“Never
before in the history of Hamilton has the patriotic spirit of the citizens
reached such a high pitch as it occupies at the present time.”
Hamilton Spectator. August 6, 1914.
The abundance of enthusiasm which
greeted the news that Germany had declared war on England did not abate in the
days which followed:
“Men of all ages are announcing
themselves as ready to go to the defense of the country at a moment’s notice,
hundreds having already made application to the various commanding officers to
be added to the recruiting list, as soon as one is opened.”1
1 “Thousands
in Hamilton Impatient for the Call : Entire Field Battery Ready to Go –
Applications Received : Canadians May Do Canadian Coast Duty Or Go to India.”
Hamilton Spectator. August 6, 1914.
The eagerness to sign up with the army
was for the moment frustrated in Hamilton as local military officials had yet
to receive orders as to how they should proceed to respond to those who wanted
to volunteer.
There was also uncertainty as to what
role Canadian volunteers would play in the larger war effort:
“From advice reaching here from an
unofficial source, the officers are inclined to believe that the volunteers
will be stationed at Canadian ports, or sent abroad on garrison duty. Other
reports state that a number of Canadian will be sent to India to succeed the
regulars from that colony who will have gone to the front.”1
Part of
the confusion emanated from Ottawa as discussions were taking place sorting out
how the Canadian soldiers would work with the British army, notably how the
chain of command would work and other logistical issues.
In the meantime, the leaders of the
Hamilton militia units pressed ahead with what they could do:
“Col. E. E. W. Moore, brigadier, when
spoken to this morning, stated that he expected word to mobilize here at any
time, but not until instructions came would anything be done here.
“In the meantime, the names and
addresses of all volunteers are being taken, and these men will be notified
when they are wanted.
“Col. Moore stated
that he did not expect orders to get the local regiments in training, but
volunteers will be accepted who do not belong to the regiments, providing they
pass the medical examination. The regimental physicians will act in the
capacity of medical examiners.”1
While efforts were
being made to sort out the protocols as regards dealing with volunteers, the intense
interest of Hamiltonians regarding what was happening in Europe again drew
large numbers of people to the Hamilton Spectator’s downtown office building
where the bulletin sheet was once more put in place:
“The enthusiasm of
Hamilton people grows stronger and stronger as time goes on, and the series of
reverses sustained by the German forces yesterday were received with shouts of
jubilation as they were announced from the Spectator office on James Street
South at different intervals.
“Last night the
crowds which gathered to again hear the latest news from the battlefields
exceeded by far all previous records of the city, and they devoured with eager
delight the details at Liege and Vise.” 2
2 “Crowds
Eager For News From the North Sea : Immense Throng at Spec Office : War
Pictures Aroused Great Enthusiasm : 91st Band Will Play Patriotic
Airs Tonight.”
Hamilton
Spectator. August 6, 1914.
The machine used to
magnify the images displayed was called the stereopticon. The images could not
be used to advantage during the daylight hours :
“The Spectator stereopticon
has become quite an institution of the city, and long before it was dark enough
to commence flashing bulletins on the huge screen opposite, a great mass of
people had taken up their positions.
“By the time
everything was ready to start there was scarcely room to move between King and
Main streets, and the great mob was cheering heartily and waving miniature
Union Jacks all the while. They sang patriotic airs, and howled and hissed at
everything that was German or Austrian, while the operator in the Spectator
office was kept busy changing the bulletins for their consumption.
“As soon as the
messages came through the agencies of the Great Family Journal, they were
quickly transformed into lantern slides and thrown onto the screen, and the people
time and again showed their appreciation of the excellent service of news which
the Spectator was providing.”2
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