1914-11-16la

On November 16, 1914, the Hamilton Spectator published another report from one of its representatives who was in camp with the troops training in England, preparing to go to the front to fight the German army which had rolled over Belgium and was in France:

“Salisbury, England, Oct. 31 :

“Just how long the Canadian overseas expeditionary force will remain in England is the question of the hour in the several camps here, and, moreover, it is a question that cannot be answered with any degree of certainty even by the highest authorities. The truth of the matter is that it will depend entirely upon circumstances.

“It may be confidently stated, however, that the Canadians will be in England for sometime. Indeed, it is quite reasonable to suppose, without incurring the displeasure of that august personage the press censor, that they will eat their Christmas dinners on these wide, historic plains of Salisbury. If this is not the case, there will be many surprised officers, for all have been preparing for a long stay. Rumor has it that some of the individual units, such as the Princess Patricia regiment and the cavalry, neither of which is a part of the division, may go forward before the others. I am able to secure no confirmation of this.

No one is looking forward to this prospect of routine training – every man wants to get into the fray at once – but they are making the best of it, and the time is passing rapidly. When their ambition is finally realized and they find themselves in the firing line, these Canadians will show the Kaiser’s troops just what they can do – and their deeds will bring honor and glory to the Dominion.

The Canadian volunteers are able to endure all sorts of hardships when necessity demands it of them, but they are firm believers of being as comfortable as possible when they can. Thus it will be found that but few tents in the officers’ lines lack an oil stove, camp bed and a chair or two. One is inclined to think that campaigning under such circumstances is not so hard after all.

          MEN ARE CONTENTED

But what of the men, the rank and file of the force? They cannot have stoves and beds and chairs, nor can they drop into the mess tent for afternoon tea or do any of these many little things that go so far towards making  camp life for the officers more pleasant. Yet, these sturdy sons of Britain’s greatest overseas dominion are happy. True, lately, the weather has been miserable, but they are getting plenty to eat and are fairly comfortable in their canvas homes. A few months ago, these same young men were toiling over books in city offices, pounding typewriters, working in factories or doing any one of the numerous other things at which men earn their living in Canada, and the thought of sleeping in a leaky tent with a straw mattress for a bed and two blankets for covering would have made them shiver. Today, they are thriving on it.

“Picture, if you can, the life they lead, all you relatives and friends of these men, who have volunteered to serve their country. At 6 o’clock every morning, the stirring notes of reveille echo and re-echo through the lines. Thousands of drowsy soldiers open their eyes. The alert ones are up at once and the others who seek a few minute’s more sleep are speedily routed out. Steaming tins of tea or coffee are served, and setting up drill, which follows, effectually banishes the last vestige of drowsiness. Breakfast is soon ready, and thick slices of bread with bacon or cold meat are rapidly disposed of.

“Then comes the route march – or it may be company drill or skirmishing – kits are strapped on, the order is given, and off they start over the rolling plain. The autumn air is sharp and keen, the road is good, and mile after mile is covered, yet the boys still stride on smartly. Gradually, these marches grow longer, in due time, they will last all day. The object of them is to harden the men for the long forced marches they will have to make when they actually reach the front.

          HARDENING THE MUSCES

Dinner is on at 12 o’clock, and great quantities of stew – ‘Skilly,’ they call it in the army – are served out. Sometimes skilly is referred to as ‘that everlasting stew,’ but it’s a fine thing for hungry man, even though it is served every day. Beginning at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, there is more drill and rifle exercise. There is little of the ceremonial in the training of a soldier about to leave on active service – the chief object in view is that he should be made physically fit and able to shoot straight. But this drill has a double purpose. It not only teaches the soldier how the slope arms with machine-like precision, but also teaches him to regard his rifle unconsciously and hardens his muscles.

“ ‘Retreat’ sounds about 5 o’clock, and tea is served shortly afterwards. This time the meat consists of bread and cheese, jam, tea and such luxuries as the men are able to purchase at the canteens. The long evenings are spent in the great Y.M.C.A. recreation tents playing games, reading and writing letters or perhaps some coterie of kindred spirits will gather in their own tents to chat or play cards by the dim light of a candle lantern. At 9:45, the ‘last post’ sounds, and, one by one, the dull glows of canvas-screened lights disappear into the night.

“Thus the soldier’s day begins and ends with the blare of many bugles.

          CARD OF PRAYERS

Just outside the cap of nearly every member of the Canadian overseas expeditionary force, tucked snugly between the leather sweatband and the cloth, is a small, white card. It is a very ordinary little card, and yet it is pregnant with meaning. It is the gift and the message of the chaplain-general of the British army to the troops and on one side is a brief soldier’s prayer. ‘Almighty and Most Merciful Father, forgive me my sins; grant me Thy peace; give me Thy power, ; bless me in life and death for Jesus’ sake. Amen.’ On the other is printed the Lord’s Prayer.

“The Canadian volunteers are not more religious than any other body of young men, but the dangerous mission on which they have elected to go in the name of their country seems to have given them a deeper appreciation of what their religion means. Even before they left Valcartier, it was noticed that the attendance at church parades, all of which are voluntary, was much greater than usual, and every man entered into the spirit of the service. The most notable example of this was on the last Sunday in camp, when practically every man, with the exception of those on duty, turned out to a great open-air service on the plain. Here it is the same. So far the weather has prevented large gar=therings for service in the open.

The chaplains, of them there are quite a number, are finding plenty to do in the way of entertaining the men as well as looking after their spiritual welfare. Libraries have been established in each of the four camps, marquees having been obtained for the purpose, thanks to the efforts of a number of prominent people who have interested themselves in this work. Some 50,000 new books, all standard works, have been resented, and are being distributed among the different libraries. The chaplains are acting as librarians, and in this capacity keep in constant touch with the men. Another task they have undertaken is the distribution of several thousand packs of playing cards. ‘I don’t know what my parishioners would say,’ remarked a well-known Anglian chaplain smilingly, ‘if they knew I was helping to supply the men in my charge with playing cards, yet they are the means of providing many hours of perfectly helpless amusement.’

          PLENTY OF RAIN

It has rained here every day for a week, and the camps are very muddy. The roads, firm and well-built as they are, show signs of going to pieces, and in a few places between here and Bustard are almost impassable. This is due to the tremendous volume of heavy traffic passing over them. In addition to the thirty odd heavy transports that the Canadians have brought over, there are a number of heavy traction engines that daily draw in trains of trucks loaded with coal. The combination of wet weather and heavy traffic is enough to spoil any road. The softer ground around such places as the post office is a veritable sea of mud, and the men justly complain that it is impossible to keep their footwear in smart condition.

The postal corps is proving one of the most enterprising units in camp. Starting out under unfavorable conditions, such as lack of men and accommodation for the heavy mails, they have brought the service up to a place of efficiency almost as high as that at Valcartier. The latest idea is to have the mail delivered from the base office, situated at divisional headquarters, to the field stations by aeroplane. There are plenty of air craft about, and a machine is to be secured some day soon to try out the scheme. It is proposed to load a stack of letter mail for each camp at headquarters and to have the aviator drop these at the respective field offices. Should it prove practical a daily aeroplane mail service will be inaugurated. In considering this proposal, it is well to remember that the four camps are miles away from each other.

“Hardening the Canadian Boys : Are Being Made Fit For Service at Front.”

Hamilton Spectator.   November 16, 1914