In November, 1914, Lieut.-Col. T. M. Seeley, of Yarmouth, N.S. (O.C. 11th Brigade, C.F.A.), was commissioned to organize the 23rd Battery of Field Artillery, to represent the Maritime Provinces in the 6th Artillery Brigade, C.E.F. The temporary headquarters were at Fredericton, N.B., but recruits were to be drawn from any part of the Maritime Provinces. Many were furnished by the 3rd, 4th and 11th Brigades of the Militia Artillery. An important factor in the new Unit was a group of twenty-five or thirty students who joined from the University of New Brunswick and other universities.
The recruiting proceeded at such a rate that Lieut.-Col. Seeley soon found himself with fifty or sixty men over strength. He appealed to headquarters for authority to have a second Battery formed, which was granted. Lieut.-Col. B. A. Ingraham, R.O., of Sydney, C.B., was commissioned to organize the 24th Battery, also at Fredericton. He took over the surplus from the 23rd, and in addition brought a large detachment of fine men from Cape Breton.
These Batteries trained side by side until February 18, 1915, when they were mobilized with the 21st Battery of Kingston and the 22nd Battery of Montreal, and sent Overseas February 22nd on S.S. Megantic, under Lieut.-Col. E. W. Rathburn.
The Mayor of Fredericton, the Premier of New Brunswick, the Earl and Countess of Ashburnham, and the citizens generally were very kind to the artillerymen during their sojourn in Fredericton.
Just previous to sailing there were several changes made in the personnel of the officers. Lieut.-Colonel Seeley was detailed to organization duty in Canada, and Major J. K. MacKay was placed in command of the 23rd Battery. On sailing the staff was: Major MacKay, O.C.; Capt. E. A. Chisholm; Lieuts. J. E. Read and J. N. McEachern. The Staff of the 24th Battery was: Lieut.-Colonel Ingraham, O.C.; Capt. A. T. MacKay (of P.E.I.); Lieuts. G. St. C. A. Perrin and O. Mowatt.
Arriving in England the Batteries received a brief training at Shorncliffe, after which they were drafted to the Second Brigade, C.F.A., and Divisional Ammunition Column in France. A large proportion of the N.C.O.’s and men of these Batteries won commissions and distinctions on the field.
CHAPTER VII.
THE 36th BATTERY, C.F.A.
BY MAJOR D. A. MACKINNON, D.S.O.
MAJ. D. A. MACKINNON D. S. O.