1915-03-15jc

 

“From the firing line in France came a letter this morning that will read with pride by the relatives and friends of the soldiers from this district  who are now in the trenches.”

Hamilton Spectator.    March 15, 1915

When World War One was declared, a tremendous outburst of enthusiastic patriotism resulted in a huge number of Hamilton and area men volunteering to fight.

It would seven months before those same men were trained, equipped and transported to the scene of the warfare.

On March 15, 1915, the Hamilton Spectator published a letter it had received a letter, dated February 25, 1915  from Major B. H. Belson, commander of C company of the fourth battalion, first brigade:

“As the first contingent from the 13^th regiment comprises nearly half my company (C company) and I have them under my command over five months now, I am writing to let you know what I think of them

“I took them into the trenches for 24 hours on the 19^th inst., with Lieuts. Ballard and Wright, and, as I expected, no troops could have behaved better in any way. Sniping was continuous day and night, but we were not shelled that day.

“Our battalion escaped without any casualties, but in the other three battalions of the brigade, three men were killed and twelve wounded.

“The conduct of my own men from the 19^th Lincoln, St. Catharines, whom I took to Valcartier, has been splendid ever since they were mobilized, and I think the standard has been equally high in the 13^th contingent. I am indeed fortunate to have such keen and willing men as the 13^th under my command.

“The Canadian division will soon be holding a section of the line of trenches, and will not disgrace Canada. If your people at home could see the conditions and nervous strain under which the army has been living for months, I do not think there would be so much slackness in recruiting the third contingent.”¹

^{1 “}Hamilton Men Made Good in the Trenches : Major Belson Praises Them for Their Behavior”

Hamilton Spectator.   March 15, 1915

Major Belson ended his letter by saying that his soldiers were in need of comforts to be sent from home, particularly cigarettes and tobacco.

          In the same issue of the Spectator, a letter from Private J. A. Wilson, of 296 Avondale avenue, was printed. Private Wilson was a member of Major Belson’s company:

          “Just a few lines to let you know the Hamilton boys are doing fine. We left Salisbury Plain on February 9, and had three days on the sea. Then we entrained in box cars, 35 to 40 men per car.

“Another three days and now we are a few hours’ march from the trenches. We expect to be in them this week, so that Hamilton boys attached to the fourth battalion will soon be having a smack at the Germans.

“Our platoon is billeted in a corn mill, and we can see air duels. Germans held this village 8 days. The British took it back by bayonet. The people speak very highly of the British boys.

“I think that with Major Belson at the head of our company, Lieut. Wright in charge of our platoon, we ought to knock the stuff out of the Germans.

“We are made of the right stuff and hope to give a good account of ourselves.”¹