how he works, go to the edge
of Windsor Great Park where the cross-road from Virginia Water Station strikes the
main road between Egham and Sunningdale. There, on the Clock Case Plantation,
you will see over 150 men of the 224th Canadian Forestry Battalion converting trees
into railway sleepers and boards at the rate of anything from 15,000 to 20,000 board
feet a day.
" The plantation, which forms part of the lands owned by the Crown and
administered by the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, included a considerable
area covered with spruce, fir, Scots pine and larch, with an undergrowth of chestnut.
Not very long ago a party of experts looked at the trees with the dispassionate
measuring eye of the undertaker, and gave it as their opinion that from this wood it
was possible to get 3,000,000 board feet of timber. To-day, whole tracts of it have
been swept clear by the axe, and the quaint square tower of the old Royal lodge, which
stands deep-set in the wood, and which, so the story goes, by its resemblance to the
case of a grandfather's clock gave the plantation its curious name, is visible from the
roadway for the first time, perhaps, in a hundred years. And still the Canadian
woodsmen go on, eating their way through the wood with a thoroughness that knows
no mercy.
" The lumber camp is all Canadian — men, machinery and methods. The men,
who are drawn from all parts of the Dominion, have the bronzed, healthy look and
the easy, confident swing which we have learned to look for in Canadians. The khaki
under their blue overalls proclaims them soldiers ; they draw military pay and they
know the rudiments of military drill ; but first and last they are woodsmen with their
craft at their finger-tips. Every man knows his task and does it with an enviable
independence of orders or instructions ; yet from the first stage to the last the work
proceeds smoothly and harmoniously. Let us follow the process, under the guidance
of the officer in charge and the sergeant who is ' foreman of the bush.'
No. 15.
LIEUT.-COLONEL D. B. CAMPBELL, M.B.E.
Chief of Technical Staff.
19
" Facing the main road stands the mill — ' home,' the men generally call it —
flanked on the one side by piles of logs and on the other by stacks of sawn timber.
Walk along the winding track of a light railway, not yet completed, which passes
behind the mill, until you come to a clearing, where burning heaps of ' brush ' lopped
from the tops of the fallen trees are filUng the air with the refreshing scent of the pine.
Here and there through the blue smoke you catch a glimpse of a lumberman in a
picturesque slouch hat. A little further and you are among a gang of ' fallers. ' Watch
how they fell a tree, 20 in. or more thick at the base.
" A man with an axe kneels at its foot and with a few dexterous strokes cuts a deep
notch in the trunk a few inches from the ground. Two others with a cross-cut saw
cut through the stem on the opposite side. In half a minute the tree begins to lean
and there is a warning shout. A second or two later, with a loud cracking and rending
sound, it topples and crashes to the ground. Without any apparent effort, the ' fallers '
have controlled the direction of its fall almost to a foot.
" Next, without any ado, half-a-dozen ' swampers ' set to work with the axe,
clearing the limbs and straightening up the tree. Simultaneously a ' fitter,' with a
wooden rod, divides the stem in suitable lengths, marking the cutting points with a
notch ; while two other men, one carrying a paint-pot, measure the tree, enter the
size in a book, and mark the stump and the butt of the severed trunk with a blob of
red paint to show that their work is done. Sawyers then cut the stem according to
the ' fitter's ' marking, and the sections are ready to go to the mill. They are dragged
there by horses over deeply scored ' trails ' and ' sloopways,' and take their turn to
come under the saw.
" The mill itself is a stoutly-built structure, made of timber cut and prepared on
the spot, the saws and engines coming from Canada. It is practically a raised platform
covered by an iron roof, but open at the sides. A log to be sawn is rolled into position
on a ' carriage,' which moves backwards and forwards to carry it through a circular
saw. Two men, standing on the carriage, control its movements and the position of
the log by a number of levers. Opposite them stands the most important man of all,
the ' sawyer, ' whose trained eye sees at a glance what can be made of this or that log.
The hum of the engine and the screech of the saw would drown his voice, so he gives
his decisions by signs. As the carriage brings a log back through the saw with the
bark removed, he will hold up one finger or two, and the ' setter ' on the carriage, by
the movement of a lever, adjusts the log so that the next cut shall be one inch or two
inches thick.
" It is all done without a pause. For hours the saw screeches and throws off a
spray of sawdust as it slices up the logs that a short while before were splendid living
trees, and all the while other saws, trimming the edges of the boards and cutting off
the ends, join in the chorus. Is it surprising that the daughter of the keeper of the
wood was reduced to tears when she stood by the mill ? "
The mill with which the first lumber was cut was a Scotch mill, but a
Canadian mill was installed on 26th June, 1916. Soon afterwards, on 28th July,
the whole mill was working day and night, and it was not till June, 1917, that
continuous night-shifts were stopped. The mill ran until October, 1917,
without any serious stoppage for repairs, and it was then closed for a week
and given a thorough overhaul. The production, which amounted to about
500,000 F.B.M. in July, 1916, reached 1,125,000 F.B.M. in April, 1917, but
when night-shifts were stopped, the output fell and was about 800,000 F.B.M.
during the summer of 1917. After the mill had been overhauled the lumber
produced was of much better quality, but the output was correspondingly
lower. At first it was about 450,000 F.B.M., but had risen by January, 1918,
to 730,000 F.B.M. The kind of wood cut naturally affected the output. At
first soft wood was cut exclusively, but after October, 1916, mixed woods were
cut until August, 1917, when the mill was engaged almost entirely on hard
wood, principally oak, except for the re-sawing of slabs. The logs were all
obtained from growing trees within about five miles of the mill ; some came
from Windsor Great Park, quite near the mill.
The mill premises were all home-made, and included, besides the mill
building, five sleeping huts, dining room, recreation hut, canteens, orderly
room, kitchen, store-rooms, officers' quarters, officers' and N.C.O.s' messes
and canteens, hospital, workshop, bath house, stables, etc., etc. The
Camp was very favourably reported on by the senior Sanitary Officer of the
Imperial Forces for the district of Woolwich in February, 1918. His report
shows that there was ample hutment accommodation, the huts being well
constructed, warm and well ventilated, draughts from the floors being prevented
by a banking of sawdust and timber to the floor level. The huts were warmed
(504) c 2
20
by stoves constructed to burn wood, and the bath house was provided with an
ample supply of hot water for showers. It is not to be wondered at that the
Camp, on the whole, has been very healthy.
For transporting logs to the mill, some miles of railway were at first
employed but were sent elsewhere when no longer required. The Camp contained
about 50 horses and some half a dozen motor lorries, which were supplemented
by transport hired locally. The strength of the Company, No. 101, at Virginia
Water was in the early stages about 300, but was gradually reduced until it was
below 200 " other ranks." In addition, Portuguese were attached for semi-
skilled work, the number at one time reaching 150. About two-thirds of them
were accommodated at Kingsmead House, Winkfield, and the remainder at
Virginia Water Camp. Some were engaged in the woods making pit props,
others loading lorries, working at the mill, and a few at miscellaneous jobs such
as cutting fuel wood in Camp, working in stables, shoe making, cooking and
orderly work.
Care needed to be taken to keep the felUng and sawing operations properly
proportioned. At one time the mill used up almost the whole of the pile of
logs waiting, but by a careful re-arrangement of work and " comb-out " of the
mill staff it was possible to add to those working in the woods without increasing
the total establishment.
Weather affected matters very considerably. In January, 1918, for
instance, when the operations in the woods were five to seven miles away from
Virginia Water Camp, extremely bad weather, including rain, snow and floods,
very much added to the difficulties of logging. Two donkey engines were
operating in the latter part of the month, but it was necessary to employ 14
teams to swamp logs in the bush. " Going " was very heavy for the horses,
but their condition was carefully watched ; the horses needing rest were put on
light work when necessary. Buildings at Fernstall were used to accommodate
the Bush Officer, Bush Sergeant, Teamsters and Donkey Engineers to the number
of 28, but the remainder of the gang working in the woods had to be transported
morning and night to and from the Camps, and their meals had to be sent out
into the woods.
The Camp was well provided with recreation accommodation ; there was
a dry canteen run by the Church Army, and a wet canteen, which was eventually
closed on 30th April, 1918. The Virginia Water Camp owes very much to the
most kind interest taken in the welfare of the men by H.R.H. Princess AUce,
Countess of Athlone, who arranged many concerts and entertainments and in
every way possible made the leisure hours of the Canadians as happy as could
be. The Camp was honoured on many occasions by visits by their Majesties
the King and Queen, and by various persons of high rank. A visit was also
paid by the members of the Royal English Arboricultural Society in July, 1916.
Any description of the Virginia Water establishment would be incomplete
without reference to the farm operations and the piggery, which were run with
conspicuous success. A farm of 55 acres was worked in 1917, comprising
about 10 acres of potatoes, 2 acres of cabbage, 2| acres turnips, 2 acres carrots,
^ acre onions, | acre lettuce, etc., 2 acres rape, and the remainder under grain.
The produce has been used to supply all the messes of the Companies, and sold
to various Companies who had no regimental farm.
A highly successful piggery had 47 pigs " on the strength " in the early
summer of 1917 ; the numbers, of course, varied from time to time. This not
only served as a means of disposing of the Camp swill and refuse, but provided
supplies of bacon. In January, 1918, there were 25 pigs, all in first-class
condition, as they ought to have been upon three good meals a day, two of them
hot, made from the swill of the Camp, with roots and vegetables. Eight of Jthe
pigs averaged about'lSOlbs., and'the remaining 17 averaged about 117 lbs.
In January, 1918, revised arrangements were made for deaUng with any
outbreak of fire, with a new fire piquet and suitable orders. The wisdom of
this was proved when less than two months afterwards a fire occurred which
was confined to the mill. This particular fire is presumed to have started in
No. 16.
Railing Logs to Station in Scotland.
No. 17.
Rail Hauling with Horses.
No. 18.
Logs in Transit, Bedfordshire, England.
No. 19.
Logs entering a Mill in Scotland.
21
the engine room on the south-east side of the building, and with a strong
south-east breeze the building, which was very dry and oily, could not be
saved in spite of all efforts. The officers therefore directed operations to save
the lumber and logs in the mill, and these were practically undamaged. As
showing the efficiency of the fire alarm arrangements, the alarm was timed
from the orderly room to the mill at 11.40 a.m., and within three minutes the
men were on the ground with fire buckets.
Base Depot. — The Base Depot of the Corps was established on
6th January, 1917, at Smith's Lawn, Windsor Great Park. This site was
obtained from His Majesty the King through the courtesy of Mr. Forrest,
Deputy Surveyor, H.M. Woods and Forests.
It was located five miles south of Windsor, three miles to the south-west
of the village of Ascot, with its famous racecourse, and two miles east of the
towns of Egham and Virginia Water.
The of&cer originally in command of the Base Dep6t was Lieut. -Col.
S. L. Penhorwood, and it was under his supervision that this large Camp was
erected.
The buildings comprised the following : —
Orderly Room, Sergeants' Mess,
Guard Room, Dep6t Hospital,
Mobilisation Stores Buildings, Medical Office,
Workshops, Dental Office,
Blacksmith Shop, Drying Room,
Lorry Shed, Electric Light Plant,
Quartermaster's Stores, Shower Baths for Men,
Post Office, Officers' Huts,
Young Men's Christian Associa- Sergeants' Huts,
tion Building, Men's Huts,
Central Kitchen, Canteen,
Two Mess Buildings for the Men, Horse Stables, &c.
Officers' Mess,
The Orderly Room, Guard Room, Officers' Mess and Y.M.C.A. were
rustic buildings. The Men's Mess, Sergeants' Mess, Kitchen and Power
House, Quartermaster's Stores, Mobilisation Stores and Workshops were built
with rough lumber and covered with tar paper on the outside. The huts for
all ranks were collapsible, erected out of ready-made sections.
The acreage covered by the Base Camp was 125 acres.
The Headquarters' Mess was situated in a rustic building consisting of
ante-room, dining room, kitchen and canteen, near the Officers' Lines. During
September and October, 1917, there were so many officers that a second mess
had to be established to accommodate them. It was also necessary to have a
separate Officers' Mess to provide for officers direct from Canada, who were
required to go into segregation for ten days after arrival.
The Sergeants' Mess was situated near the Sergeants' Lines. The men
had central messing. There was one large kitchen, with dining rooms
opening on either side sufficient to accommodate 1,000 men at one sitting.
The men were paraded by Companies to the cook-house ; each received his
portion and passed into the dining room, where there were benches and tables.
In the summer-time there was a separate kitchen and tables and benches in
the open for the men in segregation.
His Majesty the King and many of the members of the Royal Family have
been frequent visitors at the Base Depdt and have taken the greatest possible
interest in everything connected therewith.
All the work of selecting and mobilising the Companies has been done
at the Base Dep6t. This work called for the greatest care in the choice of men
and material, and required special ability on the part of the Staff of the Base
Depot. Each Company consisted in all of 6 officers, 14 sergeants, and 171
22
other ranks, a total of 191 , including 12 attached. The rank and file included : —
1 company storeman, 7 scalers and assistant foremen, 8 second foremen,
1 assistant blacksmith, 20 log-makers, 15 teamsters, 30 rollers and
chainmen, 10 road-cutters, 2 saw-filers, 2 millwrights, 2 sawyers, 2 log-setters,
2 edgermen, 3 engineers, 2 grooms, 40 general hands, 6 batmen, and 9
drivers for vehicles. There were also 73 horses and no less than 40 vehicles,
including water tank carts, travelling kitchens, lorries, tractors, wagons, etc.
To give an idea of the number of men handled at the Base, it may be
stated that from the date it was estabUshed (the 6th January, 1917) to the
end of April, 1918 (16 months), 24,000 all ranks passed through it, an average
of 1,500 per month. From Canada during this period no less than 10,454
of all ranks were received, and from various regimental dep6ts in England,
6,692 all ranks.
The greatest credit is due to the hard work done at the Base, because a
draft-giving Unit such as this is most difficult to operate from an administrative
point of view owing to the daily changing of personnel.
The vegetable farm at the Base was one of the largest of its kind in Great
Britain, and the piggeries have been a great success.
At Smith's Lawn, in addition to the Base Depot, a Company (No. 140)
was established whose special task it was to prepare the portable Armstrong
huts used by the Corps. This Company was equipped with a modified Scotch
mill having a capacity of 10,000 F.B.M. per 10 hours ; a drying kiln for preparing
the lumber and a factory or workshop, 25 ft. by 200 ft., in which all the planing,
re-sawing and carpentering was done. Attached to the workshop was a packing
and dipping room where the hut sections were creosoted, tarred and passed out
to a loading platform to be assembled, crated, marked and despatched by
wagons to Egham Station. This Company commenced in November, 1917,
felling, hauHng and converting, working oak, chestnut, spruce, fir, Weymouth
pine, elm, birch, beech and larch. The monthly output was about 200,000
F.B.M. of wood, or about 72 complete huts. Necessary repairs to roads used
for hauling in the Park, and new roads at the Camp, were made by this Company,
together with the men at the Base Dep6t.
It was this Company which designed and, with the assistance of No. 119
Company, erected for H.M. the King a memorial of the Corps, known as the
King's Cabin — a typical log building in front of the West Terrace of Windsor
Castle, made entirely of fir logs from the Park, six to eight inches in diameter.
The walls are peeled inside but not out, and the floor, 14 ft. by 16 ft., is of logs
hewn smooth and flat on the top. Four windows with small panes have
sashes made from branches about one inch thick. The fireplace is of Kentish
rag stones, cobble stones not being available. The roof, made entirely of
slabs, extends over a wide porch the full width of the south side. It is hoped
that this cabin will stand for many years to come, to recall the work of the
Canadian Forestry Corps.
Districts. — With the expansion of the operations it became necessary to
organise the work into Districts, of which there were eventuaUy six in Great
Britain {see Map on Page 22) numbered 51 to 56.
No. 51 District Headquarters were established at Edinburgh, Scotland,
on the 15th May, 1916, moved to Nairn on the 24th July, 1917, and afterwards
to Inverness on 24th November, 1917.
No. 52 District Headquarters were established at CarHsle, Cumberland,
on the 6th November, 1916.
No. 53 District Headquarters were estabUshed at London, 6th November,
1916, and moved to Egham, Surrey, 5th November, 1917.
No. 54 District Headquarters were estabUshed at Southampon, 22nd,
August, 1917.
No. 55 District Headquarters were established at Stirling, Scotland,
19th November, 1917.
No. 56 District Headquarters were estabUshed at East Sheen, Surrey,
16th August, 1918.
No. 20.
Map showing C.F.C. Operations in Britain.
23
Each District was in charge of a Colonel, the Second-in-Command having
Major's rank, and the Adjutant that of Captain ; there were also a Quarter-
master (Hon. Captain), a Transport Officer (Captain), and a Messing Officer
(Lieutenant), with the necessary assistants.
Each operation was usually run by an entire Company, with a Major in
command, comprising about 165 all ranks, and reproducing the District
organization on a smaller scale.
It will be noted that District 56 is not shown on the map. This was formed
of Companies working on aerodrome construction for the Royal Air Force.
The Companies were in turn split into small detachments scattered throughout
the length and breadth of Great Britain, and their work has already been
referred to.
Close touch with the Timber Supply Department of the Board of Trade
was maintained by liaison ofhcers under Major G. L. Courthope, M.C., M.P.,
of that Department, as previously mentioned in Chapter II.
As an example of a district, we may take No. 55, which comprised roughly
the southern half of Scotland. At the time of its formation several Companies
were already operating or starting in this area, namely : No. 108, working
on the Estate of the Earl of Mansfield, about eight miles west of the City
of Perth, and three miles north of the village of Methven ; No. 110 Company,
at Abemethy Forest, in the Valley of the Spey, forming part of the Estate of the
Countess of Seafield, in the County of Inverness ; No. 121 Company, working
on the Estate of the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, at the foot of Cairn Gorm
Mountain ; No. 128, in Kincardineshire, on the Estate of Sir James Sivewright ;
No. 109 Company, at Tulhallan, also on Sir James Sivewright's Estate, about
two miles from Kincardine-on-Forth. No. 108 Company was the only one
which was actually producing sawn lumber, the others having only recently
moved to new areas and being at work erecting their mills.
The Staff of the District Headquarters consisted of three officers and 29
other ranks of the Canadian Forestry Corps, and five of the Canadian Army
Service Corps, the Headquarters itself consisting of a large private residence
which had been taken over by the War Office. The officers and men were
billeted in the town, and will have the pleasantest memories of the hospitality
and courtesy of the inhabitants.
Gradually the various Companies erected their mills, put them in operation,
laid down Ught railways where necessary, and in spite of the natural difficulties
of the operations and the unfavourable conditions, proceeded to turn out
larger and ever larger quantities of sawn lumber. In December, 1917, Company
No. 108 cut 341,911 F.B.M., and No. 121 produced 92,709 F.B.M.; both these
and the other Companies were all carrying on logging operations. By the
summer of 1918 the six Companies in this district (No. 130 having been added
in the meantime) produced not far short of 3,000,000 F.B.M. per month.
In this district the Canadians were assisted by a certain number of surplus
seamen, Finns and others, recruited by the Timber Supply Department, partly
from the crews of torpedoed merchant ships. These men were hardy, and had a
certain aptitude for timber work, with which many of them were to some extent
familiar in their native country ; consequently their work was good on the
whole. Over 300 were at one time employed in this district ; later on a few
German prisoners were also engaged.
It has already been noted that an additional Company, No. 130, began
work in the district. This was late in November, 1917, at Kemnay. Other
new operations were started by the Companies already in the district at
Kirriemuir and Kilkerran.
As soon as the district was organised, steps were taken to instruct the
various Companies in the raising of farm produce and the keeping of pigs.
In both of these directions very successful work was carried on in almost all
cases, to the great benefit of the men and of their mess funds. The surplus
pigs were sold in the local markets and made very good prices.
24
At first there was very little in the way of amusement available for the
men in this district, although^the ladies in Kincardine had been good enough
to start a Reading and Writing Room for the men. Y.M.C.A. Huts were,
however, erected in the different Camps, and visits by concert parties, etc.,
arranged. The relations between the officers and men of the Corps and the
inhabitants were throughout of the most satisfactory character, and it is
pleasing to record that the behaviour of the men was excellent, the number
of offences being very small. The officers are much indebted to various ladies
and gentlemen of the district for abundant hospitality and excellent shooting,
while perhaps the best testimony to the popularity of the men lies in the fact
of the numerous requests that were received throughout the whole period
from the men for permission to marry. No less than 27 men in one Company
found brides in Scotland in about a year.
Perhaps one of the most vivid memories which the members of the Corps
will carry with them to Canada from this district is that of the British climate,
with which they made an extensive and peculiar acquaintance. In January,
1918, for instance, it is recorded that the weather was at one time so intensely
cold that six degrees below zero was registered, while shortly afterwards it
became excessively mild and misty to such an extent as to make the Canadians
feel quite depressed. The health of the men was, however, on the whole very
good, although there was a certain amount of sickness, mostly of the bronchial
variety brought about by the cUmatic conditions. The influenza epidemic
in 1918 caused serious trouble here as elsewhere. Accidents happened from
time to time in this district as in every other part where lumbering operations
are carried on. The difficult country was responsible for a certain number :
for instance, on one occasion a runaway truck-load of timber crashed into a
light locomotive engine, throwing out the driver, and sending the engine
uncontrolled at increasing speed along the track, which, of course, it eventually
jumped. However, in a few weeks the engine was back at work again.
In August, 1918, the Camp Hospital of No. 121 Company was completely
burnt owing to a spark from an engine setting light to the heather the Hospital
building.
A Typical Operation. — Turning our attention from a district to a single
Camp, we may take as an example an operation in another part of Scotland
in the neighbourhood of Nairn, a town and locality of great historic interest.
The timber worked was situated on the Darnaway Estate, belonging to the
Earl of Moray, and on the Estate of Moyness, the property of the Earl of
Cawdor. This was one of the first operations to be undertaken in Scotland
by the Canadians, an advance party of two officers and 30 men arriving at
Broadshaw from Bramshott on the 30th June, 1916, followed shortly afterwards
by further parties which brought the numbers up to over 300 officers and
men of the 8th and 9th Detachments of the 224th Canadian Forestry BattaHon.
The 9th Detachment was subsequently removed to Keppernach. The Camp at
Broadshaw was situated at the top of a steep hill overlooking rolling country
to the shores of the Moray Firth. The men were thus favoured with
a magnificent view, including at times warships manoeuvring in the Firth.
It was of course necessary to take precautions to prevent Hght from being
shown at night, and it is on record that on one occasion when a frozen pipe
was being thawed at night, an aeroplane swooped down to investigate. The
Camp was laid out along two sides of a triangle, the third side of which was a
road, the open space in the middle being used for pihng lumber, A Scotch
mill was first erected, followed soon after by a Canadian mill. The men were
accommodated in tents for the first three or four months, during which time
the weather was unusually wet for this locaUty, but at the end of that time
huts had been erected. The health of the Camp was good throughout ;
there were no deaths or very serious accidents recorded. But the country
was very difficult, on account of the hills and bad roads. Pole tracks were
used for bringing logs to the mill, one of these tracks being more than a mile
and a half long. Upon these tracks were run trucks having grooved wheels,
No. 21.
Inside a Mill in Scotland.
No. 22.
Typical Mills in Britain. (1)
No. 23.
Typical Mills in Britain. (2)
No. 24.
Typical Mills in Britain. (3)
25
each truck being capable of carrying approximately ten tons, drawn by horse-
power from the skid ways to the unloading platform at the mill, A donkey-
engine was used for a time in Damaway Forest for dragging whole trees to
a spot where they could be cross cut into logs, on account of the swampy
nature of parts of the ground. By far the greater part of the timber worked
was Scotch fir, but there was a fair quantity of larch, and a httle spruce ; but
no hardwood. The late autumn and winter of 1916-17 was wet, and made
the pole tracks in such a condition that haulage was the reverse of easy. But
it does not appear that this brought about any material delay in feeding the
mill with the requisite number of logs. The great difficulty at this Camp
was in relation to the transport of supphes and the sending away of the sawn
material. It was only possible to get to the Camp at the top of the hill by
a narrow road up a steep inchne. In many cases fight cars could not go up,
and the passengers had to walk up the hiU through the heavy mud. There
was also a valley between the mill and the Camp, and occasionally it was
necessary to put a traction engine at the top of the incline near the Camp,
attach a cable to a loaded tractor stuck in the dip, and so haul it up. The
soft roads in this district suffered from the haulage work so much that there were
ruts up to 1 ft. deep in places. At the beginning of operations, cars on the way
to Nairn had to ford a stream called the Muckle Burn. The Company soon
got to work on the making of a bridge, and before bad weather came a substan-
tial bridge with cement piers had been constructed, which remains as a
reminder of the sojourn of the Canadian Forestry Corps at Broadshaw,
No Portuguese, prisoners of war, or other attached labour was actually
accommodated at this Camp, although parties of foreign labourers from the
Keppernach Camp were sent over at intervals in the later stages to load lumber
and clear buildings, etc.
Farming operations were not carried on at Broadshaw, where the work ceased
before this policy was adopted. Three pigs were, however, presented to the
Company by Lieut, -Col. Miller in August, 1916, and thenceforward a piggery was
run at a good profit, of which the men's regimental fund obtained the benefit.
The Y.M.C.A. opened a large and comfortable Recreation Room at
Broadshaw Camp at the end of February, 1917, which was of great help
to the Company during its stay in this neighbourhood. Concerts and other
functions frequently took place, at which guests from the neighbouring districts
were welcomed. Various local residents were good enough to assist on the
Y.M.C.A. Amusement Committees, and their efforts were very much appreciated.
Religious services were held usually on alternate Sundays by Clergy of the
neighbourhood. Football and baseball, and other sports, it need hardly be
added, were carried on when opportunity offered. The number of marriages
between Canadian Forestry men and the girls of Nairn and district was not
so high, perhaps, as in certain other districts, but a good many letters were
sent from Nairn to the men from Broadshaw after they had been transferred
to France, and vice versa. The operations at Broadshaw were finished in April,
1917, when the last log was cut. The Canadian mill was dismantled and hauled
away to a new operation, but the men of No. 106 Company were transferred
to France, the new operation at Kinsteary being taken over by Company
No. 120. Afterwards the remaining lumber and ground material were gradually
taken away and the woods cleared by attached labour from Keppernach. Of
the buildings, some were destroyed by fire in October, 1917, but the remainder
were either dismantled and the lumber removed, or taken away in sections
for use elsewhere. The final operation was to plough the site of the Camp.
The illustrations show various examples of the work of the Corps, and
include a notable mill at Longmoor in Hampshire, where a special band re-saw
plant was installed. At this mill the logs were first squared by being passed
through circular saws, and were then sawn to the required sizes with great
rapidity by the band-saw plant, to which they were conveyed mechanically.
This mill also had a plant for resawing slabs, so as to get the greatest
possible amount of timber from the logs.
26
The Technical Warehouse. — ^A description of the operations needs to be
supplemented by some account of the Technical Warehouse from which the
Companies were suppUed with their equipment. To trace the history of the
Technical Warehouse it is necessary to hark back to the early days of the
original Battalion (224th).
Equipment was ordered in Canada on behalf of the 224th Canadian Forestry
Battahon sufficient for six Companies, comprising saw mills, tools and supplies
for millwrights, loggers, blacksmiths, electricians and farriers. Upon the
arrival in England of the third and last draft of the 224th Forestry Battalion
this equipment was already at the seaboard in England awaiting deUvery.
It was decided that London offered the best facihties for storing, assembling
and eventually despatching equipment to Companies. On 22nd May, 1916,
possession was taken of a four-storey warehouse at 18, Marshalsea Road,
London, S.E., three N.C.O.'s and seven men being attached. After a few
days' occupancy, this building was found quite insufficient to cope with the
heavy and bulky equipment then arriving : saw mill parts, wagon parts,
chain, iron and steel. Approximately 20,000 super ft. of yard space was then
secured through the Home-Grown Timber Committee in the rear of the National
Art Gallery, Trafalgar Square. These facilities quickly became inadequate,
and further yard space at the Bricklayers' Arms Station of the South Eastern
. and Chatham Railway Company was secured.
Up to 31st October, 1916, eight Companies of the 224th Forestry
Battalion were able to start operations with equipment supplied from Marshalsea
Road and the National Gallery Yard.
About 1st October, 1916, further premises were acquired at Stewart's
Lane Station, S.E. & C. Railway, Battersea. The first building to be occupied
at Stewart's Lane was formerly used as a loading shed, having a single track
through its entire length ; the yard in front was also acquired. Arrangements
were made in addition to take possession of a large building formerly used as a
locomotive blacksmith shop. This building was 400 ft. x 46 ft., and it was
proposed to share it with the prospective Canadian Forestry Corps Machine
Shops. A wooden floor was constructed, and shelf accommodation for small
tools erected. Office accommodation was shared with the S.E. & C. Railway
at the end of the shed. The yard space in front of the building was also
occupied for the storage of iron and steel, and eventually all equipment from
Marshalsea Road and the National Gallery Yard was removed to Stewart's
Lane.
Further Companies in Great Britain, and Companies No. 14 and 15 in
France, were being supplied with equipment to commence operations.
Equipment for the 224th and 238th Forestry Battahons was arriving
daily, together with that ordered by the Home-Grown Timber Committee
for the Corps, and it was found necessary to take over more of the building,
to erect Armstrong portable huts, acquire further yard space between the
tracks for the storage of boilers, engines, steel rails, lumber, etc., and to erect
a large lean-to shed. This shed was ultimately completed in the following
March, 1917. Early in 1917 the organisation was revised in regard to the
accounting for and care of Technical Stores, the staff being divided into the
requisite Departments, each in charge of a capable N.C.O.
From experience gained in shipping equipment to Companies already in
operation it was found essential to standardise a Company's requirements.
Lieut, (later Lieut.-Colonel) D. B. Campbell thereupon standardised the
equipment necessary for the various operations of a Company. What is now
known as the " Campbell Sectional List " was the result, and comprised 21
Sections as follows : —
Section 1. Material for Construction.
,, 2. Operating Supphes.
,, 3. Steam Power Plant, Tools and Supplies.
4. Blacksmith Outfit.
,, 5. Construction Tools (other than Mechanics').
No. 25.
A Lumber Avenue.
No. 26.
Dinner-time.
No. 27.
Attached Labour (Portuguese).
No. 28.
Women Timber Measurers in Buckinghamshire.
27
Section 6. Millwrights' Tool Kit.
,, 7. Saws and Saw Tools.
8. Electric Light Plant.
,, 9. Telephone Equipment.
„ 10. Electricians' Tool Kit.
,, 11. Steam Logging Plant and Supplies,
„ 12. Loggers' Outfit.
,, 13. Tools, Miscellaneous for Bushmen.
,, 14. Chains, Hooks, etc.
,, 15. Loggers, Blacksmiths' Outfits and Supphes.
16. Loggers.
„ 17. Railway Material.
„ 18. Road Construction Outfit.
„ 19. Transport.
„ 20. Harness.
,, 21. Pipes, Fittings, etc.
A Base Depot at Havre in France was formed, and to this Dep6t equipment
was shipped in bulk to provide for the immediate requirements of Companies
in France.
On 20th April, 1917, yard space with railway sidings running throughout
was acquired at Egham, 20 miles from London, on the L. & S. W. Railway, and
to this yard was diverted all railway material and transport equipment. This
became necessary on account of inadequate accommodation at Stewart's
Lane and the encroachment by the Corps on S. E. & C. Railway premises.
An N.C.O. was placed in charge at Egham Stores, the men required for loading
and unloading purposes being sent from the Base at Sunningdale (three miles
away).
The premises and plant continued to grow with the work, the Machine
Shop and Technical Warehouse compressing one another into the available
space, until on 1st October, 1917, notification was received to vacate Stewart's
Lane Depot and to occupy the London General Omnibus Company's Garage
at Bromley Road, Catford, then occupied by the Repair Section M.T. Repair
Depot. About 2,500 tons of Stores had to be moved, but by 1st November
all buildings at Stewart's Lane had been turned over to the War Department,
Heavy machinery such as boilers, logging engines, etc., were not moved on
account of siding accommodation at Catford not being available. During
the move, the supply of equipment to Companies operating in the Field was
not interfered with. Some small idea as to the quantity involved in the move
a distance of about ten miles, may be gathered from the fact that there were
moved by rail 498 truck loads, and by road 280 lorry loads. At Catford it
became necessary to provide barrack accommodation. Large semi-detached
houses situated in Berlin Road were taken over from the M.T., A.S.C. Four
of these houses were occupied by the men of the Technical Warehouse, and
two served as a joint Mess for the Technical Warehouse and Machine Shop
Sergeants. Mess accommodation for the men was provided in the Catford
Skating Rink. One of the good deeds standing to the credit of the Technical
Warehouse was that they induced the Local Authorities to rename Berlin Road
" Canadian Avenue," and a letter was received from the Mayor of Lewisham
speaking of the pleasure of the Council in being able in some way to perpetuate
the memory of the Canadian Forestry Corps.
Between 1st January, 1917, and 31st December, 1917, an average of 278
railway trucks per month were received and 164 despatched from Stewart's
Lane. Approximately two tons of equipment from local firms were also being
received daily.
On account of the growing operations of the Canadian Forestry Corps
the work of the Technical Warehouse had to be almost quadrupled, and its
total strength at 31st December, 1917, had increased to one Officer Commanding,
four other Officers and 192 N.C.O.'s and other ranks.
The following list of some of the Stores most in demand and issued by the
28
Technical Warehouse between 1st January, 1917, and 31st December, 1917,
speaks for itself :-
England.
France.
Total.
Roofing
Ruberoid . .
5,464 rolls
1,613 rolls
7,077 rolls,
,,
Tarred Felt
3,491 „
250 „
3,741 „
Nails
167,924 lbs.
126,422 lbs.
. 294,364 lbs.
Iron . .
264,990 ,,
133,310 ,,
. 398,300 „
Steel . .
19,717 „
11,805 „
31,522 „
Pipe . .
50,854 feet
72,272 feet
123,126 feet.
Cable..
285,869 ,,
168,010 „
453,879 ,,
Oil ..
33,913 galls. .
43,043 galls. .
76,956 galls,
Grease
17,694 lbs.
28,350 lbs.
46,044 lbs.
25 lb. Rail . .
411,186 feet
174,035 feet
. 585,221 feet.
Cement
157,860 lbs.
157,740 lbs.
. 308,600 lbs.
Bolts
66,228 No.
13,271 No.
79,499 No.
Files. .
37,118 „
16,583 „
53,701 „
Belting
32,819 feet
22,474 feet
55,293 feet.
Eighty-nine Saw Mills and 73 Logging Engines were sent to operations
in Great Britain and France up to 31st December, 1917.
Month by month the strenuous work went on of handling equipment,
making up plant and doing all manner of technical work, not merely for the
Corps, but for the Timber Supply Department, the American Expeditionary
Forces, the Newfoundland Forestry Corps, and to a smaller extent the Canadian
Railroad Troops. A Scotch mill was supplied to the Chief Engineer at Aldershot,
and one was sent on the request of the Deputy Director of Works, Alexandria.
Nearly 1,600 truck loads were received in 1918, apart from what came by motor
lorries and otherwise. During the year 1918 over 13,000 demands from the
operations in Great Britain and France were received, of which all but 17 were
completely filled, the remainder being filled in part, or for equipment not in
stock.
The Workshop. — At an early stage it was decided that the best way of
obtaining the mills and equipment required to supplement what was sent from
Canada was to make them.
In one of the Scottish Districts a Canadian mill and two Scotch mills had
been erected, but were not enough. The erecting engineer, Pte. (now Capt.)
D. T. Cameron, and his men, thereupon built a " Pony " mill out of the trailer
of the big mill not in use, with spare parts, and castings made at a local foundry,
a workshop being improvised by means of a discarded lathe, an old drilling
machine, and such-like plant, some items coming from a blacksmith's scrap
heap.
The same engineer was asked to lay out a more adequate workshop in
London in premises next to the Technical Warehouse at Stewart's Lane, and
soon the bare shop was tenanted by a small cupola, a brass foundry, four large
blacksmith's forges of a portable type, planer, shaper, radial drill, etc. In
February, 1917, the shop was hard at work. Further plant was added — lathes,
drilling machines, hacksaws, etc., and the organisation developed. Plans were
prepared, and patterns made for building the Waterous type of Canadian mill
adopted as the standard. Soon these mills were being turned out with every
success, but the demand grew apace and even a night shift was not enough to
meet the calls for mills, spare parts, and repairs. Men had to be trained, and
the work expanded in all directions. Equipment, too, had to be made for use
in France. A contract was placed with a Scotch firm for a number of mills in
addition to those the workshop could turn out.
A crowning difficulty was the removal from Stewart's Lane to Catford,
without seriously hampering production ; but within three weeks all was running
smoothly and the cupola was at work in under 5^ days from the time it was
dismantled. While wiring for electric power was being done the plant was
driven by petrol engines, the noise being indescribable. Still the work grew —
a new foundry was built, 50 ft. x 150 ft., a new cupola, and many other features
were added, so that the number of men in the workshops when hostiUties
ceased exceeded 200.
No. 29.
What the Y.M.C.A. provides.
No. 30.
Part of the Technical Warehouse,
No. 31. A Corner of the Machine Shop.
29
Royal Engineers. — The movement of Companies of the Corps complete
in personnel and equipment from the Base Dep6t in Windsor Great Park into
one of the six Military Commands in Great Britain, raised various technical
questions, especially of an engineering character. About the end of 1916 it
was felt that the services of an Officer of extensive experience in the Royal
Engineers were necessary to arrange generally the R.E. services duties
in connection with the C.F.C. Eventually in February, 1917, Col. G. R. R.
Savage, C.V.O., late R.E., was appointed by the War Office to command the
C.F.C. R.E. The work of this branch has to do with the construction of huts,
obtaining sites for them, accessory buildings, water supply, drainage, sanitation,
bath accommodation, telephones, care of roads at the Camps, supply of maps,
etc. In addition, there are the Engineer services connected with prisoners of
war, Portuguese and other attached labour, the construction for prisoners of war
of huts according to regular design with barbed wire entanglements and electric
light outside. Hospital accommodation and arrangements connected with
buildings taken over for the use of the Corps also fall within the scope of
Colonel Savage's Department. Every member of the Corps will from experience
be able to testify how well the work was done.
Transport. — When the Corps first came over from Canada their first
thought was to provide the lumber, and transport arrangements were
carried out by the Home-Grown Timber Committee and the Army Service
Corps. As the work of the Canadians increased, so did the quantity of lumber
to be moved, and it will not be surprising to anyone who knows the tremendous
activity of the Canadian methods of lumbering that the quantity to be lifted
grew more rapidly than the transport. In the spring of 1917 it was arranged
that tractors and trailers should be provided through the Timber Supply
Department. Later it was decided that all mechanical vehicles held by the Corps
should be taken over by the local auxiliary Mechanical Transport Company of the
A.S.C. The arrangements even then were inadequate, and in September, 1917,
Major Bagot (afterwards Lt.-CoL), Chief Transport Officer, in reporting on the
position, proposed that arrangements should be made with the War Office to
supply sufficient mechanical transport, so that the Corps might do its own hauling.
One hundred and ninety-seven three-ton lorries were asked for. By
the end of 1917 the Transport Department controlled no less than 573
mechanical vehicles, compared with less than 50 in the previous June, while at
the end of 1918 the number had increased to 727. It was found necessary to
appoint a Transport Officer to each of the Canadian Forestry Corps Districts
in Britain (Nos. 51 to 55). During the first five months of 1918, 202,900
ton-miles was the average monthly haul of all products, while for the remaining
seven months the average was 177,650 ton-miles, making a grand total of
more than 2,250,000 ton-miles for the year.
Reference has been made in a previous chapter to the manner in which the
Corps executed an urgent demand for timber for the Front, eleven days ahead
of the specified time. The maintenance of the motor transport vehicles
and the supply of sufficient railway trucks through the efforts of the Transport
Department contributed in no small measure to this result.
Forestry Branch: Accounts Branch, etc. — It goes without saying that the
organisation at Headquarters included efficient statistical and forestry sides,
dealing with instructions as to felling, preparation of maps and records, etc.
The figures given throughout this record are a sufficient testimony. Accounting
and other necessary branches were equally efficient.
Attached Labour. — It has already been mentioned that the Canadian
Forestry Corps were assisted in many instances by bodies of unskilled or
semi-skilled labour provided by the Timber Supply Department in order that
the utmost use might be made of the skilled services of the Canadians. In some
cases Portuguese, in others Finns or surplus seamen, and in others prisoners of
war, were tried, and perhaps the best results on the whole were obtained from
the last named, because of the fact that the Canadians were a Military Force.
30
The provision of attached labour became essential when, on account
of the need of men for the combatant service, some 500 were transferred from
the Corps.
Eventually it was arranged in September, 1917, that the Canadians should
have first call on all the labour that could be made available up to 2,000
Portuguese and 2,000 Finns, and as many prisoners of war as could be provided.
In September, 1917, the Department of Attached Labour was opened,
under the direction of Mr. C. Lloyd, then acting as Liaison Officer, and Capt.
H. de Burgh Mercer, of the Canadian Forestry Corps. In November Mr. Lloyd
had to resume his duties at Windsor, and Captain Mercer took over the
Department. The arrangement was that the Timber Supply Department fed,
clothed and administered the attached labour through a Quartermaster and
two interpreters for every 100 men. The Canadians were responsible for
providing huts and for directing the work of the men, which was of various
kinds, including the cleaning up of sites, construction of roads and loading of
timber.
At every operation where prisoners of war were used a special encampment
had to be provided, involving about three tons of barbed wire. The first
was erected at Langley Park, where 150 prisoners were installed early in
October, 1917. Such an encampment to take 200 men was 4| to 5 acres in
area, surrounded by a barbed wire fence 8 ft. high, together with an inner
fence 10 ft. within the outer, and 10 ft. from this fence was the death line,
consisting of a plain wire on posts about 3 ft. high. Inside were mess room,
canteen, sleeping quarters, wash and bath houses, tailors' and boot shops,
laundry, a heated drying room, cook-house, hospital and N.C.O.'s quarters,
all lit by electricity. The gate of wood and barbed wire had a guard, and there
was also a guard on all four sides of the Camp. Outside the fence were huts for
the Officers and other ranks of the guard, who were supplied from the Imperial
Forces.
Portuguese labourers were employed at a number of the Camps, including
Virginia Water, Mortimer, Lyndhurst, Mamhead and Ampthill. As soon as
accommodation had been arranged, either in premises taken over or in huts,
Quartermasters and stores were sent, followed by advance parties of 40
Portuguese, the strength being brought up to 150 men for each C.F.C., when
the Camp was ready. Similar arrangements were made in connection with
the surplus seamen, generally described as Finns ; these men were used more
especially in Scotland, where the climate was too severe for Portuguese.
Eventually it was found that the Finns and prisoners of war were the most
satisfactory forms of attached labour, and the Portuguese were largely
transferred to other work.
Special arrangements had to be made to ensure not only that the Canadians
received sufficiently abundant supplies of food for the strenuous work of the
Corps, but also that the attached labour received appropriate food. The
diversity of races meant a corresponding diversity of food ; the Portuguese in
particular were accustomed to a diet consisting largely of fish, bread, potatoes,
beans, rice and olive oil, together with green vegetables and onions. The
following shows one month's rations for 100 Portuguese, to which was added
twice a week fib. of meat per man, and once a week lib. of vegetables or
beans —
Fish .. .. 1,500 lbs. Potatoes .. .. 900 lbs.
Bread
Maize
Oil ..
Salt
Coffee
Meat
2.625 „
Beans
960 ,.
Rice
15 gals.
Lard
300 lbs.
Onions
60 „
Greens
600 „
1,500
3,000
60
120
800
Woe betide the Quartermaster who issued beans the slightest bit musty,
or oil that was stale, for these men were connoisseurs, and the whole camp
would be around him with dishes in hand, every man explaining his grievance
in his own way.
31
Food Production. — Something is said on this head in describing typical
operations, but the work was of such interest that it deserves a special note.
Realising the food shortage in Great Britain, the Corps conceived the idea
of producing as much of their own food as possible, thus reUeving the heavy
demand on the A.S.C. and the Imperial Forces. The possibility of cultivating
farming plots at the Camps was discussed, and through Mr. A. J. Forrest,
Deputy Surveyor H.M. Office of Woods and Forests, a model farm of 32
acres in Windsor Great Park, near the Base Camp of Sunningdale, was lent by
H.M. the King for this purpose. Later an additional 66 acres, known as Norfolk
Farm, near Virginia Water, was also lent by His Majesty, and a further 70
acres of private land at Virginia Water was rented for ^36 per annum. At
the Norfolk Farm 47 acres were put under potatoes, 15 under oats, 6 under
beet, and the remainder small vegetables. The operations were in charge of
Captain B. G. Rennie, of British Columbia, who was appointed Food Production
Officer, assisted by two experienced farmer N.C.O.'s, one of whom was specially
skilled in bacon curing. No man on the work was of a medical category higher
than B 2, and none of the Officers was eligible for general service. The bacon
cured was either sent to the A.S.C. or used at the local Forestry Corps Camps.
The refuse from the messes went a long way towards feeding the stock of 70 pigs
and 140 head of poultry. Their Majesties the King and Queen took a keen
interest in these farms, and the Officer Commanding and his Staff bear testimony
not only to the graceful acts of courtesy and hospitality shown by them, but
also practical assistance afforded towards making the work at Sunningdale a
great success. This will certainly be a pleasant memory to the many thousands
of Canadian Forestry Corps men who have been from time to time quartered
in that delightfully situated Base distributing Camp, which, in fact, was regarded
as one of the most beautiful in Great Britain.
The good work at the Base was naturally followed elsewhere, and within
a little more than a year the Corps was operating 36 Company Farms in Great
Britain, occupying 470 acres, and producing potatoes, turnips, parsnips, onions,
carrots, cabbages and other vegetables and garden produce, besides hay,
oats, rape, etc., as food for horses and pigs. The breeding of pigs was undertaken
on a large scale and with very successful results, especially at Sunningdale.
At each farm it was the rule that at least 10 pigs should be kept so as to utilise
all the waste from the messes. In July, 1918, there were on all the farms
461 pigs, 142 fowls, 110 chickens and 40 rabbits. The last named proved a
very profitable side line, and were bred on a large scale.
It should be mentioned that most of the land acquired for farming purposes
was kindly lent rent free or obtained on very easy terms.
Medical Services. — When it is remembered that the Canadians were
operating in a country and climate to which many of them were strangers,
and often in out of the way localities, the need for special Medical arrangements
is very evident. As early as March, 1916, a Medical Officer was appointed for
the 224th Battalion, in the person of Captain R. R. Barker, C.A.M.C, who had
had practical experience of the medical side of a Canadian Lumber Camp. Men
of the Corps who had already some knowledge of first-aid were put through a
further course and sent as medical orderlies with the various companies, but
it soon became necessary to add other Medical Officers to the Corps and to
extend the organisation by attaching an Officer to each District Headquarters, the
supervising Medical Officer being in London.
The Medical Orderlies were at the end of 1916 transferred to the C.A.M.C,
and attached to the Companies as Medical Sergeants. A medical hut was
included in the buildings of each Camp, and usually contained two rooms,
one serving as a dispensary and the other holding six cots. This hut formed the
centre of the medical work of the Camp, such as sick parades, dressings, etc.
The services of the nearest Doctor were enlisted where possible to supplement
these arrangements, and fortunately in most cases there was within a few miles
of most of the Camps a V.A.D. Hospital or larger institution where serious cases
could be sent. The fact that Camps, generally speaking, had railway facilities
32
for taking away the timber naturally assisted the transport of the sick, but the
arrangements had to be adapted to the widely differing circumstances of various
Companies.
The Medical Services grew with the Corps and it became necessary to have
a Medical Officer at the Base Depot, where in the autumn of 1917 a sick detention
hut with 20 beds was erected, and Armstrong huts were reserved for isolation.
Later a segregation camp was arranged for quarantining men from Canada.
In March, 1918, a hospital of 75 beds was opened at the Base Depot. Medical
supplies were at first obtained from the Canadian Medical Service, but at the
end of 1917 it was arranged that these should be drawn from the Imperial
Authorities.
In addition to caring for the sick, the Medical Officers were of course
interested in various matters affecting the health of the men, such as ventilation
of the huts, heating and lighting, cooking, messing, bathing, water supply
and sanitation. The health of the men on the whole has been very good,
making allowance for the Influenza epidemic.
Y.M.C.A. and Similar Bodies. — This record would be incomplete without
mention of the splendid help afforded by the Y.M.C.A., who had a hut at every
camp, usually containing a piano and facilities for writing, games and amuse-
ments ; a small dry canteen was also operated in connection with each Y.M.C.A.
hut, separate from the other canteen arrangements of the camp. The officers
and men of the Corps owe much to the Y.M.C.A., Church Army and kindred
bodies, in relieving what might otherwise have been tedious hours in many an
outlying camp.
Table of Operations in Great Britain. — In the following table are given
the names of the operations carried out by the various Companies concerned,
the period of working and the output : —
Period Operating. Total Production.
Coy.
No.
Location of Operation.
51 DISTRICT.
106
107
117
129
120
122
138
Broadshaw, Nairn
Knockando, Elgin
Keppernach, Nairn
Achneim, Nairn . .
Ord, Nairn
Dornoch, Sutherland
Dornoch, Sutherland
Kinsteary, Nairn
Orton, Elgin
Forres, Elgin
Scurrapool, Elgin
Braemore, Ross-shire
62 DISTRICT.
Ill
112
113
115
127
131
132
133
139
Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbright . .
Southwick, Kircudbright
Longtown, Cumberland . .
No. 2 Netherby, Cumberland . .
Chillingham, Northumberland . .
Whittingham, Northumberland
Netherby, Cumberland . .
Castletown, Cumberland
Worksop, Notts . .
Dalston, Cumberland
Thurstonfield, Cumberland
Harbottle, Northumberland
Appleby, Lines . .
Birkenside, Roxburgh . .
Cliburn, Westmorland . .
Geltwood, Cumberland . .
Mansfield, Notts
Beaconwood, Cumberland
Wolsingham, Durham . .
Lantonhill, Roxburgh . .
Commence-
Com-
Cubic
^
Equivalent
ment.
pletion.
feet.
F.B.M.
1- 7-16 .
. 24- 4-17 ..
756,267 .
. 9.075,204
5-11-17 .
—
399,520 .
. 4.794.240
27- 8-16 .
. 27- 8-17 . .
875,919 .
. 10,511,028
27- 8-17 .
10-12-18 ..
421,815 .
5.061,780
27- 8-17 .
—
279,198 .
. 3,350.376
22-11-17 .
—
238,584 .
. 2,863,008
22-11-17 .
—
802,490 .
9.629.880
14- 5-17 .
5- 4-18 ..
728,780 .
. 8.745.360
12- 3-18 .
—
538,517 .
. 6.462,204
1- 6-17 .
20- 6-18 . .
599,918 .
. 7,199,016
18- 7-18 .
12-12-18 ..
166,459 .
1,997,508
13- 7-18 .
—
27,178 .
326,136
6- 6-16 .
26-11-17 ..
378,466 .
. 4,541.592
27- 3-17 .
31-10-17 ..
66,956 .
803,472
29-12-17 .
30- 7-18 . .
277,226 .
. 3.326,712
1-10-18 .
—
56,491 .
677,892
15-11-17 .
12-10-18 ..
456,679 .
5.480,148
19-10-16 .
15-12-17 ..
572,860 .
6,874,320
18-10-16 .
21- 7-17 ..
183,115 .
. 2,197,380
26- 7-17 .
8-12-17 ..
169,720 .
. 2.036,640
20-12-17 .
—
533,499 .
. 6,401.988
8- 1-17 .
17- 8-17 .,
326,839 .
. 3.922,068
20- 8-17 .
5-12-17 ..
193,331 .
. 2,319,972
15-11-17 .
14- 8-18 ..
581,769 .
. 6.981,228
28-6-18 .
—
144,514 .
1,734,168
4-10-17 .
11- 1-19 ..
712,850 .
8.554,200
10-11-17 .
19- 6-18 ..
308,599 .
. 3.703,188
5- 7-18 .
—
122,606 .
1,471,272
18-12-17 .
8-11-18 ..
463,538 .
. 5.562,456
10-11-17 .
1- 7-18 ..
528,334 .
. 6.340.008
1- 8-18 .
—
41.169 .
494,028
28- 2-18 .
29-11-18 ..
297,631 .
. 3.571,572
33
Period Operating.
Total Production.
Coy.
No. Location of Operation.
Commence
Com-
f ■
Cubic
A. _^
Equivalent
ment.
pletion.
Feet.
F.B.M.
53 DISTRICT.
101 Virginia Water, Surrey . .
. . 13- 5-16 .
—
.. 2.149,811
. 25.797.732
102 Rapley Lake, Surrey . .
. . 17- 5-16 .
. 26- 9-17
482,420
. 5.789,042
Mortimer, Berks
. . 3- 9-17 .
. 26- 9-18
957.261
. 11,487,130
116 Groombridge, Sussex
. . 2- 2-17 .
. 26- 9-18
857,337
. 10,288,044
119 Langley Park, Bucks
. . 28- 5-17 .
. 4- 7-18
625,531
. 7,506.372
Wendover, Bucks
. . 6- 5-18 .
—
390,933
. 4.691,196
125 Woburn Sands, Bucks . .
.. 18- 8-17 .
. 25- 7-18
.. 1,072,466 .
. 12.869.592
126 Ampthill, Beds . .
. . 25- 8-17 .
. 16-11-18
706,696 .
. 8,480.352
Downham Hall, Suffolk. .
. . 27- 7-18 .
—
43.940 .
527,280
135 Sandhurst, Surrey
. . 5- 1-18 .
—
702,210 .
. 8.426.520
1 36 Black Lake, Surrey
. . 22- 2-18 .
—
421,208 .
. 5.054,499
140 Smiths Lawn, Berks
. . 19-11-17 .
—
384,689 .
. 4.616,268
54 DISTRICT.
103 Emery Down, Hants
. . 24- 4-17 .
27- 5-18
667,565 .
. 8,010,780
Norley Wood, Hants
. . 20- 5-16 .
21- 2-17
121,712 .
1,460,544
Longleat, Wilts . .
. 14- 5-18 .
—
231.192 .
. 2.774,304
104 Stover, Devon
. 9- 4-16 .
13-10-17
653.888 .
. 7,846,656
Mamhead and Starcross, Devon 22- 6-17 .
—
917,526 .
. 11,010.312
105 Torrington, Devon
. 3-12-17 .
22- 7-18
278.264 .
. 3.3v39,168
Wool, Dorset
. 25- 7-18 . .
—
87.781 .
1,053.372
114 Esher, Surrey
. 31- 1-17 ..
26-11-17
751.816 .
. 9.021,792
Eartham, Sussex
. 16- 8-17 ..
—
. . 1,513.049 .
. 18,156,588
117 Llanthony Abbey, S. Wales
. 19- 3-17 ..
22-10-17
257,875 .
. 3.094,500
118 Longmoor, Hants
. 25- 6-17 . .
—
. . 1,272,824 .
. 15,273.888
137 Longmoor, Hants
. 18- 1-18 ..
—
110,546 .
1,326,552
125 Brockenhurst, Hants
. 28- 8-18 . .
—
25,796 .
309,552
Tisbury, Wilts
. 28- 9-18 . .
—
3.816 .
45.792
134 Plym Bridge, Devon
. 14- 1-18 ..
—
321,081 .
. 3,852.972
55 DISTRICT.
105 Kirkconnel, Dumfries . .
. 9- 6-16 ..
6- 4-17
431.922 .
. 5.183.064
108 Taymount, Perth
Methven, Perth
. 1-12-16 ..
. 20-10-17 . .
7-11-17
3- 8-18
•\ 870,779 .
. 10.449.348
Kirriemuir, Forfar
. 16- 7-18 ..
—
48,580 .
582.960
109 MauchUne, Ayr . .
. 29- 1-17 ..
12- 5-17
206.667 .
. 2,480,004
Kincardine, Fife . .
. 30-10-17 ..
—
673.238 .
. 8.078.856
1 1 0 Aviemore, Inverness
. 10-11-16 ..
22-10-17
647.277 .
. 7.767,324
Nethy Bridge, Inverness
. 15-10-17 ..
—
668.335 .
. 8.020.020
121 Loch Morhch, Inverness
. 21- 7-17 ..
—
643,078 .
. 7.716.936
128 Kincardine, Fife
. 9-11-17 ..
10- 7-18
51.381 .
616.572
Kilkerran, Ayr . .
. 27- 5-18 ..
—
191,010 .
. 2.292,120
130 Kemnay, Aberdeen
. 27-11-17 ..
513.251 .
. 6,159.012
33.205,588 ..
398,467,056
Note. — In the case of Companies which had not completed operations the production
figures are given up to the end of December, 1918.
SUMMARY.
Production in Great Britain from commencement of Operations to
end of year, 1918.
Period.
Commencement to end of year. 1916
Jan. 1st. 1917, to end of year. 1917
Jan. 1st. 1918, to end of year, 1918
GRAND TOTAL
Sawn
Material.
F.B.M.
18.534.156
77,120,160
161,944,332
257,598,648
Round
Material.
Tons.
4,403
31,686
48.258
84,347
Slabs
and Fuel
Tons.
13.515
56.224
133,179
202,918
(504)
34
Chapter V.
OPERATIONS IN FRANCE.
Early Stages : Colonel McDougall's Report. — Mention has already been
made of Lord Kitchener's early request that Canadian lumbermen might be
sent to France, and how, as the outcome. Colonel (afterwards General) McDougall,
with two other officers, paid a four days' visit to the timber operations then being
carried on by the British Armies behind the lines, in June, 1916.
In his Report Colonel McDougall began by pointing out the importance of
closer co-operation between the various branches, and of improved equipment
adapted to cutting beech timber which was at that time chiefly available.
He then referred to the work already being carried on by the Engineering
Officers at the Front who were making the best of the limited facilities at their
disposal. He pointed out the many uses of lumber for mining work, trench
and road work, sleepers and bridge timbers, and in other directions ; the
difficulty of fashioning and carpentering the miscellaneous material that could
be obtained to suit the jobs for which it was needed ; the unsuit ability of beech
timber for many of the purposes for which timber was needed at the Front.
His recommendations were as follows : —
1. That pine forests should be acquired at once, under proper
advice as to quality and price, and that they should be felled and
manufactured by the lumbermen.
2. That the beech forests should only be used for supplying
firewood and rough timber for roads and mines.
3. That the organisation for supplies of timber in France should
be reorganised, and that an Engineering Officer, experienced in
lumbering, should be sent to France to carry out the work.
4. That indents from every source in France should pass through
this Officer, who would pass them to London with his recommendations
as to the source of supply.
5. That the persons presently responsible for supplies in England
and France should be brought into close co-operation, so that no
timber would be imported from abroad or from England that could
be obtained through the lumbermen in France.
With regard to the organisation of the Lumbermen's Battalions, he
suggested : —
That the Battalions that were being raised in Canada come over
in Units of 150 or 200, and that they should not sail from Canada
without their complete equipment, saw-mills, tools, etc.
That each Unit should consist of the requisite number of saw-mill
hands, fellers, horsemen, etc.
That they should all be controlled from London, under one
Chief, who would, with a knowledge of the operations in both countries,
determine their distribution.
That the complete equipment should not be decided until the
nature of the forests acquired in France is determined.
It had previously been suggested that 1,000 Canadian lumbermen might
usefully be employed in France, where forestry operations were already being
carried on behind the lines, but the Report showed various ways in which
improvement was desirable in view of the prolongation of the War and the
increase in the magnitude of the operations.
Although the suggestions in this Report were not adopted in their entirety
they were of great help, and eventually, as already noted in a previous chapter,
No. 32. Railing Logs in the Vosges.
No. 33. Truck-load at the end of a 600 ft. Trestle in the Vosges.
No. 34.
On the Trestle.
35
Colonel McDougall was placed in charge of all Canadian Forestry Units both in
France and Britain, with the rank, bestowed on the 26th September, of Tem-
porary Colonel. Major B. R. Hepburn was also appointed Lieut-Col, and
Assistant Director of Timber Operations.
The Canadian lumbermen soon made good wherever they went. As early
as June, 1916, the French Minister of War wrote with regard to them that he
had no doubt that, thanks to their professional efficiency which had been
witnessed both in France and in England, and also to their being conscious of
the importance of their task, the Canadian lumbermen would succeed within
a short time in making up for the deficiency (of lumber) , or at all events greatly
alleviate it.
British Official Mission and its results. — On the 29th September, 1916,
representatives of various British Departments and of the Canadian Forestry
Units proceeded to France to meet French officials in connection with the
supply of timber to the British Army. The Mission comprised Mr. (now Sir) Frank
Baines, of H.M. Office of Works, etc., Mr. J. Sutherland, Director of the Home-
Grown Timber Committee, and Mr. F. R. S. Balfour, of the same Committee,
together with Col. McDougall, Col. Rathbun, Major Hepburn, Major McDonnell
and Major Miller, of the Canadian Forestry Units, with Mr. James Eggar, of
the Office of Works. They conferred in France with Gen. Chevalier, Directeur
de Genie, Ministere de la Guerre, Commandant Joseph Thiollier, Inspecteur
des Eaux et Forets, and Captain Herbillon, attached to the Ministere de la
Guerre. Mr. Forges accompanied the deputation as Interpreter. The Mission,
after meeting the French Officers, proceeded to inspect various forests in
Brittany, Normandy and the Jura. The arrangements under which felling
might be carried on were discussed with the French Officers concerned, and
it was explained that for a continuous lumbering operation an area of at least
500 hectares should be provided ; also that a storage depot near the British
Army zone would be required, and that the question of transport was most
important. The French State Forests are worked on scientific principles,
according to which thinning to a definite extent only is permitted. It need
hardly be said that the Canadians would much have preferred working areas
which could be clear felled. The Mission accordingly recommended that if
possible a large extent of mature and partially mature woodlands of at least
500 hectares in the Jura forests should be exploited by the Canadian Battalions,
and that each of the areas should not be of less than 150 to 200 hectares in
compact blocks, out of which not less than 200 cubic metres per hectare should
be felled. This last condition was regarded as imperative if rapid production
was to be obtained. In addition it was suggested that if possible a forest of
well-grown pine at least 80 years old, covering not less than 100 hectares,
should be made available for clear felling nearer the British fines.
Following upon this visit, Col. McDougall recommended to the Canadian
Adjutant-General that in view of the organisation of a Directorate of Forestry
it would be expedient for all the Canadian Forestry Units arriving from Canada
to be absorbed into a Unit to be created, and designated The Canadian Forestry
Corps. This proposal was carried into effect, and was eventually embodied
on the 21st November, 1916, under Headquarters Canadians (Brighton)
After-Order No. 1.
Previously, in September, 1916, to meet the urgent needs in France, he
had arranged to equip 250 men from the supplies in the United Kingdom, and
to send them, with a mill belonging to the Home-Grown Timber Committee,
to work in France. At that time the 238th Battalion was coming forward, and
it was suggested that one of the BattaUons in Britain should be transferred to
France, and half of the new Battalion be put to work in Britain until arrange-
ments for receiving it in France were completed. He suggested on the 23rd
September, 1916, to the Canadian Authorities, that if possible a further
Battalion, which might be composed of French Canadians, in addition to the
224th, 238th and 242nd, should be provided, and that this further Battalion
and the 238th should be equipped for work on pine forests, while the 242nd
(504) D 2
36
was equipped for operating beech woods. As already indicated, the 230th
Battalion of French Canadians was eventually turned into a Forestry Battalion.
The formation of the War Timber Commission has already been referred to
in Chapter II. Under this arrangement, at the end of October, 1916, two
Liaison Officers between the French Government and the Canadian Forestry
Units were appointed and given temporary commissions, namely, Lieut.-Col.
F. R. S. Balfour and Major E. D. Forges, both of whom took part in the visit
of British ofificials to France in September. It was arranged in November, 1916,
that the Home-Grown Timber Committee would bear the cost of technical
equipment, etc., for the work in France as for that in Great Britain.
Organisation of the Corps in France. — After the formation of the War
Timber Commission, operations in France were commenced in the centre of
Normandy, and a Group Headquarters was formed at Conches-en-Ouche, in the
department of Eure. In a very short time it became apparent that the work
in France would be as large if not larger than that in England, owing to the
difficulties of transportation between Great Britain and France, together
with the amount of time that could be saved in supplying the Armies in the
Field with the lumber that they required from local sources.
On 17th March, Colonel J. B. White arrived in France to assume the duties
of Director of Timber Operations there, making his Headquarters at Paris-Plage,
where he would be in touch with the Headquarters of the British Directorate
of Forestry.
In carrying on this work, an Establishment was drawn up and approved by
the War Office, providing for the formation of C.F.C. Companies, District and
Group Headquarters (the District Headquarters to administer three or more
Companies on one area, and the Group Headquarters to administer two Districts) ,
a Technical Warehouse (to be located at Le Havre), and a Corps Headquarters.
It was arranged that the forests to be operated were to be supplied
through the British Directorate of Forestry, who would also prepare the
sawing specifications required. All trees to be felled were to be marked by the
Commission Forestiere d'Expertises on behalf of the French Government. As
soon as Right of Entry to any forest was authorised the Canadian Forestry
Corps was then to assume full responsibility for the operation.
To facihtate the exploitation of French forests it was afterwards arranged,
following upon Conferences on 2nd and 25th May, 1917, between French and
British representatives, that a Committee should be formed, eventually known
as " Le Comite InteraUie des Bois de Guerre," to be composed of French,
British and Canadian representatives, including General McDougall and
General Lord Lovat, with a standing Executive Board having four members,
one being Lt. -Colonel Sutherland and one designated by the Canadian Forestry
Corps. The last-named appointment was filled on 2nd July by the appointment
of Capt. P. D. L. Lyall. American representation was subsequently added.
Up to the end of May, 22 Canadian Forestry Corps Companies had arrived
in France and were operating under the Central Group Headquarters previously
formed, and under No. 6 District Headquarters, formed in April at Gerardmer,
Vosges. In June ten additional Companies arrived in France from England,
and in July No. 1 District was formed with Headquarters at Alengon, and also
No. 4 District with Headquarters at Orleans. In the latter month six more
Companies arrived. In August eight more Companies were sent out, and No. 9
District Headquarters was formed at Albert to administer Companies in the
Armies Group, working solely for the British Armies. No. 5 District Head-
quarters was formed at La Joux, Jura, and No. 12 District Headquarters
at Facture, Gironde. In September three Companies arrived, and No. 2 District
Headquarters was formed at Conches. In October six more Companies were
sent out from England, and No. 1 Forest Party and No. 2 Forest Party,
consisting of Canadians who had been in France working under the direction
of Imperial Authorities since 6th June, 1916, were taken over by the
Corps with the titles of Nos. 1 and 2 Companies, Canadian Forestry
Corps. The Eclaron Detachment was organized in this month, consisting of
g] luiLiiiiiiiiu.i.iiiiiiiiiiiiiii." I =:
CANADIAN
CORPS
UOCATION •'-<'«i/3/f
GROUPS
DISTRICTS
■" I""" .LI'IIIIIIIIIIIIT!
No. 35.
Map showing C.F.C. Operations in France.
37
what was previously known as the Noyon Detachment, working for the French
Armies. In November one more Company arrived from England, making a
total of 58 Canadian Forestry Corps Companies in France. The Jura Group was
formed in this month to control Nos. 5 and 6 Districts. In February, 1918,
No. 10 District was formed from the old Eclaron Detachment, and the Bordeaux
District was formed for the administration of Nos. 4 and 12 Districts. In
June, 1918, in connection with work for the Royal Air Force, two Companies
arrived from England, and in July No. 1 1 District was formed to control these
Companies. In September three more Companies arrived for this District,
followed in October by two more.
The prompt success of the Canadian Forestry operations in France was
contributed to by the action of General McDougall, with the advice of the
senior Officers of the Corps, in arranging in October, 1916, the purchase of
machinery and equipment for 10,000 men before the men were officially
authorised. The Canadian Pacific Railway, realising the importance of the
work, helped with the purchase and movement of this machinery. Owing
to the foresight shown, the Canadian Forestry Corps operations have been
able to maintain their high standard of efficiency.
In all operations of the Canadian Forestry Corps in France, they have had
attached to their Companies unskilled labour, such as Prisoners of War
Companies, Chinese Labour Companies, and Russian Labour Companies.
In March, 1918, at the time of the German advance, the Canadian Forestry
Corps was called upon to train men as reinforcements for the Combatant Forces
up to about two BattaUons of 800 men. Instructions were sent to all Districts
for a certain number of men in each District to complete their infantry training,
which was accordingly done. In October, 1918, the Canadian Forestry Corps
was called upon for reinforcements for the Canadian Corps, which owing to
these preparations they were able to supply.
As showing what the Corps could do, the following record output was made
in June, 1918. With a standard Canadian mill, driven by a 120 h.p. twin
Robey engine, having two boilers of 44 h.p. and one of 25 h.p., in 10 hours
working time, from 7 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. — 3,931 pieces of
lumber all cut square, trimmed and of various sizes, were turned out, amounting
to 130,438 F.B.M. Another cut for 10 hours running time amounted to 1 15,366
F.B.M.
A record transfer of a mill from one operation to another in May of the
same year, was that of a Scotch mill with a Campbell attachment. The last
log was sawn at the old operation at 9 a.m. on the 29th May. The mill was
moved a distance of five kilometres, erected on the new site, and sawing
commenced at 7 a.m. on the 30th May, and was in full swing by 2 p.m. on that
date. On the 31st of May, 18,000 F.B.M. were produced. On the 1st June,
this was increased to 23,000 ft.
Following upon the Armistice, the arrangements made had for their object
to arrive at a position which would permit operations to be closed down on
two or three weeks' notice, or to resume their normal production immediately.
Accordingly the instructions provided that all coupes in which work was actually
proceeding should be cleared up, and that afterwards felling should be limited
to the amount necessary to maintain a stock of logs for sawing to allow of a
one mill shift of eight hours per day for one week. In the meantime sawn timber
was not to be despatched if avoidable. Logs were to be hauled to mills and
converted into commercial sizes, and the sawn lumber was to be piled with a
view to preservation in places convenient for removal, but not where it would
cause congestion of current traffic. Poles, etc., were to be stacked at the road
side. In short, the operations were to be carried out on the lines of a commercial
undertaking, with an avoidance of every unnecessary expense and with a
careful taking of stock. Shortly after the Armistice, steps were taken to begin
demobilising the Corps in France, preference being given to married men of
long service and low medical categories.
38
Appreciation of the Corps' Work. — The following is an extract from
Field- Marshal Sir Douglas Haig's despatch of 25th December, 1917 : —
"Forestry and Quarry Units.
" By September, 1917, the Army had become practically
self-supporting as far as regards timber, and during the active period
of working, from May to October, over three-quarters of a million
tons of timber were supplied for the use of the British Army. Included
in this timber was material sufficient to construct over 350 miles of
plank roads, and to provide sleepers for 1,500 miles of railway, beside
great quantities of sawn timber for hutting and defences, and many
thousand tons of round timber, fascines and fuel. The bulk of the
fuel wood is being obtained from woods already devastated by
artillery fire.
" These Forestry and Quarry Units have proved of great value,
and have been the source of very considerable economy. My special
thanks are due to the French Forestry Authorities, as well as to the
Comite Interallie des Bois de Guerre, for their assistance in our
negotiations regarding the acquisition of woods and forest areas."
In addition to supplying themselves with machinery, the Canadian Forestry
Corps have supplied some equipment and machinery to the Royal Engineers,
and also to the American Forces, from whom they received the following letter
written by Colonel Woodruff, American representative on the Comite Interallie
des Bois de Guerre : —
" We wish to express our appreciation to the Canadian Forestry
Corps for the excellent co-operation and assistance they have given
the Americans in the Vosges, at Besan9on, in the Landes, and in fact
all over France.
" They have secured for us five complete saw-mills.
" In addition to the above, the Canadian Forestry Corps have
repeatedly loaned equipment to the American Forestry Troops, and
have extended invitations to them to join in all of their sports and
entertainments, and have co-operated in the matter of policing near-by
towns, and in every manner assisted to the fullest extent.
" The American Forestry Troops are also indebted to the Canadian
Forestry Corps for the use of their machine shops to make repairs
to broken parts of the American mills, and for promptly furnishing
lumber for building barracks on the arrival of the Americans at a
time when it was most important that shelter be provided for the
troops.
". . . I am pleased to thank General McDougall on behalf of
the American Expeditionary Forces."
The Paris Office. — Turning to the work of the individual bodies of the
Corps, we may begin with the Paris Office, started on 24th June, 1917, whose
work at first consisted of compiUng statistics, translating contracts, etc. Owing
to the central position of this office it was not long before its usefulness was
appreciated and its original duties enlarged upon. It became a connecting
link between Corps Headquarters at Paris-Plage and the Group and District
Headquarters, which in turn controlled the Canadian Forestry Corps Companies
scattered over the whole of France. It enabled the Director of Timber Operations
more easily to meet his Group and District Commanders, and conferences were
arranged from time to time. On 24th August, 1917, the purchasing of small
parts of machinery and mill equipment, which had previously been carried out
by the British Forestry Mission, was taken over. Such orders were invariably
required urgently to replace some small breakdown or to complete the
erection of new machinery. These orders were often placed and the material
shipped within 24 hours after receipt of the necessary information, thus
preventing what might have caused a serious delay in the milling operations.
No. 36.
Loading on Wagons.
No. 37.
Loading on Wagons.
No. 38.
Loading at Railhead in the Vosges.
39
Lt. P. W. Lyall with his Staff of 1 Officer and 8 other ranks started the
work. In November, 1917, when the establishment was approved for this
Detachment, Lt. Lyall continued in charge with the rank of Staff Captain, being
made Lt.-Col. in September, 1918, and Deputy Assistant Director of Timber
Operations in charge of the Marne Group, Capt. G. N. Ledger taking over
command of the Paris Detachment.
From August, 1917, to November, 1918, the total amount of purchases
made through this Office amounted to 152,192 francs, all accounts approved
and no accounts standing.
Medical Services. — During the early days of the Corps in France, httle
attention was paid to medical services, the Units being too small to necessitate
a distinct organization. However, as Districts began to multiply and Companies
began to operate in more out-of-the-way areas, it became apparent that special
hospitals were necessary to give the attention and everything else required in
the interests of humanity and efficiency.
The first step was taken when Lt. -Colonel F. W. E. Wilson was sent to
the Jura Group as Medical Officer in July, 1917, where a small hospital was just
being started. The decision that special hospitals should be opened has
since been justified by a great saving in man power through abiUty to give
prompt care to all serious ailments or injuries, besides the fact that the patients
were naturally happier than when placed in large, strange hospitals amongst
men unknown to them. The C.F.C. Hospital at Champignole in the Jura
Group, with 150 beds, a good medical staff, and C.A.M.C. nurses, since its
inception has admitted 4,000 patients and has proved a great success.
The sanitation of the entire Jura Group of operations was also taken in
hand, with the result that the arrangements were unsurpassed by any other
military organization in France They included hot and cold baths for the men
at all times, clean kitchens and dining halls.
In the winter of 1917-18 it became necessary that a Senior Officer should
be appointed to take entire charge of the Corps medical work, as the
increasingly scattered forestry operations rendered it exceedingly difficult to
superintend the necessary arrangements. Lt.-Col. Wilson was accordingly
appointed Senior Medical Officer and Assistant Director of Medical Services
with the C.F.C, and on 15th April, 1918, he opened an office at Corps
Headquarters.
Statistics compiled on 9th October, 1918, show that the Medical Services
of the C.F.C. had provided 408 beds, of which 330 were then occupied, 26
Medical Officers, 13 Nurses, and 159 C.A.M.C. personnel. The ambulance
service, comprising in all 16 ambulances, had been organized so that all Districts
were well supplied.
In all this work the Medical Services of the C.F.C. have been greatly assisted
by the Canadian Red Cross Society, who have freely given ambulances and
many comforts for the patients, and have assisted in furnishing hospitals
throughout the Corps. The very good record of health of the C.F.C. in France
was to a great extent due to the active support and sympathetic consideration
given to the advice of the Medical Officers by the Director of Timber Operations
and the various Group and District Commanders.
Chaplain Services. — The first Chaplain in the C.F.C.in France was appointed
in February, 1917, when there were only five Companies in the Group. Another
was appointed in June, 1917. In October, 1917, one was sent to the Bordeaux
Group. As the work of the Corps developed, the organisation of the Chaplain
Services was strengthened and the number increased until at the conclusion of
hostilities there were 15 Chaplains with the Corps in France.
As the Companies were separated by distances of from 5 to 100 miles, it
was no easy matter for the Chaplains to maintain constant touch, but
this difficulty was overcome by the willingness of Corps Headquarters
40
to render every available assistance, and by the eagerness of the Chaplains
themselves to allow of no hindrance to their work. Every possible means of
transport open to them was utilised, and it was not long before each Company
was having services at least once a month. The Chaplains soon took up the
matter of recreation for the men, and Cinemas and Lectures were started.
The question of Education has also been attended to, and correspondence
classes arranged through the Khaki University of Canada.
At regular intervals the Senior Chaplain has visited all the Companies in
France, delivering addresses to the men during their lunch hours and in the
evenings, and travelling in all some 17,000 kilometres to keep in touch with
the men and with the individual work of every Chaplain.
Technical Warehouse, Le Havre. — This Unit was started in April, 1917,
and was at first known as the Le Havre Detachment. It was charged with the
receipt and despatch of all Technical Equipment required by the Corps in
France, the bulk of this material coming from Headquarters in England, and
the remainder from the Director of Works and the Chief Ordnance Officer.
The warehouse was acquired in May, 1917, at the R.E. Base Park, Le Havre, to
hold spare parts likely to be urgently needed. From 1st June to 31st December,
1917, over 7,000 tons of material was sent to the Districts in France, in
addition to mobilisation equipment brought over by Forestry Companies
arriving from England. Since January, 1917, the Unit at Le Havre has handled
over 1 1,000 tons of equipment. This constitutes no mean achievement, including
as it does the loading and despatch of over 800 railway trucks. This was
accomplished in the face of the shortage of railway trucks, and the fact that
the Canadians were by no means the only persons needing them.
Central Group Headquarters. — These Headquarters date from the arrival
of Lt.-Col. Rathbun and his Staff at Le Havre on 28th November, 1916, whence
they proceeded to Conches (Eure). No. 14 Company, the first of the Canadian
Forestry Corps to operate in France, began operations at Bois Normand in
December, 1917. This Company was followed by Numbers 19, 20, 23 and 24,
to work additional areas, and all had mills in operation before the spring of 1917.
Numbers 30, 32, 34, 38, 42 and 44 Companies followed, and later, in July, 1917,
Numbers 53 and 54. As the work increased it became necessary to form separate
Districts. No. 1 District was formed in July, 1917, with Headquarters at
Alengon (Orne), and No. 2 District in September of the same year with
Headquarters at Conches.
When the Companies Nos. 51, 53 and 15 were transferred to the Bordeaux
group in the summer of 1917, the Headquarters were moved in November, 1917.
from Conches to Evreux.
As illustrating the doings of one individual Company, No. 20 may be
taken as an example. This Company was recruited in Canada as a part of
the 242nd BattaHon, left Hahfax for England in November, 1916, and arrived
in France on 2nd January, 1917, with a strength of six Officers and 187 other
ranks. The Company proceeded to Lyre (Bois Normand). Logging operations
and the erection of a Scotch mill were commenced on 9th January, and on the
22nd of the same month operations were started at the mill, which were
completed by 3rd February. The Company then proceeded to Blanchelande,
where logging operations were started on 7th February, and from 14th May
to 23rd June sawing operations with a Scotch mill were carried on. On 11th
June a Canadian mill was put into operation, and the entire exploitation was |
completed on 23rd July, the Company then moving to the Forest of Perseigne, |'
commencing logging there on 30th July, and operating a Canadian mill from
14th August, 1917. A Scotch mill was also put into operation on 9th
January, 1918, this Company with its two mills working in the same forest
until the close of hostihties.
Whilst at Bois Normand, the forest products of this Company amounted
to 245,000 F.B.M., and the mill products to 150,000 F.B.M.
j|
".'
Ei-f^-"" ['*^'-' "^V^^^^H
Eifel
fa^
^P^
^ ■■-...
1
^■R
^^^H
T-^.
1
1
1
iHHii
— , J
■ V
1
1
J
^B^K^^^mff'f'^ ^^li^^^H
IfL.
■fc.^" "^^H
'A " ■'
f J
.^-Tl^aKHi^H^^^ 1
£H«R "" '' - "''■-''
[?-■■'' ■"*' ,-.
'f
._...iElS^R>r- ;
iy^M^^MBB
^^ .. , i. - -.v
^^..<^^
No. 39.
Stables in the Vosges.
No. 40.
A Logging Camp in the Jura Group.
No. 41.
A Mill for Aircraft Timber, Jura Group,
No. 42.
A Company and its Mill, Jura Group.
41
The operations at Blanchelande resulted in the following output : —
Wood Products 2,000,000 F.B.M.
Telegraph Poles 10,400
Defence Poles 1 ,500 „
Pickets. E.F.G 6,800 „
Jura Group. — The Companies operating in the Jura Mountains were in
November, 1917, reorganised into two districts. No. 5 with Headquarters
at La Joux, and No. 6 at Gerardmer. The Group Headquarters were first at
La Joux, but afterwards moved to Andelot-en-Montaigne, and then in July
to Besan^on. In April, 1918, the production of spruce for aeroplane purposes
was begun, and as this material was very urgently required no efforts were
spared to ensure rapid delivery. The record cut in this district was 159,575
F.B.M. in a ten-hour shift. The Companies included in this Group were as
follows : —
No. 21, which arrived in France on 4th February, 1917, and worked at
La Joux until February, 1918. The next operation, consisting in the
production of aeroplane spruce, was started in Malbusson Forest, Labergement,
where the Company remained until the Armistice. This was the first
Canadian Company to operate a logging railway in France.
No. 22 Company, which commenced logging operations at La Joux towards
the end of March, 1917, and after finishing here were transferred to
Longesvilles.
No. 36 Company, also worked at La Joux. Logging operations were
commenced in July, 1917, and sawing in August. In April, 1918, the Company
was transferred to Labergement, adjoining No. 21 Company, who did the
logging for this Company. The mill was a combination rotary cind band saw,
including also a re-saw and gang saw.
No. 39 Company proceeded first to Andelot-en-Montaigne, and then to
Verse, where the mill was erected and sawing operations began on 9th July,
1917. Light railways were built from No. 47 Company's Camp at Larderet
to the mill, and from there to the station at Verse.
No. 40 Company arrived at Andelot on 28th May, 1917, and eventually
proceeded to Moutoux Forest, sleeping at first under canvas until huts could
be erected. In November of the same year the Company was relieved by
No. 57 Company, and proceeded to La Joux, where the Company was spht
up for miscellaneous work. Shortly afterwards logging operations were
started for Companies 22 and 50, and later an advance party left for Rochejean,
where a new operation was started.
No. 47 Company proceeded first to La Joux and afterwards to La Fresne
district, working with No. 39 and 49 Companies.
No. 50 Company arrived at La Joux in July, 1917, and took over from
No. 28 Company shortly afterwards. For a time the Company carried on
logging operations for No. 58 Company, delivering logs to Nos. 52 and 70
Companies. Subsequently they again began operations with the mill until
26th August, 1918, when they took over the Mill from No. 21 Company. The
total cut in the La Joux operation was nearly 4,600,000 F.B.M.
No. 52 Company arrived at La Joux in July, 1917, and while awaiting
arrival of their own mill helped to lay out the Camp and assist other Companies,
In August an operation was started at Villers, and in the following month
logging for the new mill was handed over to the 58th Company. The erection
of hutments was commenced towards the end of September.
No. 58 Company arrived at La Joux in July, 1917, and eventually took
over the logging at ViUers from No. 52 Company, also providing logs for No 70's
mill. This Company has been used entirely for logging purposes in the one
area.
42
No. 70 Company, which was known at first as the Manufacturers'
Independent Forestry Company, arrived at La Joux in August, 1917. Camp
was erected at Montraincon, in La Joux Forest. In September the Company
was moved to Villers, and on the 24th of that month logs were run through
the mill. A month later the mill was operated at full capacity, and, as showing
what this means, turned out in one week in April, 1918, 378,000 F.B.M. in six
shifts. This Company in July, 1918. installed a new pumping plant at
Boujailles Mountains, near Villers-sous-Chalamont. The foregoing Companies
were included in No. 5 District.
Those in No. 6 District were as follows : —
No. 28 Company arrived at La Joux in April, 1917, and after completing
operations in July moved to the Forest of Gehant, where they remained to the
conclusion of hostilities.
No. 51 Company arrived at Conches in July, 1917, and shortly afterwards
proceeded via Rouen to Apilly and pitched camp in Couchy Forest at the end
of June. Sawing operations began early in August and were completed by
January, 1918. This Company was not employed for logging, and was one
of the Companies forming the Noyon detachment, which Operated in the French
Army area, and was then under No. 10 District. The next operation of this
Company was at Noiregoutte, where they were still working at the time of the
cessation of hostilities.
No. 56 Company arrived at Gerardmer early in August, 1917, and proceeded
thence to Martimprey, pitching Camp next day at La Chaume, where they
were split up into reinforcing Battalions, some assisting adjacent mills and
others being employed in logging operations. Work in the Foret de I'Envergoutte
was complete by this Company on 30th July, and they then assisted No. 69
Company in their operations at Foret de Plaineau. Drafts from this Company
have from time to time assisted in the operations of Companies 28, 51, 69 and
77. The next operation of this Company was in the Forest of Gehant, where
they remained until the commencement of demobilisation.
No. 77 Company arrived at Gerardmer in the middle of October, 1917,
and pitched Camp at Martimprey. Construction of the mill was completed
on 9th November, both milhng and logging operations being carried on here.
These were completed on 27th November. The next operation carried on by
this Company was at Noiregoutte, where they were still operating at the time
of the cessation of hostilities.
Army Areas. — It was decided in May, 1917, to form a District Headquarters
to administer the Companies operating in the Army Areas. At that date
there were six Companies in this District. These Headquarters, with a
technical warehouse and stores, were installed at Albert on May 14th, 1917.
In October of the same year three new Detachments commenced work as
Fuel Groups, and were sent to this District ; they were principally operated
by Indian labour, supervised by Officers and N.C.O.'s from the C.F.C. The
German Advance in 1918 caused these Headquarters to be withdrawn from
Albert and installed temporarily at the Camp of No. 25 Company at Lucheux.
On 30th March they were again transferred to Pont Remy, and finally on
4th April, 1918, were permanently installed at Mautort, near Abbeville.
Later in the year two Canadian Forest Parties were added, and were
known as Nos. 1 and 2 Companies of the C.F.C. The Companies in this District
which is known as No. 9, were as follows : —
No. 25 arrived in the District in February, 1917. Both logging and
mining operations were carried on, the original operations being at Eois de Faye
and Robemont, with Headquarters at Blavincourt. Commencing operations
here on 6th March, 1917, work was completed on 15th September. In the
meantime several detachments were carrying on operations at —
(1) Auxi-le-Ch§.teau, Bachimont Forest, which was later taken over
by No. 26 Company.
(2) Bonniere,
43
(3) Ligny-sur-Conches.
(4) Blangy, where three mills were taken over to operate in conjunction
with the central workshops.
(5) Forestel, which was later taken over by No. 37 Company.
On 9th October, 1917, Headquarters and mill were moved to Lucheux,
and operations have been completed in Haravenne, Pare and Hayette, work
being carried on at Robemont, Foret and Watron until the end of hostiUties.
A Canadian mill was used for sawing, and was erected in seven days. In the
original operations at Blavincourt Forest, Infantry were employed to assist,
and the timber had to be hauled 6J kilos to be sawn at a French mill. It is
interesting to note that this was the first Company to arrive in the War Area.
During these operations in France this Company produced the following : —
Sawn Lumber
..14,L36,735 F.B.M.
or 33,657 Tons.
Fuelwood . .
77,966 steres
or 34,153 „
Pickets
. . 594,759 pieces
or 4,547 „
Hurdles
. . 102,250 „
or 4.090 „
Fascines . .
55,615 „
or 2,224 „
Continuous Revetting
23,934 bundles
or 957 „
Faggots . .
50,158
or 891 „
Pit Props . .
6,252 pieces
or 250 „
Parry Sticks
40,130 „
Total Tonnage
or 4 ,,
80,773 Tons
No. 26 Company arrived at Bois Bachimont in the Army Area in March,
1917. Operations were commenced here with a French band saw mill at
Auxi-le-Chiteau, and were completed on 10th August, 1918. This Company
carried on both logging and sawing operations.
No. 29 Company arrived at Mont St. Eloi towards the end of April, 1917.
Logging and milling operations were commenced with a Scotch mill in Bois
de Bray, and 11th July this operation being completed, moved to the Bois de
Moreil, and later to Hendecourt-les-Ransart, where the Chateau Wood
demolished by the Germans in their retreat three months previously, was
exploited.
The next move was made to Boiry Ste Rectrude, and constituted a record
move, being completed in a little over 24 hours. At Fait de Guerre roadside
trees were converted.
On 1st September the Company Headquarters were moved to Meaulte,
a Detachment of 100 men remaining at Boiry to complete operations there.
Salvage timber of all kinds from the old battlefields was converted here, the
Ancre Valley as far as Corbie, and the Somme as far as Suzanne and Eclusier,
supplying timber. On 20th November, 1917, the Company took over the
operations of the 3rd Army workshops, and here prisoners of war labour
under the supervision of the Company N.C.O.'s supplied what was needed by
this Army in the way of duck walks, huts, Decauville railway trucks, gas
chambers, etc.
Operations on the Somme were completed on 23rd March, 1918, and the
Detachment operating at Boiry and that logging at Bray were withdrawn to
Meaulte as a result of the German Advance. The entire Company then proceeded
to Namps-au-Val. In the meantime a loading party remained at Meaulte
until the railway had been destroyed and it was found impossible to secure
further transport to remove the rest of the sawn timber. For three weeks
personnel was employed in making pickets, after which another move was
made to Bois Bacouel. On 10th July the Company again moved, this time
to Pas-en-Artenois, the move from the shutting down of the mill at Bacouel
to the cutting of the first log at Pas having been completed within
53 hours. For the first few weeks fields of fire were cleared for G.H.Q. Defence
44
Lines, the logs thus cut being converted into road planks and scantlings.
Latterly small woods and groups of trees along the Authie River were cut.
This Company was in the Bois de Mormal on 5th November, 1918, the
Germans having left only the previous day.
No. 35 Company commenced operations at Logeast Wood in May, 1917,
with a small French bench saw mill, a Canadian mill being installed shortly
after. Both logging and milling operations were carried on, the product being
chiefly road planks and sleepers. Detachments worked at St. Leger, Loupart
Wood and Blair ville, until compelled to withdraw, also later at Havrincourt
to repair and make roads. In February, 1918, a move was begun to Pont
Remy, where milling operations started in the middle of March. Much of the
work of the Company had to be carried out under ensmy fire.
No. 37 Company arrived at Villers Brettoneux towards the end of May,
1917, and took over a mill from the Imperial Forces at Bois d'Aquenne. Shortly
afterwards felUng was commenced in Gentelles Wood. In September a move
was made to Bois Biad, near Peronne, and subsequently a Detachment was
sent to cut 2| miles of road through Havrincourt Forest, this being done in
17 hours. In the German Advance in March, the Camp came under fire and
had to be closed down. All important parts of machinery were buried, and as
much of the lumber (sleepers) removed as possible, the Germans then being
only about 2,000 yards away. The Company then trudged to Wail and took
over a mill from No. 26 Company on 25th March, 1918, since when it
exploited the small woods in that area. The Company's Horse Transport
assisted in hauling up suppUes during the Cambrai Advance.
No. 1 Company was formerly a Canadian Forestry Company formed from
the Canadian Remount Section. Operations in the Forest of Rouvray near
Rouen were commenced in October, 1915, this operation being completed by
the end of September of the following year. Immediately afterwards new
operations were started at St. Evrout Notre Dame de Bois Forest, which were
completed about a year later, and the Company then moved to Crecy Forest
and took over the logging and milling operations from a Company of the
Royal Engineers. In March, 1918, the Company was absorbed into the Canadian
Forestry Corps, a new mill was erected and the personnel strengthened. In
August, 1918, the Company was honoured by a visit from His Majesty
King George V, who saw the mill and logging operations, and expressed
great satisfaction at the manner in which they were being carried out.
No. 2 Company, which was originally No. 2 Forest Party of the Canadian
Engineers, began logging operations in January, 1917, at Bois des Alleux,
using a French hand-feed saw bench, and subsequently a French band re-saw
mill. On finishing this operation in July, 1917, work was begun next day at
Chateau d'Acq, where a swing saw and breast bench was added to the mill.
In October work was begun at Bois d'Oldhain and continued there until the
Armistice, logs being brought in from 12 miles around. At the conclusion of
hostilities work was just being commenced at a new operation in the Foret
de Raismes.
Bordeaux Group. — The Forestry operations in the Gironde and Landes
Districts originated in the summer of 1917 with the arrival of Companies
45 and 46 at Ares, Gironde, and the establishment of the administrative area
known as No. 12 District C.F.C., with Headquarters at Bordeaux, By the end
of the year a new Headquarters was organized as No. 4 District C.F.C., on
29th December, 1917, to carry on the operations being conducted by Companies
55, 78, 79 and 80, in the southern portion of the Landes. This District was
temporarily under the supervision and control of No. 12 District, but in order
to keep pace with the continued growth and expansion it became necessary to
establish a Group Headquarters, and this new administration became an
accomphshed fact on 16th February, 1918. On this date the Headquarters
of No. 12 District was moved to Facture, where its Q.M. Stores, M.l. Park
and Technical Warehouse had already been for some time situated. Under
No. 43.
Railing Logs, France.
Cj'.
the altered conditions No. 12 District comprised Companies 45, 46, 48, 49,
79 and 80. The average weekly output at this time amounted to approximately
2,000,000 F.B.M.. the total personnel being 94 officers, 2,848 other ranks,
and 845 horses.
In August, 1918, two additional Companies arrived in the area. No. 15
going to Bicarosse, Landes, under the administration of No. 12 District
Headquarters, and No. 27 Company to Laluque, Landes, under No. 4 District.
Sufficient has been said with regard to the Districts and individual
Companies already noted to render a detailed description of the work of these
Companies in the Bordeaux District superfluous.
The Noyon Detachment.— This Detachment consisted of three Companies,
Nos. 51, 55 and 76. They were sent from No. 10 District, then located at Apilly,
to work in the French Army area on sawing salvaged timber which had been
cut down by the Germans before their retreat in 1917. The first of these three
Companies arrived at the end of July, and the last by the end of September.
No. 51 Company worked in the Forest of Coucy for the production of sawn
lumber, and No. 76 in the same forest for making fuel wood and small defence
timber. No. 55 Company began work at Quesny, producing sawn timber
from woods in the vicinity. These operations were completed by the middle
of January, 1918, although they were exceedingly difficult, both on account
of the very rough nature of the ground and of the frequent and heavy artillery
fire from enemy guns during the exploitation. As an appreciation of this
work on behalf of the French Government, certain Officers, N.C.O.'s and men
were decorated with the Croix de Guerre, and highly recommended by
General Humbert, then in command of the 3rd Army.
The Marne Group. — Early in June, 1918, it was decided to arrange a new
Group Headquarters to cover No. 10 District, and a new District No 11 for
Aerodrome Contruction work. Companies Nos. 31, 33 and 76 were included
in No. 10 District, and Nos. 12, 13 and 75 in No. 1 1 District. The Headquarters
were established at the office of the Paris Detachment at 14 Place des Etats
Unis, Paris. At the beginning of September, Companies 9, 10 and 11 were
added to No. 11 District, and a little later Nos. 7 and 8 to the same District.
Just afterwards No. 10 District took over No. 75 Company, and No. 69 Company
was transferred to the same District. No. 10 District was originally known as
the Eclaron Detachment from its situation at Eclaron, Haute Marne. No. 75
Company, while working a Scotch mill in that part of the Foret Domaniale de
Retz known as " Villers-Cotterets," near Boursonne-Coyelles, and situated
about a mile from the front line, was obliged to camouflage its mill. Operations
were carried on both night and day, although from time to time interrupted by
air raids and shell fire.
No. 11 District originated from a request by Major-Gen. H. Trenchard
of the Independent Air Force, R. A.F., through the Air Ministiy, for two Canadian
Forestry Companies to undertake the construction and preparation of aerodrome
grounds for the Independent Air Force. Nine sites were named, and in order
to carry on the work it was decided to organise a special District. The first
two Companies required were mobilised in England, and arrived on the scene
of operations early in July, 1918. Work was pressed forward as rapidly as
possible, but many of the areas were under crop which could not be taken off
before the end of August, so it was arranged that the Canadians should help
the farmers to lift their crops. Trenches and dug-outs had to be constructed,
and the horses kept in small bunches scattered among the woods on account of
the Uability to attack from enemy air squadrons. These Companies were first
assisted by prisoners of war, but afterwards by Chinese. Three further
Companies, Nos. 9, 10 and 11, arrived at the end of August, further sites having
been arranged. On completing their work for the Independent Air Force the
Companies moved to the British Army areas, where they were engaged upon
miscellaneous work such as filling trenches, clearing barbed wire, etc., working
46
53, 59. 60, 71, 72, 73 and 74, whilst in No. 4 District were Companies 55, 78,
with the R.A.F. Groups until the conclusion of hostilities. During the Advance,
work was done by the C.F.C. Companies in preparing aerodromes for occupation,
by erecting hangars, filling depressions, levelling knolls, building stretches of
road, and generally clearing up. The high appreciation in which the Canadians'
work was held by the British Authorities is illustrated by the following : —
Letter from the War Office, 21st October, 1918 :—
" I am commanded to inform you that it is with great pleasure
that the Army Council learn from the Secretary of the Air Ministry
that a letter conveying high appreciation of the work done for
the Independent Air Force by your Corps has been sent to you on
the 12th inst."
Extract from letter of Sir John Hunter, K.B.E., Administrator of Works
and Buildings, Air Ministry : —
" You will observe from the attached letter the high terms of
praise in which General Trenchard speaks of the work carried out by
your Companies. I desire to associate myself with this expression
of praise, and hope to have the pleasure of meeting you in the near
future and of explaining to you personally how grateful we feel for
the assistance you have given me."
Extract from letter of Major-General Trenchard : —
" I am most grateful for the work they (Forestry Corps) have
done, for which I have nothing but praise."
We may conclude this chapter with some opinions expressed by French
Authorities upon the work of the Canadians. At the meeting of the CT.B.G.,
on 27th December, General Chevalier said :■ —
" Since the last Committee Meeting, there have been great events,
owing to the gallantry of the Allied Armies and to their Chief's science.
Our enemies have been defeated everywhere, and they finally let go,
imploring Armistice, which has been the consecration of our glorious
Army and of the Allied Armies. These events have a consequence
as far as we are concerned, in that they put an end to the task we had
of supplying timber to the Armies. We now mostly have to proceed
to the liquidation of existing organizations, and this will be the chief
object of this meeting. In any case I believe I am entitled to say in
the name of all of us, that in spite of the great difficulties we have
met, our main duty has been accomplished, and I have never heard
that any Allied Army lacked the timber which was indispensable
for the War. I therefore thought we might establish that to-day,
before opening this last meeting of the C.I.B.G. (Comite Interallie
des Bois de Guerre)."
In referring to a letter from Mr. Thirien, Conservator of Waters and Forests
at Alenfon, he said : —
" I wish to particularly thank the Canadians for all they have
done in order to assist us. Most of the Canadian Companies have given us
half of their output, and this has been of a great importance in the War.
They have executed very difficult work for the aviation timber in
the Jura, where the Labergement Mill has been a very remarkable
installation.
" I wish to thank the Allies for the efficient aid they have brought
us in the exploitation of burnt pines in the Landes, where the fires
have been a real disaster in the region. I must add that it had not
depended upon me to give them a more tangible proof of our gratitude,
but I hope to be able to do so before the end of the War.
(Addressing Col. Donnelly):
" I very much regret that General McDougall is not here, which
prevents me from thanking him personally, and you will please
transmit my thanks to him."
No. 44. Railing Logs : Part of a 2,000 ft. Track which drops 195 ft.
iNo. 45.
Railhead in the Vosges.
47
Table of Operations in France. — In the following table are given the
names of the operations carried out by the various Companies, the period of
working, and the production. The location of the Districts and Groups is
shown on the map, page
Coy.
No.
Period Operating.
A
Total Produced.
Location of Operation.
Commence-
Com-
Cubic
Equivalent
ment.
pletion.
feet.
F.B.M.
CENTRAL GROUP.
14
Bois Normand
. 27-11-16 .
. 17- 4-17
"
Bois Anzeray
Beaumesnil
. 18- 4-17 .
. 10- 8-17 .
. 9- 8-17
. 18- 4-18
>
2,131,957 .
. 25,583,484
Conches . .
. 19- 4-18 .
. 10- 1-19
15
Pare de Conches . .
. 17-12-16 .
. 22- 5-17
Le Chapelle
. 23- 5-17 .
. 18-11-17
Montiers Hubert
. 19-11-17 .
. 27- 7-18
2,618,482 .
. 31,421,784
Chambray Detach
. 4- 2-18 .
. 3- 8-18
19
Conches . .
Dreux
. 22- 1-17 .
. 23- 7-17 .
. 29- 9-17
. 8- 1-19
}
1,994,123
. 23,929,476
20
Bois Normand
. 9- 1-17 .
—
1
Blanchelande
. 10- 2-17 .
. 29- 7-17
[
1,590,362
. 19,084,344
Perseigne
. 30- 7-17 .
. 16- 1-19
J
23
Rouvray . .
Bord
. 25- 3-17 .
. 19- 6-18 .
. 29- 6-18
. 15- 1-19
}
3,303,888
. 39,646,656
24
Conches (Det. Beautry)
Conches H. and R.
, 31- 7-18 .
. 4- 3-18 .
. 12- 9-18
}
1,503,376
. 18,040,512
30
Bois L'Eveque . .
Belleme . .
. 22- 4-17 .
. 7- 1-18 .
. 12- 1-18
. 12- 1-19
}
1,667,344
. 20,008,128
32
Dreux
La Trappe
. 19- 6-17 .
. 21-10-18 .
. 19-10-18
. 2- 1-19
}
1,185,930
. 14,231,160
34
Dreux
Beaumont
. 21- 6-17 .
. 17- 6-18 .
. 29- 6-18
}
1,542,464
. 18,509,568
38
Andaine . .
. 31- 7-17 .
. 8- 2-18
1
Perseigne
. 9- 2-18 .
. 24- 4-18
[
1,285.424
. 15,425,088
Belleme . .
. 25- 4-18 .
. 16- 1-19
J
41
Montembert
Senonches
. 15- 6-17 .
. 6- 6-18 .
. 5- 6-18
. 13- 1-19
}
854,784
. 10.257,408
42
Andaine . .
. 23- 7-17 .
. 21-10-17
Bois du Chateau
L'Eveque
. 22-10-17 .
. 18- 5-18 .
. 1- 3-18
. 3- 8-18
>
1,542,314
. 18,507,768
D'Ecouves
. 3- 3-18 .
—
43
Bois Villette
. 1- 7-17 .
. 5- 5-18
1
Les Sausseux
. 31-12-17 .
. 15- 6-18
[
1,369,424
. 16,433,088
La Bourse
. 25- 5-18 .
. 11- 1-19
i
44
Andaine . .
Bagnoles . .
. 31- 7-17 .
. 29- 5-18 .
. 13- 7-18
. 21-12-18
}
1,681,045
. 20,172,540
54
Bois L'Eveque . .
. 16- 7-17 .
. 27-10-17
1
Bois Pelay
. 22-10-17 .
. 30- 4-18
[
1,601,376
. 19,216,512
Senonches
. 30- 5-18 .
. 15- 1-19
J
53
Le Ferrier
Le Haut Brau
. 15- 9-17 .
—
}
39,946
479,352
78
Mortree . .
Bois L'Eveque . .
TOTAL .. ..
. 10-10-17 .. 1-12-17
Central Group . .
}_
20,533
25,932,772
246,396
. 311,193.264
JURA GROUP.
21
La Joux . .
Labergement
. 5- 3-17 .
. 3- 6-18 .
. 1- 6-18
. 25- 1-19
}
1,043,280
. 12,519.360
22
La Joux . .
Rochjean
. 26- 3-17 .
. 19- 9-18 .
. 18- 9-18
. 31-12-18
}
1,588,907
. 19,066,884
36
La Joux . .
Labergement
. 13- 8-17 .
. 26- 6-18 .
. 1- 4-18
. 25- 1-19
}
1,266,347
. 15,196,164
39
La Fresse ' . .
.. 30- 5-17 .
. 17-12-18
2,046,763
. 24,561,156
48
Coy.
No.
Location of Operation.
Jura Group — continued.
40 Montoux (La Fresse)
La Joux , .
47 La Joux . .
Larderet (La Fresse)
La Fresse
50 La Joux . .
52 La Joux . .
Levier (Villers
La Fresse
57 La Joux . .
Montoux (La Fresse)
La Fresse
58 La Joux . .
Levier (Villers)
70 La Joux . .
Villers
28 La Joux . .
Martimprey (Vologne) .
Gehant
51 Noiregoutte (Rochesson)
56 Vologne . .
Gehant
69 Vologne
77 Vologne
Noiregoutte
TOTAL
BORDEAUX GROUP.
15
Parentis . .
45
Saussouze . .
Biscarrosse
46
La Saussouze
Parentis . .
48
Saussouze . .
Marcheprime
Andernos
Hourtin . .
49
La Saussouze
Biscarosse
53
57
59
Marcheprime
Le Renent (Lanton)
Esley (Parentis) . .
Cez (Beliet)
Parentis . .
60
Cez
Parentis . .
71
Marcheprime
Audenge . .
72
Marcheprime
Lanton
73
Le Porge . .
Caudos
74
Esley (Parentis) . .
Caudos
27
55
78
Esley (Parentis) . .
La Luque
Lesperon (Tirbiste)
Lesperon (Choy)
Bouscaldy (Jean de Lon
Leon-les-Landes . .
79
80
Lesperon (Old) . .
Lesperon (New) . .
Lesperon (Old) . .
Lesperon (New) . .
TOTAL
Period
Operating.
Total Produced.
Commence
Com-
Cubic
Equivalent
ment.
pletion.
Feet.
F.B.M.
. 28- 5-17
. 3-11-17
\
. 4-11-17
. 31-12-18
> 373 .
4.476
. 28- 6-17
. 7- 7-17
1
. 8- 7-17
. 25-12-17
> 12,469 .
149.628
. 26-12-17
. 30-12-18
15- 7-17 .
. 18- 1-19
. 1,422,437 .
. 17.069,244
17- 7-17 .
. 7-8-17
[ 1,526,261 .
. 15- 9-17 .
. 25-10-18
. 18,315,132
26-10-18 .
. —
J
28- 7-17 .
. 3-11-17
1
4-11-17 .
. 25-12-17
y 8,176 .
98,112
26-12-17 .
— .
J
3- 8-17 .
. 2- 9-17 ■
\
3- 9-17 .
. 18- 1-19
\- 597 .
7,164
16- 8-17 .
. 15- 9-17 '
I
21-10-17 .
\- 1,704,379 .
. 20,452,548
26- 4-17 .
'. 23- 7-17 '
t
29- 8-17 .
. 25-10-18
y 2,142,149 .
. 25,705,788
26-10-18 .
. 4- 1-19
J
2- 2-18 .
. 27-12-18 .'
. 1,201,835 .
14,422,020
9- 8-17 .
28-10-18 .
: 2M2:l8 } 202.869 .
2,434,428
20- 8-17 .
. 14- 9-18 .
186,928 .
2,243,136
13-10-17 .
26- 3-18 .
. 19- 3-18 ^
. 17- 1-19 ^
roup
. 13- 1-19 .
204,624 .
2,455,488
JuraG
14,558,394 .
174.700.728
30-10-18 .
1,344 .
16.128
28- 7-17 .
. 15- 4-18 1
27- 3-18 .
—
^ 3,089,109 .
37,069,308
17- 6-17 .
. 23- 2-18 1
3- 2-18 .
—
^ 3,406,517 .
40,878,204
28- 6-17 .
. 25- 8-17 1
21- 8-17 .
16- 4-18 .
. 27- 7-18 \
. —12-18 f
> 1,857,109 ..
22,285,308
21-10-18 .
. - ,
16- 7-17 .
. 4- 5-18 ]
27- 3-18 .
— /
"■Logging Only
9-11-17 .
2- 2-18 1
30- 1-18 .
— ;
- 1,347,472 ..
16,169,664
31-10-18 .
66,229 ..
794.748
17- 9-17 .
10- 3-18 \
26- 2-18 .
— J
• 2,516,901 ..
30.202.812
16- 8-17 .
31- 1-18 \
26- 2-18 .
— /
62.570 ..
750,840
1- 9-17 .
9- 3-18 \
10- 3-18 .
— /
■ 1,017,893 ..
12,214.716
17- 8-17 .
1- 3-18 1
25- 2-18 .
I
453.861 ..
5.446,332
23-11-18 .
— J
24- 9-17 .
18- 7-18 \
1,910.682 ..
22,928,184
25- 6-18 .
— /
24- 9-17 .
24- 8-18 i
45,621 ..
547.452
25- 6-18 .
— J
2- 8-18 . .
—
316.474 ..
3,797,688
30- 1-18 ..
29- 5-18 ^
30- 5-18 . .
19-10-18 }
1.046.453 ..
12.557,436
4-11-18 ..
- J
7-11-17 ..
1.664.581 ..
19,974.972
30-10-17 ..
20- 7-18 . .
26- 6-18 \
26,954 ..
323,448
1- 4-18 ..
13- 8-18 ..
20- 9-18 i
Group . .
1,746,901 ..
20.962.812
Bordeaux
20,576.6.71 ..
246,920.052
No. 46.
Removing Sawdust, France.
No. 47
Hauling from a Mill in the Vosges.
3
o>
49
Period 0
perating.
Total Produced.
Coy.
No.
A
.j<
Location of Operation. Commence
Com-
Cubic
Equivalent
ment.
pletion.
feet.
F.B.M.
DISTRICT No. 9.
1
Crecy
.. 1- 3-18 .
. 25- 1-19 .
. 2.071.851 .
. 24.862.212
2
Bois D'Olhain . .
. 25- 5-18 .
. 27-10-18 '
Bois Bailleul
. 17- 6-18 .
. 10- 8-18
> 523,824 .
. 6.285,888
Raismes . .
. 28-10-18 .
—
25
Blavincourt
. 13- 2-17 .
. 17-11-17 '
Lucheux
. 9-10-17 .
* 3,037,963 .
. 36.455,556
26
Auxi le Chateau . .
. 4- 3-17 .
'. 16-11-18 '
Meserolles
. 12- 8-18 .
—
* 1,861,851 .
22,342,212
27
Toutencourt
. 3- 3-17 .
. 20- 7-17
Vadencourt
. 21- 7-17 .
. 9- 3-18
y 1.163,941 .
. 13,967,292
St. Just de Merais
. 9- 3-18 .
. 10- 8-18 J
29
Bois de Bray
Moreiul . .
Hendecourt
. 22- 4-17 .
. 2- 6-17 .
. 7- 7-17 .
. 1- 6-17 '
. 7- 7-17
. 10- 8-17
Boiry Ste. Rectrude
Meaulte . .
. 11- 8-17 .
. 2- 9-17 .
. 19- 1-18
. 23- 3-18
> 1,652,747 .
. 19,832.964
Bois d'en Haut . .
. 24- 3-18 .
. 11- 7-18
Pas
. 12- 7-18 .
. 5-11-18
Mormal
. 21-11-18 .
. 19- 1-19
35
Logeast . .
. 6- 5-17 .
<
Loupart Blainville
—
'. 23- 2-18
s 1,194,219 .
. 14.330,628
Pont Remy
. 13- 2-18 .
. 11- 1-19 ,
37
Bois L'Abbe
Bois Bias
Cherrywood
. 19- 5-17 .
. 27-10-17 .
. 27-10-17 .
•>
Chuignes . .
Delville Wood . .
. 31-12-17 .
. 9 1-18 .
—
> 1.989.120 .
. 23,869,440
Maricourt Wood . .
. 2- 1-18 .
—
Forestel . .
. 25- 3-18 .
Havrincourt
. 11-11-18 .
^o. 9
TOTAL District 1
INE GROUP.
13,495,516 .
. 161,946,192
MAI
DISTRICT No. 10.
31
Der 7-11-17 .
976,752 .
. 11.721,024
33
Der
. 24-11-17 .
—
666,773 .
8,001,276
69
St. Etienne (Compeigne)
. 11-11-18 .
. 31-12-18 .
. Logging only
75
CoyoUes . .
. 1-10-17 .
. 10- 4-18 ^
1 300,645 .
'. 3,607,740
Lusigny . .
. 26- 4-18 .
. 15-12-18 J
r
76
Pierremande
. 24- 9-17 .
. 26- 1-18 1
1 306.693 .
. 3,680,316
Der
. 4- 2-18 .
— J
r
51
Coucy
. 30- 7-17 .
. 1- 2-18 .
240.016 .
. 2.880,192
55
Coucy
. 23- 7-17 .
. 29- 1-18 .
•To. 10
icts
181,328 .
. 2,175,936
TOTAL District 1
GRAND TOTAL . . . . AU Distr
2.672.207 .
. 32.066.484
77,235,560 .
. 926.826,720
Note. — In the case of Companies which had not completed operations the production
jures are given up to the end of December, 1918.
SUMMARY.
Production in France from commencement of Operations to end
of year, 1918.
Period.
Commencement to end of year, 1917
Jan. 1st, 1918, to end of year, 1918
GRAND TOTAL
Sawn
Material.
F.B.M.
131,691.903
424.251.009
555,942.912
Round
Material.
Tons.
53.567
170,715
224,282
Slabs
and Fuel
Tons.
149,483
454,101
603.584
(504)
I
^
Live Music Archive
Librivox Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Internet Arcade
Console Living Room
Books to Borrow
Open Library
TV News
Understanding 9/11