“In
addition to sending several hundred of its sons across the sea to fight for
Britain, Hamilton will likely give further proof of its devotion to the empire
by making a liberal donation.”
Hamilton Spectator. August 12, 1914
The fever which had swept all over the
British Empire upon learning that England was at war, certainly found
expression in Hamilton.
Even at the “municipal stone pile on
James Street North,” the Hamilton City Hall, local politicians were ready to
pull out all stops to support Britain :
“ ‘Hamilton will not be behind any
other place in its proof of loyalty to the motherland,’ declared the mayor. “I
think as a city that we should do something big and I expect the matter to come
before the council shortly.’ ”1
1 Hamilton
To Help With Cash Donation : Mayor Promises City Will Show Its Devotion”
Hamilton Spectator August 12, 1914.
In reacting to the news that the city
of Ottawa was giving $100,000 for a machine gun battery, Hamilton Mayor Allan
did not like that approach:
“ ‘ I personally am not in favor of
buying implements of war. That should be left to the authorities who know what
they require. My suggestion would be a substantial gift, and let the
authorities do what they think best with it.’ ”1
In other
war-related news in the Spectator issue of August 12, 1914, it was reported
that a substantial percentage of the men who had volunteered would not be going
overseas to fight in the war:
“It is a remarkable fact that nearly
40 per cent of those who volunteered have failed to pass the medical
examination. The principal causes of rejection have been bad feet and bad
teeth, but it should be borne in mind that the tests have been very strict.
“In many cases where
teeth have been faulty, the applicants have had them attended to by a dentist,
and upon again presenting themselves for enlistment have been accepted. A few
of the rejections have been on account of insufficient chest development.”1
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