_THE ARMY SERVICE CORPS._
In the lexicon of the Army Service Corps, the word “impossible” does not
exist. It was this spirit, insistently inculcated since the organization
of the Corps in 1902, that made the accomplishment of the seemingly
“impossible” possible by the Canadian Army Service Corps in the Maritime
Provinces when the Kaiser let roar his terrorizing thunderbolts in
August, 1914.
[Illustration:
LIEUT.-COL. E. C. DEAN.]
Blatant glory has seldom perched on the escutcheon of this hard-worked
Corps, but, on the other hand, the capable work of the Army Service
Corps has frequently been the means of attracting this coy bird to a
resting place on the banner of many a Unit whose prowess fills the pages
of history.
Briefly, it is the efficient service of the Army Service Corps that
makes possible the achievement of great things by the army.
It is impossible to record the history of the Canadian Army Service
Corps in the Maritime Provinces throughout the duration of the Great
War—and after—without beginning at the basis of the structure, namely,
No. 4 Detachment of the Canadian Permanent Army Service Corps, now known
as No. 6 Detachment of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps, having its
headquarters at Halifax.
On August 4, 1914, No. 4 Detachment was officered by five officers of
the Canadian Permanent Army Service Corps, two attached officers of the
Active Militia, and one officer of the Imperial Army Service Corps,
attached. The Detachment was administered by Major E. C. Dean, who was
attached to the Staff of Military District No. 6 as an Assistant
Director of Supplies and Transport (now Lieut.-Colonel E. C. Dean,
Senior Supply and Transport Officer, attached to the Staff of M.D. No.
6). He was also Commandant of the Canadian Army Service Corps School of
Training. In command of the Detachment was Major R. O. Marks, an officer
of the Imperial Army Service Corps, temporarily loaned to the Canadian
Sister Corps. He was also Adjutant of the School of Training. The other
officers of the Permanent Force were Lieut. H. O. Lawson (now Major
Lawson, Senior Supply and Transport Officer, M.D. No. 3, Kingston,
Ontario); Lieut. Keith MacDougall (now Major MacDougall, in charge of
No. 6 Detachment, R.C.A.S.C.); Lieut. J. A. Gwynne (who proceeded
Overseas as Adjutant of the Second Divisional Train); and Lieut., now
Capt., George Simms, District Barracks Officer—a most efficient,
hard-working officer, whose capability went a long way towards making
possible the quartering and comfort of many thousands of troops in the
Maritime Provinces. The splendid services rendered by this officer—his
absolute devotion to his arduous duties, his zeal and tireless efforts
in behalf of the C.E.F., and, at the same time, his careful supervision
of all matters pertaining to the financial interests of the public
purse—are well worthy of recognition.
The two attached officers of the Active Militia were Lieut. (now Major)
H. R. Hendy, of Esquimalt, B.C., and Capt. H. J. B. Keating, of No. 6
Company, Canadian Army Service Corps. Captain Keating is now stationed
at Quebec.
The rank and file of the Detachment numbered less than fifty—scarcely
sufficient to care for the needs of Halifax Garrison in peace time. The
available transport comprised about a half-dozen horses, two time-worn
Ford passenger cars, two steamboats, and a “dumb” lighter. Practically
the whole of the land transport was carried out by horses and wagons
under a civilian contractor—Mr. George E. VanBuskirk.
The Supply Depot, including grocery store, bakery, and meat shop, was
located within the confines of Glacis Barracks—the headquarters of the
Army Service Corps at Halifax—in a small brick building which, under the
regime of the Imperials, had been used as a school for the senior
children of Imperial soldiers in garrison at Halifax. Under peace
conditions this building was inadequate for the purposes for which it
was used, and, needless to say, under war demands its continuance as
such was out of the question. All flour, bread, groceries, meat, and
other supplies, had to be taken in and out of one small door.
To meet war requirements, the garrison gymnasium—situated about fifty
feet from the old senior school building—was taken over and converted
into an ideal Supply Depot. The former grocery store was then opened up
to enlarge the bakery, which was modernized by the introduction of
electrically-operated machinery and new and enlarged ovens. The meat
shop was also improved, the chill room enlarged and modernized by the
addition of a “trolley” system for the expeditious handling of meat.
Thus in a short time the handicap with which the Army Service Corps
labored at the outbreak of war was quickly overcome.
The most serious difficulty, however, which had to be combatted was that
of obtaining sufficient men to carry out the increased work thrown upon
this Corps by the sudden strengthening of Halifax Garrison, and the
calling out of troops to guard various points in the Maritime Provinces.
This was a real and trying hardship. The other Permanent Force Units
forming Halifax Garrison could not spare men to assist the Army Service
Corps, as every man was needed within his own Unit. The problem was
partly solved by calling up a number of non-commissioned officers and
men of No. 8 Company, Canadian Army Service Corps, commanded by Capt. F.
W. Wickwire, with headquarters at Kentville, N.S. No. 7 Company,
commanded by Major A. L. Massie, with headquarters at St. John, also
supplied a few. Later on Lieut.-Col. I. W. Videto, commanding the 63rd
Halifax Rifles, and Lieut.-Col. A. King, commanding the 66th Princess
Louise Fusiliers, very generously loaned a number of splendid men, whose
ready adaptability made it possible for the Army Service Corps to “carry
on.” As time advanced enlistments made the Corps more or less
self-sustaining, but the fact remains that never throughout the duration
of the War were sufficient men actually enlisted in this branch of the
Service to render it independent of other Units. This condition was
probably due to the fact that the possibility of getting Overseas was
greater by enlisting in other Units.
Mention has been made of Nos. 7 and 8 Companies of the Canadian Army
Service Corps. Both these Companies played important parts in the Great
World War, at home and abroad. Major Massie took Overseas the Second
Divisional Train, and all the officers and practically the whole of the
rank and file of No. 7 Company accompanied him. Captain Wickwire, of No.
8 Company, after a short period as Deputy Assistant Director of Supply
and Transport, M.D. No. 6, also went over to France with this Train, and
rendered very efficient service with it in the fighting zone.
The strengthening of the Garrison of Halifax made possible the
fulfilment of the plans of defence, which had long since been carefully
laid down. This, and the summoning of troops for guard purposes at
various points in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, threw a vast amount of
work on the Army Service Corps, for not only had these troops, scattered
over a wide area throughout the three Provinces, to be housed, and their
daily wants in the matter of food, water, light, fuel, straw for
bedding, transport and necessary services arranged for, but it was also
required, following a preconceived plan, to provide for them against the
possibility of their being cut off from their source of supply. To do
justice to the amount of labor involved in the organization and
administration of this task would require a volume greater in size than
this one, so all that can be done is to give a brief outline of the
general scheme followed.
When the Royal Canadian Regiment, with its supporting artillery, were
ordered to garrison points in the Island of Cape Breton and Canso, they
left Halifax self-sustaining for fourteen days; that is, they carried
with them reserve rations sufficient for fourteen days for all ranks. In
addition they carried rations for current consumption sufficient for all
ranks for a further fourteen days, but minus meat, butter and bread.
Lieut. J. A. Gwynne, of the Army Service Corps, and one clerk,
accompanied the Regiment to Sydney to make necessary supply and other
arrangements. The tasks this officer had to attend to may be judged when
it is known that he had to make contracts, and to arrange to supply the
wants of troops located at nine different points, covering a frontage of
about fifty miles, and requiring travel by train, steamship, street car
and automobile to reach the various posts. So capably was the duty
performed that the troops had never to go without a meal, their rations
being arranged with practically the regularity which prevailed in
Halifax under peace conditions. When Lieutenant Gwynne was summoned for
service Overseas, he was replaced at Sydney by Lieut. Horace
Westmoreland. Later on this officer went to France as Transport Officer
of the Royal Canadian Regiment, being replaced at Sydney by Lieut. Cecil
Sircom. These three officers belonged to the Permanent Force, and
received their training at Halifax.
As the Supply and Transport Officer at Sydney found it impossible to
give any attention to the troops stationed at Canso, the work there
incidental to the Army Service Corps was performed by the Officer
Commanding the Guard, who received the necessary instructions by
telegram and telephone from the Assistant Director of Supplies and
Transport at Halifax, an Army Service Corps’ Clerk being sent to Canso
to attend to the necessary accounting.
An incident might here be related as exemplifying the difficulties that
had to be overcome from time to time by the Army Service Corps. Certain
heavy guns had to be transported from Prince Edward Island to points in
Nova Scotia. Every effort was put forth to obtain the services of a ship
capable of carrying these guns, but without success. Finally, after a
delay of several days, Lieut.-Colonel Arthur Peake telephoned from
Charlottetown to Halifax to say that a ship was then approaching
Charlottetown Harbor which might be suitable. The A.D. of S. & T. at
Halifax instructed him to approach the captain of this vessel and
explain to him the situation, and if he was not agreeable to undertaking
the task of transporting these guns, Colonel Peake was to commandeer the
ship and move the artillery to the places directed. Whether it was
Colonel Peake’s persuasiveness or his war-like demeanor that had the
desired effect cannot be stated with certainty. Time was spent only in
removing sufficient of the ship’s cargo to make it possible to load the
guns, which were then transported with despatch. Meanwhile other
arrangements had been made by the Army Service Corps to carry these guns
to the points in Nova Scotia where they were required.
The troops forming the actual defence force of Halifax and environments
were supplied on the same basis as those sent to Cape Breton, so that in
the event of necessity they could sustain themselves for fourteen days,
and by the addition of tinned meat and biscuit, the period could be
extended another fourteen days.
Meanwhile troops had been summoned for the defence of St. John, N.B.,
which necessitated calling out a portion of No. 7 Company of the
Canadian Army Service Corps, under the command of Major A. L. Massie.
This detachment took up its headquarters in the Armories, and from there
efficiently ministered to the wants of the troops on duty and in
training at St. John and adjoining points. Lieut. J. Key, who had been
trained at Halifax, was sent to St. John to take up the duties as
District Barrack Officer, carrying out these duties very satisfactorily.
Lieut. Arthur Biggar, who was also trained at Halifax, was despatched to
St. John as Officer in Charge of Supplies, a position he filled very
creditably until called for duty in France. The troops doing duty at St.
John and adjacent points were also rationed on the same basis as were
those on duty at Halifax, Cape Breton, and other points.
It will be remembered that early in the War a Capt. Von Weghorn, an
officer of the Prussian Army, startled the civilized world by an attempt
to destroy the International railway bridge spanning the St. Lacroix
River, between McAdam Junction, on the Canadian side, and Vanceboro, on
the United States’ side. A suitcase filled with dynamite was placed
between the piers of the northeast corner of the bridge on the Canadian
side. The attempt failed, the bridge being only slightly damaged and
traffic not delayed. It was considered expedient, however, to place an
armed guard on this bridge on the Canadian side. To Lieut.-Col. E. C.
Dean, A.D. of S. & T., M.D. No. 6, fell the duty of making the necessary
supply and other arrangements for this guard.
A similar guard was placed over the new railway bridge spanning the St.
John River at St. Leonards.
Guards were also established over the Marconi Wireless Towers at
Newcastle, N.B., and Barrington Passage, the latter under command of
Lieut.-Col. T. M. Seeley. These guards required the usual attention on
the part of the Army Service Corps. To maintain the guard at Barrington
Passage was a cause of anxiety, as it was stationed at a point some
miles off the main road, in the midst of a wilderness, and could be
reached only in good weather, as the road leading to the Wireless
Station from the main highway was-well, simply impossible.
Permanent guards were also maintained at Louisburg, Glace Bay, Whitney
Pier, Sydney, North Sydney, Sydney Mines, Cranberry Head, Chapel Hill,
Canso and various other places.
Incidentally troops were gathering at Valcartier to form the First
Contingent and the quota from the Maritime Provinces had to be
transported to the place of rendezvous. The manner of the arrangement of
this transportation was unique. Recruiting was being carried on in
practically every city, town, village and hamlet in the Maritime
Provinces. Movements were made when it was known that sufficient numbers
of men had been recruited to justify sending them forward. On the A.D.
of S. and T. rested the task of making train arrangements to get these
recruits to Valcartier. It was done in this manner: Instructions were
sent to various recruiting centres to have certain numbers of recruits
entrain on a certain train on a certain day. Thus, for instance, the
first lot might entrain at Louisburg, and others along the line as far
as Sydney; probably some would be brought over from Sydney Mines and
North Sydney to Sydney. At the latter place two, three or four special
coaches would be attached to a regular train, and as this train
proceeded towards Truro, the number of recruits would be augmented,
until on its arrival at Truro it might have from two to three hundred on
board. Meanwhile, a sufficient number would be run up from Halifax, and
a special train would then be made up at Truro and run to Levis, P.Q.,
where a transfer would be made for Quebec and Valcartier. At other times
Moncton would be made the point at which a special train would be made
up, in which case St. John supplied the completing quota to make up the
train load of 500 or thereabouts. It must be borne in mind, however,
that the whole movement was planned ahead of time, and the transport
scheme carried out on a definite plan.
Obviously it was impossible to send out transport warrants to cover the
movement of these various groups, so an arrangement was made whereby the
railway authorities agreed to accept temporary interim receipts from
officers or non-commissioned officers in charge of these groups, on the
presentation of a telegram or letter of instruction from either the A.D.
of S. & T. or any other Staff officer. These receipts were issued in
duplicate, one copy of which was kept by the ticket agent and the other
mailed to the A.D. of S. & T. Upon receipt of the latter, covering
transport warrants were mailed to the ticket agents concerned. By this
means some thousands of troops were moved expeditiously from the
Maritime Provinces to Valcartier.
New Units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force were forming in various
parts of the Maritime Provinces, and it behooved the Army Service Corps
to quarter them, arrange for supplies, water, light, land
transportation, barrack equipment, and a thousand and one details
incidental to the requirements of newly-formed military organizations,
and of which only a trained soldier has the faintest conception. These
new Units, or in some cases reinforcements, were scattered throughout
the length and breadth of the three Provinces, at such places in Nova
Scotia as: Halifax, Windsor, Truro, Pictou, New Glasgow, Antigonish,
Sydney, North Sydney, Sydney Mines, Broughton, Glace Bay and Amherst.
When the Malleable Iron Works at Amherst, were converted into a domicile
for the involuntary reception and entertainment of adherents of the
doctrines of the Kaiser and his admirers, a small detachment of the Army
Service Corps was sent there to attend to their well-being. The late
Capt. P. F. Keating was in command of this detachment which had also to
look after the needs of the recruits quartered in Amherst. Captain
Keating was trained at Halifax and later proceeded Overseas in command
of No. 4 Company of the Third Divisional Train. This Company was
recruited at Halifax, having its headquarters in the old Medical College
Building at the corner of College and Carlton Streets.
Shortly after the outbreak of war, Canadian horses began to find their
way Overseas. In the first winter of the War the number shipped from the
Port of Halifax was something like 17,000. On the Army Service Corps
rested the duty of embarking these animals. The absence of forewarning
of train loads of horses being en route for Halifax was sometimes the
cause of great anxiety. At five o’clock one Easter Sunday morning a
telephone message from a railway official conveyed the tidings that
there were three train loads of horses in the freight yards consigned to
the Assistant Director of Supplies and Transport. As this was the first
intimation received of the movement of these horses, naturally no
arrangements had been made for their reception, and as the ships by
which they were to be conveyed Overseas were not in the harbor, it
became necessary to arrange for their disentrainment without loss of
time. Mr. M. McF. Hall, Secretary of the Halifax Exhibition, was called
out of bed by telephone, the situation explained to him, and
arrangements completed to detrain and stable the horses at the
Exhibition Grounds. Every available man of the Army Service Corps was
aroused from bed and marched to the Exhibition Grounds, there to care
for these horses instead of proceeding to church to take part in Easter
Sunday Service. Later, a detachment of artillerymen was told off to take
on the responsibility of these horses. At least on two other occasions
consignments of horses reached Halifax under similar circumstances.
Another “job” of the Army Service Corps at Halifax was to receive,
account for and send forward Overseas thousands upon thousands of
parcels of “comforts” for the troops at the Front, these parcels coming
from all parts of Canada, comprising everything in size from an envelope
containing a handkerchief to packing cases and barrels of comforts of
every description. Every parcel received was given a number, registered,
and then despatched Overseas.
Arrangements for the embarkation of complete Units and reinforcements of
troops during the early part of the War also fell to the lot of the Army
Service Corps, the A.D. of S. & T. being the responsible officer. He had
a most capable and efficient assistant in the person of Capt. S. A.
Doane, of Army Service Corps, whose knowledge of steamship matters is
unsurpassed, and who carried out practically all the details incidental
to the embarkation of troops at Halifax.
The Barrack Services under Capt. George Simms was a hard-worked branch,
the pressure on which did not cease until long after peace had been
declared.
It is worthy of mention that throughout the War thousands of contracts
for supplies were made and carried out by the Army Service Corps in the
Maritime Provinces, involving the expenditure of millions of dollars,
the accounting for which was also one of the many duties of the Army
Service Corps, yet not in a single instance was there the breath of
scandal discernible, a single transaction questioned, or a suggestion of
deviation from the ethical pathway of rectitude. Truly a glorious record
and heritage for the Canadian Army Service Corps in the Maritime
Provinces, with headquarters in the Metropolis of Nova Scotia.
The statement has been made that at the outbreak of the Great World War
there were stationed at Halifax eight officers of the Army Service
Corps. Most of these were soon cleared out and proceeded Overseas. Major
Marks, Lieutenants Lawson and MacDougall were summoned to Valcartier and
accompanied the First Contingent. Lieut.-Colonel Dean was called to take
command of the First Divisional Train, but as his services at Halifax
could not then be spared, he was not permitted to go. Later on he was
given the command of the Second Divisional Train, but again he was held
back, Major A. L. Massie of St. John being given the command. Col. W. A.
Simson, a Nova Scotian, was placed in command of the First Divisional
Train, which proved to be the “first” Train in more senses than one,
inasmuch as it was conceded to be the best Train in France, barring
none.
On the establishment of an Army Service Corps Training School at
Toronto, Capt. H. R. Hendy, of Halifax, was appointed Adjutant. On
proceeding Overseas, he was replaced by Capt. Cecil R. Sircom. Both of
these officers received their training at Halifax, as did also upwards
of one hundred officers, all of whom “made good” in Flanders Fields,
bringing credit to themselves, the Army Service Corps and the Metropolis
of Nova Scotia, where they were trained.
Among Nova Scotia officers of the Army Service Corps who were trained at
Halifax and saw service at the Front were: Capt. G. A. Redford, of New
Glasgow; Lieut. D. A. Starr, of Halifax; Capt. “Ted” Foster, of Bedford;
Capt. G. W. Underwood, of New Glasgow; Capt. Walter Taylor, of Halifax,
who transferred his affections to the Army Medical Corps; Lieut. Frank
S. Brennan, of Halifax, later transferred to the Flying Corps; Lieut. A.
B. Dewberry, of Halifax. In addition Lieut. L. Pierce, of No. 8 Company,
saw service in France, while Lieuts. J. A. Rose, G. H. Applegate, W. J.
V. Tweedie, H. S. Crowe and F. D. Doyle, also of No. 8 Company, all Nova
Scotians, performed meritorious service in Canada. Lieut. J. G. Ryan, of
Kentville, received his training at Halifax and filled many important
appointments at Sydney, Amherst, Aldershot, Ottawa and elsewhere.
Physical unfitness rendered him unable to partake in the campaign
Overseas.
The Headquarters Company of the Fourth Divisional Train was organized at
Halifax, the 200 members being recruited almost entirely from Nova
Scotia. The Train was mobilized and trained at Halifax. It was commanded
by Lieut.-Col. E. C. Dean, who took it Overseas. Of this Unit a Canadian
officer in high position in England said it was one of the best trained
bodies of men that Canada had contributed to the Great War.
On the departure Overseas of Lieut.-Colonel Dean, the duties of A.D. of
S. & T. were taken over by Major A. P. Lomas, of No. 6 Company of the
Army Service Corps. This officer very efficiently administered the Army
Service Corps affairs in the Maritime Provinces for nearly three years,
and rendered the British Empire invaluable service. He was ably seconded
by Major E. E. Wood, who commanded the local C.P.A.S.C., now developed
into a Company of upwards of 200 men, having about fifty horses and
forty motor vehicles.
The Permanent Detachment of the Army Service Corps at Halifax
contributed very materially in personnel to the various Army Service
Corps Units proceeding Overseas, the Detachment being made up largely of
Nova Scotians. The training and disciplining these men received at
Halifax had the effect of leavening the Overseas Units with which they
became associated.
When the casualties began to return from France, they came in ship
loads, about ninety per cent. returning through the Port of Halifax.
Sometimes as many as three vessels a week arrived. Most of the
well-known big ships were engaged in bringing home these war-scarred
veterans, among the number being the _Olympic_, _Aquitania_ and
_Mauretania_. In this work the Army Service Corps played an important
part, as they made all train, berthing and feeding arrangements, as well
as issuing all ranks with the necessary tickets for transportation. The
Army Service Corps worked out each train “consist,” gave the completed
train schedules to the railroad officials, who made up the trains in
accordance therewith.
Lieut.-Col. E. C. Dean, who had just returned from France, was appointed
Chief Transport Officer. Other Army Service Corps officers employed on
this important work were: Major F. W. Wickwire (who later succeeded
Colonel Dean as Chief Transport Officer), Capt. S. A. Doane, Lieut. Ken.
Love, Capt. L. Prickler, and Lieut. George H. Edgar. Also assisting were
eighty train conducting officers, one of whom was placed in charge of
each troop train to look after the comforts of the men, see that they
were properly fed, and that the train was run through to its destination
without undue delay.
Troops were disembarked at the rate of 1,000 under one hour: the
_Olympic_ and _Aquitania_, each carrying 5,500, were cleared in five
hours. About twelve to fourteen trains on an average were required to
despatch this number of men homeward, and the fact that over a quarter
of a million men were thus entrained, ticketed, berthed and fed en route
without a single mishap or complaint serves to illustrate the almost
perfect system that prevailed. Troops were entrained at the rate of
1,000 an hour, which meant that a troop train departed every half hour,
which may be considered quick work even from a railroad standpoint.
Though he was not connected with the military in any way, at the same
time a word of praise is due Mr. Ernie Cameron, now Superintendent of
the Dining and Sleeping Car Department of the Canadian National Railways
at Halifax, for the very able, efficient co-operation he gave the
military authorities in making up trains, providing most excellent meals
for the men en route and in many ways doing his bit to make the
home-coming of the warriors a happy one.
The Maritime Provinces, and Nova Scotia in particular, may justly be
proud of the part played in the Great War by their sons who wore the
badges of the Army Service Corps. The highly creditable achievements of
this organization—a Unit usually little heard of, but which accomplishes
big things—has shed lustre on the names of the three Provinces down by
the sounding sea.