_THE 10th SIEGE BATTERY._
The proposal to recruit a purely Nova Scotian Artillery Unit originated
when four young officers had just completed their training with the
Royal School of Artillery at Halifax. These young officers were: Lieuts.
Wm. Henry L. Doane, 1st R.C.A.; Frederick H. Palmer, 1st R.C.A.; Robert
Parker Freeman, 1st R.C.A.; Robert Edward Jamieson, 1st R.C.A.
The proposal was laid before Major J. M. Slayter, R.C.A., and after
discussion he agreed to undertake to obtain the necessary authority and
to take over, at any rate temporarily, the work of the Battery, if such
was approved.
On August 1, 1916, authority was applied for from the General Officer
Commanding Military District No. 6 for leave to raise a Battery of Siege
in Halifax for service Overseas. On August 12, 1916, the organization of
No. 10 Draft Siege Artillery Battery was approved, and on October 1,
1916, authority was received from headquarters for the appointment of
the following officers: Major J. M. Slayter, R.C.A. (in Command);
Lieuts. Wm. H. L. Doane. 1st R.C.A.; F. H. Palmer, 1st R.C.A.; R. P.
Freeman, 1st R.C.A.; R. E. Jamieson, 1st R.C.A.
Barrack accommodation was found for the proposed Battery in South
Barracks, and at once the work of active recruiting was taken up. By the
end of November, 1916, the Battery was raised to a strength of
eighty-five officers and men. Preliminary examinations were completed
and as quickly as the men completed their preliminary training, they
were passed on to Instructional Courses to qualify as Battery
Commanders, Assistants, Signalling and Gun Laying, and all the various
specialties that go to make up a Siege Battery. On December 11, 1916,
Lieut. W. H. L. Doane was promoted to fill the vacancy of Captain in the
Battery. This completed the establishment of officers.
In accordance with orders received on December 16, 1916, Lieut. Crosby
and fifty other ranks were warned to hold themselves in readiness to
proceed Overseas. They embarked on the _S.S. Scandinavian_ on January
23, 1917. Recruiting continued steadily and on March 26, 1917, Capt. W.
H. L. Doane with fifty other ranks proceeded Overseas on the _S.S.
Missinabie_.
Capt. F. H. Palmer being now the senior Lieutenant of the Battery was
promoted to Captain, March 27, 1917. On April 12, 1917, Lieut. M. B.
Archibald, 1st R.C.S., and Lieut. R. D. Lacon, 1st R.C.A., were
appointed to the Battery. Lieut. R. P. Freeman and fifty other ranks
were warned on May 17, 1917, to hold themselves in readiness to proceed
Overseas. They sailed on the _Olympic_ on the 28th of May.
On November 5, 1917, warning was received that three officers and two
hundred N.C.O.’s and men would proceed Overseas. As the Military Service
Act was now about to become law, organizations which had previously
handled voluntary recruiting would now completely change their
character. Ample man power being available, it would only be necessary
to outfit and start preliminary training of men raised under the Act.
In view of this the Draft embarked for Overseas service on November 23,
1917, on the _S.S. Metagama_, consisting of Major J. M. Slayter, Captain
Palmer and one hundred and fifty N.C.O.’s and men. Lieutenant Archibald
and fifty other ranks proceeded Overseas on the _S.S. Olympic_.
Lieutenant Lacon, and some forty men, the latest joined recruits, were
left in Halifax to carry on the Depot under the Military Service Act.
As the personnel of the detachment who made up this sailing were of an
exceptionally high character, and had had considerable training in
specialties, it was hoped that they might be retained as a Battery for
service Overseas.
On arrival at Witley, Surrey, England, it was found that there were such
heavy demands for reinforcements for Batteries and Brigades already
authorized, that it would be impossible to retain the organization as it
landed at Witley. Specialists were sent for extra courses, and as these
were completed were drafted very largely to the newly-formed 10th, 11th
and 12th Siege Batteries, and to the 3rd Brigade of the C.G.A.
The Depot of the 10th Siege Battery at Halifax continued under Major
George Oland, with Lieutenant Lacon, Lieutenant McNair and Lieutenant
Baird, sending forward drafts and having raised and equipped and sent
forward some ten officers and about eight hundred N.C.O.’s and men. The
Depot at Halifax was finally absorbed after the Armistice in the 6th
Artillery Depot.
These are the bare facts as taken from records, which do not signalize
the splendid self-sacrificing work of such officers as Captains W. H. L.
Doane, R. P. Freeman, F. H. Palmer, and R. E. Jamieson; and such
N.C.O.’s as Jenkins, Fultz and Holmes.
From beginning to end this Unit was marked by the high standard of the
men that it drew, the remarkable lack of crime of even the pettiest
sort, and the earnestness and whole-hearted manner in which all ranks
endeavored to qualify themselves for their duties Overseas.