1915-05-17gg

It took ten days to complete. With the combination of patriotic artwork, detailed financial and other information for prospective recruits plus other additions to make it interesting, the poster promised at the first meeting of the Hamilton Recruiting League appeared. Published by the three Hamilton daily newspapers, plus being printed for placing in prominent locations throughout the city, the poster is shown below in sections.

 

 

Canada Calls

The Empire Needs You

 

“If we do not do more in the future than we have done in the past, we are going to be beaten.” These are the words of Sir John Simon, British Home Secretary. We are going to do more and WE WILL NOT BE BEATEN, but Canada must send more men and Hamilton must do its share.

What will happen to the women of Hamilton if Britain were beaten ? Ask the women of Belgium ! They know!

 

 

Men of Hamilton

 

Will you let the Hun trample British liberty in the dirt, or will you do your bit? Never mind the shirkers and the won’t-works. You are in that class. Their case will be attended to next winter. Able-bodied men under forty-five will not expect much charity, so they will not be disappointed – if they fail to answer their country’s call NOW. The women of Hamilton want you to protect them and fight for them. Will you do it?

On the middle left portion of the poster, the following questions and answers were provided :

 Here are the questions you would ask and their answers.

 

Q. I am a married man, must I have the consent of my wife to enlist?

 

A. Yes, the following must get proper consent in order to be able to enlist for active service.  (a) Husbands  (b) Men over 18 and under 21 years of age must get the consent of both parents. (c) Some who are only support of a widowed mother or whose parents are dependent on them for support.

 

Q. What are the rates of pay?

 

A. The rate of pay is One dollar per day before moving to camp. A further allowance of 75 cents per day is made to cover meals and lodging, making $1.75 per day while in Hamilton. When in camp and on active service a field allowance of 10c is made making the total pay $1.10 per day. (Ibid - $1.85?)

 

Q. What examinations must a man pass in order to be accepted?

 

A. The recruit must be over 18 and under 45 years of age. The minimum height is 5 ft. 3 in., and the minimum chest measurement 33½ inches, with the chest normally expanded. The eyesight must be good, teeth in good condition. He must have free use of his limbs and not be flat footed. It is also necessary for the heart to be strong.

 

Q. Are the requirements with regard to teeth as strict as before?

 

A. No. Arrangements have now been made at Niagara Camp to do the necessary work on teeth that are not in quite good enough state of preservation. Men are now being accepted with partial sets of false teeth, this being left to the discretion of the examining doctor. A great many men who were turned down for the first and second contingents may now join under the present regulations.

 

Q. I am a married man, what provision will be made for my wife and family?

 

A. It has been found that a woman requires an income of $30 per month on her own account. $7.50 for a child between the ages of 10 and 15, $4.50 for a child between the ages of 5 and 10, and $3.00 for a child under 5 years.

 

Q. When does the separation allowance start?

 

A. Immediately upon being sworn in and enlisted in Hamilton, but the first installment will not be paid until after the final acceptance for overseas service.

 

Q. To whom are Government Separation Allowances granted?

 

A. Separation Allowances are granted (a) wives (b) children of a widower if they are in the care of a guardian. Girls over 16 and boys over 14 years of age are not eligible. (c) Widowed mothers, if the son is unmarried and her sole support.

 

q. What pensions are paid in case of the death of a soldier?

 

A. The widow receives $22 a month and $5.oo a month for each child. In the case of a soldier leaving a wife and three children, the pension would be $37.00 a month or $484 a year.

 

On the middle left of the poster were more questions and answers, focussed specifically on financial matters:

 

 

 

See the Recruiting Officer at Once.

 

Q. How much pay must a soldier assign to his wife?

 

A. Every man who receives a separation allowance for his wife must assign half his pay ($16.50 per month) and may assign as much as $25.00 per month, but not more.

 

Q. Is the assigned pay figured as part of the income necessary to support a family ?

 

A. No. The assigned pay of the soldier is not taken into account by the Patriotic Fund in determining the amount to be paid to a depending family for support. In the case of the family described above, if the soldier assigned $20 per month, the total income of the family would be $69.50 per month.

 

Q. What is the reason for making a man assign at least one-half his pay?

 

A. The Government believes that if they are willing to allow a separation, the soldier should be equally willing to assign at least one-half of the pay received. It is hoped the families of soldiers will have the foresight and common sense to put in the bank all the assigned pay received so that when the soldier returns, there may be a nest egg to help the family along until he receives employment.

 

Q. How is the Government allowance paid?

 

A. It is paid by check on the Bank of Montreal forwarded from Ottawa.

 

Q. How is the assigned pay of a soldier forwarded?

A. It is also paid by check from Ottawa.

 

Q. How is the Patriotic Fund allowance paid?

 

A. It is paid by the local branch of the Patriotic Fynd.

 

Q. My wife is in England. Will she receive a Government separation allowance?

 

A. Yes, this will be forwarded from Ottawa regularly just as if the wife were living in Canada.

 

Q. Will the Canadian Patriotic Fund help the dependents of soldiers living in England or out of Canada?

 

A. No. The separation will be forwarded, but any other assistance needed would be of a local nature. If there is more than one child between the ages of 10 and 15, $7.50 is allowed for only one child, and $4.50 for the others. In order for any man wishing to enlist to find out how his family will be left, he may figure the total income from the above rates.

Thus, if a man leaves a wife and four children, aged 13, 11, 7 and 3, the income would be $30.00 for the wife, $7.50 for the 13 year old, and $4.50 for the one 11 and 7, and $3.00 for the 3 year old child, being a total of $49.50 per month.

 

Q. How much of the family income does the Patriotic Fund pay ?

 

A. The Government allowance is $30.00 per month to the wife of a soldier, the balance is made up by the Patriotic Fund. Thus, in the above case, $30.00 would be paid as a Government separation allowance and $29.50 per month would be paid by the Patriotic Fund. In no case, however, will the Patriotic Fund pay more than $40.00 per month, and in the case of large families, a certain amount of discretion is allowed to the officers of the fund.

Directly in the middle between the two question and answer lists was a photograph and information regarding the Batchelor family:

 

One Family’s Contribution.

 

C. L. Batchelor, 31 Fairholt Road, takes pride in the showing his family has made in these days of distress. Mr. Batchelor has four boys in the Canadian army, the above being a photo of the four lads. “I trust the young men of this city, looking at the picture, will feel inspired to do their duty as these young men are doing,” said the proud parent, as he handed in the photograph.

The young men are : Pte. Martin Batchelor, seated, 19^th battalion, 2^nd contingent; Bugler Frank Batchelor, 58^th battalion, on the left; Pte. Harold Batchelor, 19^th battalion center, standing; and Bugler Victor Batchelor, 5^th contingent, right, standing. All boys are old members of the 91^st Highlanders.

 

Across the bottom of the poster were the following quotes :

 

“Whatever has been dealt out to Belgium, France and Poland will be our fate tenfold if we fail to subdue the Germans.”  - Rudyard Kipling.

 

“It’s up to the women of Canada to send forth their husbands, their sons and their sweethearts. They are all needed.”

-      Lieut.-Col. Labatt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1916-01-04rr

“After inspecting the quarters of the 120^th city of Hamilton battalion, one is forced to admit that there should be little difficulty in raising men for this unit.”

Hamilton Spectator.   January 04, 1916

In the far west end of Hamilton, near the golf course, a large building, constructed for use as a foundry for the Westinghouse company had been nearing completion when a decision was made to use it for another purpose.

 Generously loaned for use to the 120^th City of Hamilton battalion for the duration of the war, the building soon became known as the Westinghouse armories, or the Overseas Club barracks.

In a report on the building published in the Hamilton Spectator of January 4, 1916, the building’s location was termed as being “without a doubt the most ideally located armories in Canada. Everything is so well appointed out at the links, that the men of the 120^th are better off than they could be at home.

“When Lieut.-Col. Fearman was granted the use of the new building, he secured one of the best arguments for men to enlist with the 120^th city of Hamilton battalion”¹

¹  “Ideal Quarters for the 120^th : The Westinghouse Armories Make Fine Quarters.”

Hamilton Spectator.   January 04, 1916.

The reporter who toured the new building began his description of it with a focus on the lighting, heating and ventilation systems in place:

“The lighting is everything that could be desired, the heating is excellent and the ventilation is the latest invention that makes it imperative that the men breath fresh, warm air. The system in vogue is such that the men cannot tamper with it and the purest air supply flows in the room continually. There should not be a man in the regiment suffer from colds, etc. which are usually caused from poor ventilation or draughts.

“The huge boiler for the heating apparatus is located just under the canteen. This furnace is expected to burn about 100 tons of coal per month, but it will keep the place so warm that the men will sing with truth, ‘home was never like this.’ The heating system is based on the principle that this furnace superheats coils upstairs, and then the heat is radiated out from a fan-like contrivance in the sleeping rooms upstairs, and on all the floors. The heating device is specially noted in the sleeping quarters.

“There will be no stoves of any kind on this floor, but the room will always be warm, and there will always be fresh air. Huge pipes radiate in every direction, all over the room, and open just above the tiers of beds and belch forth warm, pure air.

“In addition, the sleeping quarters are located in what looks like a regular glass house. There are glass windows in the roof and all around the sides. It is simply flooded with light during the daytime. Dotted all around the rooms are sanitary drinking fountains. At the front end of the men’s sleeping room is located the sergeant’s’ sleeping quarters in a partitioned-off portion of the room. At the rear and to the left of the sleeping quarters are located a number of shower baths, and large, clean lavoratories.”¹

Some changes to the building had to be made before the soldiers moved in :

“When the building was erected for foundry purposes, the interior was hollow, as it was expected that the sand, etc. used in the foundry would fill it in. It has been necessary to have the men fill it in and flooring has been built.

“The main floor has a much larger area than the new armories on James street, and there are two full floors in the building, as well as mezzanine floors, so that it can be seen that the Overseas club quarters are much larger than anything in Hamilton. The flooring will be completed on the main floor by Wednesday, when the battalion is expected to go into barracks .”¹

The entrances to the building were then described in some detail:

“Just on the left of the entrance to the building, the guard room will be located so that all desiring to enter must pass the guard. There will be huge doors installed so that the whole regiment can march through.

“Then on the right of the entrance, the large space will be used for church parade service, etc. This large room will take up only half of the second floor, and still give room for the whole regiment.

“Back of this room will be located a wash room, so that the men can complete their ablutions upon their return from a march without tracking dirt upstairs to their sleeping quarters. Then a huge room off the wash room will be located the battalion canteen. To the right of this is a rifle range, in which four targets will be installed.

“These appointments complete the ground floor.”¹

Important parts of the barracks were the on-site hospital and kitchen facilities:

“The battalion hospital is located at the front of the second floor in a bright, sunshiny room. Back of the hospital is a ‘ready-made clink’ consisting of a wired-in room, which was originally planned for a ladies’ rest room. All the toilet requisites are just adjacent to these rooms.

“The battalion kitchen is located in what was intended for the sandpit in the foundry, and is adjacent to the furnace room. The men’s dining room is just off the kitchen in the basement. This room is large enough to seat the whole battalion at one time. It is rather dark, but the electric lighting will shortly be completed, making this room as light as day.”¹

Finally, the barracks included a signallers’ and machine gun room, band rooms and tailor’s shop.

The barracks were located to the east of Aberdeen avenue and the city had laid a cinder walk to barracks from the line of the Hamilton and Dundas radial railway line, located in the middle of the avenue.

The barracks were within easy marching distance from a location useful for drilling practice:

“The 120^th City of Hamilton battalion is in an ideal location regarding drill grounds. The men will simply march out of the barracks and cross the road, and they are on a magnificent field, which was formerly the golf links. An orchard divides the field, which is very suitable for tactical purposes

Also on the former golf course, the battalion staff had taken possession of the Golf club building for offices and sleeping accommodations for the officers. The dining-room staff consisted of Sgt. And Mrs. Thow, both of whom had worked in that facility before the war.

After the tour of the new Westinghouse Armories, Mayor Walters said to the press that “the armories are simply wonderful. Everything is so well-appointed that the men will have more than the comforts of home.”¹