PINE HILL STUDENTS WHO SERVED OVERSEAS.
(Those marked with an asterisk were killed.)
| FACULTY. | |
|---|---|
| Capt. Principal C. Mackinnon, D.D., LL.D. | Chaplain Service, O.M.P.C. |
| Capt. H. A. Kent, D.D. | Chaplain Service, O.M.P.C. |
| STUDENTS FOR THE MINISTRY. | |
| Lieut. B. C. Salter, B.A. | 42nd R.H.C. |
| Lieut. D. A. Guildford, M.A. | C.D.A. |
| *Earl Lockerby | 42nd R.H.C. |
| *Lieut. R. B. Clarke, B.A. | 26th Can. Infantry. |
| L. B. Campbell, B.A. | 3rd Can. Field Ambulance. |
| Lieut. J. K. Murchison, B.A. | R.F.A. |
| R. A. Patterson, B.A. | C.A.M.C. |
| G. D. MacLeod, B.A. | C.H.A. |
| D. J. Morrison. | C.A.M.C. |
| P. B. Fox, B.A. | C.A.M.G.C. |
| Capt. A. D. Archibald, B.A., M.C. | 85th N.S. Highlanders. |
| Lieut. J. G. Paterson, B.A. | R.F.A. |
| *Lieut. Cyril Hyde | R.A.F. |
| Neil Macdonald | 85th N.S. Highlanders. |
| Capt. Geo. Murray, M.C. | 85th N.S. Highlanders. |
| Victor B. Walls | C.A.M.C. |
| J. S. Nickerson, B.A. | C.A.M.C. |
| Colin U. McNiven | 25th Can. Infantry. |
| *J. S. Ross | H.M.S. Indefatigable. |
| *A. P. McIvor, B.A. | 5th C.M.R. |
| *Lieut. H. A. Smith, B.A., M.C. | 5th C.M.R. |
| Lieut. McI. McLeod | 5th C.M.R. |
| Norman A. MacKenzie | 85th N.S. Highlanders. |
| D. P. MacLeod | 4th C.M.R. |
| W. J. V. Tweedie | 4th C.M.R. |
| Lieut. John Craigie | B.E.F. |
| Capt. R. E. G. Roome | R.F.A. |
| Cadet P. C. Lewis | R.A.F. |
| Wm. Matheson | 85th N.S. Highlanders. |
| J. D. MacLeod | 13th R.H.C. |
| H. H. Blanchard, B.A., M.M. | 85th N.S. Highlanders. |
| R. H. Scott | 85th N.S. Highlanders. |
| Lieut. E. S. Smith, M.A. | R.A.F. |
| Lieut. McLaren Keswick | 25th Can. Infantry. |
| Neil M. Rattee, B.A. | 7th Overseas Hospital. |
| John A. Nicholson, B.A. | C.F.A. |
| Lieut. T. H. Whelpley | 87th Can. Inf. G.G. |
| *Stephen J. Dick | C.F.A. |
| A. M. Gillis | 10th Siege Battery. |
| Lieut. A. E. Kerr | R.A.F. |
| John Mackay | 10th Can. Siege Battery. |
| A. B. Simpson | 19th C.F.A. |
| D. F. Marshall, B.A. | 15th R.H.C. |
| F. Yates | 10th Can. Infantry. |
| J. S. Bonnell, B.A. | 8th Siege Battery. |
CHAPTER XLV.
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.
CHAPTER XLVI.
OCEAN TRANSPORT.
The importance of the work done in Military District No. 6 during the period of the Great War is doubtless not realized by the public, other than those who were directly interested in the work. Aside from Halifax being a fortified port, and the Naval Base of the Atlantic Fleet during the War, it was the point of embarkation of the Canadian troops for Overseas, with the exception of the First Contingent, which was sent Overseas from Quebec. Therefore the work, devolving on District No. 6, in handling the enormous number of Canadian, American, Australian and New Zealand troops that passed through here was a matter of considerable responsibility and care, not only in checking the men going on board ship, but also in providing accommodations, rations, etc., while they were held ashore at Halifax from a day to three or four weeks, awaiting the arrival of their transports. In addition it was necessary to make preparations for emergencies, of which there were several, including such things as the stranding of a troopship near the mouth of Halifax Harbor, which necessitated the safe removal, landing and caring for the troops by other than the regular methods.
The detail work in connection with these duties was great and varied. For instance, the Department at Ottawa would arrange the date for the sailing of transports and the allotment of troops for each. The Department would then notify this district accordingly. The troops allotted to each ship would arrive by special trains, often before their transport reached port. During this period of waiting many casualties would occur, either through absentees, sickness, or from other causes, necessitating extra accommodation at the local quarters or in hospital. On the arrival of the ship these men would have to be checked on board individually, all casualties accounted for, complete returns made out, such as marching out state, lists of officers, inspection of all documents, and many other details. After that particular ship was loaded she would pull away from the pier and remain in harbor awaiting the loading of the other transports. Very often these transports would lie in the harbor for some days before sailing, awaiting the completion of the convoy, a result being that additional casualties would occur daily on each ship during that period. These had to be taken off the ship, in turn, all documents corrected to date so that when the ship sailed from the harbor an accurate record of every man on board was complete and thus enabled the Government to check the proper charges of the Steamship Companies for transportation. In the early stages of the War transports to the number of forty would sail from Halifax in one convoy, but towards the latter end of the War the Naval Authorities provided for convoys not exceeding seventeen ships at one time.
In all there were 284,455 Canadian troops embarked from Halifax. Some 50,000 Chinamen, and a large number of American troops also embarked from this port. In addition, ships with New Zealanders and Australians on board called at this port to join the convoys, and often were allowed to land for route marches and given shore leave. This also entailed much work on this district, due to the necessity of looking after casualties, absentees, etc.
Of all the casualties occurring during these embarkations a careful record had to be kept, and in due course, that is, as soon as possible after they became fit or were apprehended, they were sent Overseas on later transports.
Many complicated questions arose during this period, as, for instance, men arriving on troop trains under arrest for misdemeanors of various kinds, and thus necessitating this district dealing with such cases.
Following is a summary of the Canadian troops that embarked at Halifax during the war period:—
| Date. | Ship. | Embarked Halifax. | Monthly Total. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1915. | |||
| Jan. 8 | Zeeland | 346 | |
| 346 | |||
| Feb. 23 | Megantic | 40 | |
| 23 | Missinabie | 13 | |
| 28 | Scandinavian | 23 | |
| 76 | |||
| Mar. 6 | Grampian | 8 | |
| 15 | Northland | 130 | |
| 21 | Corsican | 40 | |
| 22 | Orduna | ||
| 26 | Hesperian | 15 | |
| 26 | Chaleur | 68 | |
| 28 | Missinabie | 321 | |
| 582 | |||
| Apr. 4 | Scandinavian | 12 | |
| 6 | Georgia | 76 | |
| 9 | Chignecto | 48 | |
| 10 | Metagama | 641 | |
| 12 | Manchester Corporation | 73 | |
| 17 | St. George | 414 | |
| 18 | Northland | 1,711 | |
| 18 | Grampian | 1,660 | |
| 24 | Missinabie | 440 | |
| 5,075 | |||
| May 2 | Hesperian | 154 | |
| 20 | Saxonia | 2,282 | |
| 20 | Halifax | 37 | |
| 2,473 | |||
| June 14 | Herschell | 523 | |
| 15 | Caledonia | 1,833 | |
| 2,356 | |||
| Aug. 8 | Italia | 1,211 | |
| 8 | Caledonia | 994 | |
| 9 | Metagama | 1,615 | |
| 26 | Caledonia | 1,087 | |
| 4,907 | |||
| Oct. 23 | Lapland | 2,319 | |
| 27 | Orduna | 1,095 | |
| 3,414 | |||
| Nov. 19 | Chignecto | 88 | |
| 22 | Saxonia | 2,494 | |
| 23 | California | 1,909 | |
| 27 | Lapland | 2,281 | |
| 6,772 | |||
| Dec. 3 | Chaudiere | 98 | |
| 6 | Orduna | 1,121 | |
| 8 | Italia | 430 | |
| 1,649 | |||
| 1916. | |||
| Jan. 22 | Missinabie | 1,591 | |
| 1,591 | |||
| Feb. 10 | Caraquet | 24 | |
| 24 | |||
| Mar. 13 | Lapland | 2,127 | |
| 13 | Baltic | 2,606 | |
| 30 | Empress of Britain | 3,542 | |
| 31 | Adriatic | 2,440 | |
| 10,715 | |||
| Apr. 1 | Olympic | 5,787 | |
| 18 | Missinabie | 1,717 | |
| 21 | Chaleur | 20 | |
| 23 | Empress of Britain | 4,020 | |
| 24 | Lapland | 2,201 | |
| 29 | Olympic | 5,583 | |
| 19,328 | |||
| May 6 | Chignecto | 61 | |
| 12 | Baltic | 2,612 | |
| 19 | Adriatic | 2,325 | |
| 20 | Empress of Britain | 3,788 | |
| 26 | Grampian | 692 | |
| 31 | Olympic | 5,794 | |
| 15,272 | |||
| June 18 | Empress of Britain | 3,420 | |
| 19 | Missinabie | 1,663 | |
| 28 | Olympic | 5,755 | |
| 10,838 | |||
| July 8 | Lapland | 2,208 | |
| 15 | Empress of Britain | 3,778 | |
| 23 | Olympic | 5,290 | |
| 28 | Caraquet | 162 | |
| 11,438 | |||
| Aug. 6 | Scandinavian | 1,351 | |
| 7 | Cameronia | 1,430 | |
| 8 | Metagama | 1,581 | |
| 8 | Scotian | 1,235 | |
| 14 | Empress of Britain | 3,704 | |
| 15 | Grampian | 1,471 | |
| 21 | Olympic | 5,109 | |
| 15,881 | |||
| Sept. 11 | Scandinavian | 1,396 | |
| 11 | Cameronia | 1,412 | |
| 12 | Metagama | 1,491 | |
| 12 | Northland | 1,473 | |
| 18 | Olympic | 5,486 | |
| 23 | Lapland | 2,042 | |
| 25 | Southland | 1,379 | |
| 25 | Corsican | 1,426 | |
| 26 | Laconia | 2,230 | |
| 26 | Tusconia | 2,360 | |
| 20,695 | |||
| Oct. 2 | California | 1,1 | 61 |
| 3 | Missinabie | 1,708 | |
| 3 | Saxonia | 2,417 | |
| 11, 12 & 13 | Olympic | 5,988 | |
| 17 | Cameronia | 1,401 | |
| 17 | Metagama | 1,721 | |
| 17 | Northland | 1,662 | |
| 24 | Grampian | 1,673 | |
| 25 | Mauretania | 3,089 | |
| 25 & 26 | Corsican | 1,351 | |
| 30 | Lapland | 2,196 | |
| Oct. 31 | Caronia | 4,251 | |
| 31 | Empress of Britain | 3,796 | |
| 32,414 | |||
| Nov. 1 | Southland | 1,700 | |
| 13 | Olympic | 5,909 | |
| 23 & 24 | Mauretania | 3,123 | |
| 27 | Metagama | 1,609 | |
| 12,341 | |||
| Dec. 16 | Olympic | 5,999 | |
| 27 | Northland | 36 | |
| 6,035 | |||
| 1917. | |||
| Jan. 23 | Scandinavian | 1,350 | |
| 24 | Canada | 1,244 | |
| 26 | Grampian | 1,525 | |
| 4,119 | |||
| Feb. 16 | Southland | 1,749 | |
| 16 | Missinabie | 1,727 | |
| 3,476 | |||
| Mar. 4 | Canada | 1,241 | |
| 4 | Ansonia | 1,049 | |
| 25 | Metagama | 1,641 | |
| 25 | Lapland | 1,637 | |
| 25 | Southland | 892 | |
| 26 | Missinabie | 1,595 | |
| 26 | Saxonia | 2,357 | |
| 10,412 | |||
| Apr. 9 | Carpathia | 2,341 | |
| 9 | Canada | 1,282 | |
| 17 | Scandinavian | 1,194 | |
| 18 | Ansonia | 1,102 | |
| 18 | Northland | 1,572 | |
| 18 | Grampian | 1,654 | |
| 27 | Olympic | 5,605 | |
| 30 | Megantic | 1,141 | |
| 15,891 | |||
| May 1 | Metagama | 1,696 | |
| 3 | Justicia | 4,445 | |
| 28 | Olympic | 5,823 | |
| 11,964 | |||
| June 22 | Justicia | 4,160 | |
| 4,160 | |||
| Aug. 6 | Olympic | 100 | |
| 10 | Grampian | 1,500 | |
| 11 | Missinabie | 1,402 | |
| 3,002 | |||
| Sept. 5 | Megantic | 1,854 | |
| 1,854 | |||
| Oct. 4 | Metagama | 1,276 | |
| 20 | Scandinavian | 925 | |
| 2,201 | |||
| Nov. 20 | Scotian | 1,352 | |
| 24 | Megantic | 1,637 | |
| 27 | Metagama | 1,182 | |
| 4,171 | |||
| Dec. 21 | Missinabie | 1,700 | |
| 21 | Grampian | 1,638 | |
| 28 | Canada | 11 | |
| 3,349 | |||
| 1918. | |||
| Jan. 19 | Kursk | 50 | |
| 27 | Orita | 320 | |
| 28 | Scandinavian | 1,290 | |
| 1,660 | |||
| Feb. 5 | Grampian | 1,607 | |
| 5 | Missinabie | 1,678 | |
| 5 | Canada | 826 | |
| 13 | Lapland | 1,815 | |
| 21 | Megantic | 1,822 | |
| 21 | Meletia | 1,830 | |
| 21 | Saxonia | 2,138 | |
| 28 | Metagama | 1,692 | |
| 28 | Kasmala | 111 | |
| 13,519 | |||
| Mar. 1 | Justicia | 155 | |
| 8 | Scotian | 23 | |
| 8 | Toloa | 819 | |
| 13 | Chaleur | 29 | |
| 17 | Saturnia | 100 | |
| 25 | Missinabie | 1,656 | |
| 25 | Scandinavian | 1,293 | |
| 25 | Grampian | 1,591 | |
| 5,666 | |||
| Apr. 9 | Metagama | 1,672 | |
| 9 | Tunisian | 1,318 | |
| 9 | Ulua | 949 | |
| 17 | Scotian | 1,324 | |
| 17 | Toloa | 1,108 | |
| 17 | Melita | 1,906 | |
| 8,277 | |||
| May 11 | Tierisias | 1,252 | |
| 11 | Runic | 394 | |
| 16 | Ajana | 1,435 | |
| 16 | Valacia | 1,020 | |
| 23 | C. of Marseilles | 55 | |
| 4,156 | |||
| June 17 | Pannonia | 853 | |
| 24 | Wiamana | 389 | |
| 24 | Gloucestershire | 512 | |
| 24 | Ionic | 27 | |
| 1,781 | |||
| July 2 | Oxfordshire | 390 | |
| 3 | Valacia | 185 | |
| 575 | |||
| Total | 284,455 |
CHAPTER XLVII.
MUNITIONS.
A brief history of the work of the Shell Committee, its organization, and the part played by the Nova Scotia Steel and Coal Company in producing munitions during the first two and a half years of the War.
On September 8, 1915, Col. Alex Bertram, Thomas Cantley, and George W. Watts were summoned by the Federal Minister of Militia, Sir Sam Hughes, to Valcartier. On meeting the Minister he stated that the British Secretary of State for War had advised the Canadian Government that the War Office were desirous of having shrapnel shells made in Canada, that the Canadian Government had decided to entrust the matter to a Committee of Manufacturers, and had so advised the War Office. It was understood that the advice of the Minister had been accepted, and that the names of the three gentlemen above referred to had been approved by the War Office as a Committee to carry on the work on their behalf. The men above named were then asked to serve as such Committee, without remuneration, which they agreed to do, and were requested to select one of their number as Chairman. On the suggestion of Thos. Cantley, Colonel Bertram was appointed Chairman, the Minister confirming the appointment of the Committee by a memorandum initialed “For Action.”
Later, Mr. E. Carnegie, of Welland, was added to the Committee, and at their request the Minister agreed that Colonel Benson, Master General of Ordnance; Colonel Lafferty, Superintendent of the Dominion Arsenal; and Colonel Greville Harston, Inspector of Arms and Ammunition, should be added as Technical Members.
The first meeting was held the same evening (September 8th) at the Chateau Frontenac, Quebec. The second meeting was held the following day at the office of the Superintendent of the Dominion Arsenal. The Committee were accorded the privilege of dissecting the manufacturing costs of the various operations involved in making shells of this type at the Dominion Arsenal, which at that time had an out-turn of about 200 per day.
From the data there available and their experience as manufacturers the Committee advised the War Office that 200,000 shrapnel shells could be produced by the Committee and supplied to the War Office at a price of $8.30 for the 15–pounder, and $8.55 each for the 18–pounder. On this information being cabled to London the Committee were at once instructed to proceed with the order.
COL. THOMAS CANTLEY.
After the order was in process of execution a contract was presented by a representative of the War Office to the four civilian members, viz., Messrs. Bertram, Cantley, Watt and Carnegie, under which contract they were obligated to supply the War Office with these shells at the prices stated. This contract was duly executed, the Honorable Minister of Militia signing on behalf of and representing, the War Office, the civilian members signing on their own behalf.
While the first order was for 200,000 shells, additional orders were placed by the War Office with the Committee at various times between September, 1914, and November, 1915, aggregating in all $345,222,870.24. The contract prices were in most cases named by the War Office. In some cases the prices were the result of compromise arranged by cable between the Committee and the War Office. In other cases the prices were those suggested by the Committee and were accepted by the War Office.
As already stated, every order was covered by a contract between the War Office on the one hand and the four civilian members of the Committee on the other, for the carrying out of which the civilian members were collectively and individually responsible. When they resigned office a statement, which was prepared and duly audited showing the total cost, together with the surplus based on prices agreed upon and covered by contracts between the War Office and the four civilian members, showed that the contracts entered into amounted in all to $345,222,874.34. Approximately 87½ per cent. of these orders were then completed, and the surplus—the difference between the contract price and the cost of production—was $42,097,584.57, less overhead charges, cost of inspection, guages, etc., of $737,400.31. If 12½ per cent. be added to this overhead charge to meet similar expenses incidental to the completion of the contracts, $92,175.03 would require to be added, making the total overhead expenditure $829,575.34, or a total net surplus to the credit of the Committee on November 30, 1915, of $41,268,009.23. The total overhead cost, covering inspection, cost of guages, accounting, and office expense of the Committee, worked out at .17, or less than one-fifth of one per cent. of contract prices.
In this connection it may be stated that the prices paid by the War Office to American makers in many cases were considerably higher than those paid in Canada for shells and other material. In other cases, where the prices were approximately the same, the volume of orders entrusted to the United States makers were very much greater than the corresponding orders placed with the Canadian Shell Committee, and the American prices should have been considerably lower. Further, the orders placed in the United States were entrusted to an agent, who is reported to have received a handsome commission, whereas the services of the Canadian Shell Committee were freely given.
In the early stages the executive work of the Committee was carried on by General Bertram, whose time was largely taken up in co-ordinating the machining of parts, and the placing of orders for components among Canadian manufacturers, while Thomas Cantley undertook to carry out experiments, both chemical and physical, looking to the production of open hearth basic steel to meet the specifications and tests called for by the War Office. Experiments were also carried out later in regard to steel discs, base plates, nose plugs, alloy steel armor plating, etc. Later Colonel Bertram, Thos. Cantley and G. W. Watts collaborated in fixing prices for component parts and machining and assembling of the different size shells. Later they devised a complete system of records, inspection sheets, transfer and shipping forms, store and stock forms, and a complete system of accounting was worked out and inaugurated by them.
Late in September the Minister of Militia, on the suggestion of the Committee, approved the appointment of David Carnegie as Ordnance Adviser to the Committee, in view of the fact that he had had considerable experience in munition work at Woolwich Arsenal.
When the War Office first appealed to Canada for assistance in supplying munitions, little was known of shell manufacturing in Canada. This being the case the Canadian Government decided that a Committee of Manufacturers could better serve the War Office than could the Government through any of the Departments; and then followed the formation of the Shell Committee as originally outlined. The Committee had before them three problems: First, that of securing steel of the requisite character; secondly, the forging of the steel into shell bodies, together with the supply of other component parts, comprising brass, copper, tin, zinc and antimony; and thirdly, the machining and assembling of these various component parts.
Up to the time that the request came from the War Office practically no men in Canada, with the exception of those employed at the Dominion Arsenal, knew anything about the manufacture of shells, or the material required for same. The steel hitherto used at the Dominion Arsenal had been supplied by the Crucible Steel Co. of America, and the War Office had stipulated that only Acid Open Hearth Siemens-Martin steel could be employed in shell forgings. As no Siemens-Martin steel was produced in Canada, and if the War Office adhered to their stipulation in that respect the entire steel supply would have to be obtained in the United States, the American makers, feeling sure that this would be done, promptly advanced their prices approximately forty per cent.
At this juncture the Minister of Militia appealed to Thomas Cantley, then President and General Manager of the Nova Scotia Steel and Coal Co., as to whether the Scotia plant could not produce steel which would meet not only the chemical but physical requirements of the War Office shell specifications. He at once expressed the belief that they could do so, and immediately proceeded to carry out exhaustive experiments, both chemical and physical, which proved conclusively that the Scotia Company could produce steel as called for by the War Office, and offered to supply it at a price as low as the original price asked by the American works, and indeed below the American price. Within a few days of receipt of the first order by the Shell Committee from the War Office, the Scotia Company supplied the Committee with steel for 200,000 shrapnel shells. The difference in price paid to the Scotia Company and the price asked by the American Co. for the steel supplied on this small order amounted to over $40,000.
As regards forging of shells, the cost of producing the various component parts, the labor involved in finishing and assembling these—the Committee were supplied with the cost of these various operations as carried on at the Dominion Arsenal, but the difficulty involved was that the work, having been done there by a class of machine not in general use in Canada, and with the comparatively small order in hand, manufacturers could not be found who would purchase and install plant for this work and turn out shells within a reasonable time and price.
Manufacturers throughout the country were invited to visit the Dominion Arsenal at Quebec, where they would be shown the various operations involved, and given all information re cost, methods employed, etc. Quite a number responded to this invitation. Some offered to undertake the work; others declined to undertake it on any basis whatever.
Colonel Bertram volunteered that the John Bertram & Sons Co. would do a certain amount of machining and assembling, and Thos. Cantley, through his Company, the Nova Scotia Steel and Coal Co., undertook to supply the steel and forgings, while Mr. Watt, of the Canadian General Electric Company, agreed to make some of the component parts. Sir Thomas Shaughnessy, on being appealed to by the Committee for assistance, instructed the Superintendent of the Angus Shops to take on some of the work, and generously promised that the Angus Shops would take up their share of the enterprise.
With the start made by these firms to encourage them, a few other manufacturers were induced to take up a share of the work, and thus the supply of components parts and machining of same for the first 200,000 shells was finally placed, and this initial order was shipped complete and to the entire satisfaction of the War Office some considerable time before the contract date.
So soon as the work involved in the first trial order had been accepted by the manufacturers referred to, the Committee took up the organization necessary for the co-ordinating of the work on a larger scale; and as large orders were received in rapid succession from the War Office, contracts were made with different manufacturers for component parts, which were bought outright by the Committee. A full set of component parts for each shell was supplied by the assembly contractors, by whom these were finished and returned as completed shells, they being paid a fixed price on the shells which were completed, and which passed all the tests demanded by the War Office, and were certified as such by the Government Inspection Bureau. The component parts before being accepted by the Committee and delivered to the finishing contractors were inspected and certified by the Committee’s inspectors. Any component parts spoiled by the assembly manufacturers had to be paid for by them at the actual cost of same.
The first experiences of the forging and finishing contractors alike were disappointing. It was an entirely new business to everybody engaged in the work, and the usual initial difficulties were met and overcome with varying success.
It is safe to say that as far as the first order of 200,000 shells was concerned, the companies engaged, either as makers of component parts or as assembly contractors, received little, if any, profit for their work. They had only the usual reward that comes to pioneers in any new work.
When the new and larger orders came in, both the material and the work were thrown open to competition. The Dominion Steel Corporation, the Steel Company of Canada, and other smaller steel producers were asked to supply steel and forgings. The same thing applied to manufacturing establishments, which were in a position to supply other component parts or to take on the work of machining and assembling. By the early part of 1915 the work was distributed throughout the entire Dominion.
Those who had done the pioneering work, and who won their position through dearly-bought experience, and by venturing in where others lacked courage to do so, came under criticism from others who had not hitherto undertaken any of the work. To overcome this difficulty and to assure hearty co-operation in the production of the largest amount of munitions possible, the Committee adopted the principle of naming a flat price for each component part, as well as for the machining and assembling of each size shell.
All the orders placed thereafter, from time to time, were placed at a uniform price, both for the component parts and for the finishing of the shells. The instant effect of this was that the accumulated experience of the pioneering firms was placed at the disposal of the other manufacturers. Both forging and finishing shops were thrown open, their methods of working and costs were fully explained, and shown to other manufacturers. The newcomers thus saved the heavy cost of experimental work.
New methods, improvements of great value in connection with the execution of the work, the outcome of the initiative adaptability of Canadians, wrought a revolution in the methods of production. All these improvements were in every case put within the reach of other manufacturers. Many of these have been adopted, not only by Canadian shell makers, but by shell makers in the United States and Great Britain.
During the organization period from September, 1914, to April, 1915, more than one member of the Committee worked from ten to seventeen hours per day, Sundays and holidays not excepted, and none of the members then appointed received one dollar by way of remuneration.
The part played by the New Glasgow works of the Nova Scotia Steel and Coal Company in the Great War is an interesting one. At the beginning of hostilities in August, 1914, there were only two Steel Companies in the United States who had either the plant or experience to produce either shells or armor plates, while none of the Canadian steel plants had any experience whatever.
The first production of munition material, by way of shells and shell steel, was undertaken in Canada by the Shell Committee, and the story of the experiments carried on in the early days of September, 1914, which resulted in convincing the British War Office that basic steel, as made in Canada, would meet all the requirements of both shrapnel and high explosive shells, and which resulted in very large orders for munitions coming to Canada, is well known to all Nova Scotians, and has become a matter of history.
Between October, 1914, when the Scotia plants produced 22,000 shell forgings, and the signing of the Armistice, November 11, 1918, the New Glasgow plant had made more than 15,000,000 shells—these ranging in size from the 15–pounder shrapnel to 12–inch high explosive, the local plant being the only one in Canada which made the latter size. The total tonnage of forged shells produced at New Glasgow amounted in round figures to 180,000 tons. In addition to this a very considerable tonnage of shell and other munition steel was shipped to be worked up in other shell forging establishments in Canada and Great Britain. A further considerable tonnage was worked up into marine forgings. British shipyards about this time experienced great difficulty in obtaining heavy marine forgings to meet Lloyd’s specification and tests. The Scotia forges had long been on Lloyd’s list as approved makers of Marine Forgings. The British shipbuilders’ difficulty was now met by Scotia, which supplied to various yards on the Clyde, the East Coast, and other yards complete sets of marine forgings of all classes for both mercantile and other vessels of large tonnage. The total quantity of marine forgings supplied Great Britain since the outbreak of war amounted to 9,000 tons.
Most Nova Scotians are probably entirely ignorant of the considerable amount of what might be called “research” and experimental work carried out at the New Glasgow plant for the Government, and while this did not produce the tangible results brought about in connection with the manufacture of shells, not a little of the data and knowledge accumulated, contributed in a very considerable degree to the successful development of both the offensive and the defensive equipment of the Allied forces.
While this work was being done secrecy was essential, nothing was said and but little known of the work carried on along these lines. Now that the War is over the necessity for secrecy appears to be past.
In February, 1919, the firm of William Beardmore and Co., of Glasgow, Scotland, in their works magazine, told the story of the evolution and development by them of bullet-proof material for the protection of armored cars, trench shields, armor-plate for the celebrated “tanks,” and other work of a like character. The story, as told by the Beardmore people, in many important particulars runs on all fours with the experiments and results obtained at New Glasgow during the latter weeks of 1914 and the early part of 1915, when a series of exhaustive experiments were carried out at New Glasgow, first in connection with the production and testing of bullet-resisting steel plate.
This matter was first brought to the attention of the writer by General Sir Sam Hughes in connection with the shield shovel, of which a good deal was heard during 1915 and 1916. This spade, as supplied by the American makers, was formed with a sharp cutting edge, and a loophole for a rifle, but had no handle. When deliveries began to be made by the American manufacturers, a certain quantity was collected at random and turned over to the writer for testing. This was carried out at the rifle range, of the Fifth Royal Highlanders in the basement of the Bleury Street Armory, Montreal. It was then found that while practically all would stand Mark Six British Service Ammunition, they failed to withstand the much greater impact of Mark Seven Ammunition. Mark Six had a muzzle velocity of about 1,800 feet per second. Further investigation showed that the difference in bullet resisting power in the plates submitted was due to lack of uniformity.
No handles had been supplied with the shovels, and no apparent effort had been made by the manufacturers to supply one which was suitable. Scotia’s engineers were asked to meet the difficulty, which they did, and finally offered one which was adopted, weighed eight ounces, and was secured by a single rivet passing through a square slotted hole in the body of the shovel below the base of the tang.
At this time the question of supplying our army with armored machine-gun automobile trucks had become a pressing matter. The question had been turned over to a Toronto Committee. Great delay was experienced in securing sufficient suitable bullet-resisting plate, and serious confusion resulted. The experiments in connection with the shovel had thrown great doubt on the efficiency of the steel being supplied by the Americans, and again the Scotia Company were asked to carry out tests and advise as to the matter.
From hints which had filtered through from the army in France and Flanders it was known that the German Spitzer bullet was much more effective than the British new Mark Seven, and while the armor-plating contracted to be supplied by the Americans for these cars was guaranteed to withstand Mark Seven British Ammunition at 300 yards, the rumors in regard to the penetrating powers of the German Spitzer ammunition were most disquieting, and could not be ignored.
At that time the United States were neutral, but were making ammunition for the Allies and others. By methods, which it is not necessary here to refer to, or explain, the General Manager of the Scotia Company was able to obtain a German Mauser Service Rifle, and by an expenditure out of all proportion to the real value, 1,000 rounds of German Mauser Spitzer service ammunition was also secured. An improvised range was set up on the ice on the East River, Nova Scotia, at a point where, protected by steep banks, firing tests could be carried out, when it was demonstrated that .311 Spitzer German ammunition, which, carefully chronographed, gave a muzzle velocity of 2,915 feet per second, easily penetrated the armor plate which resisted Mark Seven British Ammunition fired from either the Lee-Enfield or Ross Rifle.
The effect, of course, was to call a halt to the manufacture of these plates, and at the same time to push forward experiments then under way in the production by the Scotia Company of bullet-resisting alloy armor plates. Within a short time New Glasgow was able to offer the Department of Militia alloy steel, heat-treated plates, not exceeding 3–16th of an inch thick, which successfully withstood point-blank impact at one yard from Mark 7 ammunition fired from the latest model Ross rifle. In one case two shots had struck the plate within less than one-half inch of each other, and they neither penetrated nor cracked the plate.
Plates somewhat thicker were later supplied which withstood German Mauser ammunition at point blank range, and the result given by these plates when tested at the Proving Station in Toronto were so satisfactory that the Artillery Proving Officers, after the tests, placed them on exhibition outside the Camp, and later reported that the men felt the utmost confidence with the protection afforded them by this plating, which later was supplied and fitted to a proportion of the machine-gun trucks then being equipped. Later the British Government asked the Scotia Company to tender for similar protective plating for armored trucks.
CHAPTER XLVIII.
DEMOBILIZATION.
Demobilization, following a war of such length and intensity as that of the Four Years’ War from August, 1914, to November, 1918, is not a mere problem of repatriation, it is a problem of reconstruction—a gigantic one at that—desiderating the undivided efforts of every organization in the nation and the assistance of every citizen.
Consider for a moment what had happened in the industrial world. During the four years of war, Governments were the chief employers of men, the chief purchasers of raw materials, and the chief sources of revenue for an overwhelmingly large portion of the population. To retain the ideals of democracy Governments were given unlimited power—power which was utilized in organizing practically the entire life of the belligerent nations into a vast machine for turning out implements of war. Not only was this war-time industry mobilized under unified control, but the market for which its product was turned out could not be flooded. Indeed, it continually called for greater and greater production regardless of cost. The expansion of business, and the building up of a huge army of war workers, the scarcity of labor and raw materials, the shifting of markets, the meteoric rise of prices, the less rapid rise of wages, Government control of prices, raw materials and exports, the inflation of currency, the huge increase in national debts—these were some of the phenomena which characterized the period. They justify the assertion that a revolution in the economic and industrial life of the nations had occurred. Even in Canada, remote from the scene of actual strife, a generation’s changes were compressed into four short years.
Then suddenly, on November the eleventh, the object for which the vast war machine had been built up was attained. The necessity for its existence vanished over-night, and the world found itself face to face with the task of scrapping the industrial machine which had so effectively served the requirements of war, and of rebuilding one which would serve just as effectively the entirely different requirements of peace. The new task was more difficult than the old, and had to be accomplished in a much shorter period—a few months, instead of four years. Again, the problems themselves were more delicate and intricate; largely problems of human psychology, not of mechanics, requiring for their solution not compulsion, but education, persuasion and co-operation. The world has learned that it is much easier to make war than to make peace.
The early days of 1914 and 1915 were days of mobilization problems, and they were problems indeed. The provision of arms, equipment and food had to be undertaken on a scale unheard of before. It was necessary to provide transportation for vast bodies of troops and great quantities of stores, to say nothing of the construction of training camps, rifle ranges, and all the paraphernalia of war. The human element, fresh and easily responsive to patriotic appeal, presented few difficulties at that time.
There are, however, certain conditions inherent in military life which go far towards unfitting the soldier for civilian occupation. Without entering into a discussion of the reasons for these conditions, two of them at least may be enumerated. In military life individual liberty is impossible, but it is of supreme importance in civil life. Further, in military life ambition or self-interest, which may be considered a fundamental motive in human action, becomes of secondary importance. Self-interest is, in fact, disciplined into complete abeyance. The moment the soldier becomes a civilian the restraints upon his individual liberty are more or less removed, and it is entirely in keeping with the impulses of human nature if he should, for a time, go to the opposite extreme. Then again, he finds it no easy task to awaken the ambition lying dormant within him, and it frequently happens that it is only from bitter experience that he learns it is necessary to rely, in the first instance, upon himself. These two conditions alone emphasize how different are the various problems of demobilization and mobilization. The success or failure of the work of reconstruction depends, not so much on the highly-developed organization as on the amount of personal service, whole-hearted sympathy and understanding brought to the work by those who, together with the soldier, must face the many obstacles confronting him in the first stages of his return to citizenship.
Without the active co-operation of the soldiers themselves the work of reconstruction could not be a success. Undoubtedly our present stability, in comparison with many other parts of Canada is, in a large measure, due to the initiative and strength of purpose with which our soldiers have met, and are meeting, the tasks of a humdrum every-day life. It would, no doubt, be surprising to the average citizen were he to know how many men in Nova Scotia have re-established themselves without assistance from the Government.
It was not until the closing days of 1915 and the return of casualties gassed and wounded from Ypres, Festubert, and Givenchy, that the problems of demobilization began to press for attention. The country was sadly lacking in proper hospital accommodation and equipment, especially for the treatment of surgical cases. The disabled man was finding it no easy matter to re-establish himself and the provision of industrial training or suitable employment for him was an urgent need. In many other ways the necessity for a radical change made itself apparent.
The actual work of getting the soldiers home and out of khaki was in the hands of the Department of Militia and Defence; but the methods of peace and war are as far removed as day and night, and it was soon recognized that the re-absorption of returned soldiers into civil life, with the least disturbance of economic conditions, could not be best performed by an organization of the military type. The first step in the direction of providing a suitable organization was taken when the Military Hospitals Commission was formed in the same year. The duties of this Commission eventually embraced almost every phase of the problem of demobilization, from the provision of hospitals, convalescent homes and treatment, to vocational re-education for those who, through a disability were unable to return to their former occupation.
Not all the emergencies were, of course, foreseen; and from time to time changes for the better were made in the regulations. Shortly after the formation of the Commission a conference of representatives from the various Provincial Governments was called at Ottawa, and the suggestions there adopted involved an extension of the work by the appointment of a sub-committee of the Federal Commission in each Province, to assume the responsibility of finding employment for discharged soldiers.
Immediately following this conference the Returned Soldiers’ Employment Committee of Nova Scotia, or, as it was afterwards known, the Nova Scotia Returned Soldiers’ Commission, was appointed. The importance of this work at the time could not be overestimated, for is not reconstruction fundamentally a problem of employment and employment conditions? This function, however, by no means exhausted the activities of the Provincial Commission. On executive questions of a local nature it was the advisory body of the Federal Commission at Ottawa, and its scope was extended as the need arose, until it embraced practically all matters dealing with returned men. On certain occasions the Commission maintained an early and aggressive stand on problems which were not merely of a local character, but which affected the economic life of the Dominion.
When the Military Hospitals Commission was formed, it was found necessary to operate Interviewing Departments in conjunction with the Clearing or Discharge Depots at Halifax, St. John and Quebec, in order to secure information from which to compile records. Each returning soldier on the ship’s nominal roll was questioned regarding his pre-war occupation, his future prospects and intentions, as well as other general information required. In the case of casualties the proceedings of the last medical board were also secured. At Halifax a Staff of returned men were engaged in this work under the supervision of W. B. MacCoy, Secretary of the Provincial Commission. As the interviewing for the whole of Canada was performed at the ports, it can be appreciated what a vast amount of work this entailed, particularly when handling hospital ships. The severely disabled men were, of course, unable to visit the Interviewing Department. Consequently it was not possible to proceed as rapidly as in the case of ordinary transports.
Another detail of the disembarkation which involved a great deal of work on the part of the Commission was that of notifying the next-of-kin of returning soldiers. A copy of the Nominal Roll prepared on the voyage across, was secured immediately after the ship had docked and the Secretaries of the Returned Soldiers’ Commissions in the various other Provinces were telegraphed a complete list of the men going forward with the names and addresses of their relatives or friends.
The Nova Scotia men were, of course, dealt with first, as in many cases they would arrive home within a few hours. Their names were either telegraphed or telephoned to the Secretaries of the Town Reception Committees who, in turn, notified the relatives and aided in providing a suitable reception.
During the War, Nova Scotia was exceedingly fortunate in the matter of employment. The number of unemployed soldiers seldom averaged more than ten per cent., and was usually between two and seven per cent. However, the abnormal conditions prevailing after the signing of the Armistice rendered the number of placements by the Commission, for a time at least, almost negligible. Numbers of men were suddenly thrown on the labor market by the closing of war-time industries, while at the same time our soldiers were being returned in thousands. This was by no means the critical period. Many of the men returning after years of service Overseas felt the need of a well-earned vacation more than they did of a job, while those who had dependants and who were anxious, but unable, to secure immediate employment, were temporarily provided for by the war service gratuity. For the majority, the most anxious time arrived during the succeeding fall and winter months. It is not the intention, however, to deal with the employment activities of the Commission. Attention must be confined to work of a more general nature.
As previously stated, the country, particularly Nova Scotia, was sadly lacking in hospital accommodation. In the spring and early summer of 1915, nearly all returned soldiers either came through the Port of Quebec, or, if disembarked at Halifax, were forwarded to the Discharge Depot there. Save in a few instances, such as severe casualties, these men as soon as medically examined were given transportation to their homes. Discharge Certificates were usually not issued for months after their return, and a great deal of confusion resulted. Indeed, few of the men were aware of their status, and it not infrequently happened that, instead of the longed-for piece of parchment, they received a letter from their Military District instructing them to report for duty,—this after having perhaps accepted civilian employment. The uncertainty of their future added to the difficulties of obtaining a satisfactory position, for after a few experiences, employers generally hesitated to engage a man who was not in possession of a certificate releasing him to civilian duties. As time went on, too, pay complaints began to pour in by the score, due no doubt to an antiquated system of handling documents, and the poor working facilities afforded the District Pay Staffs.
About the end of the following year the Provincial Commission advised the erection of a hospital, but although the officials of the Military Hospitals Commission apparently concurred in the Provincial Commission’s views, the conditions remained unchanged. Repeated reports were made by the Secretary and concrete cases submitted, showing the necessity in certain instances for providing treatment. The situation became so acute that at a meeting of the local Commission, held on February 21, 1917, certain members, feeling that the existing state of affairs might be construed as reflecting upon them, tendered their resignations to the Chairman. These resignations were, however, held in abeyance for a few days, and a strongly-worded resolution was passed and forwarded to Sir James Lougheed. Several days later a special meeting was called at the request of the Director of the Military Hospitals Commission, at which were present two officials of that body with full authority to take what steps were deemed necessary in order to relieve the situation. The writer, who has had access to the correspondence and records, can state without fear of contradiction, that it was wholly due to the efforts of the Provincial Commission that Camp Hill Hospital was erected in 1917. Readers who are familiar with conditions both then and during the period following the Halifax disaster must realize what a boon it was to have had this splendid institution awaiting any and all emergencies.
The subject of Vocational Training was one in which the Commission took a deep interest from the very first. One of its early steps was to institute a careful survey of all existing educational facilities throughout Nova Scotia, which could be used for the re-education of disabled men. The re-training of this class was of the utmost importance, and the Commission successfully fought for the enactment of several regulations tending to broaden the scope of the Vocational Department.
One of the most persistent efforts was made in the interest of the physically fit “boy soldier.” Aside from the minor who had been disabled, no provision existed whereby these young boys could be afforded the opportunities of re-education or re-training. The need for this was foreseen by the Provincial Office some two years before the close of the War and no opportunity was lost in the furtherance of their proposal to place them on the same footing as the disabled man. It was most desirable to provide facilities for the education of these young soldiers who enlisted in the Forces at an immature age. Their decision was made at a time when they could not probably measure the consequences of their act, and for this reason the public was responsible for any disadvantages accruing to them. The years spent in the army were just those during which they should have been fitting themselves to win a position of self-support and independence; and it is not only an advantage to themselves, but to the country, that they have been assisted in preparing for the earning of a livelihood rather than having been forced into the ranks of unskilled labor. The step taken by the Government in the early part of last year was indeed satisfactory in consideration of the initial and continuous efforts of the Provincial Commission.
The Soldier Settlement Act, passed in 1917, has proved to be one of the most satisfactory measures of re-establishment provided by the Government. As originally framed, however, it was of very little value to a man who desired to go on the land in the Maritime Provinces. The free grants provided by the Act were restricted to Dominion Lands, while here any land of value for agricultural purposes is privately owned. This was clearly placing under a handicap the Nova Scotian soldier who wished to stay in his native Province, inasmuch as the maximum amount which could be borrowed under the Act was only $2,500. The Provincial Commission urged very strongly that the benefits to be derived should be equally distributed and enjoyed by soldiers wishing to go on the land in any Province. At the 1918 yearly meeting of Provincial Secretaries, held at Ottawa, the other Provinces were unanimous in supporting the Maritime representatives, and a resolution was passed petitioning the Federal Government to extend the provisions of the Act. This was done some time afterwards, and to-day we have in Nova Scotia some three hundred and fifty farms producing, and as many soldiers re-established in this way.
W. B. MACCOY, K.C.
The months which followed the erection of Camp Hill Hospital brought many changes. The Military Hospitals Commission ceased and was succeeded by the Department of Soldiers’ Civil Re-Establishment. New organizations arose, and new methods were inaugurated in old ones to meet the constantly increasing needs and changing problems. But space will not permit to deal with all the phases of this many-sided and deeply interesting work. At best details can only be touched upon, and the three instances quoted of the Commission’s connection with the larger problems of reconstruction by no means exhausts an interesting store of past events. The part taken by W. B. MacCoy, K.C., Secretary of the Commission, is deserving of the fullest public recognition. No man has been more sincere or more zealous in safeguarding the interests of the Nova Scotian soldiers. His work was not undertaken without a sacrifice, but the appreciation of thousands of soldiers and dependants expressed in the letters of thanks contained on the fyles of the Commission, and in many other ways, has doubtless repaid him in full.
Victory was the reward of loyalty and co-operation and the willingness of each and every soldier to subjugate self in the welfare of the whole, and play the game as best he could. Demobilization has required no less devotion, energy, and co-operation than did the War itself and the measure of success attained through the sympathy, tact, and ability displayed by however humble a servant in the great work of reconstruction will be reflected in the national life of Canada for the next generation.
CHAPTER XLIX.
VOCATIONAL TRAINING.
The aftermath of the Great War, which virtually ended with the Armistice on November 11, 1918, should be historically different from the social and economic muddles and messes which have succeeded other prolonged struggles. Human nature has not changed, but society is more enlightened, more highly organized, and more averse to waste.
The soldiers who returned to Canada from the Boer War were paid small Imperial pensions for disabilities incurred and were rewarded by grants of land in the great Canadian West, which almost all of them realized on immediately, selling them to “land sharks” for ridiculously small cash sums. It has been stated that most of the British veterans of the Crimea died in the workhouses.
Just as the last War was fought with more highly developed death-dealing machines and apparatus, and consequently evolved entirely new means of counter-offensive and protection, so the Allied nations employed entirely new methods to compensate the disabled fighting men for the incapacities they suffered through service. The aim was to develop all of the remaining abilities and aptitudes of the crippled soldier so that he might be able to retain his place in civilian life as an active, independent, self-supporting citizen.
Nova Scotia can justly claim the credit for starting the plan of vocational re-training developed in Canada. In July, 1915, Miss I. Matthews, who was assisting her sister, Mrs. J. K. L. Ross, in preparing the residence of the latter in Sydney for use as a convalescent home for soldiers, secured a pamphlet describing the early efforts of France in rehabilitating war cripples. She brought it to the attention of Hon. G. H. Murray, who asked Principal F. H. Sexton, of the Technical College, for some concrete practical suggestions. The latter prepared a careful report on the methods which the Dominion might use to organize this work, and this was submitted to the Premier of Canada, Sir Robert Borden.
DR. F. H. SEXTON,
Principal Nova Scotia Technical College.
Just before this there had been created the Military Hospitals Commission to control the treatment in Canada of wounded and disabled men returning from Europe. The report on vocational re-training was submitted to the Commission for consideration and action. The subject was regarded of such importance that a conference of Provincial Premiers and other representatives was called to consider this and some other questions affecting returned men.
Principal Sexton was sent as a Nova Scotian delegate to this conference and explained his ideas. He asserted that nearly all maimed and crippled men could be put on their feet again as wage-earners by a short, practical, intensive course in vocational training. The men were adults who had already had some industrial experience and consequently would not need as much or as long training as youths being apprenticed in trades. During the last twenty-five years industry had been sub-divided into many specialized occupations, in many of which little physical effort was required. Advantage could be taken of the vocational experience of the soldier previous to enlistment and, in most cases, he could be trained for some occupation in the same industry where his disability would not be a handicap. That is, the crippled men could be moved side-wise in industry to some parallel occupation or, by means of a little education, could be lifted up higher and fitted for some supervisory position as boss, foreman, or superintendent. Thus, a structural steel worker, with some physical deficiency, would be trained for a position of draftsman. The coal miner, who was disabled, so that he could no longer dig coal at the face could, in a comparatively short time, be trained for the position of shot-firer, fire boss, mine examiner, overman, underground foreman, or mine manager.
There were endless opportunities for fitting men for occupations that required more technical knowledge, more skill, and more mental capacity. Most of the Canadian soldiers had not much opportunity for vocational education in their youth, and the great majority could be prepared for better jobs with their disability than they had been able to qualify for before they enlisted. It was pointed out that technical schools could offer some courses for disabled men, and that the rest of them could be given intensive short apprenticeships in industry. The disabled men and their families should be supported in respectability during the course of training. It was emphasized that the soldier in the hospital should begin to do some work as soon as possible, so that he would not lose his habits of industry by too prolonged an idleness during treatment. This method of technical education would be expensive, but it would more than repay the country by making almost all the disabled men competent to maintain themselves as wage-earners for the remainder of their lives, and eliminate the great proportion of indigent, idle pensioners that had succeeded other great wars.
The conference in September, 1915, enthusiastically recommended that the Military Hospitals Commission proceed to develop vocational training of disabled soldiers along the lines proposed. Soon after this steps were taken to put the suggestions into actual practice. Principal Sexton was appointed, under the Commission, as Vocational Officer for Quebec and the Maritime Provinces, which office he has held for four and one-half years.
When the convalescent hospitals were first opened in Canada, it was thought at first that all the men needed was the necessary medical treatment and a rest and then most of them would naturally return to work. People who had not had army training, and who had not endured the terrible experiences in the front line trenches, did not understand the psychological reversal most of the soldiers had suffered. The ordinary Canadian was noted for his power of initiative. In times of peace he had developed resourcefulness and individuality. From thousands of occupations our men donned the khaki uniform. The first great lesson for the new soldier was that of implicit obedience to his superior officers. He was instructed that others would do his thinking for him. The responsibility of providing food, shelter, and raiment for himself and his dependants, which had been his constant effort in waking hours, was lifted from his shoulders. His habits were regularized to conform to a single standard,—that of the well-disciplined soldier. In action he was forced into a condition of personal dirtiness that would have been absolutely repellent to him in ordinary life. He was subjected to the nerve-racking, soul-splitting ordeal of continuous fire of high explosives. Death lurked at his elbow continuously in a thousand hideous forms. He lived like a worm, and the taking and giving of human life became an hourly experience. He forgot what a normal mode of living was like, and his tours back and forth to the trenches seemed the whole of existence, with only a ghastly way out of it. Then came his “blighty,” and the long, painful period of hospital experience where willing and loving hands ministered to every need. He was doctored, nursed and entertained lavishly. Is it any wonder that he found himself in an abnormal mental state, and that ordinary civilian life seemed petty and cold and humdrum? Is it surprising that he found himself slow to rouse himself and prepare to take up again some civilian task in the treadmill of industry which would reward him with only food, clothing and lodging? After the glorious comradeship with his fellows in facing death, the competitive system in a life of routine duties seemed dull and deadly.
It seemed evident from the first experience that work was the only panacea. Definite, interesting occupation alone offered the means of making the man forget himself, and of wrenching him around into the footpath of peace. Self-imposed routine duties of an absorbing nature provided the necessary attraction and distraction to enable the man to prepare himself again for a useful life in industry. Therefore interesting work of all kinds was provided to suit different abilities and disabilities.
Three divisions of the work of re-training the disabled soldier developed as progress was made with this task, viz.: (1) Ward Occupations; (2) Curative Workshops; (3) Industrial Re-training. These will be taken up in the order named.
1. Ward Occupations. Basketry, weaving, leather work and other handicrafts were taught to the men in hospital right in the wards, as recreational activity, during the time of convalescence when the soldiers, as patients, are not advanced far enough in their recovery to leave their beds or to take up serious education.
2. Curative Workshops. Every hospital had either a separate vocational building or a portion of its space set aside for curative workshops. Here were held a variety of classes for men taking treatment who were able to leave their wards and who wished to study some subjects which would be of advantage to them when they were discharged from hospital and would re-enter civilian life or take up training for a new occupation.
3. Industrial Re-Training. This was the most important division of the work and, in fact, constituted the main activity of the Vocational Branch of the Department of Soldiers’ Civil Re-establishment. All soldiers who received a disability in military service through disease, accident or wounds which prevented them from returning to their old occupations, were entitled to industrial re-training. Any man who enlisted under the age of eighteen, and whose apprenticeship or training for some useful occupation was seriously interrupted by the War, was also entitled to an industrial re-training course. Thousands of men had to be intensively trained for hundreds of different occupations in the shortest possible time. During their courses they and their dependants received pay and allowances to support themselves. Every kind of institution which offered definite vocational training was utilized, but a great proportion of the men were placed in industry itself to learn their new occupations. Special trade classes and schools had to be organized and equipped by the Department of Soldiers’ Civil Re-establishment to meet the new need. The main aim was to train the disabled soldiers and minors in six to ten months, so that they could earn the prevailing wage in suitable vocations. This aim was realized with results that have amply justified the predictions of experts in industrial education and the enormous expenditure of money necessary. The development of the three main divisions of the vocational work in Nova Scotia is interesting and illuminating, and promises much for the future in pointing the way to further developments in our hospital treatment and the reclaiming of the productive power of our men who have been or will be crippled by accident or disease.
It was very evident from the first experience with returned disabled soldiers in Canadian convalescent hospitals, that they needed some definite work to engage their attention just as soon as they were able to do it. After a prolonged illness their morale was very low, and many were convinced that they were so badly disabled that they would never be good for anything again. Nerves, muscles, and tendons which had been seriously damaged by wounds, could be healed and brought back to part of their former power by operative treatment, massage, electric therapy, etc., but at a certain stage further improvement could take place only through the action of the will of the patient. At this point the soldier will try to make his damaged body function properly if he is absorbed in some interesting task.
Consequently, handicraft work was introduced into the hospitals under the title of ward occupations. In the summer of 1917 volunteers from the V.A.D. of the St. John Ambulance Association were trained in different handicrafts at the Nova Scotia Technical College, and gave their services to the patients at Camp Hill and Pine Hill Hospitals. The value of the work soon became apparent, and a central training school for ward aides, as the handicraft teachers were called, was opened in Toronto. Young women of education, character, and aptitude were carefully selected for this work, and as soon as they had been given training, they were placed in every military hospital and sanitarium. They co-operated with the medical officers and nursing sisters in every particular, and a combined effort was made to get every patient busy at some kind of work just as soon as he was able to do anything. Basketry, weaving, embroidery, leather tooling, raffia work, toy-making, wood carving, art craft, metal work, and other forms of occupation were provided. The chief difficulty was in first getting the individual interested; and this task took an immense amount of tact and persuasion in some instances.
The underlying motive was to divert the man’s mind from its morbid state and to give him a mental stimulus back toward civilian life. In the majority of cases, the patient would make artistic objects for his relatives and friends. If he wished to keep the articles he merely paid for the cost of the material, but if he did not want them the Vocational Branch offered them for sale at a fair commercial value, deducted the cost of raw materials and gave the balance to the patient. There was no idea of instructing the men in gainful trades Which they could follow after their discharge.
Too high a tribute cannot be paid to the high character and ability and the unflagging devotion of the Nova Scotia Ward Aides. They gave the same high form of unselfish, patriotic service that was characteristic of the best groups of women workers. The ward occupations were of enormous benefit in making the weary hours of the days pass quickly, in improving the discipline in the institutions, and in materially shortening the time of treatment in many cases. The handicraft work has been specially developed for insane patients, and helps to fill the pathetic lives of the soldiers confined in the Nova Scotia Hospital for the Insane.
A large proportion of the men in the institutions were not confined to their wards. Their disabilities were such, or they had reached such an advanced stage in their treatment, that they were able to move about and to perform light work. For these cases there was only a half-hour a day of treatment, and the rest of the time might be spent in playing cards, in reading magazines, or in sheer idleness. There was great danger that the men might become “hospitalized” and unfitted for the stern tasks of industrial life. Therefore, curative workshops were provided, where a wide range of classes was held for six or seven hours a day. Practical and accomplished instructors were in charge of the various branches, and nearly every soldier, physically fit to pursue such studies, could find something of interest and value. Many of the patients had never had a fair chance to get a good education, and a goodly number who had had such an opportunity had not availed themselves of it. A few of the soldiers did not even know how to read and write. As mechanics, most of the soldiers had acquired such skill as they possessed in a careless and haphazard manner and were not thoroughly competent. To suit the general needs and tastes of the patients, instruction was offered in business English, practical arithmetic, practical algebra, geometry and trigonometry, bookkeeping, stenography and typewriting, telegraphy, mechanical and architectural drafting, gardening, woodworking, shoe repairing, automobile driving and repair, etc.
These adult students made amazing progress in their studies. Those who had forgotten all their mathematics, except the first four rules, covered years of school work in a few months, and in going over it the second time would never again forget it. Foreigners and men who were illiterate learned the rudiments of arithmetic and the English language in a surprisingly short time. Others were absorbed in the work of the different classes, and gained valuable knowledge according to their ability and the length of time they stayed in the hospital. For some of them, who were not entitled to industrial re-training after discharge, it was their only opportunity to get general or vocational education. For those who were so disabled that they could not return to their old occupations, the curative workshops offered a trying-out ground where they could test their aptitudes and often lay a solid basis for further training. It was a pathetic as well as an inspiring sight to see some grizzled hero bringing back muscular power to a scarred and withered arm in planing a piece of wood to make some piece of furniture for his home. The workshop offered practically the only method of treatment to the neurasthenic or “shell-shocked” patient. No medicine or massage or operation could help him, and only the stimulation of his self-interest in class work could get him to forget himself and thus gradually bring him back to normal.
The first curative workshop classes to be opened in the Dominion started at the Ross Convalescent Hospital in Sydney, on April 4, 1916. They were rapidly developed in every hospital and sanatorium throughout Canada, and proved of immense benefit in helping to re-establish our disabled soldiers who received treatment in Canada.
By far the most important division of the vocational work of civil re-establishment, however, was the industrial re-training. France and Belgium showed the way in which crippled men could be trained for future usefulness in suitable trades; and practically every belligerent country evolved a system of human rehabilitation for maimed soldiers. Canada had the advantage of time to plan and develop her methods of dealing with this problem before she was swamped with numbers, and consequently was able to establish a uniform system with centralized authority. The basis of the whole work was to give suitable training for every soldier who, through some disability incurred in military service, could not efficiently resume the occupation which he followed prior to enlistment. In addition to this class, all men classed as minors, who had enlisted under the age of eighteen, were later given training if their war service had seriously interfered with their preparation for their chosen occupation, whether they were disabled or not.
Every effort was made to place the disabled man in the right position. He was interviewed by a sympathetic and competent official and counselled intelligently about the important choice of a new trade. The soldier already had industrial experience and, in the majority of cases, had some definite idea of what he wished to do. If his conceptions of the duties, remuneration, conditions of work, chances for promotion, stability, etc., in the new occupation, were wrong, he was reasonably and patiently advised to make another choice. The disabled man, however, always made the decision about his own future. His own wishes were followed as far as possible, because he would make a failure of his training and of his new occupation if he himself was not satisfied and enthusiastic.
The queer trait of human nature that considers “distant fields as ever green” was much in evidence. During his former experience, the disabled soldier had always had a conviction that some other job completely outside of his own vocation was easier and better paid, or that some new development of industry was holding out its arms and screaming for workers. Consequently, there was a common tendency to enter some vocation wholly outside of his former experience. Most of the men were extremely reasonable and when all the facts were put before them they made wise decisions. Every definite effort was made to keep the man as close as possible to the industry in which he was employed before enlistment. If they had all tried to crowd into a few of the highly skilled occupations, there would not have been vacancies enough to give them all employment. So the training was made as wide as business and industry. Schools and classes were organized and equipped for those vocations which needed preliminary education under skilled instructors, and for which comparatively large groups of men were preparing. In cases where men were deficient in general education, and needed some fundamental knowledge of English and arithmetic in order to succeed, they were given intensive preliminary instruction for one, two or three months before starting specialized vocational training. Every educational institution which offered intensive practical courses leading to wage-earning power, was made use of to the fullest extent. Industry itself, however, offered the widest opportunities, and a great proportion of the students were placed directly in industry to learn there how to fill the job acceptably under working conditions, so that at the end of their period of training they could slip over on the pay roll of the employer without any break. Other men, who had preliminary training in the special trade classes established by the Department of Soldiers’ Civil Re-establishment, were placed in industry for the latter part of their period of education so that they would get accustomed to workshop conditions, and in order that there would be no appreciable hiatus between training and employment.
In order to provide ample means for the training and employment of the thousands of men the War produced, it was necessary to secure the closest co-operation of the employers, trade unions, and the general public. It is a pleasure to chronicle the fact that everybody gave active help without stint. The Dominion Steel Corporation and the Nova Scotia Steel and Coal Company, the largest single employers of labor in Nova Scotia, announced publicly that they would find a suitable place for every one of their former employees who had gone into military service and who desired work after his discharge. They carried out their promise, and also provided every possible facility for re-training disabled men. Trade unions also gave generous assistance, and waived all restrictions regarding apprenticeship where these might be detrimental to maimed and crippled soldiers who were learning new trades. Without all this splendid co-operation, the results achieved in Canada in re-training the disabled soldiers for future usefulness would have been impossible.
The usual period of time that was found necessary to put the discharged soldiers on their feet so that they could earn the prevailing wage in a new occupation, was seven or eight months. During the War, when all labor was very scarce, employers would accept men and give them full wages after about six months’ training, but when competition became keener and more workers became available in 1919, eight months was found to be necessary in most cases, and sometimes even a whole year. During the period of learning a new vocation, the soldier’s pension was suspended, and he and his dependants received a uniform scale of pay and allowances as follows:—
| Single man | $60 00 | per month. |
| Married man and wife | 85 00 | „ „ |
| Married man with wife and one child | 95 00 | „ „ |
| Married man with wife and two children | 103 00 | „ „ |
| Married man with wife and three children | 110 00 | „ „ |
| For each additional child above three | 6 00 | „ „ |
If training caused the man to live apart from his dependants, an extra allowance of $16.00 per month was granted. Owing to the increased cost of living, these rates were advanced on September 1, 1920.
All classes carried on by the Department of Civil Re-establishment in Nova Scotia were conducted for eight hours per day in order to get the men accustomed to the conditions prevailing in industry. Where men were sent to educational institutions, or were apprenticed in industry, they were subject to the rules and regulations in force at the place where they were learning.
The scope of the work widened rapidly as it progressed until men were being re-trained for more than 300 different occupations. It is not necessary to give a list of these occupations, but the comprehensive field covered may be imagined if only those classified under the letter “A” were mentioned:—
Accountant.
Adding Machine Operator.
Adding Machine Repairer.
Advertising Agent.
Aeroplane Manufacturing Worker.
Agriculture—Bee Keeping.
Dairying.
Farm Tractor Operating.
Farm Mechanics.
Floriculture.
Fruit Raising.
General Farming.
Horticulture.
Market Gardening.
Poultry Raising.
Seed Testing.
University Course.
Air Brake Mechanic.
Architectural Draftsman.
Armature Winder.
Artificial Limb Maker.
Art Lead Glazer.
Art Metal Worker.
Assayer.
Auctioneer.
Automobile Mechanic.
Automobile Painter.
Automobile Salesman.
Automobile Storage Battery Repairer.
Automobile Tire Vulcanizer.
Automobile Truck Driver.
Automobile Upholsterer.
The man who was placed in industry for training or employment was kept under constant supervision and visited every two or three weeks to ascertain his progress. If he was not securing proper treatment or opportunity to learn, he was moved to some other position. If his choice of occupation had not been wise, he was tried out in some other line of work. After he had finished his course, he was visited at least once a month for four months to see that his re-establishment was complete and his progress satisfactory.
The first group to receive industrial re-training in Canada consisted of a number of unfortunate members of a British West India Regiment. A large number were landed in Halifax in February, 1917, from a transport and were sent to hospital to be treated for severe frost bite. Nine of them had to have both legs amputated and eight of them lost one leg or a portion of a leg. Previous to enlistment these Jamaicans had been “cultivators” or agricultural laborers, and had very little education. When their hospital treatment was completed they were re-trained by the Vocational Branch in Halifax. Mr. W. J. Clayton gave over his whole residence and the Provincial Branch of the Red Cross Society fitted it up completely for a convalescent hospital and re-training centre. The men were given instruction in three trades suitable to their disability, viz., tailoring, shoe repairing, and tin-smithing. At the end of five and one-half months they were sent back to Jamaica able to earn at least fifty per cent. more in their new occupations than they had received before as laborers.
The work of re-training disabled Nova Scotian soldiers began seriously in the spring of 1917. A centre was established at the Technical College in Halifax. It was fortunate, indeed, that the Province had embarked on its scheme of technical education before the War, and that this splendid institution stood ready with all its equipment and trained Staff to render service to the men disabled in war. The Provincial Government turned practically the whole establishment over to the Dominion Government for this work. Classes in garage mechanics, automobile tire vulcanizing, electricity, mechanical, architectural and ship drafting, land surveying, machine tool operation, stationary engineering, oxyacetylene welding, shoe repairing, etc., were organized. The institution became a busy hive of industry. The numbers grew until larger quarters had to be secured for part of the classes. In the summer of 1919 a large group of demobilization barracks on Cunard St., Halifax, was taken over and specially fitted and equipped for educational purposes. This was called the Borden Re-training Centre, and the main portion of the work has been done there since that time. A number of the classes are still maintained at the Technical College, and this service will be rendered by the College until the whole task is completed.
The number of re-training students in Nova Scotia increased rapidly in 1919 until it reached its peak with a strength of about 2,300 in March, 1920. From this number it has rapidly declined. Altogether, in the Province, about 4,000 returned men have been granted courses to this date. When one considers that they were training for nearly 300 trades, and that they were being admitted to and discharged from courses every day, that they and their dependants must be paid twice a month, that employment must be found for them, that they must be followed up for four months after completing their training, and thousands of their difficulties smoothed out, the magnitude of the task can be appreciated.
A centre for re-training men in agriculture was established at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College at Truro. Here again this advantage of having a fully equipped institution, with a Staff of highly-trained specialists ready to render service to the discharged soldiers, cannot be overestimated. All the re-training students from the three Maritime Provinces were sent here, because it was the only place in this area competent to meet their needs. Special courses adapted for the purpose were provided, and the regular Staff of the College gave unstintingly of their time and knowledge. Like the Technical College, the Agricultural College allowed discharged soldiers to attend all regular courses without any tuition fees. The number of men applying for re-training in agricultural branches was small because most forms of farming demand physical fitness, and the army experience of the soldiers tended to make them wish to stick to industries in the towns.
Contrary to the expectations of the public, very few men were blinded in the army. Wounds that would deprive a man of his sight usually killed him. Out of our forces of about a half million men, only 130 have had their vision impaired to such an extent that they require re-training. The Canadian authorities arranged with Sir Arthur Pearson that the blind men should all be trained in that splendid institution, St. Dunstan’s Hostel, in London. In the early days of the War, however, a few blinded men drifted back to Canada without training. These were collected and about a dozen sent to Halifax, where they were given special instruction under the Military Hospitals Commission at the School for the Blind. They were taught Braille reading and writing, typewriting, Braille stenography, massage, and shoe repairing. Most of the men made remarkable progress, and are successfully earning their own livings to-day.
Altogether Canada has granted about 53,000 courses of re-training. From the very first she has followed a sane, practical policy, and has enjoyed the advantages of uniformity and centralized control throughout all the Provinces.
The results speak for themselves. In Nova Scotia 65 per cent. of the men who have completed their courses are successfully re-established in the occupation for which they were trained. Another 20 per cent. are earning satisfactory wages in other lines of work than those for which they were specifically prepared. These men have changed because they saw better opportunities for themselves, individually, in another vocation, or they may have felt fit enough, after their course, to return to their old occupation. Their training will not be lost, because they are so much more competent because of having it. Ten per cent. of the men have gone out of the Province and cannot be traced. It is safe to conclude that most of these are successfully re-established. Two per cent. of the men are reported as unemployed, but it is not known to what extent this is due to lack of temporary opportunity or disinclination on the part of the man. Three per cent. of the men are reported as still ill and temporarily under treatment.
This high salvage among war-wrecked men can be accepted with great satisfaction by every patriotic Canadian. Without the loyal co-operation of every section of society and the unflagging devotion to duty on the part of the large Staff of returned men who were engaged in administration and instruction, these results would have been impossible. Canada’s record of reconstruction and her efforts to rehabilitate the brave soldiers who gave of their youth and strength in the service of the country, stand on a par with her military achievements.
CHAPTER L.
THE PATRIOTIC FUND.
The Nova Scotia Branch of the Canadian Patriotic Fund was organized in Halifax, September 2, 1914, with the late Lieutenant-Governor Hon. James D. MacGregor as Chairman of the Provincial Executive. On completion of his term of office as Governor, he was succeeded by Hon. David McKeen as Chairman, who acted to the time of his death, November 13, 1916. On appointment to the office of Lieutenant-Governor, His Honor MacCallum Grant became Chairman of the Executive. Other members of the Executive who have continued in office from September, 1914, to date, are:—Hon. G. H. Murray, M.P.P., Premier and Provincial Secretary; Hon. Chief Justice Harris, Hon. E. N. Rhodes, M.P., the Chairman of County Branches; H. A. Flemming, Treasurer; and Arthur S. Barnstead, B.A., LL.B., Secretary.
The total amount raised and remitted to the Honorary Treasurer to March 31, 1919, was $1,847,883.31, and to March 31, 1920, was $1,862,431.80. The total amount disbursed was to March 31, 1919, $1,628,177.04, and to March 31, 1920, $1,726,520.30.
The Central Executive arranged for the collection of the amounts allotted to the Province in connection with the various campaigns, and county committees co-operating. With but one exception, every county municipality contributed to the Fund, and practically every town of the Province made grants. In two or three towns, private individuals made collections for the Fund where no grant was made by the Town Council.
The distribution of relief was supervised by the Provincial Executive, requisitions being drawn by the treasurer of every county for the money required, the list of beneficiaries being carefully checked before the money was placed to the credit of the local treasurer. The result of co-operation between the Provincial Executive and the various relief committees was so beneficial that very little difficulty arose and the rules and regulations of the Fund were very carefully observed. Complaints by the families of soldiers themselves were very few, and all complaints were readily adjusted. The expense of both collections and disbursements was kept at a low figure, there being only one or two paid officials in the larger counties, and these but part time. In addition to that, some small grants were made for stenographic and clerical assistance.
CHAPTER LI.
VICTORY LOAN, 1919.
| Provincial Executive Committee. | |
|---|---|
| G. S. Campbell | Chairman. |
| S. A. Heward | Secretary. |
| R. H. Metzler. | |
| P. R. Jack. | |
| W. B. Milner. | |
| A. F. Mackintosh. | |
| H. M. Bradford. | |
| R. W. Elliott. | |
| B. G. Burrill. | |
| W. F. Mahon. | |
| W. I. MacDougall. | |
| H. C. Coughtry. | |
| Bankers’ Committee. | |
| D. Macgillivray | Chairman. |
| H. A. Flemming. | |
| A. E. Nash. | |
| F. St. C. Harris. | |
| F. O. Robertson. | |
| Publicity Committee. | |
| Chairman | J. R. McLeod. |
| Special Names Committee. | |
| Chairman | B. G. Burrill. |
| Provincial Press Committee. | |
| Chairman | Dr. J. D. Logan. |
| Chairmen. | ||
|---|---|---|
| County. | 1917–18. | 1919. |
| Annapolis | Hon. S. W. W. Pickup. | Hon. S. W. W. Pickup. |
| Antigonish | Rev. J. T. Tompkins. | Rev. R. S. Macgillivray. |
| Cape Breton | John E. Burchell. | Walter Crowe, K.C. |
| Colchester | A. J. Campbell, K.C. | A. J. Campbell, K.C. |
| Cumberland | J. R. Douglas. | Percy C. Black. |
| Clare | E. L. Comeau. | E. L. Comeau. |
| Digby | H. B. Short. | H. B. Short. |
| Guysboro | E. C. Whitman. | E. C. Whitman. |
| Hants | Rev. Dr. T. S. Boyle. | Rev. Dr. T. S. Boyle. |
| Inverness | Rev. A. L. McDonald. | Rev. A. L. McDonald. |
| Kings | W. H. Chase. | George E. Graham. |
| Lunenburg | J. J. Kinley, M.P.P. | J. J. Kinley, M.P.P. |
| Pictou East | R. M. McGregor. | John D. McDonald. |
| Pictou West | R. M. McGregor. | J. Ed. McDonald. |
| Queens | A. W. Hendry. | George S. McClearn. |
| Richmond | D. H. Campbell. | D. H. Campbell. |
| Shelburne | R. Irwin, M.P.P. | R. Irwin, M.P.P. |
| Victoria | Hon. W. F. McCurdy. | Hon. W. F. McCurdy. |
| Yarmouth | E. K. Spinney, M.P. | E. K. Spinney, M.P. |
| Halifax County | Hon. G. E. Faulkner. | Hon. G. E Faulkner. |
| Halifax City | W. A. Black. | W. A. Black. |
GEORGE S. CAMPBELL.
WILLIAM BLACK.
| 1917 and 1918 Victory Loans—Final Returns. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County. | No. Sub. 1917. | No. Sub. 1918. | Volume 1917. | Volume 1918. | Objective 1918. |
| Halifax City | 7,656 | 9,918 | $4,592,500 | $9,314,050 | $5,000,000 |
| Halifax County | 1,472 | 2,402 | 533,200 | 1,003,950 | 615,000 |
| City and County | 9,128 | 12,320 | 5,125,700 | 10,318,000 | 5,615,000 |
| Annapolis | 1,418 | 1,357 | 497,950 | 623,750 | 500,000 |
| Antigonish | 1,218 | 1,369 | 430,000 | 554,050 | 430,000 |
| Cape Breton | 11,251 | 17,551 | 4,208,100 | 6,631,900 | 4,000,000 |
| Colchester | 2,294 | 2,693 | 1,003,500 | 1,374,130 | 1,000,000 |
| Cumberland | 3,605 | 3,388 | 2,137,800 | 3,080,350 | 1,500,000 |
| Digby Municipality | 844 | 927 | 292,850 | 463,100 | 500,000 |
| Clare Municipality | 152 | 124,250 | |||
| Guysboro | 1,079 | 1,258 | 377,900 | 425,850 | 375,000 |
| Hants | 1,460 | 1,873 | 527,300 | 793,100 | 650,000 |
| Inverness | 920 | 922 | 324,900 | 399,700 | 325,000 |
| Kings | 1,817 | 2,305 | 586,150 | 847,060 | 650,000 |
| Lunenburg | 1,236 | 2,880 | 570,250 | 1,462,600 | 1,000,000 |
| Pictou | 5,679 | 7,661 | 2,073,750 | 4,044,500 | 2,000,000 |
| Queens | 628 | 634 | 258,150 | 343,400 | 300,000 |
| Richmond | 638 | 564 | 164,500 | 200,650 | 175,000 |
| Shelburne | 679 | 896 | 317,400 | 411,150 | 350,000 |
| Victoria | 429 | 504 | 161,600 | 178,400 | 160,000 |
| Yarmouth | 1,115 | 1,505 | 457,450 | 767,760 | 600,000 |
| Total | 45,438 | 60,759 | $19,515,250 | $33,043,700 | $20,130,000 |
Unofficial objective, $25,000,000, being Nova Scotia’s proportion of $500,000,000.
| Nova Scotia Victory Loan Campaign, 1919. | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| County. | Objective. | Subscribed. | No. of Subs. |
| Halifax City | $4,750,000 | $6,896,900 | 6,781 |
| Halifax County | 475,000 | 1,521,000 | 2,421 |
| City and County | 5,225,000 | 8,417,900 | 9,202 |
| Annapolis | 350,000 | 628,250 | 1,008 |
| Antigonish | 300,000 | 453,200 | 786 |
| Cape Breton | 3,500,000 | 4,936,200 | 8,801 |
| Colchester | 700,000 | 1,182,000 | 1,843 |
| Cumberland | 1,250,000 | 3,199,650 | 2,266 |
| Digby (Clare Municipality) | 175,000 | 180,350 | 144 |
| Digby (Digby Municipality) | 175,000 | 339,350 | 458 |
| Guysboro | 275,000 | 490,000 | 893 |
| Hants | 500,000 | 618,000 | 1,147 |
| Inverness | 225,000 | 399,100 | 711 |
| Kings | 550,000 | 932,800 | 1,523 |
| Lunenburg | 750,000 | 1,247,750 | 1,789 |
| Pictou | 2,000,000 | 3,174,700 | 2,812 |
| Queens | 245,000 | 335,000 | 453 |
| Richmond | 100,000 | 201,850 | 295 |
| Shelburne | 275,000 | 376,100 | 628 |
| Victoria | 100,000 | 229,700 | 358 |
| Yarmouth | 450,000 | 1,180,000 | 1,281 |
| Total | $17,145,000 | $28,521,900 | 36,398 |
CHAPTER LII.
RED CROSS SOCIETY, WILLING WAR WORKERS, GREEN FEATHER SOCIETY, AND CATHOLIC LADIES SOCIETY.
The Red Cross has been the Angel of Mercy to the soldier lying on his fevered couch in hospital, for it brought to him succor and a message of hope and cheer. But coming in contact with it at a time when he was least able to apprehend the efforts which brought the help so sorely needed, he is apt to regard the Red Cross as a field institution and fails to appreciate the labor and sacrifice of the women at home who made its work of mercy possible.
The work of the Nova Scotia Branch of the Canadian Red Cross Society has been the raising of money, manufacturing and distribution of goods, visiting and supplying the needs of hospital ships, trains, military and convalescent hospitals, and arranging concerts, drives and entertainments at private homes for returned men. Its work did not terminate with the declaration of peace but still goes on in almost as great a measure as in time of war, and will continue to do so as long as one returned soldier remains in our hospitals.
Many Nova Scotians, as well as returned men, do not appreciate the magnitude of the task accomplished by the Nova Scotia Branch of the Canadian Red Cross, and it is only possible here to give a brief outline of its activities. The women of every city, town and village in the Province gave the best of their thought, substance and action in order that the citizen soldier of Nova Scotia, whether in the fighting line or in hospital convalescing from wounds might have every possible comfort. At the end of 1915 the Province had thirty-one chartered and two hundred and sixty-eight auxiliary branches of the Red Cross. Every village and hamlet had its workers who contributed a steady stream of supplies and an enormous amount of labor devolved upon the Provincial Branch at Halifax, which acted as a Clearing House for all branches throughout the Province.
The officers of the Provincial Branch during the War, with slight changes of office but not of personnel, were as follows:
Patrons.
His Honor Lieutenant-Governor and Mrs. Grant.
President.
Mrs. William Dennis.
MRS. DENNIS.
MRS. CHARLES ARCHIBALD.
Vice-Presidents.
Mrs. F. H. Sexton.
Mrs. F. B. McCurdy.
Mrs. Chas. Archibald.
Mrs. Hector McInnis.
Mrs. M. A. Curry (Hon.)
Hon. Secretary.
Miss Margaret Brown.
Hon. Treasurer.
H. E. Mahon, Ess.
Executive Committee.
Mrs. T. Benson.
Mrs. A. W. Jamieson.
Mrs. G. S. Campbell.
Mrs. F. Woodbury.
Mrs. W. J. Armitage.
Mrs. E. A. Kirkpatrick.
Mrs. N. Duffus.
Mrs. A. Costley.
Mrs. W. E. McLellan.
Mrs. F. B. McCurdy.
Mrs. H. W. Cunningham.
Mrs. L. J. Donaldson.
Mrs. G. A. MacIntosh.
Mrs. W. R. Foster, Dartmouth.
Mrs. A. P. Scarfe, Dartmouth.
Mrs. Crathorne, Dartmouth.
Mrs. W. S. Munnis.
Miss Jean Forrest.
Miss Constance Bell.
Mrs. Sedley Thompson.
Miss Ella Ritchie.
Mrs. McKay McLeod, Sydney.
Mrs. M. A. Curry.
Mrs. T. S. Rogers.
Mrs. Frank Hope.
Mrs. J. A. Clark.
Mrs. I. B. Schaffner.
Mrs. P. J. McManus.
Mrs. W. T. Allen.
Mrs. J. W. Longley.
Mrs. Geoffrey Morrow.
Also the President of each Chartered Branch.
Provincial Representatives on Central Council at Toronto.
Mrs. William Dennis.
Mrs. Charles Archibald.
J. L. Hetherington.
H. E. Mahon.
Advisory Board.
Mr. J. L. Hetherington, Chairman.
Mr. J. A. Neville.
Mr. H. E. Mahon, Treasurer.
Mr. C. C. Starr.
Mr. Chas. V. Monoghan.
Mr. Emil Gaboury.
Mr. R. Corbett.
Mr. H. McF. Hall.
Mr. W. H. Dennis.
Mr. F. A. Gillis.
The annual report of the Provincial Branch for the year ended October 31, 1916, shows a balance on hand at first of year of $10,961.26 and receipts for the year of $52,667.62. Disbursements amounted to $56,584.89, of which the principal items were:
| Remittances to Head Office, Toronto | $29,278 38 |
| Remittances to endow 50 cots in Princess Patricia Hospital | 2,500 00 |
| Material for surgical dressings and garments, and wool for socks | 18,163 17 |
| Office maintenance and expenses at Shipping Pier | 1,388 12 |
| Clayton Military Convalescent Home | 1,993 67 |
| Contributions to Special Objects | 1,141 21 |
The sum of $9,405.25 was collected for Prisoners’ Relief Account and $8,800 sent to England for expenditure. In addition to the above amounts the people of Nova Scotia subscribed $1,500 to the Duchess of Connaught Prisoners’ Fund and $78,433.03 to the British Red Cross.
Two thousand four hundred and seventy cases of goods were sent Overseas during the year, including 78 cases furnished No. 7 (Dalhousie) Stationary Hospital, 112 cases to No. 9 (St. Francis Xavier) Stationary Hospital, 11 cases to Serbia and 60 to France.
During the year ended October 31, 1917, the following amounts were collected:
| For General Purposes | $62,179 80 |
| For Prisoners’ Fund | 18,790 22 |
| For French Red Cross | 21,897 63 |
| British Red Cross Collection | 100,000 00 |
| $202,867 65 |
The principal items of expenditure were:
| Purchase of materials, hospital supplies, etc. | $39,674 84 |
| Sundry supplies | 1,318 60 |
| Marine and Fire Insurance | 2,351 50 |
| Contributions to Special Objects | 4,706 51 |
| Tobacco, fruits and comforts at Pier 2 and City Military Hospitals | 3,963 05 |
| Remittance to Head Office, Toronto | 32,020 70 |
| Office Expenses | 2,055 66 |
| Forwarded to England for support of prisoners | 12,000 00 |
| Forwarded to Toronto | 2,000 00 |
| Forwarded to England for books for prisoners | 100 00 |
Two thousand and ninety-nine cases of goods were sent Overseas, and a greatly enlarged demand for goods was made on this side of the water owing to the increasing number of returned men and the opening of the new convalescent hospitals as well as the arrival and departure of hospital ships and trains. The following institutions were supplied with goods on their requisitions:
Clayton Military Convalescent Home.
C.E.D. Corps.
Discharge Depot.
Hospital at Pier 2.
Pine Hill Convalescent Home.
Rockhead Hospital (Soldiers’ ward).
Infectious Hospital.
Military Hospital, Cogswell Street.
Hospital Ships.
Hospital Trains.
Kentville Sanitarium.
Dalton, P.E.I.
Camp Hill Hospital.
Truro Military Hospital.
Aldershot Field Hospital.
MRS. F. B. M‘CURDY.
Visitors were always on hand on the arrival of hospital ships and the departure of hospital trains to welcome the returning men and to see that they had every comfort necessary for the remainder of their journey. A room was given to the Red Cross Society for the storing of supplies at Pier 2. This was found most useful, as boats and trains were despatched as soon as possible—only a few hours’ notice being given for the filling of requisitions, which work, however, was speedily and ably done by Mrs. Sexton and her committee, Mrs. F. B. McCurdy and Mrs. W. T. Allen, the latter of whom carried on the work to the termination. Many returned men were detained for days at Pier 2 until they went before their medical board. For these, concerts and entertainments were provided every evening by the Y.M.C.A., the Red Cross Society and the Churches. A special Y.M.C.A. Musical Club was formed in this connection which gave entertainments at a few hours’ notice.
Two exhibitions of Red Cross work were held during the year, one at the Nova Scotia Provincial Fair, and another at the Exhibit of War Trophies, held in the Armories.
A Committee on Sphagnum Surgical Dressings, under the able supervision of the Secretary, Miss Margaret Brown, was appointed. Dalhousie University very kindly gave the use of a fine laboratory, where boxes of sphagnum, collected from various points along the sea coast of the Province were prepared for use.
MISS MARGARET BROWN.
MISS JEAN FORREST.
Miss Jean Forrest was appointed Superintendent of Supplies at the Technical College and distributed parcels of yarn and cut-out work at wholesale prices, to some one hundred and thirty branches who found it difficult to obtain supplies locally.
The cost of maintaining a prisoner of war at this time was $15 per month. The Nova Scotia Red Cross assumed the burden of two-thirds, or $10 per month for 270 men, the Canadian Red Cross paying the additional $5. The monthly sum required from Nova Scotia for the support of prisoners was therefore $2,700.
Receipts for the year ended October 31, 1918, amounted to $408,482.66, of which $334,176.40 was raised by a Provincial Red Cross drive for funds during the second week in July.
The Canadian Red Cross Society at their Annual Meeting, held in Toronto in 1917, decided to ask the different Provinces to raise certain sums of money during the year. Two hundred thousand dollars was named for Nova Scotia, but the Finance Committee knowing full well that the people of the Province would gladly contribute to the Red Cross War Fund raised the objective to $250,000, and then started to work under the able direction of Mr. J. L. Hetherington and Mr. H. E. Mahon. Committees of citizens were formed in all the counties, and a complete organization arranged, with the result that every county “went over the top,” and the total amount contributed was $343,701.77. From this was deducted $9,525.37 for expenses in connection with the campaign, leaving the net amount of $334,176.40 to the Red Cross Society. Never did men and women from one end of the Province to the other work more enthusiastically, and never did our people contribute more liberally than to this appeal from “the Greatest Mother in the World.”
The following amounts were raised in the several counties:
| Counties— | ||
| Annapolis | $9,713 54 | |
| Antigonish | 5,598 33 | |
| Cape Breton | 42,150 29 | |
| Colchester | 20,444 29 | |
| Cumberland | 20,196 46 | |
| Digby | 4,464 04 | |
| Guysboro | 5,521 24 | |
| Halifax (City) | 110,416 87 | |
| Halifax (County) | 15,425 31 | |
| Hants | 10,340 00 | |
| Inverness | 2,903 67 | |
| Kings | 10,650 00 | |
| Lunenburg | 14,446 47 | |
| Pictou | 40,235 27 | |
| Queens | 6,341 61 | |
| Richmond | 2,332 47 | |
| Shelburne | 7,500 00 | |
| Victoria | 2,463 38 | |
| Yarmouth | 11,510 36 | |
| Special | 1,048 17 | |
| Total | $343,701 77 | |
| Expenses | 9,525 37 | |
| Final Total | $334,176 46 | |
The expenditure for the year 1918 included:
| Purchase of materials, hospital supplies, etc | $38,700 04 |
| Sundry Supplies | 1,218 32 |
| Comforts to City Military Hospitals and Hospital Ships | 9,331 67 |
| Special objects designated by remitters | 4,158 53 |
| Remittances to Head Office, Toronto | 325,931 70 |
| Office Expenses and wages at Pier 2 | 2,746 49 |
During the year 1918 the public maintained their interest in the Prisoners of War Department of the Red Cross. The amount collected was $20,943.01, of which $19,013.00 was forwarded to headquarters in London, England, for the support of prisoners. The food rations of each prisoner of war were despatched regularly three times every fortnight, which, considering there were 270 men on the list, was no light undertaking. In addition to the food supply the prisoners received two complete outfits of clothing, including everything from shoes and socks to overcoats.
After the signing of the Armistice the work of repatriating prisoners went steadily on, and each steamer brought men who had spent many weary months in the prison camps, and they all testified to the value of the work done by this Society and declared that it was solely due to this that they were enabled to return to their homes. This department of Red Cross work has been most ably conducted by Mrs. Charles Archibald, nobly assisted by Miss Ritchie and Mrs. Longley.
The beginning of this year was marked by the terrible Halifax explosion, by which 1,635 persons lost their lives and 10,000 people were rendered homeless. Much generous help was received by the stricken city. Everyone knows the splendid aid sent by the American Red Cross, and the people and Government of the United States in despatching to Halifax train loads and boat loads of supplies, together with surgeons and nurses. Their neighborly kindness will never be forgotten.
But the help rendered by our own Canadian Red Cross is perhaps not so widely known. The Chairman of the Executive in Toronto wired to the shipping agent in St. John to render every assistance possible in money and goods. The agent, Mr. Milburne, immediately requisitioned a special train, and brought with him all the Red Cross goods he had ready for shipment Overseas, making two car loads in all. This train was the first assistance from outside the Province to reach Halifax. Hearing that some of the injured had been conveyed to Truro, Mr. Milburne put off cases of hospital necessaries for their use at that station. A medical supply committee of the Canadian Red Cross Society was immediately formed with the sanction of the Halifax Relief Committee, Mr. Milburne being appointed Chairman, and Mrs. Sexton, Vice-Chairman, with a Staff of forty-four voluntary workers. Twice daily all the emergency hospitals were visited and their wants noted and supplied the same day. The number of these hospitals, dressing stations, etc., amounted to sixty-two.
At the same time, gifts of clothing, food and money poured in from Red Cross Branches all over Canada. Ottawa Branch shipped in one day eight carloads of clothing. The Nova Scotia Branch, under its President, Mrs. Dennis, co-operated heartily, practically every Branch and Auxiliary in the Province sending substantial and generous aid.
Special mention must be made of the work of the President of the Windsor Red Cross, Mrs. P. M. Fielding, who organized a special train which arrived the evening of December 6th, bringing doctors and nurses from Kentville, Windsor, Truro and neighboring towns. The Windsor Red Cross alone spent $422.74 on Red Cross supplies and provisions for this trip, Hantsport and other Branches also providing hampers of food, so that the doctors and nurses had their meals en route and arrived in Halifax ready to go to work without an instant’s delay, thereby saving many lives. Mrs. Fielding remained in the city, established and equipped three dormitories, which accommodated in all seventy-five nurses. What this meant to the stricken city will never be computed, and the Red Cross feels that all who helped can never be sufficiently thanked.
It was not until the end of March that the Red Cross was able to resume its work for returned invalided soldiers. By that time the hospital on Pier 2, wrecked by the explosion, had been repaired. The hospital ships once more made their trips, and the Red Cross storeroom on the pier was re-stocked. Large requisitions were filled each month; sometimes only a few hours’ notice was given to get the supplies on board—sometimes only a few minutes’ notice in the case of a hospital train. On one trip the ship docked in the morning, landed her men and went out again with her new supplies in the afternoon. At another time 1,400 shipwrecked men from S.S. City of Vienna were visited and supplied with filled kit bags, containing toilet necessaries, pipes and tobacco. Directly after, the Committee were called upon to minister to 300 influenza contact cases. This necessitated the workers going into quarantine for two days, very busy days, too, the telegrams alone requiring upwards of 300 telephone calls. The Y.M.C.A. and the Knights of Columbus Musical Club were always at hand to cheer up men who were detained by the Medical Board, arranging for their benefit concerts, entertainments, motor drives and teas at private houses.
One thousand seven hundred and sixty-eight cases of goods were sent Overseas, and the distribution of supplies on this side grew very greatly during the year owing to the increasing number of returned men and the opening of new convalescent homes.
The financial statement for the year ended October 31, 1918, shows receipts of $36,848.65. Expenditures amounted to $41,804.01, including the following items:
| Purchase of materials, City and Provincial Hospitals | $12,172 04 |
| Kentville Sanitarium | 1,014 42 |
| Soldiers’ Reception Committee | 9,000 00 |
| Cigarettes | 2,456 51 |
| Soldiers’ Comforts | 2,260 23 |
| Libraries | 319 79 |
| Nurses | 378 10 |
| Furnishings | 2,201 36 |
| Clayton Hospital | 175 00 |
| Rental and Expenses at Headquarters, 314 Barrington St. | 3,858 89 |
| Office Expenses | 1,789 85 |
| X-Ray Machines, Kentville | 2,396 43 |
| Hospital Ships | 823 63 |
No salaries whatever were paid to officers of the Red Cross Society. The only persons connected with the work who received anything for their services were the shipper at Red Cross warehouse at Pier 2, who was responsible for the receiving and sending forward of our boxes, and the Office Secretary who took charge of the correspondence, kept the books, etc. She was assisted by a large corps of voluntary workers.
With the signing of the Armistice great changes naturally took place in the daily work of the Nova Scotia Red Cross. Workers decreased in number, and those who remained faithful had to work extremely hard, as, although it was considered that the stores already sent would be sufficient for all Overseas demands, the reserve stock of stores for use in the hospitals in our own Province had to be kept up.
At the time of the Armistice the surgical sphagnum dressings were still very greatly needed. Special efforts were put into this work, which continued till free transportation ceased on March 31st. Forty-five boxes of the dressings were sent Overseas. An eminent Surgeon-Colonel in one of the Overseas hospitals gave it as his opinion that sphagnum dressings had saved the situation.
Work for refugees of the devastated area of France was then taken up, sanctioned by the Head Office in Toronto, who provided samples and gave permission to use Red Cross materials for this good work. The patterns were duplicated in our office and distributed to Branches throughout the Province. The work was carried on for two months and 217 boxes of garments were sent over.
Change of quarters for the Red Cross became imperative. The Technical College, which had sheltered Red Cross workers during the four years of the War, and had so generously allowed them the use of valuable equipment of every kind, was now overcrowded with its own work for returned soldiers. It was therefore decided to take over the lease of No. 314 Barrington Street from the American Red Cross, which had occupied it for the last year.
It was thought best to continue the Canteen which the American Red Cross had established until such time as the Y.M.C.A. should take up this work. This Canteen, under the management of Mrs. Sexton, had a wonderful success, becoming a happy and home-like centre for returned men and greatly appreciated—especially the hot Sunday dinners served by devoted workers. Much regret was expressed when, at the end of three months, it was closed and the work handed over to the newly-opened Red Triangle Hut next door.
The principal work throughout the year was supplying the needs of the hospitals. Mrs. Munnis, who worked so faithfully as the Convener of the Hospital Committee resigned and was replaced by Mrs. Sexton. An enlarged committee was formed and a large staff of visitors began their duties, each having a special ward assigned to them.
Twelve sun parlors at Camp Hill Hospital were furnished for the use of convalescents and made as comfortable and home-like as possible. The estimated cost was $500 each, subscribed for by the following Red Cross Branches: Amherst, Windsor, Wolfville, Westville, Trenton, Glace Bay, Halifax, Truro, Hazel Hill, Joggins Mines, New Glasgow and North Sydney. A brass plate, bearing the name of the donor, was affixed to the wall of each parlor. The cost exceeded the estimate by $240 each, which excess was paid from the central treasury.
From November 11, 1918, until September 30, 1919, 220,000 men passed through the Port of Halifax, and 92 ships were met and as far as possible these men had the use of the Red Cross rooms at the pier. The Port Committee was on hand day and night to help make their landing on Canadian soil (many of them after years of service) a great home-coming.
In the first days of disembarkation all men for Canada were held at Halifax for documentation. Later the military authorities changed their plan and it became their ambition to disembark and entrain these men in the shortest possible time so that only Maritime men waiting for local trains or men held for hospital treatment came under the care of the Committee.
Later on the Repatriation Department of the Canadian Government requested the Red Cross to undertake the care of the returning soldiers’ families. About 5,000 soldiers’ dependants passed through Halifax and a fully trained nurse was placed on each train containing soldiers’ wives and children.
Hospital equipment was provided at Pier No. 2 for any women and children who were unfit to travel after landing from boat, or whose husbands were military patients and could not proceed. Often their luggage was not obtainable, and the Red Cross was called upon to supply such necessaries as infants’ outfits, women’s pyjamas and bath robes, towels, soap, combs, hot water bottles, medicines, etc.
In March when the Canadian Government decided to send the hospital ships to Portland, Maine, instead of Halifax, Col. Noel Marshall requested that a Committee of our Port Workers should inaugurate the work at the new port. Mrs. W. T. Allen, Mrs. J. L. Hetherington and Mrs. F. B. McCurdy accordingly proceeded to Portland and very satisfactory arrangements were made whereby the Canadian Red Cross continued to fit ships with hospital stores, while the American Red Cross very courteously and generously provided canteen facilities and served refreshments to all the wounded.
Perhaps no department of the Red Cross has developed more enthusiasm or been more splendidly supported than the work of Prisoners’ Relief. From a very small beginning it grew to be work of great importance, and one in which the people of Nova Scotia have abundantly shown their practical interest. It did not draw upon the general Red Cross Funds but appealed for a special offering from the public or from friends of men who were prisoners of war and found a most gratifying response, no less than $41,448 having been contributed for this special purpose.
Approximately 270 Canadian prisoners of war in forty-one different internment camps in Germany were maintained wholly or in part through the kindness of the people of Nova Scotia, at a cost per head of $10 per month. Almost all these men were “adopted” by friends or societies; that is, such persons or societies agreed to pay a certain sum per month towards their maintenance, two dollars and fifty cents having been fixed as the minimum amount. The name and address of the adopted was given to the man, and his name, number and prison address to the adopter, and letters and cards were exchanged between them, often arousing a deep personal interest on the one hand and a sense of gratitude and appreciation on the other.
Mrs. Archibald and Miss Ritchie were brought in close contact with the homes and families of prisoners of war. The amount of correspondence was very considerable, and the system used entailed a lot of bookkeeping. The name and number of each man, date of capture, prison camp and any details that could be gathered were registered on a card index. The name of the “adopter” was also registered both here and with the Prisoners of War Department in London.
MRS. W. M‘K. M‘LEOD.
MISS CLARA DENNIS.
Close touch was kept with the Department of “Missing Men,” conducted in London and in a few instances it was possible to convey reassuring news to sorrow-stricken friends of the “missing men,” although, too often, it became necessary to deprive them of the hope they so touchingly clung to. Yet even the bad news was softened somewhat by details of the death or capture of a man, obtained under the system inaugurated by Lady Drummond of “Searchers” in hospitals who sought out wounded men of the same Platoon or Battalion of the person enquired for. These men, if able to write, would themselves send a few words telling when and where they had seen their less fortunate comrades. Even these meagre details were of some comfort to the mourning ones. Some of the heart-broken letters received were very hard to reply to, but when news was good and food parcels arrived safely showers of “acknowledgment cards” flowed in; and when, as often happened, the mail brought a personal letter from some grateful mother or a few words from some of the poor boys behind barbed wire “somewhere in Germany,” or when a rapturous letter came from some poor fellow transferred from his prison as “totally unfit” and sent to the free air of Switzerland, the ladies conducting this Department felt more than happy in being permitted to participate in such a work of mercy. Mrs. Archibald, Miss Ritchie, and their co-workers possessed in no small degree the confidence of the prisoners’ friends throughout the Province and deeply appreciated their attitude toward them and their loyalty and patience with the many unavoidable delays and mistakes.
During the last two years of the War, as the work became heavier, this Department had associated with it Mrs. W. McK. McLeod, who acted as Secretary for Cape Breton, and Miss Almon. Special mention must also be made of the work of Miss Clara Dennis in meeting and welcoming home repatriated men who had been prisoners of war. During 1918–19 one thousand and eight of these men were met and greeted by Miss Dennis. To each man was handed a card of welcome from the Red Cross and a box of confectionery. He was asked to record his name, regimental number, German prison camp, and his home address in a book specially prepared for the purpose. That the men appreciated this informal but hearty welcome home is abundantly proved by the fact that Miss Dennis has since received from them hundreds of letters of thanks.
It is impossible to give in detail the names of the many thousands of devoted and faithful voluntary workers throughout the Province of Nova Scotia who sought no reward for their labors but the joy of knowing that the Society achieved its aim—the alleviation of the sufferings of our fighting men.
| Red Cross Chartered Branches. | |
|---|---|
| Place. | President. |
| Amherst | Mrs. W. R. Fishleigh. |
| Arichat | Mrs. C. D. Terrio. |
| Antigonish | Mrs. D. G. Kirk. |
| Baddeck | Mrs. F. W. McCurdy. |
| Barrington | Mrs. Wilson Crowell. |
| Berwick | Mrs. Alex. Anderson. |
| Bishop’s Mountain | Mrs. C. O. Downie. |
| Brass Hill | Mrs. F. Nickerson. |
| Brule | Mrs. A. C. Cook. |
| Barney’s River | Mrs. Wm. McDonald. |
| Boulardarie | Mrs. J. Fraser. |
| Canso | Mrs. C. O’Donoghue. |
| Cape North | Miss Grace Gwynn. |
| Chester | Dr. C. O. Hebb. |
| Dartmouth | Mrs. W. R. Foster. |
| Dominion No. 6. | Mrs. Anna B. Wight. |
| Goldboro | Mrs. Edgar Silver. |
| Glace Bay | Mrs. P. E. Ogilvy. |
| Halifax | Mrs. Wm. Dennis. |
| Hazel Hill | Mrs. Dunning. |
| Hantsport | Miss Marcia Braine. |
| Lawrencetown | Mrs. D. M. Balcom. |
| Lawrencetown S.S. | Mrs. J. F. Brown. |
| Moser’s River | Mrs. Walter Smith. |
| Mulgrave | Mrs. L. C. Dixon. |
| New Glasgow | Mrs. P. A. MacGregor. |
| North Sydney | Mrs. J. J. Pallen. |
| Pictou | Mrs. A. S. Stalker. |
| Port Morien | Miss C. Macaulay. |
| Port Bickerton | Mrs. George Taylor. |
| Point Tupper | Mrs. James Swaine. |
| St. Peters | Mrs. J. Kemp. |
| Sydney | Mrs. H. A. Nicholson. |
| Sydney Mines | Mrs. B. Archibald. |
| South Berwick | Mrs. G. R. Nichols. |
| Tancook Island | Miss Beulah Wilson. |
| Trenton | Mrs. C. W. Stromberg. |
| Truro | Mrs. Harold Putnam. |
| West Quoddy | Mrs. Alex. Gamnon. |
| Westville | Mrs. R. Fraser. |
| Windsor | Mrs. P. M. Fielding. |
| Wolfville | Mrs. Harold Barss. |
| Woodlawn | Mrs. Jane Nauffts. |
| Westchester Station | Mrs. W. O. Webb. |
| Yarmouth | Mrs. W. D. Ross. |
| Red Cross Auxiliaries. | |
| Avondale | Miss Bertha Crossley. |
| Advocate Harbor | Mrs. L. L. Hill. |
| Athol | Mrs. J. W. Boss. |
| Aylesford | Mrs. C. N. McIntyre. |
| Apple River | Mrs. E. Slocum. |
| Billtown | Mrs. C. R. Bill. |
| Bayhead | Mrs. James Johnson. |
| Baxter’s Harbor | Mrs. Fred Ells. |
| Bayfield | Mrs. F. C. Gass. |
| Bedford | Mrs. E. Butler. |
| Blandford | Mrs. C. Woods. |
| Bear River | Mrs. L. J. Lovitt. |
| Bridgetown | Mrs. O. T. Daniels. |
| Baccaro | Mrs. G. L. Crowell. |
| Barney’s River | Mrs. (Rev.) McDonald. |
| Barronsfield | Miss Nettie Baker. |
| Beacon Hill | Mrs. E. H. Langille. |
| Big Baddeck | Mrs. Alex. Anderson. |
| Birch Grove | Mrs. D. B. McDonald. |
| Brooklynn (Queens) | Mrs. W. P. Godfrey. |
| Brandford | Mrs. C. Woods. |
| Broughton | Miss Ida McLeod. |
| Centre Burlington | Mrs. F. G. Brown. |
| Clarke’s Harbor | Mrs. George Phillips. |
| Central New Annan | Miss A. McIntosh. |
| Cherry Brook | Mrs. Mary Grosse. |
| Chignecto Mines | Mrs. F. M. Blenkhorn. |
| Clam Harbor | Mrs. J. B. Homans. |
| Collingwood | Mrs. Davies. |
| Cook’s Brook | Mrs. Warren Cook. |
| Caledonia | Mrs. B. Lempton. |
| Canaan | Miss Bessie Shipley. |
| Central Grove | Mrs. Byron Melaney. |
| Centre Gore | Mrs. N. Grant. |
| Centre Rawdon | Mrs. J. E. Wood. |
| Centreville | Rev. H. M. Manzer. |
| Clementsport | Miss L. Hicks. |
| Cleveland | Mrs. D. A. McLeod. |
| Conquerall Bank | Mrs. Angus Weagle. |
| Dalhousie East (Kings) | Mrs. M. Oickle. |
| Dalhousie East (Annapolis) | Mrs. John Long. |
| Dean | Mrs. Campbell Brown |
| Deep Brook | Mrs. G. Marsters. |
| Diligent River | Mrs. W. W. Lamb. |
| Digby | Mrs. Eber Turnbull. |
| Durham | Miss Janet Blaikie. |
| Ellershouse | Mrs. H. D. Archibald. |
| Elmsdale | Mrs. Chas. Thompson. |
| East Walton | Mrs. Levi Lake. |
| Economy | Mrs. P. Huntley. |
| Five Islands | Mrs. Calvin Corbett. |
| Fenwick | Mrs. F. B. Dickinson. |
| Freeport | Mrs. Egar Ring. |
| Five Mile River | Mrs. H. Hennigar. |
| Fraserville | Mrs. Gaius Fraser. |
| Glenville and Claremont | Mrs. C. A. McCabe. |
| Grand River | Mrs. McDonald. |
| Guysboro | Mrs. G. E. Buckley. |
| Glengarry | Miss Christine Fraser. |
| Granville Ferry | Mrs. W. Patterson. |
| Giant’s Lake | Miss K. A. McLean. |
| Goldenville | Mrs. L. Fraser. |
| Goshen and Argyle | Mrs. J. A. Sinclair. |
| Great Village | Mrs. C. B. Spencer. |
| Greenwood | Mrs. Chas. Neilly. |
| Hammond’s Plains | Miss S. Schmidt. |
| Hubbards | Mrs. Bessie McLean. |
| Harmony (Kings) | Mrs. C. S. Spinney. |
| Hemsford | Mrs. James Falconer. |
| Inverness | Mrs. E. Brassett. |
| Joggins Mines | Mrs. R. J. Bell. |
| Kingston Station | Mrs. G. G. Power. |
| Karsdale | Mrs. G. W. Chisholm. |
| Lake Ainslie | Mrs. M. A. McKay. |
| Louisburg | Mrs. A. L. Bates. |
| Liverpool | Mrs. John More. |
| Lunenburg | Mrs. Emily Smith. |
| Lower Selmah and Sterling Brook | Miss Lena Spicer. |
| Lochaber | Mrs. John Brown. |
| Latties Brook | Mrs. W. J. Macdonald. |
| Liverpool | Mrs. John More. |
| Lockhartville | Miss F. McInnes. |
| Londonderry | Mrs. J. G. R. Smith. |
| Lower Granville | Mrs. George Anthony. |
| Lyons Brook | Mrs. A. Hogg. |
| Lockeport | Mrs. Churchill Locke. |
| Mosherville, Stanley and Clarkeville | Mrs. H. B. Smith. |
| Milford Station | Mrs. Pooley. |
| McPhee’s Corner | Mrs. James McPhee. |
| Margaretsville | Mrs. A. B. Coulstan. |
| Marriott’s Cove | Mrs. Rupert Millett. |
| Middle River | Mrs. Mary MacDonald. |
| Mabou | Mrs. E. S. Bayne. |
| Maccan | Mrs. (Dr.) Forbes. |
| Mahone | Miss Nettie Zwicker. |
| Malagash | Mrs. Jacob Treen. |
| Malagawatch | Mrs. Hudson. |
| Manchester and Port Shoreham | Mrs. W. Bruce. |
| Mapleton | Mrs. G. E. Fletcher. |
| Margaree Harbor | Mrs. A. R. MacDougall. |
| Melvern Square | Mrs. E. F. McNeil. |
| Merigomish and Piedmont | Mrs. T. B. Olding. |
| Middleton | Mrs. W. Gwillim. |
| Mill Village (Hants) | Mrs. Hattie Wallace. |
| Mira Gut | Mrs. J. J. Philips. |
| Moose Brook and Tennycape | Mrs. W. F. Stevens. |
| Millsville | Mrs. R. MacKay. |
| Mount Uniacke | Miss Sadie Robinson. |
| Nappan | Mrs. Robert Donaldson. |
| Neil’s Harbor | Mrs. Ed. Dowling. |
| New Annan | Miss Agnes McIntosh. |
| New Port | Mrs. J. F. Rathburn. |
| North Dartmouth | Mrs. C. V. Vernon. |
| New Campbellton | Mrs. W. McKinnon. |
| New Germany | Mrs. H. P. Chesley. |
| N.E. Margaree | Mrs. J. H. Tulston. |
| Noel Shore | Mrs. E. S. Main. |
| North Kingston | Mrs. H. J. Neily. |
| Oxford | Mrs. J. R. Gilroy. |
| Owl’s Head | Mrs. J. E. Parker. |
| Oxford Junction | Mrs. S. Colburne. |
| Port Maitland | Mrs. E. H. Porter. |
| Port Greville | Mrs. R. S. Kerr. |
| Pleasantfield | Mrs. Charles Arnburg. |
| Paradise | Mrs. H. P. Layte. |
| Port Medway | Mrs. Grace Andrews. |
| Parrsboro | Mrs. F. A. Rand. |
| Pentz | Miss Alberta Smith. |
| Port Dufferin | Mrs. E. W. Dunlop. |
| Port Hawkesbury | Mrs. D. Gillis. |
| Port Hood | Mrs. Daniel McLennan. |
| Port La Tour | Mrs. D. Snow. |
| Port Hilford | Miss Isabella Reid. |
| Parker’s Cove | Mrs. H. Anderson. |
| Plainfield | Mrs. W. A. Graham. |
| Princedale | Mrs. Forman Wright. |
| Ragged Island, East Side | Mrs. Chas. Matthews. |
| Richmond | Mrs. A. G. McIntosh. |
| River Herbert | Mrs. T. Shipley. |
| Rockingham | Mrs. W. J. Clayton. |
| Rodney and Windham | Mrs. M. Y. Boss. |
| River John | .Mrs. C. W. MacKintosh. |
| River Philip | Mrs. G. L. King. |
| Rossway | Mrs. Bessie Crowell. |
| Sandy Point | Mrs. Anzo Long. |
| Sandy Cove | Mrs. E. D. Morehouse. |
| Shag Harbor | Mrs. N. C. Nickerson. |
| Shelburne | Mrs. Martha C. Morton. |
| Ship Harbor Lake | Mrs. Alvin Webber. |
| Shubenacadie | Mrs. A. E. Culton. |
| Smith’s Cove | Mrs. Edward Winchester. |
| Southampton | Mrs. Victor Brown. |
| Spencer’s Island | Mrs. Edmund Spicer. |
| Sackville | Mrs. Robinson. |
| South Athol | Mrs. L. D. MacKeen. |
| Seal Island | Mrs. John Smith. |
| St. Croix and Sweet’s Corner | Mrs. J. F. Rathburn. |
| Stake Road | Dr. Barbara McKinnon. |
| Sutherland’s River | Mrs. Dwight Burns. |
| South Side Cape Sable Island | Mrs. E. C. Nickerson. |
| South Farmington | Mrs. Wilkins. |
| Springhill | Mrs. David Stewart. |
| Stellarton | Mrs. George Gray. |
| Stewiacke | Mrs. Rachel Pollock. |
| Stony Island | Mrs. S. L. Brannen. |
| Sydney River | Miss Sarah McDougall. |
| Selmah | Mrs. Cyrus Weldon. |
| South Rawdon | Mrs. W. H. Lawson. |
| South Bay | Mrs. T. A. Young. |
| Torbrook | Mrs. A. B. Payson. |
| Tupperville | Mrs. L. H. Chipman. |
| Tatamagouche | Mrs. D. A. Cunningham. |
| Upper Burlington | Mrs. Harry B. Sandford. |
| Upper Lakeville | Mrs. Margaret Webber. |
| Upper Musquodoboit | Mrs. W. B. Hutchinson. |
| Upper Economy | Mrs. C. F. Lewis. |
| Upper Rawdon | Mrs. J. E. Weatherhead. |
| Upper Port La Tour | Miss Rosa Snow. |
| Wallace | Mrs. A. S. Murphy. |
| Wilmot | Mrs. J. B. Kilton. |
| West New Annan | Mrs. W. Wilson. |
| Westport | Mrs. E. C. Bowser. |
| Wallace River | Mrs. Chas. Fisher. |
| Waterville | Mrs. D. R. Pineo. |
| Waverley | Mrs. E. Fauchea. |
| West La Have | Mrs. Clarence Wambolt. |
| Welton’s Corner | Mrs. P. A. Smith. |
| West Apple River | Mrs. Robert McWhirter. |
| West Berlin and Eagle Head | Mrs. B. Conrod. |