In the first weeks of the war 42 Canadian soldiers disgraced themselves, by excessive drinking, insubordination, and disorderly conduct, to such an extent that they had to be sent back to Canada.
Facts in “Canadian Pioneer,” December 4, 1914
A Canadian soldier, helplessly drunk, was seen at King’s Cross station eating, tearing, and crumpling up £1 notes, and would have lost about fifteen pounds but for kindly help from passers by.
Facts in “Daily Chronicle,” September 28, 1916
A gunner from Montreal, missing from camp for several days, drank himself delirious, and cut his throat with a razor.
Facts in “Canadian Pioneer,” December 4, 1914
A Canadian soldier spent £70 in three weeks on drink and bad characters.
Facts in “Daily Mail” August 10, 1915
A Sergeant-Major from Canada declared that he had lost 20 per cent. of the men of his battery through venereal disease. They had a little drink, and were captured by the swarm of bad women at Folkestone.
Facts in Letter to Author