CHAPTER V
THE CONSCRIPTION ACT
The question of conscription came to a final issue on May 18, 1917, when the premier returned from England, where he had been in conference with his colleagues on the Imperial War Board. It was then that he announced that it would be necessary to introduce a conscription measure in the near future.
"A great struggle lies before us," he said, "and I cannot put that before you more forcibly than by stating that at the commencement of this spring's campaign Germany put in the field one million more men than she put in the field last spring.... Hitherto we have depended on voluntary enlistment. I, myself, stated to Parliament that nothing but voluntary enlistment was proposed by the Government. But I return to Canada impressed at once with the extreme gravity of the situation and with a sense of responsibility for our further effort at the most critical period of the war. It is apparent to me that the voluntary system will not yield further substantial results."
Only a little over fifty thousand men more were needed to supply the need at the front, and to complete Canada's full quota, but they were needed most imperatively. That this need was strongly impressed on the public mind became apparent during the month which intervened between these utterances by the premier and the first presentation of the Conscription Bill in Parliament. As a matter of fact, Australia and South Africa were the only belligerent countries besides Canada, at this time, which had not been compelled to adopt the principle of forcible enlistment.
On June 11 the bill was presented to Parliament, with a speech by the premier explaining all its provisions. Administration was placed under the Department of Justice, and the term was for the duration of the war, including demobilization. All male British subjects in Canada were included, from the ages of twenty to forty-five. Those eligible were divided into six classes, according to their marital conditions and ages, and each class was to be called in succession. An amendment presented by the leader of the opposition would have submitted the bill to a referendum vote of the electorate, but this was rejected by a vote of 111 against 62. The bill finally passed the third reading by a vote of 102 against 44.
At the end of the year 404,395 eligible men had registered. The number of men eventually drafted under this law amounted to 83,000, making the total number of enlistments up to the end of the war 611,741.
The army thus raised was eventually represented in infantry and cavalry battalions, exclusive of engineers, forestry, railway construction, pioneer, and cyclist corps, or the Siberian expeditionary force of 4,000 men. The following list was issued by the Government at the close of the war:
ORIGINAL OFFICERS OF INFANTRY BATTALIONS
| BATTALION | ORIGINAL OFFICER IN COMMAND | MOBILIZED | SAILED |
| First | Lt. Col. F. W. Hill | Valcartier | October 3, 1914 |
| Second | " D. Watson | " | " 3, 1914 |
| Third | " R. Rennie | " | " 3, 1914 |
| Fourth | " R. H. Labatt | " | " 3, 1914 |
| Fifth | " G. S. Tuxford | " | " 3, 1914 |
| Sixth | " R. W. Paterson | " | " 3, 1914 |
| Seventh | " W. Hart-McHarg | " | " 3, 1914 |
| Eighth | " L. J. Lipsett | " | " 3, 1914 |
| Ninth | " S. M. Rogers | " | " 3, 1914 |
| Tenth | " R. L. Boyle | " | " 3, 1914 |
| Eleventh | " R. Burritt | " | " 3, 1914 |
| Twelfth | " H. F. McLeod | " | " 3, 1914 |
| Thirteenth | " F. O. W. Loomis | " | " 3, 1914 |
| Fourteenth | " F. S. Meighen | " | " 3, 1914 |
| Fifteenth | " J. A. Currie | " | " 3, 1914 |
| Sixteenth | " R. G. E. Leckie | " | " 3, 1914 |
| Seventeenth | " S. G. Robertson | " | " 3, 1914 |
| Eighteenth | " E. S. Wigle | London, Ont. | April 18, 1915 |
| Nineteenth | " J. J. McLaren | Toronto | May 13, 1915 |
| Twentieth | " J. A. W. Allen | " | " 15, 1915 |
| Twenty-first | " W. St. P. Hughes | Kingston | " 6, 1915 |
| Twenty-second | " F. M. Gaudet | St. Jean, P.Q. | " 20, 1915 |
| Twenty-third | " F. W. Fisher | Quebec | February 23, 1915 |
| Twenty-fourth | " J. A. Gunn | Montreal | May 11, 1915 |
| Twenty-fifth | " G. A. LeCain | Halifax | " 20, 1915 |
| Twenty-sixth | " J. L. McAvity | St. John, N.B. | June 13, 1915 |
| Twenty-seventh | " I. R. Snider | Winnipeg | May 17, 1915 |
| Twenty-eighth | " J. F. L. Embury | " | " 29, 1915 |
| Twenty-ninth | " H. S. Tobin | Vancouver | " 20, 1915 |
| Thirtieth | " J. A. Hall | " | February 23, 1915 |
| Thirty-first | " A. B. Bell | Calgary | May 17, 1915 |
| Thirty-second | " H. J. Cowan | Winnipeg | February 23, 1915 |
| Thirty-third | " A. Wilson | London, Ont | March 13, 1916 |
| Thirty-fourth | " A. J. Oliver | Guelph, Ont | October 23, 1915 |
| Thirty-fifth | " F. C. McCordick | Toronto | " 16, 1915 |
| Thirty-sixth | " E. C. Ashton | Hamilton | June 19, 1915 |
| Thirty-seventh | " C. F. Beck | Sault Ste. Marie | November 27, 1915 |
| Thirty-eighth | " C. W. Edwards | Ottawa | May 30, 1916 |
| Thirty-ninth | " J. A. V. Preston | Belleville | June 24, 1915 |
| Fortieth | " A. Vincent | Halifax | October 8, 1915 |
| Forty-first | " L. A. Archambault | Quebec | " 18, 1915 |
| Forty-second | " G. S. Cantlie | Montreal | June 10, 1915 |
| Forty-third | " R. M. Thomson | Winnipeg | " 1, 1915 |
| Forty-fourth | " E. R. Wayland | " | October 23, 1915 |
| Forty-fifth | " F. J. Clark | Brandon | March 13, 1916 |
| Forty-sixth | " H. Snell | Regina | October 23, 1915 |
| Forty-seventh | " W. R. Winsby | New Westminster | November 13, 1915 |
| Forty-eighth | " W. J. H. Holmes | Victoria | July 1, 1915 |
| Forty-ninth | " W. A. Griesbach | Edmonton | June 4, 1915 |
| Fiftieth | " E. G. Mason | Calgary | October 27, 1915 |
| Fifty-first | " R. Del. Harwood | Edmonton | April 18, 1916 |
| Fifty-second | " J. A. D. Hulme | Port Arthur | November 23, 1916 |
| Fifty-third | " R. M. Dennistoun | Winnipeg | March 29, 1916 |
| Fifty-fourth | " W. M. Davis | Nelson, B. C | November 22, 1915 |
| Fifty-fifth | " J. R. Kirkpatrick | Sussex, N. B | October 30, 1915 |
| Fifty-sixth | " W. C. G. Armstrong | Calgary | March 23, 1916 |
| Fifty-seventh | " E. T. Paquette | Quebec | June 2, 1916 |
| Fifty-eighth | " H. A. Genet | Toronto | November 22, 1915 |
| Fifty-ninth | " H. J. Dawson | Brockville | April 21, 1916 |
| Sixtieth | " F. A. Gascoigne | Valcartier | November 6, 1915 |
| Sixty-first | " F. J. Murray | Winnipeg | April 21, 1916 |
| Sixty-second | " J. Hulme | Vancouver | March 23, 1916 |
| Sixty-third | " G. B. McLeod | Edmonton | April 22, 1916 |
| Sixty-fourth | " H. M. Campbell | Halifax | March 31, 1916 |
| Sixty-fifth | " N. Lang | Saskatoon | June 18, 1916 |
| Sixty-sixth | " J. W. McKinery | Edmonton | April 28, 1916 |
| Sixty-seventh | " Lorne Ross | Victoria | " 21, 1916 |
| Sixty-eighth | " P. E. Perrett | Regina | " 28, 1916 |
| Sixty-ninth | " J. A. Dansereau | Montreal | " 17, 1916 |
| Seventieth | " R. I. Towers | London, Ont. | " 24, 1916 |
| Seventy-first | " D. M. Sutherland | Woodstock, Ont. | " 21, 1916 |
| Seventy-second | " J. A. Clark | Vancouver | " 23, 1916 |
| Seventy-third | " P. Davidson | Montreal | March 31, 1916 |
| Seventy-fourth | " J. M. McCausland | Toronto | " 29, 1916 |
| Seventy-fifth | " S. G. Beckett | " | " 29, 1916 |
| Seventy-sixth | " J. Ballantine | Barrie, Ont. | April 23, 1916 |
| Seventy-seventh | " D. R. Street | Ottawa | June 19, 1916 |
| Seventy-eighth | " J. Kirkcaldy | Winnipeg | May 20, 1916 |
| Seventy-ninth | " G. Clinglan | Brandon, Man | April 24, 1916 |
| Eightieth | " W. G. Ketcheson | Belleville | May 16, 1916 |
| Eighty-first | " B. H. Belson | Toronto | April 28, 1916 |
| Eighty-second | " W. A. Lowry | Calgary | May 20, 1916 |
| Eighty-third | " R. Pellatt | Toronto | April 28, 1916 |
| Eighty-fourth | " W. D. Stewart | " | June 18, 1916 |
| Eighty-fifth | " E. C. Phinney | Halifax | October 12, 1916 |
| Eighty-sixth | " W. W. Stewart | Hamilton | May 19, 1916 |
| Eighty-seventh | " I. P. Rexford | St. Jean, P. Q. | April 23, 1916 |
| Eighty-eighth | " J. R. Cullin | Victoria | May 31, 1916 |
| Eighty-ninth | " W. W. Nasmyth | Calgary | " 31, 1916 |
| Ninetieth | " W. A. Monroe | Winnipeg | " 31, 1916 |
| Ninety-first | " W. J. Green | St. Thomas | June 28, 1916 |
| Ninety-second | " G. G. Chisholm | Toronto | May 20, 1916 |
| Ninety-third | " I. J. Johnston | Peterborough | July 15, 1916 |
| Ninety-fourth | " H. A. C. Machin | Port Arthur | June 28, 1916 |
| Ninety-fifth | " R. K. Barker | Toronto | May 31, 1916 |
| Ninety-sixth | " J. Glenn | Saskatoon | September 26, 1916 |
| Ninety-seventh | " A. B. Clark | Toronto | " 18, 1916 |
| Ninety-eighth | " H. A. Rose | Welland, Ont. | July 8, 1916 |
| Ninety-ninth | " T. B. Welch | Windsor, Ont. | May 31, 1916 |
| Hundredth | " J. B. Mitchell | Winnipeg | September 18, 1916 |
| Hundred-first | " D. MacLean | " | June 28, 1916 |
| Hundred-second | " J. W. Warden | Victoria | " 18, 1916 |
| Hundred-third | " E. C. J. L. Henniker | " | July 23, 1916 |
| Hundred-fourth | " G. W. Fowler | Sussex, N. B. | June 28, 1916 |
| Hundred-fifth | " A. E. Ings | Charlottetown | July 15, 1916 |
| Hundred-sixth | " R. Innes | Truro, N. S | " 15, 1916 |
| Hundred-seventh | " R. Glenn Campbell | Winnipeg | September 18, 1916 |
| Hundred-eighth | " G. H. Bradbury | Selkirk, Man. | " 18, 1916 |
| Hundred-ninth | " J. J. H. Fee | Lindsay, Ont. | July 23, 1916 |
| Hundred-tenth | " J. B. Youngs | Stratford, Ont. | October 31, 1916 |
| Hundred-eleventh | " J. D. Clark | Galt, Ont. | September 25, 1916 |
| Hundred-twelfth | " H. B. Tremaine | Windsor. N. S. | July 23, 1916 |
| Hundred-thirteenth | " W. A. Pryce Jones | Lethbridge, Alberta | September 25, 1916 |
| Hundred-fourteenth | " A. T. Thompson | Cayuga, Ont. | October 31, 1916 |
| Hundred-fifteenth | " F. V. Wedderburn | St. John, N. B. | July 23, 1916 |
| Hundred-sixteenth | " S. Sharpe. | Uxbridge, Ont. | " 23, 1916 |
| Hundred-seventeenth | " L. J. Gilbert | Sherbrooke, P.Q. | August 14, 1916 |
| Hundred-eighteenth | " W. M. O. Lochead | Kitchener | January 23, 1917 |
| Hundred-nineteenth | " T. P. T. Rowland | Sault Ste. Marie | August 8, 1916 |
| Hundred-twentieth | " D. G. Fearman | Hamilton | " 14, 1916 |
| Hundred-twenty-first | " A. W. McLelan | New Westminster, B.C. | " 14, 1916 |
| Hundred-twenty-second | " D. M. Grant | Huntersville & Galt, Ont. | June 2, 1917 |
| Hundred-twenty-third | " W. B. Kingsmill | Toronto | August 7, 1916 |
| Hundred-twenty-fourth | " W. C. V. Chadwick | " | " 7, 1916 |
| Hundred-twenty-fifth | " M. E. B. Cutcliffe | Brantford | " 7, 1916 |
| Hundred-twenty-sixth | " S. J. Hamilton | Toronto | " 14, 1916 |
| Hundred-twenty-seventh | " T. Clark | " | " 22, 1916 |
| Hundred-twenty-eighth | " F. Pawlett | Moosejaw, Sask. | " 15, 1916 |
| Hundred-twenty-ninth | " W. Knowles | Dundas, Ont. | " 22, 1916 |
| Hundred-thirtieth | " J. F. De Hertel | Perth, Ont. | September 23, 1916 |
| Hundred-thirty-first | " J. D. Taylor | New Westminster | October 31, 1918 |
| Hundred-thirty-second | " G. W. Mesereau | Chatham, N. B. | " 25, 1917 |
| Hundred-thirty-third | " A. C. Pratt | Simcoe, Ont. | " 30, 1916 |
| Hundred-thirty-fourth | " A. A. Miller | Toronto | September 6, 1916 |
| Hundred-thirty-fifth | " B. Robson | London, Ont. | August 22, 1916 |
| Hundred-thirty-sixth | " R. W. Smart | Port Hope, Ont. | September 25, 1916 |
| Hundred-thirty-seventh | " G. W. Morfitt | Calgary | August 22, 1916 |
| Hundred-thirty-eighth | " R. Belcher | Edmonton | " 22, 1916 |
| Hundred-thirty-ninth | " W. H. Floyd | Cobourg | September 25, 1916 |
| Hundred-fortieth | " L. H. Beer | St. Johns, N. B. | " 25, 1916 |
| Hundred-forty-first | " D. C. McKenzie | Fort Francis | April 29, 1917 |
| Hundred-forty-second | " C. M. R. Graham | London, Ont. | October 31, 1916 |
| Hundred-forty-third | " A. B. Powley | Victoria | February 17, 1917 |
| Hundred-forty-fourth | " A. W. Morley | Winnipeg | September 18, 1916 |
| Hundred-forty-fifth | " W. E. Forbes | Moncton, N. B. | " 25, 1916 |
| Hundred-forty-sixth | Major C. A. Lowe | Kingston, Ont. | " 25, 1916 |
| Hundred-forty-seventh | Lt. Col. G. F. McFarland | Owen Sound | November 18, 1916 |
| Hundred-forty-eighth | " A. Magee | Montreal, P.Q. | September 26, 1916 |
| Hundred-forty-ninth | " R. G. C. Kelley | Watford, Ont | March 28, 1917 |
| Hundred-fiftieth | " H. Barre | Montreal | September 23, 1916 |
| Hundred-fifty-first | " J. W. Arnott | Strathcona | October 3, 1916 |
| Hundred-fifty-second | " S. Nells | Wayburn, Sask | " 3, 1916 |
| Hundred-fifty-third | " R. T. Pritchard | Guelph, Ont | April 29, 1917 |
| Hundred-fifty-fourth | " A. G. F. McDonald | Cornwall | October 25, 1916 |
| Hundred-fifty-fifth | " M. K. Adams | Belleville | " 17, 1916 |
| Hundred-fifty-sixth | " T. C. D. Bedell | Brockville | " 17, 1916 |
| Hundred-fifty-seventh | " D. H. McLaren | Barrie, Ont | " 17, 1916 |
| Hundred-fifty-eighth | " C. Milne | Vancouver | November 13, 1916 |
| Hundred-fifty-ninth | " E. F. Armstrong | Haileybury | October 31, 1916 |
| Hundred-sixtieth | " A. Weir | Walkerton, Ont | " 17, 1916 |
| Hundred-sixty-first | " H. B. Combe | Clinton, Ont | " 30, 1916 |
| Hundred-sixty-second | " J. Arthurs | Parry Sound | " 30, 1916 |
| Hundred-sixty-third | " H. Desrosiers | Montreal | November 27, 1916 |
| Hundred-sixty-fourth | " P. Domville | Milton, Ont | April 11, 1916 |
| Hundred-sixty-fifth | " L. C. D'Aigle | Moncton | March 28, 1916 |
| Hundred-sixty-sixth | " W. G. Mitchell | Toronto | October 12, 1916 |
| Hundred-sixty-seventh | " O. Readman | Quebec | [1] |
| Hundred-sixty-eighth | " W. T. McMullin | Woodstock | October 3, 1916 |
| Hundred-sixty-ninth | " J. G. Wright | Toronto | " 17, 1916 |
| Hundred-seventieth | " L. Reed | " | " 25, 1916 |
| Hundred-seventy-first | " Sir W. Price | Quebec | November 23, 1916 |
| Hundred-seventy-second | " J. R. Vickers | Kamloops, B. C. | October 25, 1916 |
| Hundred-seventy-third | " W. H. Bruce | Hamilton, Ont | November 13, 1916 |
| Hundred-seventy-fourth | " H. F. Osler | Winnipeg | April 29, 1917 |
| Hundred-seventy-fifth | " N. Spencer | Medicine Hat | October 3, 1916 |
| Hundred-seventy-sixth | " D. Sharpe | St. Catherines | April 29, 1917 |
| Hundred-seventy-seventh | " J. B. McFee | Simcoe, Ont | May 3, 1917 |
| Hundred-seventy-eighth | " L. de la B. Girouard | Victoriaville | March 3, 1917 |
| Hundred-seventy-ninth | " J. Y. Reid | Winnipeg | October 3, 1916 |
| Hundred-eightieth | " R. H. Green | Toronto | November 13, 1916 |
| Hundred-eighty-first | " H. B. Combe | Brandon, Man | April 18, 1917 |
| Hundred-eighty-second | " A. A. Cockburn | Whitby | May 3, 1917 |
| Hundred-eighty-third | " W. T. Edgecomb | Winnipeg | October 3, 1916 |
| Hundred-eighty-fourth | " W. H. Sharpe | Lisgar, Man | " 31, 1916 |
| Hundred-eighty-fifth | " F. P. Day | Halifax | " 12, 1916 |
| Hundred-eighty-sixth | Major Neil Smith | Chatham, Ont | March 28, 1917 |
| Hundred-eighty-seventh | Lt. Col. G. W. Robinson | Red Deer | December 15, 1916 |
| Hundred-eighty-eighth | " C. J. Donaldson | Prince Albert | October 12, 1916 |
| Hundred-eighty-ninth | " A. Piuze | Frazerville | September 9, 1916 |
| Hundred-ninetieth | " G. K. Watson | Winnipeg | May 3, 1917 |
| Hundred-ninety-first | " W. G. Bryan | McLeod, Alta | March 28, 1917 |
| Hundred-ninety-second | Captain H. E. Lyon | Blairmore, Alta | October 31, 1916 |
| Hundred-ninety-third | Lt. Col. J. Stanfield | Truro, N. S | " 12, 1916 |
| Hundred-ninety-fourth | " W. C. Craig | Edmonton | November 13, 1916 |
| Hundred-ninety-fifth | " A. C. Gomer | Regina | October 31, 1916 |
| Hundred-ninety-sixth | " D. S. Mackay | Camp Hughes | " 31, 1916 |
| Hundred-ninety-seventh | " H. G. Fonseca | Winnipeg | January 23, 1917 |
| Hundred-ninety-eighth | " J. A. Cooper | Toronto | March 28, 1917 |
| Hundred-ninety-ninth | " P. J. Trihey | Montreal | December 15, 1916 |
| Two-hundredth | " A. L. Bonnycastle | Winnipeg | May 3, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-first | " E. W. Hagarty | Disbanded | |
| Two-hundred-second | " T. E. Bowen | Edmonton | November 23, 1916 |
| Two-hundred-third | " J. E. Hansford | Winnipeg | October 26, 1916 |
| Two-hundred-fourth | " W. H. Price | Toronto | March 23, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-fifth | " R. R. Moodie | Hamilton | [2] |
| Two-hundred-sixth | " T. Pagnuelo | Montreal | [3] |
| Two-hundred-seventh | " C. W. McLean | Ottawa | June 2, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-eighth | " T. H. Lennox | Toronto | March 21, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-ninth | " W. O. Smyth | Swift Current | October 31, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-tenth | " W. E. Seaborn | Moosejaw. Sask | April 11, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-eleventh | " W. M. Sage | Vancouver | December 15, 1916 |
| Two-hundred-twelfth | " E. C. Pitman | Winnipeg | [4] |
| Two-hundred-thirteenth | " B. J. McCormick | St. Catherines | [4] |
| Two-hundred-fourteenth | " J. H. Hearn | Wadena, Sask | April 18, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-fifteenth | " H. E. Snider | Brantford | " 29, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-sixteenth | " F. L. Burton | Toronto | " 18, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-seventeenth | " A. B. Gillis | Moosomin, Sask | June 2, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-eighteenth | " J. K. Cornwall | Victoria | February 17, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-nineteenth | " W. H. Muirhead | Halifax | October 12, 1916 |
| Two-hundred-twentieth | " B. H. Brown | Toronto | April 29, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-twenty-first | " M. McMeans | Winnipeg | " 18, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-twenty-second | " J. Lightfoot | " | November 13, 1916 |
| Two-hundred-twenty-third | " H. Albrechsten | " | May 3, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-twenty-fourth | " A. McDougall | Ottawa | " 19, 1916 |
| Two-hundred-twenty-fifth | " J. Mackay | Fernie, B. C | January 25, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-twenty-sixth | " R. A. G. Gillespie | Dauphin, Man | December 15, 1916 |
| Two-hundred-twenty-seventh | " C. H. Le P. Jones | Hamilton | April 11, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-twenty-eighth | " A. Earchman | North Bay | February 16, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-twenty-ninth | " H. D. Pickett | Moosejaw | April 18, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-thirtieth | " R. de Salaberry | Brockville | January 23, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-thirty-first | " F. E. Leach | Vancouver | April 11, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-thirty-second | " R. P. Laurie | Battleford | " 18, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-thirty-third | " E. Leprohon | Winnipeg | [5] |
| Two-hundred-thirty-fourth | " W. Wallace | Toronto | April 18, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-thirty-fifth | " S. B. Scobel | Belleville | May 3, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-thirty-sixth | " P. A. Guthrie | Fredericton | November 9, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-thirty-seventh | " Rev. C. S. Bullock | Sussex | [6] |
| Two-hundred-thirty-eighth | " W. R. Smith | Valcartier | September 11, 1916 |
| Two-hundred-thirty-ninth | Major V. L. MacDonald | " | December 15, 1916 |
| Two-hundred-fortieth | Lt. Col. E. J. Watt | Renfrew | May 3, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-forty-first | " W. L. McGregor | Windsor | April 29, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-forty-second | " J. B. White | Montreal | November 23, 1916 |
| Two-hundred-forty-third | " J. E. Bradshaw | Prince Albert | June 2, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-forty-fourth | " E. M. McRobie | Montreal | March 28, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-forty-fifth | " C. C. Ballantyne | " | May 3, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-forty-sixth | " N. H. Parson | Halifax | June 2, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-forty-seventh | " C. H. Ackerman | Peterboro | [7] |
| Two-hundred-forty-eighth | " J. H. Rorke | Owen Sound | June 2, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-forty-ninth | " C. B. Keenlyside | Regina | February 21, 1918 |
| Two-hundred-fiftieth | " W. H. Hastings | Winnipeg | [8] |
| Two-hundred-fifty-first | " G. H. Nicholson | " | October 6, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-fifty-second | " J. J. Glass | Lindsay | June 2, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-fifty-third | " P. G. C. Campbell | Kingston | April 29, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-fifty-fourth | " A. P. Allen | Belleville | June 2, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-fifty-fifth | " G. C. Royce | Toronto | " 2, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-fifty-sixth | " W. A. McConnell | " | March 28, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-fifty-seventh | " L. T. Martin | Ottawa | February 16, 1917 |
| Two-hundred-fifty-eighth | " P. E. Blondin | Quebec | October 6, 1917 |
| No. 1 University Inf. Co | Captain P. Molson | Montreal | May 29, 1915 |
| No. 2 " " | " G. C. MacDonald | " | June 29, 1917 |
| No. 3 " " | Lieut. F. L. Turnbull | " | September 4, 1915 |
| No. 4 " " | " J. R. Mitchener | " | November 27, 1915 |
| No. 5 " " | " O. S. Tyndale | " | April 2, 1916 |
| Yukon Inf. Co | Comm. Black | Dawson City | January 24, 1917 |
| No. 1 Jewish Inf. Co | Captain I. Friedman | Montreal | March 28, 1917 |
| No. 1 Independent Inf. Co | Major T.J. Langford | Winnipeg | October 6, 1917 |
ORIGINAL OFFICERS OF CAVALRY UNITS
| UNIT | ORIGINAL OFFICER IN COMMAND | MOBILIZED | SAILED |
| R. C. D | Lt. Col. C. M. Nelles | Toronto | October 3, 1914 |
| L. S. H | " A. C. MacDonald | Winnipeg | " 3, 1914 |
| R. N. W. M. P | Major C. L. Jennings | Regina | June 4, 1918 |
| C. M. R. Depot | Lt. Col. W. C. Brooks | Hamilton | Oct. 22, 1917 |
| First C. M. R. Bde | " F. O. Sissons | Winnipeg | June 12, 1915 |
| First Regt. C. M. R | " H. J. Stevenson | Included in First Brigade | " 12, 1915 |
| Second " " | "J. C. L. Bott | " | "12, 1915 |
| Third " " | "L. J. Whittaker | " | "12, 1915 |
| Second C. M. R. Bde | Col. C. A. Smart | Sherbrooke | July 18, 1915 |
| Fourth Regt. C. M. R | Lt. Col. S. F. Smith | Included in Second Brigade | "18, 1915 |
| Fifth " " | "G. H. Baker | " | "18, 1915 |
| Sixth " " | "R. H. Ryan | " | "18, 1915 |
| Seventh " " | Major E. I. Leonard | London, Ont | June 29, 1915 |
| Eighth " " | Lt. Col J. R. Munro | Ottawa | Oct. 9, 1915 |
| Ninth " " | "G. C. Hodson | Lloydminster, Sask | Nov. 23, 1915 |
| Tenth " " | Major F. C Washington | Portage la Prairie | Apr. 28, 1916 |
| Eleventh " " | Lt. Col. G. H. Kirkpatrick | Vancouver | July 8, 1916 |
| Twelfth " " | "G. MacDonald | Calgary | Oct. 9, 1915 |
| Thirteenth Regt. C. M. R | "V. H. Holmes | Medicine Hat | June 28, 1916 |
| First Can. Div. Cav. Sq. | "F. C. Jamieson | Valcartier | Oct. 3, 1914 |
| Second " " | Major H. J. Leonard | London, Ont. | June 9, 1915 |
| Third " " | "T. W. Wright | Winnipeg | Jan. 22, 1916 |
| Fourth " " | Lt. Col. R. A. Carman | Portage la Prairie | Apr. 28, 1916 |
A digest of the foregoing tables will indicate the proportionate enlistments in the various sections of the country. Population considered, the West did better than the East.
As to the proportional representation of the various occupations in the enlistments, some light is thrown on that by figures presented by Mr. N. W. Rowell, K. C., in the Ontario Legislature, covering the period of heaviest voluntary enlistment, up to March 1, 1916. Out of a total of 263,111 recruits, 6 per cent, or 16,153 were professional men; 2 per cent, or 6,530, were merchants or men in the employing class; 18 per cent, or 48,777, were clerical workers; 64 per cent, or 170,369, were manual workers; 6 per cent, or 17,044, were farmers; and 1 per cent, or 4,238, were students.
The latter item deserves special mention, in the unusual enthusiasm shown by the students of the Canadian universities. At the end of 1914 McGill University had nearly a hundred of its student body in training on Salisbury Plain, many more were at Exhibition Park, preparing themselves for active service at the front, while others were in different camps throughout the country; 1,800 men were in the Officers' Training Corps, with 80 members of the faculty acting as officers. On March 1, 1915, 307 undergraduates had enlisted. Out of 4,000 registered students there were, at the end of 1915, 811 enlisted men, together with 1,003 graduates and 83 members of the staff.
The University of Toronto, by the end of 1918, was represented by 5,308 men, from its staff, graduates, undergraduates, and its faculty of education, of which 531 were killed. Other Ontario universities were represented by 900 men on active service. At the close of the war it was estimated that about 17,000 college students, or graduates, had enlisted, of which about 1,200 were reported as casualties.
CHAPTER VI
THE "PRINCESS PAT" REGIMENT
No consideration of the activity of the university graduates, or undergraduates, in the war can be made without reference to that famous regiment whose personnel was very largely made up of university men—the Princess Patricia Regiment, the first Canadian body of fighting men to reach the front, and the one that suffered most heavily.
The Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Regiment was recruited in Montreal, though its members were from all parts of the Dominion. This body was formed on the initiative of A. Hamilton Gault of Montreal. The regiment was first commanded by Lieutenant Colonel F. D. Farquhar, D. S. O., of the Coldstream Guards, and military secretary to the governor general. The other original officers were Major A. Hamilton Gault; Adjutant, Captain H. C. Buller; Quartermaster, the Hon. Lieutenant C. A. Wake; Paymaster, the Hon. Captain D. H. MacDougall; Medical Officer, Major C. B. Keenan. The heroic career of this body of men at the front will be followed in a later part of this volume.
Those brigades which embarked from Quebec during the fall of 1914 were those which were later to become famous as the First Canadian Division, which was the first large body of Canadian troops to arrive in France.
The First Division was constituted as follows: First Artillery Brigade, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel E. W. B. Morrison; Second Artillery Brigade, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel J. J. Creelman; Third Artillery Brigade, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel J. H. Mitchell; First Infantry Brigade, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel M. S. Mercer; Second Infantry Brigade, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel A. W. Currie; Third Infantry Brigade, commanded by Colonel R. E. W. Turner; Royal Canadian Dragoons, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel C. M. Nelles; Lord Strathcona's Horse, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel A. H. Macdonnell; Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel H. A. Panet; Fourth Infantry Brigade, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel J. E. Cohoe; First to Ninth Field Batteries, commanded respectively by Major C. H. L. Sharman, Lieutenant Colonel C. H. MacLaren, Major A. G. L. McNaughton, Major E. G. Hanson, Lieutenant Colonel H. G. McLeod, Major W. B. M. King, Major H. G. Carscallon, and Major E. A. McDougall. The General Staff officers were: Colonel E. H. Hard, Lieutenant Colonel A. H. Macdonnell, Lieutenant Colonel G. C. W. Gordon-Hall, Lieutenant Colonel C. H. Mitchell, and Lieutenant Colonel H. J. Lamb. Besides the above units there were also the Automobile and Machine Gun Brigade, various line of communication units, a clearing hospital, two stationary hospitals, and two general hospitals and remount department.
The Second Canadian Division was composed of those units which arrived in England during March, April, and May, 1915. It was in command of Major General S. B. Steele, who was afterward succeeded by Brigadier General R. E. W. Turner. As finally constituted the infantry included the Fourth Brigade, commanded by Brigadier General Lord Brooke; the Fifth Brigade, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel David Watson; and the Sixth Brigade, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel H. D. B. Ketchen.
A fifth division was later organized in England, but was there held as a reserve, most of its constituent elements being sent to France as reenforcements to the first four divisions.
The Canadian Cavalry Brigade was not organized until early in 1915, in England, but its constituent parts had come over from Canada with the first contingent. From the time of its formation until May, 1918, it was under the command of Brigadier General (later Major General) J. E. B. Seeley, C. B., C. M. G., D. S. O., M. P., a veteran of the South African War, where he served under Sir John French, and later Secretary of State for War in the Asquith Cabinet.
The brigade was originally formed from the Royal Canadian Dragoons, Lord Strathcona's Horse, King Edward's Horse, an Imperial unit, and the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery. In 1916 the King Edward's Horse left the brigade and its place was taken by the Fort Garry Horse, previously known as the Canadian Reserve Cavalry Regiment. Later the brigade had added to it the Machine Gun Squadron, the Canadian Cavalry Field Ambulance, and the Mobile Veterinary Section. During the early part of its services in France the brigade operated as infantry, and it was not till the early part of 1916 that it was finally reconstituted as a cavalry force. The cavalry brigade ranged in numbers from two to three thousand throughout the war.