_CANADIAN ARMY PAY CORPS._
Before the outbreak of the War in 1914 the Canadian Army Pay Corps had
only sufficient Staff to deal with the small permanent force, of which
it was an integral part. When the Canadian Expeditionary Force was
organized, and troops mobilized for home defence, the C.A.P.C. was
called upon to undergo the same strain and expansion demanded of every
branch of the service. Outside of the army little is known of the
responsibilities suddenly thrust upon this department. It had to deal
with all finances, pay, separation allowance, assigned pay, civilian
employees, tradesmen’s accounts, etc., and, as will be seen by the
statement at the end of this article, No. 6 Detachment stationed at
Halifax alone disbursed $53,357,388.08 between August, 1914, and July,
1920.
In August, 1914, No. 6 Detachment, whose territory at that time
included New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, as well as Nova
Scotia, consisted of the following officers and non-commissioned
officers: Lieut.-Col. S. J. R. Sircom (now retired with rank of
Brigadier-General), Capt. J. L. Regan, Sergt.-Major J. Turner,
Quartermaster Sergt. G. H. Saunders, Staff Sergt. G. T. Allum, Staff
Sergt. C. A. Chew, Staff Sergt. B. A. Spink, Sergt. E. R. Kelly,
Sergt. A. V. Chase, Sergt. W. A. Coyne, Sergt. F. A. Chew.
This Staff was increased until at one time 14 officers and 120
non-commissioned officers and men were employed. Some of these served in
No. 6 Detachment throughout the whole period of the War. Others were
transferred to various Units, went Overseas, or took their discharge.
Every soldier, from a Tommy to a full-fledged General, will admit that
as far as organization and administration were concerned the Canadian
Army Pay Corps was beyond criticism. As soon as a man enlisted he
received his pay regularly, no matter where he was—in Canada or in
England, in the Field, in hospital or on furlough; and when he returned
to Canada for demobilization the cheque for balance of pay due was
handed to him on the day he was discharged. In addition to this monies
were forwarded to his dependants on account of Separation Allowance, and
assigned pay, settlement made for clothing and equipment, which he
purchased from stores on repayment, for Victory Bonds which he purchased
during his services, remittances to his friends and other payments.
All this entailed an enormous amount of work. Ledger sheets had to be
kept up to date, pay books checked up, remittances looked after, cheques
written, documents made up and sent along with the soldier from one
place to another until he finally returned to Canada, bearing with him
like documents from England. Every officer, non-commissioned officer and
man knows the amount of detail work which this involved.
[Illustration:
BRIG.-GEN. S. J. R. SIRCOM.]
Of the original Staff, Col. S. J. R. Sircom, affectionately known to the
troops in this district as the “Grand Old Man,” endeared himself to all
ranks with whom he came in contact by his urbanity and kindly
consideration. Colonel Sircom commenced his military career early in
life. He joined the Halifax Garrison Artillery as a 2nd Lieutenant in
1878, and the 63rd Regiment, Halifax Rifles, in 1885. He transferred to
the Militia Staff with the rank of Major in 1905, and on January 1,
1907, was appointed to the C.A.P.C. with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel,
and became Paymaster of the 6th Divisional area. He was promoted to the
rank of Colonel on May 24, 1916. He proceeded to London as a
representative of the Paymaster-General the latter part of 1918, and on
his return from Overseas was retired to Pension with the rank of
Brigadier-General.
[Illustration:
COL. J. L. REGAN, C.M.G.]
Capt. J. L. Regan proceeded Overseas with the First Contingent as
assistant to Col. W. R. Ward, then Chief Paymaster Canadian
Expeditionary Force. Captain Regan was largely responsible for the
organization of the Canadian Pay Services in France and England. He was
later promoted to the rank of Colonel and appointed Deputy
Paymaster-General. He was awarded the C.M.G., and on his return to
Canada became Director of Pay Services at Ottawa.
Quartermaster Sergt. J. Turner transferred to the Highland Brigade as
Captain and Quartermaster. He was seriously injured in the Halifax
explosion and is now invalided to Pension. Staff Sergeant G. T. Allum,
now Sergeant-Major, is retired to Pension. Quartermaster Sergeant G. H.
Saunders was promoted to the rank of Captain. Captain Saunders remained
with No. 6 Detachment during the whole period of the War, and the
admirable manner in which this Unit met all demands upon it,
particularly during the trying months of demobilization, was largely due
to his energy, efficiency and foresight.
Staff Sergts. C. A. Chew and B. A. Spink proceeded Overseas and both
returned with the rank of Captain. The former was discharged to Pension;
the latter is employed at Militia Headquarters. Staff Sergt. A. V. Chase
went Overseas with the Clearing Services Command and returned with the
rank of Captain. He will be remembered by all returning officers and men
who passed through or had dealings with the Clearing Depot, Halifax, as
a very efficient officer. Sergt. W. A. Coyne proceeded Overseas as
Captain Clearing Services Command and is now struck off strength. Sergt.
F. A. Chew proceeded Overseas with the 25th Battalion, returned as a
Captain in the C.A.P.C., and is now struck off strength to Pension.
Capt. G. C. Sircom, son of Brigadier-General S. J. R. Sircom, after
return from Overseas, was employed in the Pay Office, and now has a
commission in the Permanent Army Pay Corps.
[Illustration:
LIEUT.-COL. J.A.C. MOWBRAY, O.B.E.]
Lieut.-Col. J. A. C. Mowbray, when war was declared, offered his
services and was detailed as Paymaster to the 2nd Brigade, C.F.A.,
proceeding Overseas with that Unit. After serving in France for about
one year he was recalled to London to fill a post in the Pay Office
Headquarters. He became Deputy Assistant Paymaster-General, was awarded
the O.B.E., and later was transferred to Canada to fill his present
position, which is designated as Senior Pay Officer for Nova Scotia.
The following are a few of the officers who did good work in this
Division during the War, either before proceeding Overseas or returning
from Overseas on demobilization or as Paymasters of Units:—Major J.
Taylor, Major M. H. Morrison, Major R. H. Humphrey, Major J. D. Murphy,
Major Colin MacIntosh, Capt. H. Powis Herbert, Capt. G. C. Milsom, Capt.
W. W. Brignell, Capt. C. S. Simpson, Capt. R. Bartholomew, Capt. H. A.
MacDonald, Capt. J. L. Melanson, Capt. R. H. Hardwicke, Capt. A. A.
Cameron, Capt. Tait Scott, Capt. H. W. Ireland, Capt. Walter Ruggles,
Capt. W. C. L. Bauld, Capt. R. MacDougall, Lieut. H. S. Major, Lieut. W.
E. McDonald, Lieut. H. A. Allum, Lieut. H. S. Simpson, Lieut. W. J.
O’Donnell.
To show the vast amount of work carried out by this Detachment the
following statement of monthly expenditure is appended. This does not
include disbursements for clothing and equipment, horses, transports,
camp supplies, wagons, etc., but purely pay and allowance of troops and
their upkeep. Considering the amount of cash handled it is satisfactory
to know that not one cent was lost to the public by misappropriation or
otherwise.
CANADIAN ARMY PAY CORPS
1914. 1915. 1916. 1917.
Jan. $482,294 94 $896,549 00 $666,896 18
Feb. 470,046 71 976,053 25 644,126 11
Mar. 662,605 50 1,153,944 98 675,447 01
Supp. 287,295 99 868,515 21 5,506 91
Apr. 573,994 33 926,836 11 747,234 96
May 589,433 57 1,140,637 41 691,321 20
June 460,883 20 1,269,057 73 679,157 80
July 421,362 69 928,319 09 579,265 37
Aug. $161,021 38 418,878 19 911,739 50 571,727 69
Sept. 314,031 19 447,655 00 849,942 58 550,065 71
Oct. 307,412 29 533,383 39 819,436 00 745,190 00
Nov. 342,922 32 602,738 82 752,020 66 697,784 22
Dec. 459,147 34 867,574 05 683,957 09 535,004 98
————————————— ————————————— —————————————— —————————————
Total. $1,584,534 52 $6,818,146 38 $12,177,008 61 $7,788,728 14
1918. 1919. 1920.
Jan. $557,736 27 $683,909 27 $657,541 08
Feb. 518,971 86 872,284 08 402,801 20
Mar. 726,882 97 1,176,278 36 347,439 80
Supp. 18,643 78 26,683 87 60,765 01
Apr. 700,400 20 1,113,762 96 142,518 83
May 600,590 53 1,208,976 54 121,399 76
June 745,238 77 1,378,733 64 145,981 25
July 940,247 42 1,596,356 84 132,327 77
Aug. 709,107 18 1,638,684 02
Sept. 595,238 78 1,505,466 80
Oct. 614,166 48 1,727,033 48
Nov. 610,452 05 1,178,085 30
Dec. 671,840 28 862,424 00
————————————— —————————————— —————————————
Total. $8,009,516 57 $14,968,679 16 $2,010,774 70
Summary.
1914 $1,584,534 52
1915 6,818,146 38
1916 12,177,008 61
1917 7,788,728 14
1918 8,009,516 57
1919 14,968,679 16
1920 2,010,774 70
———————
Total expenditure to July, 1920 $53,357,388 08