1915-05-15fv

 

“At a meeting held last night at the Tiger club rooms, a ball was started rolling that will result in Hamilton having an afternoon of exceptionally pleasing athletic events, and at the same time having an opportunity at the same time of helping the good work of providing comforts for the soldiers.”

Hamilton Spectator.    May 1, 1915.

With the intention of boosting the lagging fund-raising for the soldiers’ comfort fund, it was decided to put on an entertaining athletic program at the Hamilton Amateur Athletics, with all the admission proceeds to be forwarded to the fund.

On Saturday, May 15, 1915, a big field was to be held for the men of the 36^th battalion in training and about to go to the front against members of Hamilton’s local militia units.

As described by the Spectator reporter who attended the initial meeting to plan the event:

“The program drafted last night is one which is going to be really interesting for the spectators as well as for the men who take part. Strong committees were appointed to take charge of the affair and there is no doubt that the cricket grounds will be crowded when the big program is being run off.”¹

¹ Big Field Day for Col. Ashton’s Men”

  Hamilton Spectator.   May 1, 1915.

The following committees were struck, with chairmen and committee men appointed : Program committee, Prize committee, Advertising committee, Grounds committee, Ticket committee.

With exactly one week remaining before the Soldiers’ Field Day, the Spectator reported that extensive preparations for the event had been made :

“Everybody realizes that too much cannot be done in the way of showing appreciation to the boys who have enlisted for service with the 36^th Canadian overseas battalion.

“No sooner had the announcement of the big field day for the men been announced than the prize committee got busy, and as yet not one merchant who has been asked, has refused to donate a prize of some sort for the games. In fact, many prizes were offered without solicitation, and it looks as though the committee will be prepared to offer at least four prizes for each event.

“The merchants and general public realize that the sports are for a good cause as well as offering a day of pleasure for the soldier boys, and they are entering the affair with as much enthusiasm as the soldiers.”²

² “Soldiers’ Field Day Creating Interest”

Hamilton Spectator.   May 8, 1915.

The officers of the 36^th battalion were co-operating with preparations for the field by lightening many of the usual training exercises which the soldiers faced regularly so that they could train for the various field day events:

“Each day when the men are drilling at Victoria park, they are allowed time to do a little training but they do not depend on that alone, for they use all their spare time in preparing for the big day.”²

So many soldiers had applied to be included in many of the events that the organizers had to cut down the fields by holding elimination days. By this, it was assured that there were would a manageable number in each of the 24 events on that day of the meet.

There was an event which had attracted considerable interest was the greasy pig race :

“Bob Merrigold has made a standing offer to the winner of that race and will purchase the pig from the winner at a price which William Stroud says will not be less than ten dollars. In fact, if the market is right on the day of the games, Mr. Merrigold will pay even higher than ten dollars for the elusive porker.”²

Tickets were being sold directly by members of the various committees and were in great demand :

“As the receipts will go to a good cause, there is every sign of a record crowd being at the H.A.A.A. grounds a week from today.”²

The day before the soldiers’ field day, an article in the Spectator urged its readers to attend in great numbers:

“Hamiltonians will have a splendid opportunity to show their patriotism tomorrow, when the big field day events of the 36^th battalion will be held at the cricket grounds. The soldier boys have trained diligently for the various events and there promises to be some keen but friendly rivalry.

“Besides the athletic events, there will be bayonet exercise and physical drill by the regiment and the affair will conclude with a grand march past, Sir John Gibson receiving the salute in front of the stand.

“Nearly 100 prizes have been donated for the occasion, and the H.A.A.A. is giving use of the grounds free. The entire receipts will be turned over to Lieutenant-Colonel Ashton to be used for extras for the men from time to time, and as the price of admission has been placed at a nominal fee, 25 cents, there is no reason why a record crowd should not be on hand to show appreciation of the boys, who have so nobly responded to the empire’s call.”³

³ “ Field Day Events : Program by Boys of the 36^th Should Draw Large Crowd.”

Hamilton Spectator.   May 14, 1915.

The events of the Soldiers’ Field day began at exactly 2 p.m., Saturday May 15, 1915 when the more than 200 36^th battalion soldiers marched out of the armories on James street north.

The parade attracted considerable interest as it passed up James street, right onto King street west, left onto Bay street south, right onto to Duke street and then into the grounds:

“Every man in the battalion answered his name when formed up in the drill hall. James street was lined two and three deep, and cheer after cheer greeted the boys as they marched past. The greatest crush was at the city hall, where the mayor and city fathers waved a cheery greeting. The Ninety-First and the Thirteenth Royal regimental bands were in attendance, and the music rendered added greatly to the occasion.”⁴

⁴ “Soldiers’ Field Day Was Great Success”

Hamilton Spectator. May 17, 1915.

Once at the H.A.A.A. grounds, the scene was remarkable, and long-remembered by those in attendance:

“At the grounds, the men were given positions lining each side of the track, the grand stand and bleacher seats were nearly all filled, everyone was enthusiastic. There was no discomfort from weather conditions.

“The affair will go down in the city annals as the most successful and enjoyable field day on record.”⁴

A Times reporter at the event noted that “the Thirty-Sixth battalion and local regiments possesses men of splendid physique, speed and determination, who showing on the field of sport would lead one to believe that future achievements on the battlefield will be those of glory.

“The men entered the various events with a spirit of determination which was marked as the keen contests would show. The time recorded in the various field events was striking evidence of the splendid condition the men were in.”⁵

⁵ “Pte. Blowney Best All Round Athlete of the Soldiers’ Field Day.”

Hamilton Times.   May 17, 1915.

Each event resulted in prizes given to the top four finalists. Prizes, presented by Mayor Walters and Sir John Gibson included safety razors, cigars, pipes, shoes, sweater coats, shirts and underwear.

The events were numerous, including such traditional track events  as the 100 yard dash, 440 yard run, one mile relay race etc., but there were also many other events of interest including boxing and wrestling matches, tug-of-war and pick-a-back races.

The grand finale of the athletic contests was the greasy pig event:

“The crowd practically went wild with laughter as some two hundred khaki-colored figures rushed after the squealing porker. The presence of Mayor Walters and Sir John Gibson kept the future ham sandwich from seeking refuge near the grandstand, and its attempt to steal third base resulted in a put out.

“Four of the players claimed the honor of catching the pig, each had a hammerlock on a leg, and the animal’s protests were all in vain”⁴

After all the athletic events were the soldiers formed in procession once more to pass in review past the grandstand where Sir John Gibson took the salute. After all the proceeds were counted, over $900 was raised and given for the comforts of the men of the 36^th battalion who would soon be leaving for the front.