“ENGLAND EXPECTS
EVERY MAN TO DO HIS DUTY. IF YOU CAN’T FIGHT, GIVE SOMETHING FOR THE HAMILTON
BOYS IN THE TRENCHES”
Hamilton
Spectator. March 18, 1915.
Above was the motto
attached to a lot of ballot boxes which were placed in various locations
throughout Hamilton on Friday, March 19, 1915, to stay in place until the
following Wednesday.
The Soldiers’ Comfort
Fund had not been meeting with the kind of support anticipated, so it was
decided to try an additional tactic.
At a meeting in Hamilton
Mayor Walters’ office, the Hamilton Active Service Fund committee still showed
enthusiasm for the fund and expressed determination to work harder:
“It was decided to
try and get the people awakened to what the fund was really for. The response
has not been as good as it should be, but it is a purely voluntary affair and
no canvassing will be done.
“ ‘You’ve got to hit
some people in the head with a mallet to make them wake,’ said H. C. Beckett,
‘and I think it is time we followed some such course.’ ”1
1 “Adopt
Slogan For Soldiers’ Comfort Fund : If You Can’t Fight, You Are Asked to Give”
Hamilton
Spectator. March 18, 1915.
The initial thought
was that the donation boxes, actually ballot boxes loaned by the City of
Hamilton, would be placed in churches
and various stores, but J. Orr Callaghan who attended the meeting announced
that he had arranged to have the boxes placed in all the Hamilton public
schools so that the children could participate.
The meeting also read aloud a letter
from Lieutenant-Colonel Moore who stated that soldiers at the front were in
urgent need of funds to defray expenses for necessary items that were not
provided by the military. He made full assurances that the funds would be
fairly distributed, and that he would personally see to it that the funds were
used properly.
A final decision made
at the meeting was that no personal canvassing would be done. However, that was
changed after Charles Heming, Hamilton Scout Commissioner approached Mayor
Walters with the offer that local Boy Scouts would parade in uniform on
Saturday March 27, armed with collection boxes. A band would head the parade.
The scouts planned to march throughout the city, and had a goal of raising
$1,000.
Permission was
granted to the scouts, especially as many of the Hamilton soldiers at the front
were once boy scouts
“It is worth noting that
the local scouts have over thirty representatives with the first Canadian
contingent, and that they enjoy the distinction of sending the youngest member
that went with the expeditionary force.”2
2 “Boy
Scouts to Collect for Comfort Fund : They Sent the youngest Member With
Contingent”
Hamilton
Spectator. March 19, 1915.
In an effort to raise
interest in the public in supporting the fund to provide soldiers with a few extras,
the Spectator published some words from a member of the committee, R. L. Smith:
“”Hundreds of our best citizens have
already gone to the front and are now facing death in the trenches for the sake
of home and country. Many others are ready to go and Hamilton can ill afford to
neglect the present opportunity of contributing to their comforts. A little
giving now, even though it may represent a personal sacrifice, is nothing compared
with the great sacrifices our brave boys are called to make for the sake of
humanity and the motherland. Every Hamilton citizen should contribute to this
fund, and do it quick.”3
3 “”Call From
the Trenches for Small Extras”
Hamilton Spectator. March 25, 1915.
Despite the great
enthusiasm and hard work, the Boy Scouts were unable to loosen the purse strings
of many Hamiltonians. Only 1/10th of the $1,000 goal was attained.
Despite parading the
city streets from early afternoon until 9 o’clock in the evening, only $100 was
raised :
“With the exception
of four five dollar bills, a couple of two dollar bills and a few one dollar
bills, the money in the boxes consisted chiefly of dimes and a nickels. Also
one shirt button.”4
4 “Gives Button
to Comfort Fund : Meanest Man in Hamilton Has Been Found”
Hamilton
Spectator. March 29, 1915.
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