_RECRUITING IN NOVA SCOTIA._
The number of men of military age in Canada at the outbreak of the War
was approximately 1,720,000, and of this Nova Scotia’s quota was 53,500.
As the War progressed it was decided that Canada’s contribution would be
500,000 and Nova Scotia’s proportion 30,000, which was attained.
At first no particular effort was made by the public to raise the
various Units, the matter being left entirely in the hands of the
Military. The 1st Field Ambulance and the 17th Field Battery proceeded
to Valcartier as Units, and thence Overseas with the First Division. The
17th, Nova Scotia’s first Battalion, to our lasting disgrace, was left
to paddle its own canoe to the rocks in Salisbury Plains, where it
eventually became the 17th Reserve Battalion, supplying reinforcements
to the Nova Scotia Units in the Field.
The 25th was the first Battalion in which the public evinced any
interest. This was mainly recruited from Militia Units, a large
proportion coming from the Island of Cape Breton and from Halifax. The
40th Battalion and the 6th Canadian Mounted Rifles, authorized in
February, 1915, were recruited with comparative ease, the 40th entirely
from Nova Scotia and the 6th C.M.R. from the three Maritime Provinces.
At this time the 25th had not proceeded Overseas, and it was not until
May that this Battalion, which in France earned for itself the title of
the “Fighting 25th,” sailed from Halifax, taking as its final complement
part of the 40th Battalion.
The 40th was then sent to Aldershot, N.S., for training, and was almost
immediately called upon to supply a draft of 5 officers and 250 men.
About this time recruiting slackened. The strength of the 40th dwindled,
due to casualties from sickness and other causes, and it seemed that
unless a special effort were made by the public this Unit would share
the fate of the 17th, or worse. Mr. G. S. Campbell, whose son was among
the officers of this Unit, brought back from Valcartier the news that
unless the Battalion was quickly brought up to strength it would be
absorbed into a Battalion of another Province, and Nova Scotia would
lose it. A strong Committee of prominent citizens was immediately
formed. Money for advertising was subscribed, and a campaign launched,
the effect of which never ceased during the period of the War. The 40th
was brought up to full strength, and in October proceeded Overseas.
As a result of the efforts of this Committee it was thought by
Headquarters M.D. No. 6 that the work of recruiting throughout the
Province should be inspected and reported on. Lieut.-Col. H. Flowers was
selected to undertake this duty. Every important town in the Province
was visited except in Cape Breton, which was supplying many men through
the energetic work of the Rev. E. Watering Florence. The prominent
people in each town were induced to lend their assistance, forming such
organizations as they in their wisdom deemed best. All the assistance
that headquarters and the Halifax Committee could give was supplied at
the request of the other centres.
This proved most successful and when the 64th was authorized in August,
1915, to be recruited from the three Maritime Provinces, so great was
the enthusiasm in Nova Scotia that in three weeks the full complement
was supplied by that Province alone, and later the men from New
Brunswick and Prince Edward Island became the nucleus for the 104th New
Brunswick Battalion. Lieut.-Colonel Flowers went to the 64th as Second
in Command, and Major W. B. A. Ritchie was appointed Officer in Charge
of Recruiting. He was followed in December, 1916, by Major G. B. Cutten,
of the Nova Scotia Highland Brigade. These officers were assisted by
Capt. F. W. Micklewright and Capt. F. T. DeWolfe. Apart from Capt. E. W.
Florence, Captain Micklewright probably recruited more men personally
than any other officer.
The 64th Battalion being over strength, the 85th Battalion, Nova Scotia
Highlanders, authorized some time previously, was ordered to proceed
with recruiting. Numbers flocked to join its ranks. Men of responsible
positions and lucrative salaries offered their services. In less than a
month the Battalion was over strength and a large number of applicants
were turned away.
In the gloomy closing days of 1915, when the withdrawal of the Gallipoli
Expedition was announced, and many cherished expectations were again
doomed to disappointment, the whole British Empire was profoundly
stirred, and began to take its grip with characteristic bulldog
tenacity. All its resources were demanded, every available man must go.
Consequently in January of 1916 the question was mooted, why should not
Nova Scotia give a whole Highland Brigade, and those who applied too
late for admission to the 85th be afforded another and more liberal
opportunity of going to the Front? Perhaps no idea ever suggested in the
Province was taken up with more hearty enthusiasm.
During the first few weeks of 1916 organization was developed with great
assiduity. It was decided to make use of the popular 85th in the work of
recruiting. Every soldier who believed he could recruit another man was
given six days’ leave to do so; and if he succeeded in recruiting more
than one he was granted an additional six days. Officers who volunteered
to raise a Platoon were given charge of the territory in which it could
be recruited. The results were in some instances amazing. Lads who
seemed unlikely enough brought in recruits by the score.
In preparation for this great “drive” a publicity campaign was organized
on an extensive scale. Pulpit, press and schoolroom were commandeered,
and gave themselves up generously to the work. Religious services were
arranged at which moral issues of the War were brought home forcibly to
the people. Military uniforms appeared in the pulpits and unwonted
martial strains, even from the bagpipes, were heard in sacred precincts.
Perhaps the most unique feature of the campaign was the use made of the
public schools. The Union Jack was widely displayed. The children were
drilled in patriotic songs. Books were laid aside and mass meetings held
at which prominent citizens delivered addresses until to the
impressionable mind of the little children it was incredible that anyone
should stay at home. A letter was addressed by Lieut.-Colonel Borden to
the boys and girls of Nova Scotia. In simple language he explained the
meaning of the War, and converted every child into an irrepressible
recruiting agent among his big brothers at home, or in the circle of his
friends.
When the country had thus been duly prepared, and public feeling was
running high, the master-stroke was given, which resulted in the raising
of “three Battalions in three weeks,” a feat unsurpassed in the
recruiting efforts of Canada. This was a series of meetings, held in
every town, village and country hall, crowded to the doors, and
characterized by the intense fervor of a religious revival. Notable
among those who took part in the campaign for the 193rd and 219th
Battalions were Lieut.-Colonel Borden, Lieut.-Colonel Guthrie (invalided
home from the Front), President Cutten of Acadia University, Dr.
Clarence McKinnon, and a score of other public men, who gladly gave time
and talent to the task. The band of the 85th Battalion accompanied the
speakers in their tour through the counties of Lunenburg, Queens,
Shelburne, Yarmouth, Annapolis, Digby, Kings, Pictou and Antigonish.
Cape Breton had already contributed the 17th and 36th Batteries (the
latter Unit was raised in a single day), a large proportion of the 25th
and 40th Battalions, six hundred men to the 64th, three hundred men to
the 85th, three hundred men to the 106th, besides keeping at full
strength its Militia Regiment, the 94th Argyll Highlanders, which had
been on active service from the outbreak of the War. Not satisfied with
this the Island asked for and received authority to recruit a purely
Cape Breton Infantry Battalion, to be included in the Nova Scotia
Highland Brigade. Under the supervision of Major Gordon S. Harrington
(later appointed Deputy Overseas Minister and promoted to the rank of
Colonel) Cape Breton officers and men of the 83th Battalion returned to
their former homes and engaged in active recruiting. Meetings were held
in every town and village, and addresses made by Mayor Richardson, F. A.
Crowell, A. D. Gunn, D. A. Cameron, Dr. C. E. McMillan, Stuart McCawley,
the late D. A. Hearn, and many other prominent people. As a result of
their work, and in spite of the restrictions placed upon them by the
G.O.C. M.D. No. 6, who forbade the enlistment of employees of the
Dominion Coal Company and the Dominion Iron and Steel Company, the 185th
Battalion, Cape Breton Highlanders was recruited to full strength within
three weeks.
In April, 1916, Mr. F. A. Crowell was requested to act as Chief
Recruiting Officer for the County of Cape Breton. In a civilian capacity
and without remuneration he accepted the position, and, assisted by
Lieutenant Chirgwin and Sergt. A. Johnstone of the 94th Regiment,
carried on the work until January, 1917. Up to the time the Military
Service Act came into force the Island of Cape Breton contributed over
seven thousand volunteers, including, in addition to the Units already
named, 100 men to the 246th Battalion, 200 men to the Composite
Battalion, besides a large number to the several Artillery Units
mobilized at Halifax, to the 165th, 169th and 239th Battalions, the Army
Service Corps, Forestry Units, Railway Troops and Army Medical Services,
with a lower record of rejection than in any other district in Canada—in
the case of the 185th only three per cent.
It would have been impossible for the Chief Recruiting Officer and his
Staff of paid officers and men to have made the success they did had it
not been for the valuable services rendered by the voluntary recruiting
officers all over the Province. These men worked faithfully throughout
the War without remuneration, and not infrequently labored under
misrepresentation.