1915-03-27uu

With the declaration of war in August 1914, there was no shortage of Hamilton men willing to leave everything, and volunteer to serve in the armed forces in the first contingent.

When a second contingent of soldiers were needed, there were more men willing to volunteer.

          However, by the spring of 1915, news of the horrors of the warfare in Western Europe were well-known, and recruiting for a third contingent was much more difficult.

          A James Street North, clothing store owner, known only as Tobey,  was famous from his distinctive promotions and newspaper advertisements.

For example, in the “Tobey Business Bulletin” included his March 26, 1915  advertisement  in the Hamilton Spectator, Tobey offered hand out  “a nice tender Spring Chicken with every man’s suit sold.”

Tobey also urged that each male reader of his bulleting should “be one of Hamilton’s well-dressed men, who make Hamilton look like a city. It will give you that optimistic feeling that the King’s uniform gives you, and some day with a Tobey suit, you might get to be a Hamilton alderman.”

Tobey bragged that his bulletin was a reflection of his distinctive style of advertising. He then noted that Lord Kitchener advertised in his own way, and Tobey felt it was timely to include Lord Kitchener’s approach which read:

“Five Questions to Men Who Have Not Enlisted

“ 1. If you are physically fit and between 19 and 38 years of age, are you really satisfied with what you are doing today?

 “ 2. Do you feel happy as you walk along the streets and see other men wearing the King’s uniform?

“ 3. What will you say in years to come when people ask you – where did you serve in the Great War?

“ 4. What will you answer when your children grow up and say, ‘Father, why weren’t you a soldier too?’

“ 5. What would happen to the Empire if every man stayed at home like you.

YOUR KING AND COUNTRY NEED YOU

          ENLIST TODAY

          GOD SAVE the KING.

For those Hamilton men who had not enlisted by March 1915, they had to expect being challenged as to why not by ladies on the street, who would accompany their question with the gift of a white feather.

Another challenge to the non-volunteers came in the Spectator of March 26, 1915 with a poem written by Dorothy Adrienne Clarke, titled “A Word to the Shirker:

 

 Young man, be up and doing; your country calls you.

 What are you doing for England?

          Aren’t you going to see her through?

 Your pals have all gone fighting, left you silent alone;

 Won’t you feel rather out of it when they come marching home/

 

Young man, have you thought of it –

          The things they will say of you?

“Oh ! He shirked when his duty was plain enough;

He’s a coward and a laggard, too.

 

Think of the tales your pals will tell

          With their friends all listening by,

“And what did you do, young man,” they’ll say,

          “Surely you had a try!”

 

Come along, young man, be brave and true,

          Don’t let this day pass by;

Put on a uniform, serve your King.

          Be ready to do or die.