_THE YOUNG MEN’S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION._
For years previous to the Declaration of War, the Y.M.C.A. carried on
its work in the summer Militia Camps; consequently the War did not find
the Association without some idea of the requirements of troops, and
from the early days of the first big concentration at Valcartier, the
“Y” tried hard to measure up to each new phase of war activity.
In 1914 about 5,000 men were served in the camps of the Maritime
Provinces. During the succeeding winter Y.M.C.A. work was established in
the various barracks, and in 1915 the work on the piers at the points of
embarkation was started. All this work was carried on continually from
this time with increasing efficiency, not only in camps, barracks, and
hospitals, but also on board transports and on troop trains carrying
returning men. It consisted of the erection of large recreation
buildings, giving assistance with the equipping of recreation rooms in
barracks; the provision of free writing and reading materials, games,
athletic goods, music, pianos, gramophones and records, moving picture
machines and films; the organizing of concerts on land and on board
ships; social evenings in homes, churches, barracks, hospitals and
otherwise; athletics, religious services; supplying free hot drinks and
doughnuts or biscuits at the disembarkation points and demobilization
centres.
The first large financial appeal was made to the people of the Maritime
Provinces in the spring of 1916, when approximately $34,500 were raised
for home and Overseas’ military work. During that year Association
service was rendered to troops in eighteen different places in these
Provinces. Each succeeding year saw most successful campaigns for larger
sums of money, until 1918, when requirements began to decrease.
Altogether about $679,600 were raised in the Maritime area and spent on
military work at home and Overseas.
Large recreation buildings, which were much needed, were erected at
Aldershot and Sussex Camps, each capable of accommodating close to 1,000
men. These were used to capacity, and were practically the only adequate
recreation centres. A large hut was erected in the Naval Dockyard,
Halifax, for the men of the navy and the merchant marine. It was
destroyed by the explosion, but was replaced by a larger structure, and
was the great social centre for the men of the navy and the merchant
marine.
The large Red Triangle Hut, on Barrington Street, Halifax, was erected
as a demobilization service to offset the inadequate housing facilities
in Halifax, to provide meals and beds for returning men who had to
remain in the city while waiting for trains or demobilization, to assist
returned men to become re-established in civil life by providing them
with wholesome meals and beds at prices within their means, to help men
taking Government re-training courses and drawing barely enough money to
live on, and to provide them with a clean, attractive recreation centre.
Other recreation huts were built and equipped at St. John, New
Brunswick, and Cogswell Hospital, Halifax. A large building was leased
and equipped as a Red Triangle Club at St. John, N.B. Clubs on a smaller
scale were operated in Sydney, Windsor, Kentville, Nova Scotia, and
Fredericton and Sussex, New Brunswick.
Work was carried on among the German prisoners of war at Amherst in
return for which the German Government permitted the Y.M.C.A. to carry
on work in certain camps in Germany where Canadians were confined. Only
the work in the Internment Camps in Canada made this concession
possible.
Co-operating with the Sailors’ Comforts’ Committee, Halifax, the
Y.M.C.A. workers visited many ships of the merchant service and supplied
the men with reading and writing materials, games, mufflers, sweaters,
socks, gloves, mitts, underwear, etc. Concerts were frequently arranged
for the crews on shore.
Uniform reports of activities and the attendance were not kept in the
early days of the War, and it is impossible to arrive at anything like
accurate estimates of the extent of some of the services rendered. The
report of a few activities for the _two years of maximum efficiency_ may
serve to indicate, however, the great extent to which the men patronized
the Y.M.C.A. military services.
Activity. Number. Attendance.
Concerts 694 84,550
Social evenings 815 112,800
Moving Picture Shows (free) 1,365 210,800
Religious Services 1,108 88,100
Theatre parties arranged and conducted through
courtesy of theatre managers, without charge
to patients 356 12,619
Illustrated Lectures 98 18,050
Supplies Used.
Magazines 162,685
Sheets of writing paper 1,511,000
Sex and health education booklets 39,000
Athletic goods large quantities
Pianos in continual use 22
Billiard tables in continual use 31
Gramophones and records supplied continually 50
Moving picture machines in continual use 9
Reels of picture films per week provided, no charge
made 40
At the disembarkation piers, in co-operation with various women’s
organizations, the Creche in Halifax, and the combined organizations in
St. John, free hot or cold drinks and mixed biscuits were provided. At
the Demobilization Centre, Halifax, co-operating with the G.W.V.A.
Ladies’ Auxiliary, drinks and doughnuts or mixed biscuits were supplied
free, and a six months’ membership ticket in any Y.M.C.A. was given to
each man.
A “Y” representative accompanied each troop train to its destination and
carried a standard stock of equipment, gramophones, portable organs,
music, song sheets, games, fruits, chocolate, and cigarettes. He
rendered personal services in every way possible, such as wiring ahead,
mailing letters, and carrying on a programme of concerts and games.
These representatives were principally business men, and all gave their
services voluntarily. In all 449 representatives accompanied troop
trains.
Further assistance was given returned men to re-establish themselves by
Red Triangle Clubs at Halifax and St. John, where bed and board could be
had at reduced rates. During the first year of the Halifax Club. 147,713
meals were served, and 38,855 beds occupied for one night or more. This
work is still going on. The rate for bed and board was $1 per day. The
food was far above the average meal at similar prices. A programme of
entertainments, athletics, moving pictures, religious services, and
educational lectures and discussions was carried on. The Association’s
hospital service will be continued as long as necessary, and funds are
available.