_THE 66th REGIMENT PRINCESS LOUISE FUSILIERS._
[Illustration:
LIEUT.-COL. A. KING.]
Following Great Britain’s declaration of war against Germany on August
4, 1914, the 66th Regiment, Princess Louise Fusiliers, immediately
paraded at the Halifax Armories and the same evening sent an advanced
party of four officers and one hundred other ranks in command of Capt.
D. S. Bauld to Wellington Barracks, where the balance of the Unit under
its Commanding Officer, Lieut.-Col. H. L. Chipman, followed, and
established its headquarters on August 7, 1914. Preparations were
immediately made to place the 66th Regiment on a war footing, and
excitement ran high because it was felt by all ranks that, this being
one of the oldest Units in the Province, the 66th Regiment would be
among the first to see real service; but the fact that it was never sent
Overseas caused in the later years of the War a feeling of bitter
disappointment, particularly among those who were destined to carry on
tame and unattractive garrison duty throughout the War.
The “Halifax Defence Scheme” unfortunately condemned it to this
uninteresting work, and although the Regiment repeatedly volunteered for
service Overseas its requests were ignored. The defence of Halifax was
altogether a thankless task, and the often repeated assurance that the
Regiment was performing the duties required of it brought little
consolation to the officers and men whose sole ambition was to join
their comrades in the Field.
The personnel of the officers who turned out with the Regiment at the
time of the declaration of war was as follows:—
Lieut.-Col. H. L. Chipman Officer Commanding.
Major and Bt. Lieut.-Col. A. King Senior Major.
Major R. B. Simmonds Junior Major and Acting Adjutant.
Capt. F. L. Stephen Acting Quartermaster.
Lieut.-Col. M. A. Curry Medical Officer.
Lieut.-Col. W. J. Armitage Chaplain.
Major R. H. Humphrey Paymaster.
_Company Officers._
Capts. A. W. Weston, G. W. Murray, J. McFatridge, D. S. Bauld, H.
H. Bligh, R. W. Frost, C. E. Dowden, J. R. Glazbrook; Lieuts. W.
B. Medcalfe, G. W. Stairs, G. H. Liddell, C. A. Fages, J. C.
Stairs, J. R. Simmonds, G. Dwyer, W. C. Borrett, J. H. Crosskill,
B. H. Smith, R. F. Studd, F. H. Marr, F. R. Heuston, D. Stairs, G.
E. Creighton, L. E. VanBuskirk.
Later two officers reported for duty from the Corps Reserve, and during
the period of the War twenty-five additional officers were granted
commissions in the Regiment. The Regiment at the outbreak of the War was
on an eight Company basis, and it was not until December 6, 1915, that
the double Company system was adopted.
The first move of importance was the sending of a detachment, on August
11, 1914, of four Companies, B, E, F and G, and the Regimental Machine
Gun Section, all under command of Major R. B. Simmonds, to Chain and
Long Lakes, with instructions to prepare a system of trenches,
blockhouses, etc., and arrange generally for the defence of Halifax City
from any possible attack from the West. This force was designated the
“Chain Lakes Detachment,” and with interchanges of officers and other
ranks remained on duty at this post until January 15, 1917, when it
proceeded to York Redoubt.
The headquarters of the Regiment was moved from Wellington Barracks to
York Redoubt on August 29, 1914, and remained there until the
demobilization of the Unit on May 1, 1918. In January, 1915,
Lieut.-Colonel Chipman was seconded from the Regiment and took over
command of the Composite Battalion, which had been organized for
garrison duty, and Lieut.-Col. A. King was gazetted O.C. 66th Regiment,
and continued so until the Unit was relieved from active service in May,
1918.
About December 1, 1915, authority was granted for the Regiment to
organize a reinforcing draft, five officers and two hundred and fifty
other ranks. The South Barracks on Sackville Street were immediately
taken over, and recruiting and organization work in connection with the
draft was proceeded with. The draft finally sailed for England on
January 22, 1916. This draft was commanded by Capt. R. F. Studd, the
other officers accompanying it being Lieuts. T. F. Morrison, W. K.
Fraser, L. J. Atkinson, and W. S. Fielding.
During the War the 66th Regiment was inspected by His Royal Highness the
Duke of Connaught, His Excellency the Duke of Devonshire, Major-General
Gwatkin, Chief of the Canadian General Staff, Major-General Lessard,
Inspector-General of Eastern Canada, and by many other distinguished
soldiers, and was at all times most highly complimented on its excellent
state of efficiency.
[Illustration:
LIEUT.-COL. R. B. SIMMONDS.]
This Unit played a prominent part in the relief work following the great
explosion of December 6, 1917, which devastated a large portion of the
City of Halifax, caused the loss of some seventeen hundred lives and
entailed untold suffering among so many families for months following.
Lieut.-Col. R. B. Simmonds was in command of all military and naval
relief parties engaged in rescue work in the devastated area, and later
was placed in charge of a committee to procure relief for dependants of
all men who were serving at home or Overseas. It was the duty of this
committee to find food, clothing and shelter for the families of all
soldiers who had suffered in the explosion. A large number of mechanics
were placed under the direction of this committee and the work of relief
practically completed by May 1, 1918. That the duties of this committee
were all carried out it might be mentioned that it effected practically
permanent repairs to over one hundred and sixty houses, besides looking
after the needs of many suffering families, for which it was
complimented by the Minister of Militia and received the thanks of the
Halifax Relief Commission.
Notwithstanding that the Regiment was kept in Canada, it was,
nevertheless, called upon to perform various and arduous duties at all
times. That the Regiment also assisted in a very tangible way in winning
the War is proved by the fact that the 66th Regiment, Princess Louise
Fusiliers sent fifty-four officers and eight hundred and fifty men to
swell the ranks of various Overseas Units of the Canadian Expeditionary
Force, a large number of whom are now sleeping their last sleep in the
fields of Flanders, having upheld the honor of their Regiment and proved
their belief in its motto, “Fideliter.”