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Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).
[Illustration:
ARMS GRANTED TO THE COLONY OF NOVA SCOTIA
BY KING CHARLES I]
[Illustration:
HIS HONOUR THE HONOURABLE McCALLUM GRANT, LL.D.
Lieut.-Governor of Nova Scotia.]
NOVA SCOTIA’S PART IN THE GREAT WAR
Compiled and Edited
by
M. S. HUNT
(Captain R.O.)
Illustrated from Half-Tones
[Illustration]
Halifax, Nova Scotia:
The Nova Scotia Veteran Publishing Co., Limited
1920
All Rights Reserved
Copyright, Canada, 1920, by
M. S. Hunt.
To
The Immortal Memory
of
Our Fallen Comrades
PREFACE
Two years have passed since the last gun was fired in the Great War on
the Western Front and hitherto no attempt has been made to place before
the people of Nova Scotia a comprehensive history of the various
Military Units and Patriotic Organizations which won for the Province
imperishable fame.
Anyone who makes an impartial investigation of Nova Scotia’s response to
the call of duty will concede that the sturdy little Province by the sea
achieved an enviable record. In some respects it surpassed the other
Provinces of the Dominion in promoting the successful conclusion of the
great conflict—not only by the number of splendid troops it supplied in
proportion to its population, both for Overseas and Home Service, but
also because it had in its capital city, Halifax, the Naval Base of the
British Empire on the Atlantic Coast, and from its spacious harbor sent
many hundreds of ships Overseas laden with Canadian and Allied troops
and received them after the Armistice when they were employed in
returning the victors to their homes. From Nova Scotia ports, chiefly
Halifax and Sydney, were also shipped munitions, supplies and equipment
required by the Army in the field. The appreciation of the troops and
their dependants on their return from Overseas of the welcome given them
by the representatives of the citizens of Halifax, and the comforts and
kindnesses bestowed upon them, has been attested by many grateful
letters received from homes scattered over the North American continent.
The patriotic work of the Nova Scotia Branch of the Red Cross Society,
with its country auxiliaries, was magnificent. All other patriotic
societies and organizations gave equally valuable service. In fact, Nova
Scotia played a role in the conduct of the war which will redound to her
glory for all time. May the same sense of unity and spirit of
self-devotion, which characterized her people during the war, be
retained undiminished and be used wisely in time of peace.
In giving a review of each of the Military Units which were mobilized or
organized in Nova Scotia for service in the Great War, narrative has
been adhered to as far as possible. Official war records were consulted
in so far as they were available, but a great deal of information had to
be gathered from personal war diaries and interviews. The book contains
as complete a history of Nova Scotia’s part in the Great War as could be
compressed into a single handy library volume. And it has several unique
features. It contains many engraved portraits of Nova Scotian officers
who made the supreme sacrifice, of officers commanding Units, leaders of
patriotic organizations, and groups of special persons and events, and a
reproduction of the authentic Nova Scotia Coat of Arms, granted by
Charles I—all of which will be of great interest to readers of this
history.
Before closing this preface special recognition should be made of J. D.
Logan, M.A. (Dalhousie Univ.), Ph.D. (Harvard Univ.), formerly Sergeant
in the 85th Battalion, Nova Scotia Highlanders, for his patient, keen,
and thorough reading of the entire manuscript, with important
alterations and corrections.
I am also deeply indebted to Major J. G. Johnstone, R.O., for his
indefatigable assistance in the compilation of this volume.
For information and assistance my thanks are also due to: Colonel W. E.
Thompson, Colonel Thos. Cantley, Lt.-Col. S. G. Robertson, C.B.E.,
Lt.-Col. H. Flowers, Lt.-Col. Joseph Hayes, D.S.O., Lt.-Col. D. H.
Sutherland, Lt.-Col. R. B. Simmons, Lt.-Col. A. W. Duffus, Lt.-Col. T.
M. Seeley, Lt.-Col. J. L. McKinnon, Lt.-Col. E. C. Dean, Major C. E.
McLaughlin, Major G. B. Cutten, Acadia Univ., Major A. A. Sturley, Univ.
of King’s College, Major J. F. Taylor, Major M. D. McKeigan, Major W. G.
McRae, Major D. A. McKinnon, D.S.O., Major P. O. Soulis, Capt. G. C.
McElhinney, M.C., Capt. Angus L. McDonald, Hon. Capt. Clarence McKinnon,
Capt. B. M. Beckwith, Capt. F. G. Kingdon, Capt. G. T. Shaw, Lieut. W.
H. Whidden, Dr. H. P. McPherson, St. Francis Xavier University,
Professor Fraser Harris, Medical School, Dalhousie University, Principal
F. H. Sexton, Nova Scotia Technical College, Mr. A. A. Campbell, Mr. F.
A. Crowell, Mr. McI. Miller, Mr. Stuart McCawley, Mr. Wilfred Hearn, Mr.
J. McL. Fraser, Mr. J. A. Walker.
M. S. HUNT,
Capt. R.O.
HALIFAX, N.S.
ARMISTICE DAY, 1920.
CONTENTS
PAGE
NOVA SCOTIA’S COAT OF ARMS (Granted by Charles I) i
PORTRAIT of His Honour the Honourable McCallum Grant, LL.D.,
Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia iv
DEDICATION vii
PREFACE ix
PORTRAIT of Sir Robert Borden, Premier of Canada, during the War xiii
PORTRAIT of the Honourable George Henry Murray, Premier of Nova
Scotia xvi
CHAPTER
I. Headquarters Military District No. 6 1
II. 6th Canadian Mounted Rifles 9
III. 9th Siege Battery 22
IV. 10th Siege Battery 28
V. 17th Field Battery 31
VI. 23rd and 24th Field Batteries 41
VII. 36th Field Battery 43
VIII. 14th Brigade, C.F.A. 56
IX. Royal Canadian Regiment 58
X. 17th Battalion 65
XI. 25th Battalion 70
XII. 40th Battalion 92
XIII. 64th Battalion 95
XIV. 85th Battalion and Band 99
XV. 106th Battalion 116
XVI. 112th Battalion 119
XVII. 185th Battalion 122
XVIII. 193rd Battalion 130
XIX. 219th Battalion 133
XX. 246th Battalion 146
XXI. 2nd Construction Battalion 148
XXII. Forestry Corps 154
XXIII. No. 6 District Depot 157
XXIV. Canadian Army Service Corps 161
XXV. Canadian Ordnance Corps 173
XXVI. Canadian Army Medical Corps 177
XXVII. Canadian Army Dental Corps 226
XXVIII. Canadian Army Pay Corps 231
XXIX. Royal Canadian Garrison Artillery 236
XXX. Canadian Engineers 242
XXXI. Militia Units on Home Service 243
XXXII. 1st Regiment Canadian Garrison Artillery 245
XXXIII. 11th Brigade, C.F.A., and Composite Artillery Company 250
XXXIV. 63rd Regiment 253
XXXV. 66th Regiment 259
XXXVI. 94th Regiment 263
XXXVII. Composite Battalion 268
XXXVIII. Depot Battalion 272
XXXIX. “B” Unit, M.H.C.C. 275
XL. University of Acadia College 280
XLI. University of Dalhousie College 282
XLII. University of King’s College 289
XLIII. University of St. Francis Xavier’s College 294
XLIV. Presbyterian College, Pine Hill 296
XLV. Recruiting in Nova Scotia 300
XLVI. Ocean Transport 305
XLVII. Munitions 311
XLVIII. Demobilization 322
XLIX. Vocational Training 330
L. Patriotic Fund 345
LI. Victory Loan 347
LII. Red Cross Society; and Willing War Workers, Green Feather
Society and Catholic Ladies Society 350
LIII. Knights of Columbus 370
LIV. Young Men’s Christian Association 377
LV. Halifax Citizens’ Reception Committee 381
LVI. Creche at Pier 2 386
LVII. St. Matthew’s Church 394
SPECIAL SKETCHES, with Portraits 399
“FELT DAWN”—A Literary Appreciation of a phrase in McCrae’s poem,
“In Flanders Fields” 436
[Illustration:
SIR ROBERT LAIRD BORDEN,
Premier of Canada during the Great War.]
[Illustration:
HON. G. H. MURRAY,
Premier of Nova Scotia during the Great War.]
Nova Scotia’s Part in the Great War
CHAPTER I
_HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DISTRICT No. 6._
Upon the opening of the World War the following were the principal Staff
Officers at Halifax, the headquarters of Military District No. 6:—
Col. R. W. Rutherford, G.O.C.; Col. W. W. Humphrey, A.O.C.; Major R. J.
Hayter, G.S.O.; Major A. H. W. Powell, D.A.A. & Q.M.G.; Major W.
Gibsone, D.A.A. & Q.M.G. Fortress.
Military District No. 6 then embraced the Maritime Provinces, but later
in the war, when Compulsory Service came into force, New Brunswick was
made into a separate District, No. 7.
The aforementioned Staff bore the brunt of this sudden change from peace
to war, and met and overcame the resultant many new problems with great
credit to themselves.
The sudden deluge of work included the calling out and recruiting up to
strength of the Halifax City Regiments, viz.: 1st Regiment Canadian
Artillery, 63rd Regiment Halifax Rifles, and 66th Regiment Princess
Louise Fusiliers, as part of the War Garrison of Halifax; supplementing
this Garrison later by a Regiment styled the Composite Regiment, called
up by Companies from other Militia Regiments in Nova Scotia and from the
82nd in P. E. Island; calling out the 94th Argyll Highlanders to guard
the cable and wireless stations at North Sydney, Marconi, Louisburg, and
Canso, and detachments of Artillery from the P.E.I. Heavy Brigade to
protect the Harbors of North Sydney and Canso; the provision of guards
for the wireless station at Newcastle, N.B., for the International
Bridge at St. Leonard’s and Vanceboro, and the calling out of the 3rd
Regiment Canadian Artillery and the 62nd Regiment Infantry for the
defence of St. John, N.B.
This meant that the immediate necessities of war called upon the
Maritime Provinces to furnish, equip and train and keep supplied some
3,000 officers and men, of whom almost 2,600 were supplied by the
Province of Nova Scotia; and of these more than 1,500 men from the City
of Halifax.
This accounts for the fact that in the mobilization of troops for the
first contingent at Valcartier there were not so many men reported there
for duty from the City of Halifax or from rural Cape Breton as might
have been expected. The officers and men, though keen to enter this
larger sphere, were compelled to do this guard and garrison work, and
were only relieved and permitted to join Overseas Battalions as new men
could be found willing to take their places.
In addition to equipping this force the further pressing duty upon the
H. Q. Staff was the working out of a system of recruiting to take care
of the thousands of young men anxious to get into the Overseas
Battalions as they were authorized, and to train these men and officers.
The first change in H.Q. Staff came in December, 1914, when Major W. E.
Thompson was called in from his Regiment, the 63rd Halifax Rifles, then
doing duty on McNab’s Island, to take over the work of Inspector of
Outposts and Detachments throughout the District, with the rank of
Lieut.-Colonel.
This officer succeeded, upon the retirement of Colonel Humphrey in
March, 1915, to the appointment of Assistant Adjutant-General and
Officer in charge of Administration. He remained at H.Q. throughout the
war and until October 1, 1919, having succeeded to the command of the
District in December, 1918, upon the retirement of Major-General
Lessard. He was promoted full Colonel in May, 1916, and during the
summer of that year he acted as Commandant at Aldershot Camp in addition
to doing his work as A.A.G.
Every officer at H.Q. was continually on the watch for an opportunity of
proceeding overseas. The chance came first to Major Hayter, who was
offered the position of Brigade Major at Valcartier and was permitted to
accept in September, 1914. A careful, most painstaking officer, always
at work, always thinking about his work, he left his impress; and at
Valcartier, in England, and in France the same qualities marked his
value. His great modesty may have somewhat retarded his promotion,
though he won the rank of Brigadier-General before the war closed.
For some time the work of G.S.O. was rather perfunctorily performed by
officers awaiting their chance to go overseas and was not again severely
faced till it was taken on by Major A. N. Jones on his being invalided
home from France after service with the 25th Battalion. He carried on
till his health broke down in January, 1917, when Major Soulis acted
temporarily till the arrival of Col. W. R. Lang, who arrived in this
station with General Lessard, remaining till May, 1918, when he was
succeeded by Major W. G. Haggarty.
There was a bit of a struggle between Major Gibsone and Colonel Thompson
for the command of the 40th Battalion, the second Overseas Battalion to
be raised in this District, but the prize fell to the former, and his
place was taken by Major R. B. Willis, who filled the duties of D.A.A.
and Q.M.G. Fortress for the balance of the war with great credit.
Early in 1915 Major Powell was promoted to the rank of Lieut.-Colonel.
His special work was responsibility for recruiting and the organizing,
officering and equipping of Units for Overseas Service. He brought great
energy and ability to this work, and when New Brunswick was converted
into a separate District he was detailed to that District as A.A.G.,
February, 1916.
Lieut.-Colonel Powell was succeeded by Lieut.-Colonel B. R. Armstrong,
of St. John, N.B., who came out with his Regiment, the 3rd C.A., at St.
John upon the outbreak of the war, and who in addition to this command
was the representative of the Officer Commanding the District in New
Brunswick, and had a special supervision over recruiting in that
Province. He carried on the duties of D.A.A. and Q.M.G. for District No.
6 till demobilized in September, 1919.
His work was of a very high order, his grasp of details was unusual, and
his knowledge of shipping and business affairs was of great assistance,
particularly in connection with the very important work of transporting,
embarking and disembarking troops.
This latter work assumed such dimensions that it was found necessary to
provide him with an assistant. Major W. D. Tait served in this capacity
for a time till he assumed command of McGill Heavy Battery for service
Overseas, when, in June, 1916, he was succeeded by Major P. O. Soulis,
who came out on the outbreak of war with his Regiment, the 1st C.A.
Major Soulis was given the special department of Statistics and
Documents, and the supervision of all embarkations and disembarkations.
The combination of these two officers made this most important work
proceed so smoothly that hundreds of thousands of men went through this
port with the bulk of the citizens not realizing that anything unusual
was going on.
It should be mentioned, however, in this connection, that the work of
H.Q. could not have met with the success it did, were it not for the
very efficient executive work of Major A. P. Lomas, the executive head
of the Department of Transport and Supplies during the rush-time of this
most important work. Nor could the work of H.Q. have met with success in
this matter had it not been for the energy and co-operation which the
Clearing Services Command, represented here first by Lieut.-Colonel H.
F. Adams and later by Lieut.-Colonel Cram, brought to its work of
passing troops going and coming through its depot at Pier 2.
When after Compulsory Service came into operation the necessity became
evident for an officer to be detailed to give exclusive attention to the
compilation and care of soldiers’ documents, the choice most naturally
fell upon Major Soulis. He made a close study of the work, and his
system met with so much approval that many of his ideas were adopted by
Militia Headquarters and were put into general operation. Major Soulis
continued to hold the appointment of District Record Officer till
demobilized in July, 1919.
Both Colonel Armstrong and Major Soulis were South African Veterans, the
former having lost a foot in action there, and the latter having been
mentioned in despatches.
In December, 1914, Colonel Rutherford was promoted to the rank of
Brigadier-General, and in October, 1915, was given his step to
Major-General. He was an officer of much more than ordinary attainments,
and filled well the office of General Officer Commanding, always
carrying the confidence and respect of his Staff. A noticeable increase
in defective hearing shown during a conference of General Officers at
Ottawa led Militia H.Q. to bring about his retirement, and in November,
1915, he was succeeded by Major-General Thomas Benson.
[Illustration:
HEADQUARTERS STAFF, M.D. 6.]
General Benson brought a long training in military affairs, a broad
outlook, an attractive personality, and good judgment to cope with the
many questions arising in the District. He gave up his command in
February, 1918, to the regret of his Staff and of citizens who had been
wont to do business at Military Headquarters. He was given leave till
July 1st of that year, and his valuable services were recognized by
investment with the order of C.M.G.
General Benson’s successor was Major-General T. L. Lessard, who retained
command till December 28, 1918, when he was succeeded by Colonel W. E.
Thompson.
The work done by the Garrison at Halifax during the war was most
arduous, exacting and valuable. From August 7, 1914, when Canada entered
the war till final demobilization, the work was kept up continuously,
and upon the strictest laws of military discipline.
Only such officers whose places could be filled by volunteers were
permitted to proceed Overseas, and no man was relieved for this broader
field of action unless there was a man ready to take his place. This
being so, it was the exception for an officer once on the Staff or for
any well-trained officer of the Units out, particularly of the
Artillery, or for good non-commissioned officers and specialists to get
a chance for Overseas. They all knew that should the war terminate
without their getting over they would for the rest of their lives be
compelled to explain that they were not permitted to go and felt keenly
how flat such an explanation would fall. They had, however, the
consolation that they were doing a necessary and valuable work and were
buoyed up with the hope their chance would yet come; and if not, the
State would at least recognize their voluntary services as at least
equal to the services of those, many of whom were draftees, who had not
proceeded further than England or St. Lucia. Up to the time of writing,
however, no such recognition has been forthcoming.
The above sets out in most skeletonized form the ordinary duties of H.Q.
consequent on the Country being at war, and the Port of Halifax being
the only port of embarkation and disembarkation for Canadian troops and
supplies of war during the most strenuous months of the year.
In addition were the extra responsibilities of caring for troops
awaiting embarkation. These troops were not only Canadians but also
troops from United States, Australia, New Zealand and some 50,000
laborers from China.
When a contingent passed through the port, either coming in or going
out, from illness or other causes some were left behind, and these had
to be cared for, often taxing the facilities of the barracks and
hospitals to their utmost. In the summer of 1918 when we encamped at
Aldershot, some 5,000 United States troops and a whole shipload was
suddenly disembarked at Sydney suffering from the “flu.”
The temporary derelicts from Canadian troops passing through the City of
Halifax were taken care of by being attached to the Composite Battalion,
under Lieut.-Col. H. L. Chipman. When ready for Overseas these were
attached to another unit going through. The records show the number of
such exceeded 10,000 men. Lieut.-Colonel Chipman deserves special
mention for his splendid administration of the Composite Battalion and
for his wise handling of many difficult problems not to be met in an
ordinary Garrison Battalion.
Again, the awful catastrophe which befell the City of Halifax on
December 6, 1917, when a ship loaded with high explosives exploded in
the harbor, spreading death and devastation broadcast, placed a great
burden upon the Garrison and proved its great value in a sudden
emergency. Every officer and man of every Military Unit and Department,
with all the military facilities of the Garrison were rushed into the
work of removing the dead and wounded, fighting fires, preparing
shelters, transporting and feeding the destitute, doing police duty and
the hundred and one things that came to the hands of a willing,
well-trained body of troops.
The Ordnance, under Lieut.-Col. Arthur Panet, opened wide its doors, and
one of the first orders issued from H.Q. was for every available man of
the 63rd from McNab’s and the 66th from York and also every artilleryman
of the 1st C.A. from the forts to be rushed to the city and, proceeding
to the devastated area by way of the Ordnance Yard, for each to carry
with him a blanket for the wounded and destitute. This order was fully
carried out, Col. Panet, though himself wounded, travelling continuously
to and from the area of most suffering to see that as many as possible
were cared for.
Major H. P. Lomas, then at the head of the Department of Supplies and
Transport, met the necessities of the sufferers with the same breadth of
judgment, bigness of heart and broad interpretation of regulations which
marked his most successful administration throughout the war of this the
essentially business department of the Service.
Elsewhere in this publication will be found articles dealing with
specific work done in this District during the war, so that in this
article it is only attempted to give a general idea of who sat at
Headquarters during these strenuous times and a general idea of the work
they were called upon to originate and supervise; and it must be borne
in mind as the detail of this specific work is studied and admired or
condemned, the responsibility and the direction was always with that
often maligned, seldom praised or congratulated, but nevertheless
patient, long-suffering, faithful, headquarters.
This article cannot properly close, however, without mention of the
other heads of Departments in addition to those specially mentioned
above because of their close association with the matters dealt with,
who so heartily and with such great self-sacrifice performed their
various duties, each in their turn:
Lieut.-Col. J. A. Grant, Lieut.-Col. McKelvie Bell, and Col. H. S.
Jaques as Assistant Directors of Medical Service.
Lieut.-Colonel Houliston, Lieut.-Colonel Benoit, Lieut.-Colonel Van
Tuyl, and Major Pringle, Commanding the Royal Canadian Engineers.
Lieut.-Colonel Dean, Assistant Director of Transport and Supplies.
Col. S. J. R. Sircom (Brig.-General upon Retirement), Assistant Director
of Pay Services.
Col. J. F. Macdonald, Senior Ordnance Officer.
Major J. A. Proudfoot, District Signalling Officer.
Lieut.-Col. H. F. Adams and Lieut.-Colonel Cram, Clearing Services
Command.