Wainwright, Arnold, K.C., B.C.L., one of the leading barristers and publicists of Montreal was born in that city on June 13, 1879, the son of William and Mary Emily (Arnold) Wainwright. His education was unusually complete. After a course at Montreal Collegiate Institute he entered McGill University, from which he graduated in 1890 with the degree of B.A. and honors and medal in mental and moral philosophy. This was supplemented by a course in law and in 1902 he obtained the degree of B.C.L. with a medal. Subsequently he took a post-graduate course at the University of Montpelier, France. He was called to the bar in 1902 and is now a member of the firm of Davidson, Wainwright, Alexander & Elder, Advocates, Transportation Building, Montreal. In 1912 he was created King’s Counsel on attaining the requisite ten years’ service at the bar. He was elected President of the Junior Bar Association of Montreal in 1910 and a member of the Council of the Montreal Bar for 1911-12. In addition to being recognized as a brilliant speaker both in the forensic and political arenas, Mr. Wainwright is a recognized authority on the academic side of his profession and is Lecturer on the Laws of Evidence and the Laws of Persons in the legal faculty of McGill University. In politics he is a Liberal and was a member of the Council of the Montreal Reform Club, 1910-11. He is an Anglican in religion and a member of the following clubs: St. James’, University, Beaconsfield Golf, Country, Canada, and Reform. In 1913 he married Norah, daughter of William Prentice, Montreal, and resides at 4 Seaforth Ave. in that city.
Bates, Joseph Lever, an Ottawa business man of widely extended interests, was born at Easton’s Corners, Ont., in 1850, the son of Nathaniel Bates. He was educated in the public schools of his district and afterward engaged in the granite business. In 1907 he founded the International Land and Lumber Company, 283-285 Bank Street, Ottawa, of which he is President. His other interests include the Presidency of the British Canadian Industrial Co., Ltd., which maintains offices in London, England, as well as in this country. He is a member of the Canadian Club, Ottawa, and of the Masonic Order. In politics he is a Liberal and in religion a Methodist. On December 21, 1875, he married Juliet, daughter of Mr. C. J. Lighthall of Montana, and has three sons. His residence is at 50 McLaren Street, Ottawa.
McConnell, Richard George, Deputy Minister of Mines, and Director of the Geographical Survey for Canada, was born at Chatham, Quebec, March 26, 1857, the son of Andrew and Martha (Bradford) McConnell. He was educated at the Caribou Academy and at McGill University, from which he graduated with the degree of B.A. in 1879, taking first class honors in Natural Science. On graduation he immediately went to the Canadian West as assistant to the famous Canadian geologist, Dr. G. N. Dawson, whose name is immortalized in Dawson City, the capital of the Yukon Territory. Upon his return to the East in 1881 Mr. McConnell entered the service of the Canadian Geological Survey and made many explorations in behalf of the government which resulted in valuable discoveries in Western Canada, British Columbia and the Yukon. In 1887 and 1888 he headed one of the most extensive exploratory expeditions on record, traversing almost the whole country drained by the Stikine, Liard, Mackenzie, Porcupine, Yukon and Lewis Rivers. The results of his investigations are to be found in many reports and articles on the Geological and Mineral Resources of Western Canada. On this subject he is recognized in professional circles throughout the world as the chief living authority. In fact it is doubtful whether any man, past or present has acquired such an intimate first-hand knowledge of the great Sub-Arctic areas of Western Canada. As a geologist his fame is international, and he is a prominent member of the Geological Society of America as well as of the Royal Society of Canada. His recreations are curling and golf and he is a member of the Ottawa Golf Club. In religion he is a Presbyterian, and was married in November, 1898, to Jeannie, daughter of E. H. Botterell, Montreal. His family consists of one son and one daughter, and his home is at “Edgehill,” Rockliffe, Ottawa.
Currie, General Sir Arthur William, C.B., G.C.M.G., Commander-in-chief of the Canadian Army on the Western front during the latter stages of the great war, was born at the village of Napperton, Middlesex County, Ontario, December 5, 1875, the son of William Garner and Jane Currie. He was educated at the public school of his district and later at Strathroy Collegiate Institute. Going to British Columbia in 1893 when but eighteen years of age he first engaged in school teaching at Sidney, B.C. Later he located in Victoria, B.C., and entered on a business career. At the time the war broke out he was the head of the firm of Currie & Power, one of the leading real estate concerns of Vancouver Island. Nearest to his heart, however, were military pursuits, and he early identified himself with the 5th Canadian Garrison Artillery, in which he served fourteen years, rising ultimately to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. With him, however, military activity was not merely a case of dress parades, but a real pursuit. He devoted himself seriously to the study of modern tactics, not only in connection with his own arm of the service but infantry as well. He used his influence to encourage rifle shooting, and from 1907 onward was President of the British Columbia Rifle Association. On the outbreak of the war followed by the decision of the Canadian Government to send an Expeditionary Force to the front, Col. Currie was recognized as one of the most efficient volunteer officers in this country, and when Sir Sam Hughes telegraphed him asking him to accept a command he did not hesitate to offer his services. He was assigned to the command of the Vancouver Highland Battalion, which trained at Valcartier Camp, and went overseas in the late autumn of 1914 to complete its training on Salisbury Plain. The regiment was one of the first Canadian units sent to France, and in the terrible fighting at St. Julien and Langemarck in connection with the second battle of Ypres, April, 1915, had its baptism of blood. This was the engagement of which Viscount French reported to the War Office “The Canadians saved the day.” In this severe test Colonel Currie won a reputation for leadership and courage of the highest order which has distinguished him ever since. He received enthusiastic praise from General Alderson, the Imperial officer then in command of the Canadian division, and on the latter’s recommendation was accorded the coveted D.S.O. and given command of a brigade. His service as brigade commander proved so completely successful that his work won the attention of the British Headquarters Staff, and when a reorganization of commands ensued as a result of the arrival of two new Canadian divisions in the field, he was elevated to the rank of Major-General and placed in charge of the First Division of the Canadian Army. In this post he commanded his division at the Battle of Hooge, when it resisted the full force of the German assault in what was described as “this particular hell of Hooge.” His cool and brilliant handling of what was admittedly a critical situation for all forces on the bloody Ypres salient won him the unstinted praise of his immediate chief-in-command, General Sir Julian Byng, and all the other British military experts. The correspondent of the London “Times” reported that nothing finer was ever seen in warfare than the manner in which the lines over Maple Cape, Observatory Ridge and Armagh Wood were held by the troops under General Currie’s command. Sir Julian Byng in his report said “I am proud of the Canadian troops under my command. Their behaviour has been magnificent. I have never known fiercer or more deadly barrage, nor have I seen any troops fight with more earnestness, courage and cheerfulness.” He especially praised General Currie’s counter attack with the Canadian division at 1.30 on the morning of June 13, 1916, on a front of 500 yards extending from Sanctuary Wood to Hill 60, when heavy losses were inflicted on the Germans and prisoners taken. The spring of 1917 was marked by glorious achievement on the part of the Canadian troops, including the captures of Messines Ridge and Vimy Ridge, and finally attaining the investment of Lens. In the midst of the spring campaign Sir Julian Byng was shifted to the command of a British Army. General Currie was at once recognized as his logical successor and became the Chief-in-Command of the Canadian Army in the field with four divisions under him. The victory of Vimy which was heralded throughout the world as a great military achievement, was generally credited to General Currie’s masterly powers of preparation and organization. It was in recognition of these services that His Majesty King George knighted him on the field of Vimy as a member of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. Earlier still he had been made a Companion of the Bath. It was on June 19, 1917, that he assumed the chief command, and one of his first achievements was the capture of Hill 70 on his own initiative, rendering the important mining city of Lens, which had been in German occupation for nearly three years, untenable for military uses by the enemy. General Currie could have occupied Lens any time during the summer of 1917 that it was deemed desirable, but owing to the belief of the French Government that its capture would only result in further destruction, without military advantage, the word to advance was withheld. Instead, during the autumn of 1917 General Currie and his army were assigned by Sir Douglas Haig to one of the most terrible tasks that was ever allotted to a military force. It was that of taking Passchendaele Ridge in Flanders with a view to getting to Roulers and cutting off the U-Boat bases of Zeebrugge and Ostend. Sir Douglas Haig assigned the task to the Canadians because he believed that under the command of General Currie they had developed into the best “shock” troops in the world. The Germans on the other hand believed that Passchendaele Ridge was impregnable, and many military experts agreed with them; but the U-Boat menace was such that the attempt was deemed to be justified by necessity. Before the attack General Currie personally addressed his men, and did not disguise what they had to face, but so fired them with the spirit of victory that despite terrible losses they carried the Ridge. It was one of the tragedies of the war that the Flanders winter closed down so suddenly that it was impossible to reap the full fruits of victory by advancing to Roulers. By spring the situation had been absolutely changed by the great German offensive of March, 1918, and Passchendaele was temporarily abandoned. This circumstance did not alter the greatness of the original achievement, attained in obedience to the orders of the Headquarters command. In the final stages of the war which gave the Allies victory the Canadian army under General Currie played a role of immortal lustre. They entered in the fighting in full force on August 8, 1918, and from thence onward until the signing of the armistice on November 11 victory after victory crowned their banners. The greatest of their achievements was perhaps the breaking of the Drocourt-Queant Switch Line, a part of the great “Hindenburg” defence system, which the Germans had also boasted was impregnable. When General Currie achieved this victory and opened the road to Cambrai it was at once recognized by war experts, and even by German critics, that Marshal Foch’s strategy could succeed in a much shorter period than had been anticipated if such efforts could be repeated on other parts of the Allied front. As everyone knows this prognostication was not falsified. Before the war was over General Currie and his army had to their credit the capture of Cambrai and of Valenciennes, two of the most vital points in the German resistance. Two hours before the armistice was signed General Currie rode as a conqueror into Mons, the point where the old “contemptibles” of the original British Army had first shown their prowess against the Germans in 1914. During the cleaning-up operations following the war, his administrative abilities have proven most valuable. On New Year’s Day, 1919, his services were further recognized by bestowing on him the honor of Grand Cross of St. Michael and St. George, an order in which he was already a Knight. It must not be forgotten also that in the critical period when Canada’s maintenance of her forces in France was in doubt, General Currie’s voice had great weight in determining the action of the people of this country. He strongly urged on Sir Robert Borden and other ministers that this country should do everything in its power to help win the war and meet the condition caused by the falling off of enlistments, a condition which was threatening the dissolution of his ever-victorious army. The result was the decision of the Canadian Government to adopt the policy of conscription. During the election campaign that ensued he sent the following message to the Canadian people on behalf of himself and his staff: “We sincerely sympathize with endeavors to arouse our countrymen to the necessity of remaining united and firm in their determination to furnish troops in the field all necessary support. We deeply deplore the fact that the wisdom of doing so has become a subject for debate and controversy by those at home. If support is now withheld or even delayed it means that additional burdens will have to be borne by men already doing the seemingly impossible.” This message coming from the most eminent of Canadian soldiers and one who in private life had been a political opponent of the Borden administration, could not fail to bring thousands of electors to a sense of their duty to the soldier in the field. There have been rumors that an effort would be made to induce General Currie to enter Canadian politics as a Liberal leader on his return from the front, but so far he has refused to assent to any such proposals. He is an Anglican in religion and was married in 1901 to Miss L. S. Chaworth-Masters of Victoria, B.C., by whom he has one daughter. A quiet man of iron determination and marvellous powers of organization, he is, however, certain to play a prominent role in the life of Canada in future, whatever path he may elect to follow.
Girard, A. D., one of the leading advocates of St. John’s, Quebec, was born at Ste. Hyacinthe in that province on May 10, 1841, the son of Michel and Sophie (Cheicoine) Girard. He was educated at Ste. Hyacinthe College and at St. Mary’s College, Montreal. He qualified for the law and was called to the Quebec bar (of which he is now one of the honored veterans) on April 4, 1864. From that year until 1879 he practised alone at Waterloo, Quebec, and in the latter year removed to St. John’s where he has ever since resided. Until 1911 he practised by himself but then took a partner, and the firm of Girard & Demers, which has offices on St. John’s Street in above named city, is well known throughout the district. Until his retirement from public life a few years ago Mr. Girard was a prominent figure in Quebec politics and a supporter of the Conservative party. He was the candidate of that party for the Legislature as early as 1875, in the riding of Sheppard. In the elections of both 1900 and 1904 he contested St. John’s in the same interest. His counsel has been much sought by the younger politicians of the day. In religion he is a Roman Catholic and was married on February 13, 1877, to Cordelli, daughter of F. X. Bousquet of Montreal.