In the interests of
providing readers of the Great Family Journal with news about how troops were
being trained for combat, the Spectator sent P. A. Buttery to Salisbury Plain
in October, 1914
Here is the story
Buttery submitted which was published on November 13, 1914 :
“Salisbury Plain,
England, Oct. 24 –
“We have been in
England just a week today, and are now settled down in our new quarters on
Salisbury plain. To those members of the Candian contingent who had never seen
England before, and to whom the mother country was, in imagination, an
aggregation of factories and buildings, the experience so far has been
something of a revelation. They had scarcely got over their surprise at the
immensity of the government dockyards at Devonport and Plymouth when they were
whisked in a London and South Western train through some of the most delightful
of Devonshire scenery – perhaps as charming a piece of country as can be found
the world over. Gunner Fred Taylor, of Hamilton, who left the Ambitious City
with the 33rd howitzers, and who now, with many more of us, is
attached to the 3rd Artillery brigade ammunition column, expressed
the thoughts of many when he remarked :
“ ‘I’ve often
listened to you chirpers talking about England, and I always thought it was
mostly hot air. There’s no hot air about this, though. These green fields and
hedges, with the valleys and rivers, beat anything I have ever seen, and I
shall write home and tell them all about it. I’m going to be a chirper myself
in future.’
“The train journey to
Salisbury plain, before it became dusk, wa made under the happiest circumstances.
The sun was shining brilliantly, and the troops were feeling pretty pleased
with themselves because of the reception they had received at the hands of the
English people at Plymouth. These people represented the English nation, and
they cheered not so much the men themselves, but what they represented. Our
contingent was the first fighting force from any of Britain’s overseas
dominions to set foot on English soil during the present campaign, and it
furnished proof, if proof were necessary, that the colonies are heart and soul
with the mother country in the present gigantic struggle. So these Plymouth
people lined the streets from dockyard to the station and cheered and cheered
again. Men, too old to shout, came forward and asked for nothing better to be
allowed to shake hands with Canada’s soldiers, while young women rushed here
and there, handing cigarets and chocolates to all they could touch.
“The scene at
Plymouth station was perhaps the most memorable of all. It will certainly
linger long in the recollection of those who were privileged to witness it. The
troops (I am writing now only of the third artillery brigade and the ammunition
column: the others came afterwards, and I believe had receptions equally as
remarkable) lined up in the presence of thousands of men and women, who cheered
themselves hoarse, and from one quarter of the vast crowd came the strains of The
Maple Leaf – sung probably by a score or two of Ex-Canadians who had returned
to the homeland. When at last the train started, with the cheers of the people
still ringing in our ears, we were at once plunged into the delightful country
in the southeastern part of Devonshire, and the valleys and hedgerows were a
refreshing sight after seeing nothing for two weeks but a vast expanse of
ocean. It was evident that our approach had been heralded in the various towns
and villages through which we passed, for upon each bridge and at each station
there were crowds of people to give us welcome, and at Exeter, where we halted
for fifteen minutes, many thousands assembled. As an instance of kindly
treatment which was meted out to the troops, it is worthy of mention that one
lady on the platform bought up all the coffee and tea to be had at the refreshment
rooms, and handed it out to the men,
together with any buns and sandwiches which might be handy. The bill she had to
settle must have been a considerable one, and the boys showed their
appreciation of her kindness by giving three hearty cheers as the train steamed
away on the last stage of the journey.
“Without any further
incident of note, we arrived at Amesbury – a station on Salisbury plain – at 11:20
p.m. on October 16, and from there had a 15 mile march to our camp at West Down
North, which we reached, tired and cold and weary, at 2:30 next morning. A few
hours’ rest, however, soon put us right again, and the camp was quickly put in
order. The horses and the remainder of the 3rd brigade men who had
traveled to England by another transport, found us a couple of days later, and
then the serious work of training was recommenced. The troops were given to
understand that they would be kept at Salisbury
for about a couple of months before being entrained for the front – a delay
which caused much disappointment in many quarters. On the whole, however,
despite the anxiety of Col. Sam Hughes to get the contingent in action as soon
as possible, it was felt that the men would greatly benefit by the extra training under imperial
officers, and the troops therefore curbed their impatience and settled down to
a period of work.
“On Wednesday,
October 21, General Alderson, who has been appointed by the British government
to command the Canadian contingent at the front, called the troops together,
and in a happy and appropriate speech, introduced himself to them. He mentioned
incidentally that he had the opportunity of seeing the work of the Canadians in
South Africa, and he knew, therefore, what they were capable of. He was proud
of the honor the government had conferred upon him in placing him at the head
of so fine a body of men.
“The general also
mentioned that, despite strong opposition, he had succeeded in obtaining for
the Canadian troops a ‘wet’ canteen instead of a ‘dry’ one, as was at first
insisted upon in certain influential quarters. He had fought for the men in
this regard, for he believed in treating men like men and not like schoolboys. He
wanted every man to look upon him as a friend as well as a commanding officer,
and he, in turn, would always fight for them, as long as he held the command.
“On Friday, October
26, the first batch of men went on leave, in most cases three days being
granted. In special instances, where the men had long journeys to undertake,
the period of leave was extended to five and six days, this applying in the majority
of cases to those whose homes or relatives were in such distant places as
Scotland or Ireland. It was remarkable how many of the troops suddenly
developed a desire to visit a long lost uncle or aunt in the land of the
heather or the shamrock.
“This morning
(Saturday) the whole of the Canadian contingent, excepting those on leave, were
reviewed by the famous veteran, Field Marshall Earl Roberts, the hero of many
campaigns. Unfortunately rain fell heavily during the inspection, but the
troops had a splendid view of Britain’s great soldier as he passed slowly in
front of the lines in an automobile.
“Everybody in camp is
in splendid health, despite the fact that it has rained almost continuously
since our arrival here. It is also gratifying to know that although the old 33rd
battery men from Hamilton have split up in so many directions, we are much
nearer together than we were at Valcartier. The majority of us are, of course,
with the ammunition column of the 3rd brigade, a sone’s throw to the
south of us are Lieut. Dunlop and Lieut. Hoodless, the two officers who took us
to Valcartier, and who are now attached to the divisional ammunition column;
three minutes’ walk to the west are the lines of the Royal Canadian Horse
artillery, to which regiment a dozen or so of our men transferred at
Valcartier, and already visits have been exchanged; a little farther away is
the automobile transport section, to which a few more of our men migrated;
while to give the affair a further Hamilton flavor, next door to us is the 8th battery, which
is mainly composed of the 4th battery from the Ambitious City. So we
are quite a happy family, thoroughly contented and comfortable in our new surroundings.”
1
1 “With
Canadian Troops on Salisbury Plain : Spectator Man, With Contingent, Tells of
Reception Colonials Received .”
Hamilton
Spectator. November 13, 1914
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