1915-07-08ii

“The citizens of Hamilton are gradually awakening to the seriousness of the military situation as it pertains to the British empire and to Hamilton’s share in the burdens which must be assumed before victory is secured”

Hamilton Spectator.   July 8, 1915.

The war that many felt would be over by Christmas, 1914 was still very much alive in the month of July 1915. The enthusiasm for signing up to fight in the war has long since waned, although the need for more and more soldiers had increased substantially.

On Wednesday July 7, 1915, an important meeting was held in the Thirteenth Royal officers’ mess room to address the pressing need for more recruits to step forward from the ranks of the men of Hamilton.

It was intended that a new and powerful organization would be created to be called the Hamilton Recruiting League.

Lieutenant-Colonel W. R. Bruce, seconded Lieutenant-Colonel George D. Fearman,  made the following motion to formally form the league:

“Resolved, that this meeting do now proceed with the organization of the Hamilton Recruiting League to assist the authorities in every practicable way in adding to the quota called for from this city and district from time to time, and to co-operate, as the need may arise, with industries requiring men in turning out munitions of war.”¹

¹ “Recruiting League Formed Last Night”

Hamilton Herald.    July 8, 1915.

The motion was carried unanimously, and immediately afterward the committees of the new league were created, with the titles Manufacturers, Public Meetings, Finance and Insurance, Merchants, Trades and Labor, Program, Publicity, Recruiting Stations, Churches and Ladies’ Auxiliary.

The first speaker of the meeting was a former Hamiltonian, Colonel W. A. Logie, commandant of the Niagara camp and one of the leading officers in charge of military preparations in Canada. He noted that the Dominion government had decreed that four battalions needed to be raised and that Hamilton was expected to provide at least 500 men for that quota. Colonel Logie had become aware that recruiting had slowed considerably there and had assigned his officers to ascertain why.

          The reasons determined by the officers for the lull in recruiting fell into three basic areas – work was plentiful, women and employers did not want to let their men go and defective teeth and other physical imperfections were disqualifying those who had tried to volunteer.

          In his remarks, Colonel Logie stated, “I believe, however, that the whole basis for the apathy is that the people do not understand that anything is happening to the British empire, or that anything is likely to happen in Canada, as a result of this war. If they realized what it would mean to them, and that their homes might be vitally affected, I feel that they would come forward. It is your duty to persuade fit men – both married and single – to come forward.

“It was suggested in Toronto that mass meetings be held, preceeded by a big parade, headed by the regimental band, and then have a big hurrah boys’ meeting with a recruiting officer at the door. That is just a temporary arrangement. It is for you to convince the men of the need and they will come forward. We cannot stop until the stage is reached where the people in the home will say to their men, ‘It’s your duty to go. Go on.’ I am sure that after this meeting the recruiting in Hamilton will go on, not in the ‘hurrah boys’ style, but because of sound convictions. You will find many on the streets today who will say that they will go if they are needed. Many women in Toronto cannot see why their husbands are needed, and are trying to withdraw given consents. It is for you to prove the need.

“There is one thing, though, in Hamilton that I think the city should be ashamed of. I pay taxes in this city, and I am quite willing to be taxed for the insurance on the men who go to the front, risking their lives for the country, and I don’t think that anyone would object to a few mills on the dollar if need be. The day after the war broke out, I went down to Toronto and offered my services to General Lessard. I felt quite down-hearted about it, because I thought that the companies might say that I was taking more than ordinary risks, and that all my savings would be wiped out in one stroke. I have since learned that the polices are all good. The city of Hamilton has, however, done nothing to insure the men from this city, whereas even the small towns have done that. Toronto is insuring every man from there for $1,000 each. Why should Hamilton fail in that respect? I think that the mayor is in sympathy. I think that the next of kin of every man killed should receive $1,000. It is good politics for the aldermen. The relatives of these soldiers have votes and if they see that the aldermen are doing what they can for them in times of crisis, they will appreciate it.”¹

“After Colonel Logie’s speech, it was noted that those present were in for a treat, as there were two Hamilton heroes present. Captain S. J. Huggins and Lieutenant George Ballard, two Hamilton officers who went off with the first contingent, but who were back in Hamilton on furlough recovering from wounds received at St. Julien during that memorable battle which took place on the 23^rd of April.

“In calling upon Captain Huggins to speak, Major Huggins said, ‘these two men have gone forth, have conquered, and are back again with us, and the city of Hamilton is proud of them.’

“After thanking the major for his kind words for himself and Lieutenant Ballard, Captain Huggins told about his experiences at the front :

“He said that speaking as an Ottawa man, the officers, non-coms and men from Hamilton were of the very highest caliber. Major Ballentyne had told him that at the time when only 242 were left of the 850 in the Fourth battalion, and when he had only Capt. Jones, of Brantford, and Captain Wright and Lieutenant Washington to assist him, they had proven their worth. Had he not been so seriously wounded, the major said he certainly would have seen to it that Captain Wright and Lieutenant Washington were mentioned in dispatches. Captain Huggins ventured the hope that it was still not too late.

“He described some of the conditions that existed at Salisbury plain, where even the town was four feet under water, and it was necessary to get around on rafts. Despite all this, the discipline was of the best. When the boys landed at the front, they showed their worth. General Gordon, who commanded the Nineteenth brigade, which was the only brigade not in a division, said that he would like to see Canadians brigaded with him, and if not the brigade, at least the fourth battalion.

“ ‘The men’s only complaint previous to St. Julien was that they could not get into action,’ said the captain. ‘When the big fighting was going on around Hill 89, where so many brave deeds were done, the men thought sure they would be in it. They were called out and officers were even taken up to the hill in order to be able to take the men up, if they were called to do so in the dark. However, we were told on Thursday morning that the situation there was well in hand. Had it not been for that fighting at Hill 60, the Canadians would have been in the trenches from which the French native troops were gassed out, and then a different story might have been told. I do not wish to cast any reflections on the French soldiers, who are as good and better fighters than they ever were. But these trenches were held by native territorials, and not the French regulars, and they were probably not so determined to overcome obstacles.”¹

Captain Huggins had a stern message for those in charge of newspapers, expressing his opinion that the publication of letters from the front were a cause for the slowness of recruiting. The captain claimed that many things were contained in the letters which were better left unsaid, and the individual soldiers could not make conclusions on general conditions at the front, but only were able to relate their own experiences.

In concluding his address, Captain Huggins said, “You cannot drive home with too much force the need for recruits. This war is a fight to the finish, in which we will need to husband all our resources and send our best men out. The people of England have only come to a realization in the last six weeks of what the war is, and we must soon realize it too. It has surprised me to learn this evening that Hamilton has not insured her men at the front. I think Hamilton is the only city in Canada who has failed to take that step.”²

² “Hamilton Recruiting League Organized to Raise Men for Canada’s New Contingents”

Hamilton Spectator.    July 8, 1915.

While Captain Huggins was well-known to many Hamiltonians, it was the next speaker who was a Hamiltonian through and through. Lieutenant George Ballard not only lived and went to school in Hamilton before he enlisted, he was a popular player with the Tiger football team.

When Lieutenant Ballard was called upon to speak the gathering erupted:

“As he marched to the front of the room, those present rose to their feet with three rousing cheers for one who had acquitted himself so nobly. He told the meeting that he had so much in his mind that it would take all night to tell it, and even then he wouldn’t have told it all.”²

One soldier singled out for tribute in Ballard’s remarks was Lieutenant Brant who had been killed at St. Julien. Brant was a young aboriginal man, grandson of the famous chieftain of that name.

When Ballard was wounded, Brant was among those who came to his aid:

“ ‘When they picked me up and placed me on their shoulders and proceeded to calmly walk off the field, I felt that I was going to be picked off at any minute, but somehow or other, they succeeded in getting me back of the firing line without mishap. I cannot say too much in praise of Brant, who acted with wonderful coolness.’

“In concluding his address, Lieut. Ballard dwelt upon the urgent need for recruits. ‘Slackers in the old country are having a sorry time of it,’ he said, ‘and slackers in this country are going to have just as sorry a time. It was Canada’s fight just as much as England’s and those who had not come to a realization of that fact would do well to do so at once. Germany would not leave Canada alone for any length of time after defeating Great Britain. The women of England, the women of Canada, in case of German victory, would have to submit to the same inhuman treatment accorded the women and children of Belgium. Canadians should realize the defeat of England would mean the loss of Canadian independence. The military machine that can conquer Great Britain and France, to say nothing of Russia and Italy, would soon make Canada a German dependency. The United States is not a military nation and would not figure. England stands in constant peril of invasion by Germany and only the watchfulness of the British navy prevents that invasion. The Germans have never given up the idea of an invasion of the British Isles.’ ”²

The final speaker of the meeting was Hamilton’s own Sir John Gibson who, as described by the Spectator man in attendance, “spoke with a thoughtfulness and earnestness that reached every man present and impressed all with the serious view of the war taken by Sir John”²

A part of his address, Sir John said, “I must confess that I have been pessimistic right from the commencement of the war. I have felt that the fate of the British empire is trembling in the balance. We must not hold out false hopes of an early collapse of Germany. That collapse is not yet in sight. The question still is, what is to become of the British empire? Are we to be threshed, subdued and compelled to seek terms or not? It is an open question. We’re too enthusiastic at times, too satisfied with the situation and with the manner in which things are going. We must grow more thoughtful; must study the situation. I am very anxious that we should get down to business. The people of this city stand really in need of being impressed with the seriousness of the situation. Something is to be done that isn’t being done. Let us get it done !”²

After a time spent electing officers for the various committee which had been named, it was decided to hold another meeting of the brand new Hamilton Recruiting League in the 91^st Highlanders officers’ mess at the end of the week to get things moving quickly.

The meeting ended with the singing of the national anthem and three hearty cheers for the British army.