SUMMARY OF PERSONNEL WHO WENT OVERSEAS.
| R.C.G.A. | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Officers. | Other Ranks. | Sphere of Operations. | |
| 13 | 288 | Western Front. | |
| 60 | To St. Lucia. | ||
| 1 | 36 | To C.E.F., Siberia. | |
| 8 | British Mission, Siberia. | ||
| Total | 22 | 384 | |
| 1st Regiment, C.G.A. | |||
| Officers. | Other Ranks. | Sphere of Operations. | |
| 48 | 625 | Western Front and St. Lucia. | |
| P.E.I. C.G.A. | |||
| Officers. | Other Ranks. | Sphere of Operations. | |
| -3 | 110 | Western Front. | |
On mobilization these units had:
| Officers. | O.R. | |
|---|---|---|
| R.C.G.A. | 17 | 336 |
| 1st Regt., C.G.A. | 20 | 230 |
| 4 Coy., P.E.I. C.G.A. | 3 | 72 |
| Total | 40 | 638 |
Altogether about 80 officers and 1,500 N.C.O.’s and men of the Artillery Units (including 10th Siege Battery) stationed in Halifax were sent Overseas, and the majority of those mobilized in 1914 who did not go were unable to do so either through being specialists, over age or low category.
When it is realized that these Corps had great difficulty in obtaining recruits, owing to the fear that men would be retained for Home Service, the numbers shown are considered very creditable.
CHAPTER XXX.
THE CANADIAN ENGINEERS.
The Corps of Canadian Engineers has no local connection with any Province in the same way that Infantry Regiments and Battalions have. At the end of the War in France it consisted of some twelve Battalions, together with other small Engineering Units with Administrative Staffs, etc., which Units were recruited from all parts of Canada, and no particular Engineering Unit was sent from the Province of Nova Scotia.
A great many individual officers and men were sent to the Engineers from this Province, and did very excellent work, but were posted to various Overseas Units, hence the impossibility of describing particularly the work and services of Nova Scotia Sappers.
As far as service in Canada is concerned the defence of the Fortress of Halifax was a very important matter, and the services of a very large number of officers and other ranks of the R.C.E. Permanent Force and Canadian Engineers, Active Militia, were employed at this Fortress throughout the War. Their strenuous duties and long hours in connection with the continual operation of electric lights and maintenance of fortifications were carried out untiringly and most conscientiously.
Practically every officer and other rank in these two Corps not only volunteered for Overseas service, but also took very strenuous measures to get to France, by hook or by crook, and a great many of them were successful. Others unfortunately were retained in Halifax for the defence of that Fortress.
CHAPTER XXXI.
MILITIA UNITS ON HOME SERVICE.
The following memorandum was prepared to bring to the attention of the Minister of Militia and Militia Council some facts and figures respecting the services of the Militia of Canada in Canada, and particularly the Fortress of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and the Atlantic Seaboard, who although they repeatedly volunteered for Overseas were not allowed to go because their duties were held to be supremely important by those in authority.
1st—Halifax has always been a Military and Naval Station of the Empire, and confidential instructions have always been in existence and a comprehensive scheme of defence in the hands of officers commanding Units, to be put in force immediately on declaration of war. Therefore, the following Halifax Fortress Order was issued by the G.O.C. M.D. No. 6, August 5, 1914:
No. 681. “War having broken out with Germany the Halifax defence scheme comes into effect forthwith.”
In accordance with this order all Halifax Units were immediately mobilized and remained on duty in defence of Halifax practically for the duration of the War. The 94th Regiment was also mobilized for the defence of the Canso cable station, Cape Breton wireless station, etc., and other detachments were placed on active service at various points in the district.
2nd—The importance of Halifax as a Military and Naval Station in British North America in the eyes of the Imperial and Canadian authorities is borne out by the following facts:
(a) The immense amount of money spent in fortifications.
(b) The inauguration of an examination service, whereby all vessels were examined before being allowed to enter the harbor.
(c) Halifax was the examination port for North America, and at times there were upwards of 200 large ocean-going vessels lying at anchor in the harbor.
(d) The manning of the Port War Signal Station, by which all British and Allied warships were passed in under secret signals and codes.
(e) All guns in the various forts were kept loaded, and the crews were kept standing by day and night, ready for instant action.
(f) The infantry continually patrolled the coast, guarding the approaches to the city, and protecting cable landings and wireless stations.
(g) When orders were issued to reduce the strength of the defences in September, 1914, the British Admiral on the Station informed Headquarters that if this order were carried out he would withdraw his fleet and mine the harbor, which would mean closing the harbor to all shipping.
(h) A Hydroplane Station was established, and patrolled the coast daily during the latter part of the War.
(i) Owing to the protection afforded by the defences of Halifax, the authorities were enabled to dispatch from this port in the vicinity of 300,000 Canadian troops, in addition to many thousand Colonial and Allied troops, including Australians, New Zealanders, Bermudians, Fiji Islanders, Americans, and some 50,000 Chinese labor troops.
(j) By means of its defence Halifax afforded shelter for a large number of merchant vessels that were driven in by German raiders early in the War.
It should also be noted that submarines were frequently in the vicinity of the harbor, and on one notable occasion a large oil tanker was sunk two hours after she left her pier, and several fishing vessels were sunk off the coast, and other large transports and cargo vessels were driven ashore at the entrance of the harbor. The transport City of Vienna became a total wreck. Preparations were made and orders issued to provide against possible landing parties from German raiders. Stringent orders were issued providing for the screening of all lights in the city and prosecutions were issued for neglecting to carry out this order.
The foregoing is enumerated with the object of showing the importance of Halifax Harbor as a War Station and the necessity of having it properly defended by maintaining the Garrison at full strength.
CHAPTER XXXII.
THE FIRST REGIMENT CANADIAN GARRISON ARTILLERY.
This Unit was organized in 1869 for the purpose of assisting the Regular Forces of the Garrison of Halifax in manning the Forts. The Regiment has always been at a high state of efficiency, due to the superior class of men it has been able to attract to its ranks.
LIEUT.-COL. A. W. DUFFUS.
From the date of its organization the Regiment has been commanded by many prominent citizens. The following is the list in order of service: Lieut.-Col. A. G. Jones (late Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia), Lieut.-Col. Wm. Creighton, Lieut.-Col. George Mitchell, Lieut.-Col. Thomas Mowbray, Lieut.-Col. A. E. Curren, Lieut.-Col. F. H. Oxley, Lieut.-Col. A. G. Hesslein, Lieut.-Col. H. Flowers, and, in 1914, at the outbreak of war, by Lieut.-Col. J. A. Marshall, followed at the completion of his term of service by Lieut.-Col. A. W. Duffus, who commanded up to the cessation of hostilities.
On August 3, 1914, Capts. A. N. Jones, S. C. Oland, and George Brew were detailed for duty at the examination Battery. On August 4th the Commanding Officer received orders to mobilize, and on August 6th the Regiment was detailed to and occupied its various posts in the Batteries of the Fortress of Halifax. All officers and men in the city reported for duty: those absent were summoned by wire and letter, and joined the Unit within a few days.
The following officers remained with the Unit during the War, but did not proceed Overseas, because the Department at Ottawa claimed their services could not be dispensed with:
Lieut.-Col. J. A. Marshall, Lieut.-Col. A. W. Duffus, Major A. M. Bauld (Q.M.), Capts. J. M. Allen (Adjt.), W. C. Bauld (P.M.), L. J. Donaldson (Chaplain), Major H. E. Gates, Major P. O. Soulis (transferred to H.Q. M.D. No. 6), Capts. C. Churchill, A. F. Haliburton, L. L. Harrison, Lieuts. O. A. M. Wilson, G. B. Isnor, W. J. O’Connell, J. E. Rutledge, A. H. Thomson, Leo Esther, G. W. Carmichael, W. E. Forsythe, C. R. Hoben, H. C. Frame, P. L. Whitman, D. A. Forsythe, R. M. Fielding, F. A. Grant, W. E. Stewart, E. K. Fielding, H. H. Miller, W. Mitchell, A. J. Haliburton, C. H. Crosby, F. S. Thomson.
The Department of Militia and Defence at first ruled that no officer or man of the Fortress could proceed Overseas, as his services were required here and he could not be spared. Later on this ruling was somewhat modified and officers and men were relieved as soon as they could be replaced by new men and permitted to join various Units. Many, however, were not accorded this privilege, much to their chagrin.
Six hundred and twenty-five men and the following officers were permitted to go Overseas at various times and with various Units and branches of the service, taking any chance that offered rather than remain at home:
Lieut.-Col. E. V. Hogan, Major G. H. Maxwell, Major J. L. MacKinnon (now Lieut.-Colonel), Major A. N. Jones, Capts. L. N. Seaman, E. L. Miller, S. C. Oland, G. M. Brew, F. S. Burns, G. B. Oland, G. A. Medcalf, P. B. Stairs, Lieuts. J. R. Curry, W. M. Ray, F. B. Sharp, G. A. Gaherty, R. W. Churchill, D. J. Maxwell, E. P. Flowers, D. A. Guildford, E. A. Bell, H. R. D. Lacon, R. F. B. Campbell, T. DeW. Farquhar, H. M. Stairs, E. S. Thomson, F. H. Palmer, R. P. Freeman, C. H. Coll, J. D. Smith, W. P. Potter, F. G. Hayden, H. W. L. Doane, W. M. Marshall, A. G. Wooten, H. St. G. S. DeCarteret, E. G. Dickie, A. E. Horne, R. G. Crosby, F. M. Blackett, R G. McAloney, W. R. Harris, M. B. Archibald, H. B. Bell, T. H. Whelpley, O. R. Crowell.
And from the Reserve of Officers, Lieut.-Col. H. Flowers and Major Allister Fraser, M.C. Of these Major G. H. Maxwell, Capt. Philip B. Stairs, Lieuts. E. G. Dickie and R. G. MacAloney made the supreme sacrifice.
OFFICERS OF THE 1ST REGIMENT, C.G.A.
It is impossible to give a list of the many non-commissioned officers and men who were a credit to their Regiment on the fields of Flanders. Their records appear with the records of the Units in which they served.
It is supposed by many that the troops of the Garrison lived in comparative luxury, whereas the contrary was the case. Many hardships were undergone and, apart from the fact that the Hun raiders gave Halifax a wide berth, knowing that an attack would mean a waste of ammunition, which could not be replaced this side of Zeebrugge, conditions generally were often not so good as in France, owing to the severity of our climate. The casements in which the men were supposed to be quartered in time of war were entirely unfit for occupation as, owing to long disuse, they were in a very damp and unsanitary condition. The Unit was, therefore, placed under canvas, and it was late in December before any attempt was made to provide proper and suitable winter quarters. Owing to a fine distinction made between the Militia and Overseas forces, which only an army man can understand, the men were not provided with a full kit, even boots being denied them until many of them were actually barefoot. Underclothing and other necessaries had to be purchased by the men themselves, until at last the responsible authorities awakened to the fact that there was a real war on.
About August 16, 1914, the first Canadian Contingent commenced mobilizing at Valcartier, and orders were received calling for volunteers from the Garrison. The 1st C.A. were to provide one officer and twenty-five other ranks. Capt. George M. Brew proceeded to Valcartier with the draft, and on arrival was told he was not wanted and ordered to return to Halifax. This officer was so disappointed that he resigned his commission and travelled to England at his own expense, where he joined a Unit of the Imperial artillery and served with it during the greater part of the War.
In September, 1914, it was considered unnecessary to keep the Units on garrison duty at full strength, and a reduction was proposed. The naval authorities, however, insisted that a fully garrisoned fortress was necessary as a protection for the Naval Base, and no reduction was made. Later on the artillery forces were increased. All of which shows the importance placed on the Fortress by the Imperial authorities during war time.
From time to time the Commanding Officer offered the services of the Unit for Overseas, and asked permission to form Batteries of heavy and field artillery, but without result. Small detachments were allowed to volunteer as emergencies arose, such as artillery Units being short of men, on account of casualties occurring, while passing through Halifax, and then only on condition that men were found to replace them. It was not until 1917 that permission was given to form an ammunition column, and immediately on its completion a second one.
Much might be written of happenings during the war period which, while of interest to the officers, non-commissioned officers and men, were all in the day’s work and of no historical value. It is sufficient to say that this Unit with the other Units of the Garrison performed their duties well and satisfactorily.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
THE 11th BRIGADE, C.F.A., AND COMPOSITE ARTILLERY COMPANY.
The 11th Brigade was the junior Artillery Brigade of the 6th Military District. It comprised in addition to the Headquarters Staff, the 27th (Digby) Battery, the 28th (Pictou) Battery and the 29th (Yarmouth) Battery. Although the Brigade was not ordered out on active service, it contributed possibly more than its original strength in personnel to the prosecution of the Great War. Almost the first day of the War the Commanding Officer (Lieut.-Col. T. M. Seeley, of Yarmouth, N.S.) wired the offer of services to headquarters and the Battery officers busied themselves with looking to the details of organization.
Capt. F. W. Pickles, O.C. 29th Battery (Yarmouth), joined the 17th Battery of Sydney, one of the first Units on the march, with a detachment of eighteen non-commissioned officers and men from his Battery. Subsequently every artillery Unit and many of the Infantry Battalions had on their strength representatives of the 11th Brigade. This was made possible largely by the untiring efforts of a few senior officers, who for some good reason or other, were unable to proceed Overseas. Prominent among these were Majors H. S. Hamilton, of Pictou; D. C. McKay, of Digby, and A. K. Van Horne, of Yarmouth.
The services of the officers of the 11th Brigade, summarily put, were: Lieut.-Col. T. M. Seeley, O.C., was successful in organizing the 23rd Battery, C.E.F.; a Company for guard duty at Barrington Passage, Radio Station, and a Company in the 112th Battalion, C.E.F., under Colonel Tremaine, with which the latter crossed the Atlantic. Capt. A. A. Durkee, Adjutant of the Brigade, organized at Valcartier the first Ammunition Unit in the C.E.F., and proceeded Overseas with the First Contingent. He was early at the Front, and was promoted to Major and Lieut.-Colonel, and commanded, in turn, a Brigade Ammunition Column, a Battery, and a Brigade of Artillery. He was mentioned in dispatches and was awarded the D.S.O. Lieut.-Col. Durkee is also a South African War veteran. Capt. V. F. Connor, C.A.M.C., was on duty through the greater part of the War, and rendered valuable service at the time of the great explosion in Halifax, December, 1917.
The 27th Battery contributed to the C.E.F. Capt. Glidden Campbell, of Weymouth, who went over with the 85th Battalion, and who was awarded the M.C.; Lieuts. C. D. Shreve, M.C., killed in action in the artillery; K. V. Schurman and H. A. Marshall.
The 28th Battery had to its credit in the C.E.F., Major J. K. McKay, of Pictou, who went over in command of the 23rd Battery, C.E.F. He commanded a Battery and a Brigade of Artillery at the Front, being latterly promoted to the rank of Lieut.-Colonel. He was severely wounded and received the D.S.O. From the 28th, Lieuts. C. E. Churchill, H. P. MacKeen, J. E. Read, J. D. Hickman, H. P. MacKenzie, and possibly others, entered the C.E.F. Capt. V. C. Johnson, Corps Reserve, was Overseas.
The 29th Battery furnished (in addition to Adjutant Durkee, already mentioned) Capt. F. W. Pickles, who commanded a section of a Divisional Ammunition Column at the Front; Lieut. Ralph P. Harding, who rose to the command of a Battery, with the rank of Major, and returned with the M.C. and the D.S.O.; Lieuts. W. Arthur Porter, G. St. C. A. Perrin, E. J. Vickery, G. O. Rogers, E. J. Stekelin, who became Major; H. E. Crowell, who became Major; S. C. Hood, Jr., who became Captain, and M. B. Davis. The 29th Battery claims the honor of having had in its membership at one time Brig.-General W. O. H. Dodds, C.M.G., D.S.O., now of Montreal.