In heart, however, he was eminently the soldier. Repeatedly he volunteered for active service Overseas, and even specially appealed to Ottawa for permission to go Overseas with a Unit, but the Canadian Militia Department was obdurate, declaring that his genius for organization and administration was of such a character that he could not be spared from headquarters Military District No. 6. Strict, firm, and soldierly at headquarters, Colonel Thompson, notwithstanding, exemplified democracy in the most undemocratic of institutions, the army. His genuine democracy, his tempering of justice with mercy, and his fine kindliness won for him the high respect and admiration of all ranks.
Col. Gordon S. Harrington, K.C., is a son of the late C. S. Harrington, K.C., of Halifax, N.S. He was admitted to the Bar on October 19, 1904, and practised his profession at Glace Bay, N.S. He was one of the original Company Commanders of the 85th Battalion with the rank of Major, and, on the formation of the Nova Scotia Highland Brigade, returned to Cape Breton and supervised the recruiting of the 185th Battalion. He was transferred to that Unit with his rank of Major and proceeded Overseas with it. When the Brigade was broken up he was sent to the Imperial First Senior Infantry School at Bedford, where he passed the qualifying examination with the highest marks ever attained at that institution. On reporting to the Nova Scotia Regimental Depot at Bramshott he was posted to the 17th Reserve Battalion, of which he was successively Second in Command and O.C. In May, 1917, he was transferred to the Staff of the Overseas Minister, London, and a short time later was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister. In 1918 he was appointed Deputy Minister and promoted to the rank of Colonel. He served in the field on Corps Headquarters.
COL. GORDON S. HARRINGTON.
Having in mind the fact that at the sudden outbreak of war, August, 1914, the permanent military force of Canada only numbered 3,075, it will be readily understood that the Department of Militia and Defence was at once compelled to grapple with an enormous task for which no one could expect it to be prepared. The situation had to be met. The work had to be done. It had to be done quickly, and it is to the everlasting credit of Canada that we had men of outstanding ability and energy to cope successfully with the urgent situation.
HON. F. B. M‘CURDY,
Secretary of Department of Militia.
By July, 1916, our military force was 312,844. Of these 136,185 were in Canada and 176,659 were Overseas. The number was daily increasing; and only those who were in close touch with the tremendous work of organizing, equipping, supplying and despatching such an army can realize what that meant in comparison with the work of administering affairs in regard to about 3,000 men during times of peace.