1915-05-25yy

 

Monday, May 24, 1915 was a holiday, the Queen’s Birthday being celebrated in various ways across Hamilton.

For the city’s population of Italian heritage it was a very happy day, and not because of any loyalty they might or might have not to England, or the memory of its long-serving queen.

On Monday, May 24, 1915, Hamilton’s Italian population, the majority of whom were men who had emigrated to Canada, and to Hamilton in search of employment, learned that their native country had declared war on Germany and the Austro-Hungarian empire.

As the Spectator noted in its edition the following day:

“Hamilton will lose a lot of her Italian population as a result of Italy enteing the war, even though that country does not call her sons in America to the colors.”¹

¹ “Italian Joy : Celebration Here In Honor of Declaration of War”

Hamilton Spectator.   May 25, 1915.

Although the Italian authorities had not yet ordered that those Italians of military age living in foreign countries would have to return immediately, and have their passage home paid for by the government, o great was the enthusiasm of many Hamilton Italians did not care :

“This morning, dozens of them visited the steamship offices to enquire as to ship sailings, and stated that they would pay their own passage back to Italy and enlist there.”¹

Most of the men of Italian heritage in Hamilton in 1915 lived in the east end of the city, mainly in boarding houses close to the factories where they were employed:

“Yesterday hundreds of them celebrated the declaration of war, and the foreign district last night seemed to be en fete. In the different boarding houses, singing and general rejoicing occurred to a great extent.”¹

For a more public demonstration of their excitement about the news that their home country was at war, many of Hamilton’s Italians chose to venture to the large beautiful open space in the city’s west end:

“During the afternoon, many had gone to Victoria Park, where a number of Italians made speeches, and a general discussion of the war conditions took place.

“The Sons of Italy, who owned instruments, took them along, and a band was organized, which rendered music extraordinary.”¹

Before beginning to write his article mon the reaction of Hamilton’s Italian Colony to the news of war being declared back home, the Spectator reporter paid another visit to the travel offices :

“ At the steamship offices this morning, it was announced that a large number of Italians had already made arrangements to leave.”¹