1915-05-07uu

“Hamiltonians need have no fear of the efficiency of the Hamilton Automobile club in case of emergency.”

Hamilton Spectator.   May 7, 1915.

The events being reported about in Western Europe in the spring of 1915 were unsettling enough. To add to the unease that citizens felt at the same time was the concern that war conditions could actually happen locally as well.

On May 6, 1915, a test of the emergency responses which might be required in case of an attack on Hamilton was held. The effort involved a coordinated plan devised involving the Hamilton Police, the Hamilton Automobile club and the 24^th Battalion :

“Yesterday afternoon the members of the Hamilton Automobile club to the number of 243 gave their time and the loan of their cars for a test mobilization, and the splendid manner in which everything worked showed that the club has a splendid organization.

“The members of the 24^th battalion were scattered at twelve different points in the city, and upon a call being sent to W. D. Wilson, president of the Auto club and commandant of the auto squad, 243 autos were flying to the points allotted to them at top speed regardless of speed or traffic laws.

“The police cooperated with the auto club and military authorities in making the affair a success, and the usual regulations governing a were overlooked.”¹

¹ “Test Tickles Colonel and Auto Owners”

Hamilton Spectator.  May 7, 1915.

At precisely 2:57 in the afternoon, Mr. Wilson received word via telephone from Colonel Ashton of the 36^th Battalion calling for his troops to be picked up from the various predetermined locations where they had been placed:

“17 minutes later, every member of the regiment of the regiment, with the exception of three who were in an auto which broke down, was at Victoria Park.

“As soon as Mr. Wilson received the message from Col. Ashton, he notified his three commandants, J. W. Tyrell, M. J. Overell and R. M. Rosewick, each of whom notified four squadron members, they in turn each notified four troop commanders, and so it went until 243 autos were hastening to gather up the soldier boys.”¹

To show the breadth of the effort, the twelve locations which were chosen as places to put up the troops were not just located in the center of the city, but also in far flung suburban areas as well :

“Ottawa and Barton streets, Trolley and King, Sanford and King, Barton and Sherman, Stinson and Ontario, Barton and Victoria, King and Wellington, Gore park, York and Dundurn, Locke and Herkimer, Picton and James and Bay and Hunter streets.”¹

After the troops had arrived at Victoria park, there were formed in regimental order. Then the same automobiles were used to drive them all to the Bartonville area, where the troops were marched through the fields in pursuit of an imaginary foe.

Colonel Ashton, in an interview with the Spectator, expressed his hearty endorsement of the test:

“ ‘For the purposes of concentration, the manner in which the automobile owners handled their cars yesterday could not be improved upon,’ he said.

“With regard to the use of automobiles for similar purposes for local regiments, Colonel Ashton considered it an idea worth carrying on.

“ ‘It would be possible to place alarm posts throughout the city and some night about ten o’clock mobilize the two regiments at some point,’ said Colonel Ashton. ‘The use of automobiles gives one a clear idea of the short time it would require to bring the entire number of men at one time within the space of a very few minutes.’ ”